Cargoes Winter 2009

The Inland Waterways Association

Winter 2009

Newsletter of Guildford & Reading Kent & East Sussex Oxfordshire and Solent & Arun Branches

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Editorial As the end of the year approaches we look back on what has been a somewhat turbulent year for Cargoes during which we have attempted to keep you, our members, informed of what has been happening on many waterways fronts in the Region.

A number of issues have been aired in what we would regard as the true campaigning spirit of IWA. The Thames Lock Houses issue was brought to a successful conclusion but other issues rumble on along the Thames and elsewhere.

On the Basingstoke Canal the backlog of maintenance has become a major concern which seems finally to have been recognised by the County Councils and it is good news that, as reported elsewhere, the voice of IWA is once again being heard on the Joint Management Committee. The Oxford Canal has seen major events at Banbury and Oxford, with increased publicity for the terminal basin project, and attention will focus on this canal next year with the Tom Rolt centenary celebrations. On the restoration front, a notable milestone was reached on the Wey & Arun with the completion of the tunnel under the B2133 and the opening of the new Loxwood Lock – a magnificent achievement by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust. Looking eastwards we see the successful conclusion of work on the east wall of Isfield Lock by the Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust.

Another significant event occurred in May when we welcomed members of the Kent & East Sussex Branch to the Cargoes readership. There are naturally plusses and minuses in a switch from a Branch Newsletter to a Regional one. We hope that some of the old IWAKES traditions have been carried forward in to Cargoes whilst at the same time providing a wider interest through our coverage of the Region as a whole.

Finally, elsewhere in this edition of Cargoes you will find details of the AGMs for the Region and Branches and we do urge you to get involved by coming to meetings and volunteering your services. A number of Branches are in desperate need of more active members. It seems likely that 2010 is going to be a particularly busy year both on funding issues (with political lobbying in advance of a General Election) and the return of the National to Beale Park in August.

Do join in if you possibly can and in the meantime we wish our readers the compliments of the season.

Cargoes Editorial Team

Cover Photo: Ron (Oxfordshire Branch Chairman's) boat "Heron” alias "Mary Celeste" was a worthy winner of this year’s "best dressed boat" at Banbury Canal Day, the theme for which was “Ghosts and Ghouls”.

[Photo: Peter Silver]

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Julia Hones It is with regret that we announce the death of Julia Hones who finally lost her battle with leukaemia on 27th October. Julia had been active within IWA for many years, initially in the Midlands where she lived on a boat in Diglis Basin and became Secretary of the Birmingham & Worcester Branch. Upon moving her mooring to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal she became Chairperson of the Gloucester and Hereford Branch, revitalising it before a move back to the Midlands. She had a three year term as a National Council member and then after a move bankside in the South East she joined both the Kent and East Sussex and subsequently the old S E Region Committees. She became a member of the new South East Region Committee upon its formation but with illness taking hold she was unable to play a role. Our sympathies go to members of her family.

From The Region Chairman Introduction

As the boating season draws to a close I find myself involved in more and more meetings. This is partly self-inflicted as I have strived to make an appearance across what is a very large patch. I have visited the iconic restoration projects of Wilts & Berks and also Wey & Arun whilst also using a meeting with Kent and East Sussex Branch as an opportunity to see both the Medway navigation and the lesser known Thames and Medway project. I enjoy attending the social events of region branches and local societies and have attended Oxfordshire Branch, K&A Newbury, Surrey & Hants talks together with the Guildford & Reading Branch walk. These are all excellent opportunities to meet both members and potential recruits. Meanwhile my duties include attendance at the Trustees Board meetings, Navigation Committee and Restoration Committee!

I was very pleased to attend the IWA National AGM in Milton Keynes where two Kent and East Sussex Branch stalwarts were recognised with awards: David Harman was given a Richard Bird medal for long distinguished Branch service and Roy Sutton was given the Cyril Styring trophy for his tireless work as an honorary IWA engineering consultant; my congratulations go to both of them.

Basingstoke Canal Update

Prior to my arrival on the scene I believed that Basingstoke Canal and in particular controversial conservation management issues were dominating Cargoes and I resolved to both lower the temperature and refocus attention onto the two issues that were affecting enjoyment of this attractive canal: the lack of money to repair the infrastructure and the lack of a reliable water supply for the pounds above the Deepcut flight. I have worked closely with our Surrey & Hants Canal Society

4 From the Region Chairman (Cont’d) (SHCS) colleagues to address these and I think it’s time for an update as we are approaching a critical time for this troubled canal.

IWA now has a seat on the Joint Management Committee at which Councillors from the two owner counties meet to decide resource allocation. Prior to attendance I had read the detailed structural survey on the condition of the locks which was a very sorry story indeed. At the meeting I bluntly stated that the canal was now in a state of near dereliction and the reason for this was lack of responsible ownership over a protracted period with insufficient resources for preventative maintenance. It’s very simple - if you don’t service your car you can save £150 a year but after 5 years you potentially write off your investment! It’s early days but I understand that despite the difficult financial times the two counties are putting in more capital funding for the canal but this will have to be sustained over a protracted period to make a difference.

The time for tough talking is not over yet.

Turning to the second issue of water supplies - the Frimley pump has now been repaired partly funded by SHCS and data is available on what it can deliver. Peter Redway (SHCS Chair) and myself met Tony Harrison (IWA consulting engineer) to revisit options. It’s clear that Frimley is only delivering a third of the water supply needed for maintaining the summit pounds whilst also permitting Deepcut operation in a typical Summer. We now know what we need to find and options such as increasing the capacity of Frimley, a new borehole and/or use of redundant MOD reservoirs at Bourley will be explored. This will necessitate the BCA to negotiate with the Environment Agency. There is no quick fix to the Basingstoke Canal woes but they can be resolved. Watch this space!

Save Our System (SOS2010) Campaign

It’s sobering to realise that the problems faced by the Basingstoke could be faced by much of the rest of the system if funding is reduced. IWA is concerned that the grant in aid for British Waterways is due to be cut by nearly 17% next year and whilst we do not yet know the settlement for Environment Agency navigation we suspect there may be a similar cut. There isn’t space here to fully outline the campaign which will run until just after the general election next year. Political lobbying will be a major feature and if you have internet access you can find more at www.sos2010.org.uk or ask your local IWA Branch for details. Stickers and promotional material are also available to branches/societies and I urge you all to get hold of these - I have already given many away. IWA believes that the threat of underinvestment in the waterways must be addressed by all stakeholders in the waterways – now! Unless we stand up to this we can expect more of the same.

Paul Roper

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National Festival & Boat Show 2010 Over 80 people, representing 22 organisations, attended the October Launch Meeting at the West Berkshire Council Offices in Newbury.

The Chairman of West Berkshire Council, Councillor Geoff Findlay OBE, said that the Council was honoured to have been chosen to host the Festival. He was delighted with the numbers attending the launch meeting and felt it boded well for the year to come. Councillor Findlay reminded everyone that 2010 would also mark 200 years of the Kennet & Avon Canal. Michael Shefras, MBE, a prominent figure in the Thames area, has kindly agreed to be the 2010 Festival Event Chairman.

Team leaders spoke about their roles and gave the following updates: Waterspace & Campsite – organising all the boat bookings, moorings and the campsite; 100 boats have already booked in to attend the Festival which shows what a popular site this is going to be. Over 600 craft can be accommodated and a similar number of camping units.

Attractions – looking for entertainers of all kinds, bands, morris sides, classic car clubs; Marketing – hoping to work with the local media to promote the Festival and also looking for any local companies that would like to support the Festival in return for publicity endorsement; UK Boat Hire have already offered a great waterways holiday for advance ticket purchasers and Waterways World is our headline sponsor.

Supplies – always looking for the best deals and hoping to work with local suppliers to bring economic benefit to the area.

Commercial – up to 300 exhibitors – both large and small - usually attend the Festival, displaying a very wide range of products. Any local companies or groups interested in taking exhibition space are invited to contact the Trade Hotline on 0844 800 6552.

Personnel – additional volunteers will be needed to run the Festival and anyone who feels they can give up some time to help, both before and during the Festival weekend – would be warmly welcomed. All volunteers receive a FREE Festival teeshirt !

Public Team Meetings to keep local people up to date on progress are to be held every month (except December), the next being at PANGBOURNE VILLAGE HALL, STATION ROAD, PANGBOURNE RG8 7AN on Monday, 23 November 2009 at 7 pm for 7.30 pm. For further information visit the website:www.waterways.org.uk or telephone the hotline 0844 800 6583.

Gillian Bolt Stop Press: It has just been announced that Timothy West, CBE, well known for many roles in stage, film and television productions and a waterways enthusiast, has kindly agreed to open the National Festival & Boat Show subject to filming commitments.

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South East Region AGM The Annual General Meeting of the South East Region of The Inland Waterways Association will be held on Thursday 25th February 2010 at 8pm at St Nicholas’ Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone (see Map on Page 17). An Agenda based on IWA Byelaws will apply as follows: 1. Apologies for absence 2. Matters arising from the Minutes of the AGM of the former Central Southern Region held on 11th March 2009 3, Report from the Region Chairman 4. Presentation and Adoption of Accounts 5. Election of members of the Committee 6. Any item for discussion of which the Region Chairman has been notified in writing by 7th January 2010

Salisbury Group Programme of Events On Thursday 3rd December, the Salisbury Group will again be taking part in the annual Waterways Quiz at Chilworth Village Hall organised by the Southampton Canal Society.

The group’s programme of meetings continues as follows: Thurs 10th Dec Christmas dinner at The Green Dragon (to book contact Myra Glover, if possible by 1st December) Thurs 21st Jan 2010 Liz Payne, Chairman of Cotswold Canals Trust.

Thurs 18th March Ron Heritage, Chairman Oxfordshire Branch.

Unless otherwise stated, meetings are at the Green Dragon, Alderbury, starting at 7.30pm where visitors will be warmly welcomed. Further information can be obtained from Ron & Myra Glover on 01722 710322 or from Jon Van de Geer on 01722 412841.

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Branch Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the Kent & East Sussex, Oxfordshire, Guildford & Reading and Solent & Arun Branches of The Inland Waterways Association will be held as follows: The Kent & East Sussex Branch AGM will take place on Thursday 25th February 2010 at St. Nicholas’ Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone, Kent. This meeting will commence once the South East Region AGM, which starts at 8pm, is completed.

The Oxfordshire Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 10th March 2010 at the Kidlington Recreational Trust Social Club, Yarnton Road, Kidlington, Oxfordshire OX5 1AT. The Guildford & Reading Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 15th March 2010 at the Byfleet Boat Club, The Boat House, 4 Old Parvis Road, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6LE. The Solent & Arun Branch AGM will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th March 2010 at The Norfolk Centre, Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9PA. The Agenda for the above meetings will be based on the standard format set out in IWA Byelaws as follows:

AGENDA 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Approval (following amendment if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year 3. Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items) 4. Branch Chairman's Report 5. Branch Treasurer's Report and Accounts 6. Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary. Simply contact the Chairman to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM) 7. Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chairman has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM

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Guildford & Reading Branch News Branch Publicity and Sales Stand Our final outside event of the year was at the Basingstoke Canal Boating Club’s Fox & Hounds Rally in September. The fine weather played its part in the success of this popular event which is fully reported in Steve Dallen’s article elsewhere in this edition of Cargoes.

Soon it will be time to start planning for the events we hope to attend next year when advance publicity for the Beale Park National and IWA’s Save Our System campaign will be important features of our participation. Our Stand has three main elements – the sale of second-hand waterways items (mainly books & maps), the Lucky Locks fundraising game and publicity displays to give information and aid recruitment. If you might be available to lend a hand, do get in touch with me (Ray Carnell) on 01483 282806 or send your details to the Cargoes Email address. Similarly I should like to hear if you have any waterways items (Books, Maps etc but NOT Magazines) you would like to donate for the Sales Stand.

RC

G&R Branch Walk Our Branch walk on the second Sunday of October was circular ramble from Colt Hill taking in Odiham Castle and the Eastern end of Greywell Tunnel with a lunchtime break at the Fox & Goose. Unfortunately, possibly due to the forecast of poor weather, only a handful of members took part but those of us who did were appreciative of David Millett’s leadership and his knowledge of activities over the years on that part of the Basingstoke Canal.

RC

Guildford & Reading Branch AGM Notice of the Branch AGM at Byfleet Boat Club on 15th March 2010 is given on page 7. We have invited Ian West (Chairman, IWA Festivals) to speak after the formal business of the meeting has been concluded.

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Fox & Hounds Rally The Basingstoke Canal Boating Club's annual Fox & Hounds rally at Fleet passed with much mirth and merriment over the penultimate weekend of September, enlivened by the arrival of the largest number of boat entries in recent times, including a sizeable contingent from the Steam Boat Association. Blessed once again with wonderful weather, the public came out in force to enjoy the boats and splendid barbecue at the pub. In fact the towpath became almost impassable midafternoon with the arrival of thirty Morris Men from the Yateley side who gave us a fantastic display en-route to whatever pub they were en-route to next !

The BCBC cake stall took a record amount of money, selling everything on show by mid-afternoon. Many thanks to the ladies who worked so hard baking cakes and manning (ladying?) the stall all day. Thanks also to the teams from IWA Guildford & Reading Branch and The Surrey & Hants Canal Society who spent the day answering loads of questions on their respective stands.

The prizes, kindly presented by BCA director Ian Brown and Fox & Hounds manager Simon Price, were: Best Presented Boat - David & Doreen Ward with their innovative electrically powered Sea Otter Best Presented Steam Boat - Derek & Sandra Brown with 'Vanessa' Furthest Travelled Boat - David Molyneux and 'Little Lamb', all the way from Hastings (93 miles) !

Now firmly established as THE end of season canal event, the Fox & Hounds rally goes from strength to strength. If you weren't there this year you certainly missed something and more is planned for next year - we hope to see you next September.

Steve Dallen

Steam Launch Simba joins boats at the Fox & Hounds Rally

[Photo Ray Carnell]

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S&HCS Social Meetings The new talks season started in fine style in October when a full house welcomed Tony Pratt giving an entertaining talk entitled ‘Lost Wey to the Sea’. This covered not only the Wey & Arun Canal with all the restoration that has taken place over recent years but also the Portsmouth & Arundel Canal. We were also treated to some humorous anecdotes in Tony’s recollections of his involvement in the re-enactment, a few years ago, of J B Dashwood’s trip along the Wey & Arun in the 1860s recounted in that well-known book ‘The Thames to the Solent by Canal and Sea’.

The programme of talks continues to April 2010 on the third Wednesday of each month starting at 8pm at the usual venue the Parish Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Station Road, Chobham. Coffee/tea and biscuits will be available during the interval.

Non members and friends are very welcome.

The future programme is as follows:Wed 16th December Brian Stovold - 'The Wilts and Berks Canal - Past, Present and Future' Brian Stovold, a Director of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust and Chairman of the East Vale Branch, will cover the history of this navigation and describe the current position and future of this important project to connect up waterways in this part of the south west, where restoration is taking place at locations over a wide area.

Wed 20th January 2010 Peter Oates - 'The Itchen Navigation' Peter Oates, well known to us as a member of the Southampton Canal Society and a working party leader during the restoration of the Deepcut locks, will be returning to talk about the history of this navigation. He will also describe the current work that is taking place with Lottery funds to cosmetically restore some of the locks and features of the waterway.

Wed 17th February Roddy McKee - 'Tale of Two Steamers - Waverley and Kingswear Castle' Roddy will be recounting the history of these two restored paddle steamers and updating us on the ongoing work that has been taking place over the years to keep these historic vessels in operation, including the two stages of large rebuilds. They are the only two operational sea going paddle steamers left in this country, and long may they be so.

Wed 17th March Ron and Myra Glover - 'Crossing Germany from west to east' Ron and Myra will be describing and illustrating their cruises in Germany in their steel motor cruiser from the River Rhine in the west through to Berlin and then north to the Mecklenburg Lakes and back to Berlin thence eastwards to the Polish border.

11 Wed 21st April Runnalls Davis - 'Birds,Beaux,Barges and a Great Big Bang - The Regent's Canal' One of our popular speakers returns again to talk about London's very own canal which is comparatively little known, and this voyage follows it from its somewhat sordid beginnings at Limehouse on the Thames to the sublime Regency beauty of Little Venice. Its history and changing fortunes are described, as well as some of its landmark buildings, strange curiosities and the eccentric characters who have left their mark on it.

For further information on this talks programme please contact David Millett on 01252 617364.

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Meetings Both the Newbury and Reading Sections of the Trust hold a series of autumn/winter monthly meetings to which non-members are always welcome.

The Newbury Meetings are at The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf at 7.45pm prompt (doors open 30 mins before). Admission is free, light refreshments and ample parking (ÂŁ1 charge). Further Newbury meetings are as follows: Wed 27th January 2010 A Racy Victorian Lady Restored: The restoration of the Goring built Thames steam umpiring launch Consuta. By Derek Brown of the Consuta Trust.

Wed 24th February The Cotswold Canals Restoration

By Liz Payne, Chairman of the Cotswold Canals Trust.

This restoration is a key one in the south of England. The Trust suffered something of a setback when financial pressures forced British Waterways to withdraw from the restoration partnership in early 2008 but it has picked itself up and dusted itself down and is forging ahead again.

Wed 31st March Boat Building & Industry at Honey Street

By Adrian Softley

The Reading meetings are held on the last Friday of the Month (not in December) at All Saints Church Hall, Downshire Sq, Reading RG1 6NH (off the A4 Bath Road, Reading end) at 7.30 for 8pm start. A ÂŁ2.50 per person donation is requested towards the hire of hall and provision of refreshments.

Further details can be obtained from John or Pam Swift on 0118 941 5540, More information can be found on the K&A Trust Website: www.katrust.org.uk

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Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group Richard Davenport, our MWRG correspondent, reports: Following public consultation, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) has adopted a comprehensive Waterways Framework policy.

Technically a Supplementary Planning Brief, and part of the Local Development Framework, the new policy is a key enabler for the restoration of the derelict Waterways that run through Maidenhead town centre. Despite being known as a riverside town, Maidenhead town centre lies 2/3 mile away from and is only loosely connected to the main River Thames. The new policy aims to protect the overall Waterway route from incompatible developments and any new development that is allowed near the Waterway will be required to follow certain guidelines (e.g. active frontages onto the waterway, no fencing off, minimum required buffer zones) and to also directly contribute to the realisation of the Waterways vision. A formal protocol has also been agreed whereby the council is empowered to directly channel S106 (developer contributions - well, perhaps post recesssion..!) towards funding implementation of the Waterways project.

The council appointed Partnership for the Rejuvenation of Maidenhead (PRoM) has embraced the Waterways project as one of five key projects that can together transform Maidenhead town centre, while enabling it to better reflect the greenery and water of its Thames Valley setting. A Vision and Action Plan for the town centre has been adopted after public consultation and PRoM is now working on an Area Action Plan that will flesh out the plans and carry them forward into an updated Local Development Framework. The choice of Maidenhead as the western terminus for Cross-rail is expected to boost inward investment to the town and in this context funding the waterways project - whilst still a huge challenge - may be easier than it otherwise would be.

In the meantime, the charity Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group is concentrating on developing a robust, fully supported planning application for the first stage of the Waterways plans. This will include a lock and weir at Green Lane, to raise town centre water levels, plus selected channel widening and some dredging of the channels to enable small boats to pass into and around Maidenhead town centre. The planning application will require an Environmental Impact Assessment, including proof of water resources, flood risk assessment, ecology, tree and bat surveys, etc.. Much of this work has already been undertaken via sponsorship, but further funding support is needed to complete the planning application.

More details of the Maidenhead Waterways project can be seen on the Group's web site at www.maidenheadwaterways.org.

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River Thames News Thames Paddle & Rymer Weirs Of the nine Paddle & Rymer weirs still remaining on the River, five (those at Radcot, Northmoor, Mapledurham, Blakes and Molsey) have been the subject of recent consultation as to their future. Of these, Radcot and Northmoor are the only full weirs. This has become an issue because it has been pointed out to the Environment Agency that operation of such weirs, especially when the River is flowing strongly, puts unacceptable physical strain on the operator and could cause injury.

Most Thames weirs have been modernised already and so to replace five more Paddle & Rymer structures is difficult to argue against and work to replace is expected to start next year. However, heritage value is extremely important and examples of operational structures must be retained and available for practical demonstration. Thames weirs of timber construction were common in the 14th and 15th centuries and some were much earlier than that. Thus, the remaining Paddle & Rymer weirs are the last of a series of timber structures that have evolved over some one thousand years - ever since the river was first ‘controlled’ in any way.

The other four P & R weirs are at Rushey (a full weir), Iffley, Goring (at the Mill) and Streatley and English Heritage and the Department for Culture Media and Sport have announced that three of these (not Iffley) are to be ‘listed’. That leaves EA with the engineering challenge of how to keep them intact and at the same time replace their function with modern structures.

Staff on the river seem equally divided; some regard P & R weirs as an enjoyable skills and experience challenge – others prefer buttons to press.

The ideal, if it were possible, would probably be to retain and maintain one or two demonstration P & R weirs which were not material to day-to-day river management. To include a Flash lock in such a structure (the last example was removed in 1937) is surely worthy of consideration.

John Dalton

Proposed new Visitor Moorings at Wallingford Proposals to create additional short-stay moorings and service facilities at Wallingford have been coming together very slowly over the past five years and have now reached the critical Planning Application stage for moorings for about six boats, an improved operations base for Salters’ Steamer and a water-point – with provision for pump-out, etc to be added later. Our main concern is that the landing height for the moorings has come out at between 1.1 and 1.5 m above water level

14 – much too high for practical use by very many boaters and indeed, the highest on the non-tidal Thames.

The Applicants (South Oxfordshire District Council) agree that the design they are proposing is indeed a ‘compromise’ and as such we have to say that it bears little resemblance to what is required or the purpose for which it was created! We believe that the interests of all parties could be met to a reasonable and satisfactory extent with an alternative design solution and river users have therefore structured their responses in a positive way to explore that option and recommend it for the Council’s consideration Our hope is that SODC – who are both Applicant and Judge – will recognise the shortcomings of the present Plans and (as we believe is entirely possible) quickly produce an alternative proposal that can satisfy all needs and interests. If such a course can be pursued without further ado, it may still be possible to have the new facilities in place in time for the heavy influx of river traffic (some five hundred visiting boats, mostly from other waterways) that the National Festival & Boat Show at Beale Park in August 2010 will bring to our part of the River Thames.

John Dalton

News from November Working Group Meeting By the end of January (after a lengthy campaign by user groups) all the mechanised locks on the river will allow out-of-hours user operation, but we know there are still some issues around the use and timing of these that EA are investigating. After 3 years of hefty increases, boat registration fees have been kept down to a 3.5% increase for 2010 ---a small benefit of our current low inflation rate. There has been a small increase in boat registrations this year, and a bigger increase in hire boats, now up to 157 on the river. DEFRA have asked BW and EA to investigate joint efficiencies, possibly craft registration at first. There is to be a campaign on boat name marking, and there have been recent trials with a mobile speed gun. Unpowered boaters have again been asking for lock chains to be regularly cleaned; but EA Officers have been unable to persuade EA Staff to undertake this work---stalemate! Users have again asked EA to see how they could usefully use volunteer help on the river, but they have not been able to come up with any scheme (at least in Thames) so far. The first consultation document on flood relief measures (including diversion channels) to more adequately protect property in the Datchet--Teddington reach of the river following the 2002/2003 floods have been published. If you live or boat in this area it behoves you to acquaint yourselves with what is proposed by going along to one of the public exhibitions; or checking out the documents in a local public library, or on following website http:/consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/re/flood/thames/lts and to contact IWA SE Region who are appraising these if you have any suggestions or concerns.

Tony Davis

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IWAKES Branch News Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust (SORT) Great progress on Isfield Lock With the end of the summer comes the end of the restoration work that can be achieved at Isfield Lock on the River Ouse in Sussex. However the last six months have seen the work come on in leaps and bounds and all restoration targets have been met and surpassed thanks to the commitment of the regular working parties and the welcome dry weather that has been a feature of the summer in the southeast. The restoration of the east wall of the lock chamber was completed, using original bricks and coping stones, by early August, allowing work to continue on the restoration of the downstream east wing wall. This was achieved by the dedication and guidance of Paul Morris and Ted Lintott who can both be justifiably proud.

The east upstream training wall then became the unexpected next target for the year. The stone wall had already been partially demolished. The bank was reinforced and back-filled and the wall rebuilt with original stone previously recovered and cleaned. During this work the ground paddle culvert was exposed, having been bricked up many years ago. The tunnel, found to be in perfect condition, was cleared of silt and a small amount of debris.

The site and compound around the lock has been cleared, cleaned and secured for the winter months. However before the 2010 working parties can resume in April a plan has to be put into place as to the way forward to tackle the extensive restoration required of the west lock chamber wall. SORT will require funds and commitment equal to, and beyond, that so far required in their work. The badly damaged west wall will likely provide many additional challenges to those so far met.

Terry Owen

Thames and Medway Canal Association (TMCA) On account of the dry summer, and the drop in the water level, we now have the installation of the pump within our sights. A few permissions are still to be agreed but a contractor has been appointed and work should start in November. The structure of the canal between Mark Lane and the Swing bridge has been finalised and we should see some movement on this front following an agreement with Network Rail to arrange a lease for work to commence.

16 Excavation on the lock, leading out of the Gravesend basin into the canal, is needed to find out if the walls and top are intact. Permissions to carry out this work were agreed with the landowner at a site meeting in October.

We have completed two lobbying shots to all local councillors and persons concerned with the Albion Peninsular development in an effort to have the canal reinstated before the residents move in. There have been some assurances that every effort will be made for this to happen.

As always more volunteers are needed to help with this work; any IWA member living in the area would be welcome, contact David Rouse (01474 362861) for information.

Brian Macknish

Paul Roper’s Visit to TMCA Paul Roper visited the Thames and Medway Canal Association recently for the first time to see the progress and to meet Chairman Brian Macknish (side photo). Paul also saw the in-water section at Mark Lane, the Swing Bridge and the Vista and Obelisk at Higham before attending an IWA Kent & East Sussex Committee meeting.

Bernard Snell

Wilderness Trail Boat Gathering - corrigendum This topic was reported in the previous edition of Cargoes when it was attributed to Roy Sutton. It has since been pointed out that this was incorrect as the article was actually written by Bernard Snell (who was responsible for the organization of the event) and Angela Acott – Ed.

Future IWAKES and Other Events Thursday 10th December 2009: 7:30 for 8pm: “Gravesend Lifeboat and the RNLI” by Ian (Helmsman) and Tina Smith: At Gravesend Sailing Club, The Promenade, Gravesend: Joint IWAKES meeting with TMCA:

17 Thursday 21st January 2010: 7:30 for 8pm. Roy Chandler, Chairman of Essex Waterways Limited, presents ‘The Chelmer & Blackwater’ at Strood Yacht Club, Knights Road, Strood (map below).

Thursday 25th February 2010: IWA S E Region and IWAKES Branch AGM’s times and agenda are given on pages 6 and 7 in this edition of Cargoes. After the formal meetings there will be a quiz, with Martin Ludgate’s questions, posed by Paul Roper. The meetings will be held at St Nicholas’ Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone (map below).

Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES evening meetings.

Strood Yacht Club

St Nicholas Church Hall, Maidstone

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Oxfordshire Branch News Chairman’s Notes It seems incredible that so much has happened since I last wrote my Cargoes Notes back in August. In this Cargoes I must wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as it will be distributed in November. Just one more social event left for 2009 - come and join in our skittles night December 9th - always a good fun evening and great value.

I am also reminded that, as we have to give a minimum of 21 days notice, we need to announce the AGM (March 2010) in this edition of Cargoes as our spring edition may be too late. How time flies when you are enjoying yourself!

Mary, our Events and Volunteers Co-ordinator, has provided reports on both of our autumn events. Oxford’s “Open Doors” when for the first time we “opened” the waterways as part of the City’s Heritage week end and Banbury Canal Day. Suffice to say that while there are always lessons to learn both events went off well. They must have done as we have already been asked to be repeating them next year.

We had good support from a number of our members who had volunteered at either one or both of these, though please be aware we will require even more help in the coming year.

Next year’s events (2010) We are in the process of planning an event in Banbury in April/May to start off the Tom Rolt Centenary Celebrations (see separate article). In August we welcome the IWA National Festival back to Beale Park on the Thames and I recently attended the first planning meeting for this event - more news next time. The Oxford “Open Doors” Heritage weekend event will once again be in early September but we have yet to decide if we can run this event next year. Banbury Canal is a definite date for your diaries and will take place on Sunday 3rd October.

Now comes the bad news. You will find elsewhere our winter and spring Social Events Programme. In March we have our AGM but note that, as yet, we do not have a speaker for April and have not arranged a meeting for May. Arranging the social programme has been yet another task which Mary and I have undertaken as we still have a vacancy for a Social Secretary. If we cannot fill this position either before or at our AGM then sadly our main means of meeting YOU will cease. It is just not possible for us to continue to fulfil all of these roles and we must prioritise what we undertake. As a Registered Charity the Inland Waterways Association has to fulfil it’s obligation to the public to “Keep the Waterways Alive” and promote the “Benefits of the Inland Waterways for All” We as members must promote the IWA by encouraging people to join and support these aims. Events where we meet

19 the public therefore have to come first. If you can take on the role of Social Secretary I would be pleased to hear from you and of course give you my support.

Ron Heritage

Oxford Heritage Weekend “Open doors” We were delighted, along with British Waterways, to be asked to become involved with this event by the new Oxford City Canal Partnership.

The national Heritage Open Doors weekend has been celebrated in Oxford City for the last three years. It is organised by the Oxford Preservation Trust and known locally as “Oxford Open Doors”. This was the first time that the Oxford Canal has been publicly recognised as a major part of the City’s Heritage. Our objective was to show the public the advantages and benefits that a waterway can bring to an area.

Based in the newly refurbished Hythe Bridge pocket park, we had displays showing the history of the Oxford Canal from its start near Coventry to its destination at the terminal basin and wharves within the City. One day we hope to see a proper terminus reopened.

Oxfordshire Chairman Ron Heritage has the attention of VIP’s, including BW Officials and Civic Dignitaries, at the Oxford Open Doors event.

[Photo: Peter Silver]

20 Oxford Heritage Weekend (Cont’d) A colourful display on our Chairman’s narrow boat, showing the History of the Oxford Canal, drew lots of attention. Canal walks and boat trips attracted hundreds of people and the children enjoyed making/decorating various “canal” linked crafts.

The British Waterways’ roadshow was present and had lots of interest in their displays about their 2020 Vision plus Oxford Canal walk leaflets etc. With such success I hope this may become a regular feature in our calendar.

Mary Heritage

Banbury Canal Day This event seems to get bigger every year. This year 37 boats booked in, all stalls were “let” indeed Tricia from Banbury Town Council who does the bookings was overwhelmed with requests and many were disappointed As “Harbour masters” we had the difficult task of allocating mooring for the boats. It was almost impossible to provide appropriate locations for everyone and indeed we were almost glad when at the last minute 4 boats were unable to attend. This year’s theme was “Ghosts and Ghouls” and the boaters did us proud.

The prize for the best individual went to one of our members, Peter Cole, who was a “headless ghost.”

[Photo: Peter Silver]

21 In previous years there has been rivalry between “Mr Badger” and us, in friendly fashion you understand, for the “Best Dressed Boat”. Well this year “Mary Celeste” alias NB Heron won!!!! (see Front Cover photo). However we were pleased that Mr Badger (Jane and Patrick Cruse) who always put such a lot of effort in for “dogs for the disabled” won too - as Best Charity stand - so congratulations to them.

With the current financial situation sponsorship was not quite so easy this year and some of the usual things, e.g. children’s crafts, could not be afforded. But the weather was kind and the crowds turned out in their thousands. Thanks to David Dare, Oxfordshire Narrow Boats and Matt at Tooleys boatyard we were once again able to provide free boat trips and a taxi service to Sovereign boatyard, where a number of dancing displays and other interesting events took place. A total of 34 IWA volunteers gave their time and enjoyed themselves too, gallantly manning the lock and lift bridge, crewing the boats, helping control the waiting queues and assisting with the waterside duties in connection with the boat trips, manning the IWA shop and promotion stand but most importantly talking to the visitors.

Next year Canal Day is already booked for 3rd October 2010. See you there.

I would like to express our thanks to our photographer Peter Silver, who attended both the Oxford and Banbury events. He is one of our members who in addition to taking all of the pictures at our events works as a volunteer in between times. So while we express our thanks to all of our many volunteers, I would like to name him in particular.

Mary Heritage

Social Events Report At our September meeting, Hugh Jaeger, Secretary of the Friends of Oxford Canal (FOXCAN), gave us an illustrated talk about one of his, and our, favourite topics: The Oxford Canal Terminal Basin.

Hugh has spent much time researching this part of the canal’s history and had many interesting pictures of the area we now think of as “Worcester street car park” Hugh explained that the terminal basin and its associated wharves took up much more space than the car park, and much of it lies under Nuffield College. Our hopes are of course to see some of the area restored and once again have a terminal basin in Oxford City Centre where short term mooring will be available for visiting boats. The West End Development plan includes this as the preferred option. Hugh’s talk was very timely, as it was only days before the Oxford Heritage “Open Doors” weekend.

In October we welcomed Ron and Myra Glover from Salisbury who shared with us some of their adventures travelling for many years on the canals of Europe. In particular, venturing on the lesser known canals and waterways in Germany. They have a wealth of experience in these areas so if you are thinking of going to that part of the world you could not do better than to consult with them for a few tips.

22 Forthcoming events Wed 9th December

Skittles evening and Buffet Supper

Wed 13th January 2010

Ron and Mary Heritage.

Highlights from some of their ventures on the

Waterways, including: Tidal Thames to Gravesend: On the Mersey (Liverpool) and the waterways in Scotland Wed 10th February 2010

Roger Squires. (Past Commodore of the St. Pancras Cruising Club) “Cruises with the Club” Past and Future

Wed 10th March 2010

Oxfordshire Branch AGM (see Agenda published on page 7 of this Cargoes)

Wed 14th April

to be arranged

Meetings are held in the Sports and Social Club, Yarnton Road, Kidlington, at 7.30 for 8.00pm. New Members and Visitors will be made most welcome.

For more details or directions phone Ann Yeatman Tel: 01865 372552.

Tom Rolt Centenary Celebrations As many of you know by now, in 2010 IWA are planning to commemorate the life of Tom Rolt one of the founder members of the Association. In June it will be one hundred years since his birth. He was born in Chester and Chester Branch are planning a birthday celebration including his other interests such as Vintage Cars and railways. The book “Narrowboat” which Tom wrote was about his honeymoon trip in Cressy with wife Angela. They moored in Banbury and left Banbury for the “Cressy Cruise”. It therefore seems fitting for Oxfordshire Branch to focus this Cruise in their celebrations.

We are in the very early stages of planning but one thing we are determined to do is to re-enact the cruise. Ron and I will spend our summer cruising along this route.

If anyone out there cares to join us for all, or part, of this then please get in touch as we would welcome some company.

We are working with a number of other organisations, including sixth form students from North Oxford Academy, to plan an event in Banbury based on information in “Narrowboat” and using that period as the theme.

23 “Heron” will be leaving Tooleys Boatyard on 24th April to start the trip. It is hoped we will be accompanied with an escort and move up the Oxford Canal, just as Tom and Angela did in 1939.

Much work has yet to be carried out, not just with our Branch but with Branches everywhere that we will join en route. We will be in Chester for the birthday celebration then re-join the original route eventually returning via Banbury to end up at the National Festival in Beale Park on the Thames at the end of August.

More details next time or please contact me if you want to know more in the meantime.

Mary Heritage

A Christmas card story by Michele Field Over the years many nice things have happened to me as an artist and this is just one example.

This year IWA have chosen to use one of my paintings for a 2009 Christmas card.

The cards are simply titled "Early Morning Walk with Dougal" I was so pleased they had chosen this painting as the dog in the painting was our much missed Dougal who we lost earlier in the year. I feel this is a lovely tribute to our little friend and the girl in the painting is my youngest daughter Emily, so this is really very special to me. So look out for the cards and send them to all your friends and family this Christmas and you have a little story to tell to.

If you have missed my various exhibitions this year, please feel welcome to contact me directly if you might like to purchase any of my canal mounted prints, priced from only £35, which can make ideal gifts for Christmas or any time of year.

Examples can be viewed on the following websites: www.britishartists.co.uk/michele_field www.saa.co.uk/art/michele Wishing you all a merry Xmas and New Year Michele & Richard Field [Michele’s Christmas Card design (Code X093) along with a variety of Cards and Gifts, are now on sale through www.iwashop.com. Ed]

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Solent and Arun Branch News Chairman’s Report There is a perception that the Inland Waterways Association is just a narrow boat owners club, this is far from the case, the Association campaigns for the waterways themselves and the asset they are to all users. Down in our area we work with the Itchen project, the towpath of which is the most popular footpath in Hampshire.

Another misconception is that the Association is part of British Waterways, we deal with all authorities looking after navigations all over the country. In fact if this was the case I don’t think British Waterways would want a Solent & Arun branch!!!

One of the reasons behind the formation of the branch in the late seventies was to improve access to the River Arun in particular as well as the other rivers in our area. The Arundel Boat Club has recently achieved a great step forward when the TV presenter Ben Fogle opened the new public mooring pontoon at Arundel during September. Congratulations to Nigel Edwards and all at the Arundel Boat Club on a successful campaign. We ourselves have been involved in various slipway schemes on the Arun and an ill-fated pontoon scheme that foundered at the last minute when matching funding was withdrawn. We are also campaigning to improve access to the River Adur at present.

The branch will once again be fielding a team in the Southampton Canal Society’s Annual Quiz on Thursday 3rd December. This Intersociety Quiz, followed by an American Supper, is held in Chilworth Village Hall. If you would like to take part in a great evening then please get in contact.

We are currently planning events for 2010 any suggestions or requests then please let me know, so watch this space for more good news from the Arundel Boat Club!!!

Mike Laishley

Solent & Arun AGM This will be held at 7.30 pm on Thursday 25th March at The Norfolk Centre, Arundel (full details and an Agenda will be found earlier in this Edition of Cargoes). We will follow the AGM with a talk by the travel author Liam D'Arcy Brown on the Chinese Grand Canal. The waterway stretches over 1100 miles, crosses several major river valleys and is 1400 years old. Liam is an expert on China and the first westerner to travel the full length of the canal in over two hundred years. A talk not to be missed!

25 Working Parties and other activities If you want to be kept in touch, electronically, with details of working parties, trips and meetings then send your e-mail address to mike.iwa@ntlworld.com and you will be added to our mailing list.

Itchen Working Parties These have continued with work at St Catherines Lock during November, the last one being on Friday 27th. For further details contact myself or Polly Whyte, Itchen Navigation Project Officer, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, Hampshire,SO32 2DP. Email: PollyW@hwt.org.uk. Telephone: 01489 774400.

Mike Laishley

River Hamble Cruise

(Hambling 2009 ‌ and a common Myth) Five boats, with crews, enjoyed a super day on the River Hamble on 20 September. Our September cruise alternates between the lovely Beaulieu River, from Bucklers Hard up to Beaulieu, and the River Hamble. This year, we launched at Lower Swanwick, midway up the Hamble. This is almost the upper limit for masted boats, which can't get under Bursledon Bridge on the A27. But at high tide the river is navigable for another four miles, to Botley Quay.

So we set off among the top-of-the-range yachts and power cruisers, many worth more than a new narrowboat. As always, one wonders what value people get out of these boats, which spend so much of the time just sitting on their expensive moorings. And the same's true of the cut, these days (the author enjoys shared ownership of a narrowboat).

After passing under the M27, the river is wide and very quiet, with open banks and some woodland. Manor Farm Country Park has its own pontoon landing stage but we press on to Curbridge, for lunch at the 'Horse and Jockey', on the A3051. This is the effective limit of navigation on the eastern arm of the Hamble. The picnic tables outside provide a welcome break from our outboard motors and the awkward seating of small boats (this year, two small day cruisers, two inflatable’s and one rigid dinghy). After a drink and a bite to eat, we set off back down to the confluence and up the western arm of the river to Botley (see Back Cover photo). The Parish Council have kindly mown the grass on the quay, but the usual horse chestnut tree has sprouted again, preventing access to the south face of the quay. (Noted, for

26 Harbourmaster's action). So we tie to mooring spikes or a tree, on the east face of the quay, where the local canoe club soon arrive to recover their craft and stow them in the old Bark Store. The bolder among us press on up to the A334 at Botley Mill; one dinghy gets under the main road, alongside the mill, and right up to the small weir. Time for a cup of tea at the quay and back down river to recover our boats. Our Treasurer's car is surrounded by salt water in the process, on the good natural, but very gently-sloping, hard, but recovers the boat OK. Our erstwhile Cruise Organiser, Peter Boyce, is now busy with proper boats at Braunston and elsewhere; he used to write some lovely prose about gentle autumn cruises and how it's always sunny. This used to worry the author, but always proved true. This year we didn't say it would be sunny, and it wasn't. Maybe we should tempt fate again?

And the myth? The double high tide, which enables us to be at Curbridge at the first high water, and an hour later at Botley with the second high water, is only partly, if at all, due to the tide coming in both ways around the Isle of Wight.

Southampton Water is not the only place where the double high tide occurs; it also happens all along the coast between Swanage and Selsey Bill. It's all due to the constriction of the Straits of Dover, which bottles up the incoming tide from the Atlantic and reflects it back down the Channel. But the Island may enhance the effect in the Solent.

Southampton's advantages as a port include the small tidal range on the south coast, only 15-20 feet. This compares with up to 40 feet in the Bristol Channel. So ships are not delayed by locking into docks to berth, but lie alongside on the Test and Itchen, afloat at all states of the tide.

Andy Berncastle

Southampton Canal Society Forthcoming events held at Chilworth Parish Hall, Chilworth, Southampton S016 7JZ ( OS Grid Ref SU410184). All Starting at 7.45 pm Thursday 3rd December Inter-Society Canal Quiz, followed by an American Supper. Teams: IWA Salisbury, Solent & Arun, Guildford & Reading, Southampton CS (possible challenge from a Ladies Team!). Members & Friends welcome.

Thursday 7th January 2010 Member’s Photographic Evening, (slides, prints and photo competition, virtually any format will do).

Thursday 4th February

Eric & Sue Lewis: "Round Britain in the 1970's"

Thursday 4th March

Alan Copeland: "Curiosities of the Chilterns�

Angela Rose

27

Wey & Arun News Pulborough Autumn meeting The Wey & Arun Canal Trust's autumn meeting, held on 24 October at Pulborough Village Hall, was attended by a packed house of canal supporters. Following the formal business of the meeting, the chairman of W&A Enterprises Ltd, Dusty Miller, outlined the history of the restoration and refurbishing of the narrow boat Zachariah Keppel, and the commissioning of the latest trip boat, the Wiggonholt. The two 12seater boats, John Smallpeice and Josias Jessop were also described.

Chris Harrison, the Bramley Link manager, described the WACT’s next major project that will ultimately join the canal to the River Wey. He commented on the remarkable turn-around in public support for this phase of the restoration.

Although the final solution has still to be agreed a number of options were outlined.

It is the intention to create a ‘green corridor’ through which the canal will run, bypassing the various developments that have occurred since the original canal fell into disrepair. In this connection the Loxwood project manager, Eric Walker, outlined the future extension of the current navigable section from Loxwood Lock, through Devil's Hole Lock (scheduled for reopening in April 2010), then Southlands and Gennets Locks. Finally, the new Wey-South Path walk guide was launched.

Appointment of a new Press Officer It will be recalled from the previous edition of Cargoes that Sally Schupke had taken on the role of Chairman to the Wey and Arun Canal Trust (WACT) thus leaving the post of Press Officer vacant. It is with pleasure that the Trust have now announced the appointment of Bill Thomson to this post.

Bill lives in Horsham, West Sussex and has worked in journalism for over 20 years, mostly with maritime and boating magazines, however he is no stranger to the Trust as he first joined in the 1970s. He took part in various working parties along the canal, and throughout the 1980s he served on the Council of Management. He rejoined WACT earlier this year taking over the wider Public Relations role.

After the announcement, Bill commented that he was pleased to be able to offer his experience to this highly worthwhile project and he was very encouraged by the strong public support that the canal project enjoys. He also noted that the project has become one of the country’s foremost canal restoration schemes; thanks, in the main, to the success of establishing a navigable section at Loxwood, including the ambitious and expensive engineering works such as the tunnel under the B2133 road and the rebuilt Drungewick aqueduct. It was incredible that this had been achieved entirely through voluntary effort and he paid tribute to the volunteer teams behind the project.

28 Appointment of a Chief Engineer The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has recently appointed John Talbot, to the Trust. John is a renowned Chartered Engineer with over 45 years experience in civil engineering consultancy, and has been involved in a variety of projects on canals, rivers, inland marinas, etc., both in the UK and worldwide. This long experience fits ideally to the challenges faced by WACT in its future restoration work.

Announcing John’s appointment, WACT Chairman Sally Schupke said, “I am delighted to welcome John Talbot to this role. We needed this position to be filled by a currently practising, or recently retired, Chartered Civil Engineer, who has the experience and capability to provide our restoration teams with a well-informed second opinion on the many tasks ahead.” In response to Sally’s welcome John said that it is invariably better to be proactive rather than reactive to situations; it is always cheaper to design well to avoid disasters than to try and repair an inadequate job that has failed.

John is reinstating the Trust’s former Engineering Group, which will work closely with WACT’s Restoration Group and Council of Management and he looks forward to being able to pass on his experience to the various project managers.

Brick Development Association’s Awards These awards aim to recognise excellence in design and construction using brick.

While hundreds of entries are submitted annually, this year the Loxwood Lock project has reached the last six entrants in the refurbishment category, which is a remarkable achievement for a volunteer-led project. It is interesting to note that Loxwood is ranked alongside such high-budget projects as the King’s Cross Station redevelopment and the UK Centre for Carnival Arts, Luton.

Wiggonholt - Disabled Access Thanks in part to a generous grant from the Southern Co-operative Association; more people can now enjoy quiet cruising along the historic and picturesque canal.

An electric lift has now been commissioned onboard the Trust’s newest trip boat which means that those who are unable to negotiate the steps into the boat from the landing stage can embark and disembark with the minimum of fuss. The lift and the associated portable ramp have been designed to take wheelchairs, and to operate simply and quickly, meaning that cruises now accommodate several disabled passengers, who can enjoy all of the facilities onboard.

At the testing of the access the Trust Chairman, Sally Schupke, said, “The new lift on Wiggonholt rounds off an incredible year for the canal here at Loxwood. As well as opening the new bridge and lock we have carried over 6,800 people on our boats during this season. All of this is achieved purely through volunteer efforts”.

29 Sponsored Cycle Ride On Sunday 6th September the first ‘Pedal’ sponsored cycle ride took place following the lead of WACT’s long-established annual ‘Poddle’ sponsored walk. Like the Poddle, the Pedal’s aim is to raise funds for the restoration of the canal link between the River Wey near Guildford and the South Coast. This first Pedal attracted some 22 cyclists who followed a figure-of-eight route, covering about 30 miles, including stretches of canal between Bramley, where the route started and finished, and Loxwood. The front runners completed the ride in just less than four hours.

Event organiser Simon Clark said: “The weather was ideal for cycling, dry with little wind but not too warm. The riders all seemed to enjoy the, mostly off-road, route and the highlight of the day was a visit to the recently opened Loxwood Lock Overall, the ride is likely to raise over £1000 for the Trust, a great effort given the experimental nature of this first event.”

WACT is grateful to St Catherine’s School for providing facilities to the Trust members who provided refreshments at the start and finish, and also to all the riders for their superb efforts.

Shalford Consultation As mentioned in the previous edition of Cargoes the meetings with, and presentations to, the residents of Shalford and other interested parties took place over the weekend of 26/27 September. Over 320 people visited an exhibition staged in the Shalford Village Hall, near Guildford. The aim of the event was to demonstrate the proposals for linking the waterway to the River Wey, providing a local amenity in the form of a ‘green corridor’. To gauge reaction to the proposals, visitors were invited to complete a short questionnaire; well over half of the visitors did so – proving the strength of local feeling about the canal project.

The results of the survey showed that over 90% were in favour of restoring the canal, with only 6.7% who said that they were against the proposals. Of the respondents, about 40% lived in Shalford and another 40% in the surrounding villages, with the rest from further afield. Nearly 88% said that they would find the ‘green corridor’ attractive for walking, and about 56% said they would visit the canal to observe wildlife. Boating and canoeing attracted the support of 52%, with 42% wanting to cycle along the towpath. Other popular activity choices were photography (36%), picnicking (30%) and fishing (5%).

Sally Schupke, chairman of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust was highly encouraged by the positive response. “The aim of the consultation was to demonstrate that the

30 Shalford Consultation (Cont’d) Wey & Arun Canal Trust's major objective is to enhance the natural environment," she said. “We were seeking feedback on the concept of the canal through Shalford, and not, at this stage, proposing specific routes as these are still to be detailed.”

She also stressed that much more thought and discussion with local residents needs to be undertaken before concrete proposals can be put forward.

Further information see the web site: http://www.weyandarun.co.uk or contact the Trust’s Office on 01403 752403 or Email to: office@weyandarun.co.uk.

Wilts & Berks Canal News Martin Buckland, who is a Director of the Trust and Chairman of the Abingdon Branch, has provided the following report.

The Jubilee Junction connection with the River Thames South of Abingdon was three years old on 30 August 2009. Photos of the 150 metres long new cut have been taken on the each anniversary of the opening. The watervole - friendly soft banking is now very well established with the bankside aquatic vegetation over a metre high and several alder trees that were planted last year have grown well.

The new Regional Chairman, Paul Roper, visited Jubilee Junction on 18 September to see what plans there were for extending further inland but this all depends on the outcome of the Public Enquiry for the Thames Water Abingdon Reservoir.

Construction, if approved, will not start for a further four and a half years. A party led by Linda Wilkinson, Chairman of the Chichester Ship Canal Trust visited the site on 2 October to see first hand how the soft banking was surviving.

The principal of ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’ was admirably demonstrated in connection with the rebuilt arch bridge at Steppingstone Lane near Shrivenham.

I e-mailed a likely department at Didcot Power Station to ask if we could have some Pulverized Fuel Ash (PFA) free of charge to build up the approaches to the arch.

The very next morning there was a phone call from the senior manager at RWE Npower, who operate Didcot, offering not only free ash but transport as well. In the event the delivery and placing of 80 tonnes of PFA was supported by RWE staff from Yorkshire as a team-building day with Essex WRG. The RWE team was mainly office-based people from their Generation Aggregates division. Feedback was that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Martin Buckland

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SOUTH LONDON BRANCH SOCIAL CALENDAR The following South London Branch Social Events will take place at 7.30 for 8.00pm at The Primary Room The United Reformed Church Hall Addiscombe Grove Croydon CR0 5LP: Wednesday 6th January 2010 Talk about Raymond, the last wooden working boat, by Steve Miles of the Friends of Raymond Wednesday 3rd February 2010 Talk about ‘The Wilts & Berks Canal Restoration Programme’ by Ken Oliver Wednesday 3rd March 2010 AGM followed by a film ‘Kingswear Castle Goes to London’ compiled by Alan Snowdon Admission is free to all, members or non-members, although we do request a contribution towards room hire and refreshments. For more information contact: Alan Smith, tel: 020 8255 1581

Member’s Small Ad Surplus Inland Waterways Magazines

No charge to readers of Cargoes for all, or some, following magazines ,all in good condition. A donation to IWA funds would be welcomed. " Waterways World " Earliest is April 1974. 10 copies to March 1982. and January 1985 to November 2009, complete series. " Canal & Riverboat " June 1980, December 1981, December 1985, August 1988 to October 2002 ( not March1994, March 2001,) and January 2003 to December 2003 ( not February, March, June 2003 and March 2004). " Canal Boat " June 1996 ( First Issue ) to Dec 2002, complete, all months.

January 2003 to February 2005, complete series.

E-mail bill@gilchristw.freeserve.co.uk to discuss. Crowthorne \ Bracknell \ Wokingham area.

Small boats at Botley Quay for the Solent & Arun’s Hamble Cruise in September (see report on page 25) [Photo: Andy Berncastle]

Inland Waterways Association South East Region: Chairman Paul Roper ‘Cranborne’ Baughurst Road, Baughurst, Tadley, Hants RG26 5LL Phone: 01189 813381 Email: paul.roper@waterways.org.uk Guildford & Reading Branch: Chairman [Vacant] [Enquiries to Region Chairman] Kent & East Sussex Branch: Chairman Mike Hannan ‘Trumpeter’, Water Lane, Headcorn, Kent TN27 9JN Phone: 01622 890586 Email: mcfhannan@btinternet.com Oxfordshire Branch: Chairman Ron Heritage “Arbre”, Main Street, Fringford, Oxon OX27 8DP Phone: 01869 277400 Email: oxfordshire@waterways.org.uk Solent & Arun Branch: Chairman Mike Laishley 16 Park Avenue, Widley, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO7 5DW Phone: 023 92325000 (evenings) Email: mike.iwa@ntlworld.com Opinions expressed in Cargoes are not necessarily those of IWA. Editorial Team: Ray Carnell and Cecil Ives iwacargoes@hotmail.com Next issue Spring 2010 Copy date 15th January 2010.