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News
IWA's 'no travel' AGM 2020
Due to the risks of Covid-19 this year, IWA’s 2020 AGM will be a virtual event held online. Over the past few months we have been using digital meeting so ware to run some of our Branch meetings and we have also o ered a series of virtual talks, which have been very well a ended. The positive feedback has given us confi dence that many of our members and volunteers will be happy to join our 61st AGM online. We hope that it will also enable more members to participate in our governance. If accessing the meeting over the internet sounds tricky, we are also o ering the opportuni to join the meeting via telephone.
The AGM of the Inland Waterways Association will take place on Saturday 26th September at 11.30am via Zoom. The AGM papers, details on how to register your interest and access the meeting are available on our website. Go to waterways.org.uk/agm to fi nd out more. If you would like to register for phone access and/or receive a hard copy of the AGM papers to the meeting, please give us a ring on 01494 783453 and we will send you the AGM papers by post, and/ or provide you with the telephone number to dial on the day.
1. Review and approval of the minutes of the 60th Annual General Meeting in 2019 2. Receiving the Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ending 31st December 2019 and the Report of the Auditors 3. Appointment of the Auditors 4. Authorisation to the Trustees to decide the remuneration of the Auditors 5. Announcement of Trustee appointments By Order of the Trustees, Neil Edwards, Company Secretary
If you have questions you would like to have answered in advance of the AGM or on the day, please do send them through –membership@waterways.org.uk.
Proxies
Any person being a member of the Association is entitled to appoint a proxy to a end the meeting virtually and vote on their behalf at the AGM. A proxy need not be a member of the Association. Forms for nominating a proxy are available on the website waterways.org.uk/agm, or by calling us on 01494 783453. Forms must be returned to proxies@waterways.org.uk by 2pm on Thursday 24th September 2020 in order to be valid.
Contact email
We are planning to o er a series of inspiring talks in the week leading up to the AGM and details about these will be posted on the website and emailed out to members. If we do not have your email address, please contact us at membership@waterways.org. uk with your membership number or fi rst name, last name and postcode asking for details of the talks, and we will make sure you don’t miss out on the news.
We really do hope you will be able to come along to this unique event. You’ll be able to catch up with all the latest activities and plans for the future, get the inside track on our new website and put questions to Trustees.
From recent updates in Waterways magazine, you will know that IWA’s new website is on its way. This new site will bring you all sorts of additional benefits. It will have a mobile-friendly format for viewing on smartphones and tablets, a more effective search function, and you will be able to manage your personal data, as well as see all of your purchases, bookings and payments in one place.
An exciting development is that there will be a much bigger focus on what’s happening locally to you and the waterways you are interested in. You will be able to explore our inland waterways like never before and easily see all the things we do to protect and restore our canals and rivers. For example, if you are interested in a particular canal restoration, a simple search of the surrounding areas will show you information about the project, the waterways it links to, any WRG working holidays that might be happening, plus nearby talks, walks and socials offered by the local IWA branches. It will also tell you about any local campaigns, and if there’s a Silver Propeller Challenge location nearby that you can tick off your list or a selfguided walk to enjoy.
The new website will showcase what we do as a charity in a way that hasn’t been possible previously. As an IWA member and supporter, we want you to see it first. Please make sure we have your email address and that of the other IWA members in your household, so that we can let you know when all the new features are ready to delve into. You can call us on 01494 783453 or fill in our easy online form: waterways.org.uk/email.
Get ready for a more exciting view of the waterways
Tell us your email address so that you don’t miss out on any announcement about our new website.
Waterways
News Travel guides for the eastern waterways
Imray has been updating its guides to the waterways of the East of England, and IWA volunteers om the region have been helping with the revamps.
The River Nene, with a new design and detailed maps, is now available through IWA’s online shop (waterways.org.uk/shop). Authored by Roger Green, who has a long-standing connection to the river, readers will fi nd lots more information about moorings, facilities and services, many of which have been much improved in recent years, as well as features of interest to canoeists and paddleboarders.
A new edition of Fenland Waterways by Chris Howes is coming soon, and a guide to the River Great Ouse, also by Chris, will follow shortly a er.
Opening up of the waterways
As Government started to ease the lockdown measures imposed as a result of Covid-19, IWA called for restrictions regarding overnight stays on privately owned boats to be relaxed. It had already been acknowledged by MPs that leisure boating was a low risk activity, as navigation was permitted to resume on most waterways from 1st June, so it seemed illogical for boat-owners to be put at more risk by travelling backwards and forwards on multiple days rather than being allowed to stay on their own boat overnight.
Guidance from Government issued on 11th June, which authorised some waterways-based businesses such as day-boat hire to start up again, was good news, but IWA continued to lobby for a date when holiday hire-firms could start to operate and when the owners of privately owned craft could stay on board overnight. We therefore welcomed the news, when it finally came on 23rd June, that from 4th July holiday boat hire could resume and non-residential boaters could finally stay on board their own craft for multiple days and nights.
We encourage our members to support waterways businesses as much as they can, especially our corporate members, now that the restrictions are eased. Why not book a day trip out on a waterway you wouldn’t normally visit, or book that boating holiday you’ve always thought of taking?
The waterways reopened for visitors on 4th July – with social distancing measures in place.
Sarah O'grady joins iwa as chief exec for six months
Sarah O’Grady has recently taken on the role of IWA’s Chief Executive as Neil Edwards, who has been in the role for over 20 years, announced his retirement late last year.
Sarah is an experienced leader, providing consultancy and interim support to boards and executive teams. She works with a wide range of charities, including volunteerled groups and museums. She was chair of Amnesty International UK Section for three years, steering the membership organisation through a governance and constitutional reform programme. Her appointment at IWA is for six months, or until a permanent successor is in place.
Announcing the news, IWA National Chairman, Paul Rodgers, said: “Sarah is an authority on charity management and I know she will do a great job driving the organisation forward over the next few crucial months. This is our 75th year and her experience will ensure we have the right building blocks in place as we look forward to another 75 years focused on the regeneration and protection of our nation’s waterways.”
Sarah is taking over at a busy time, especially as we look forward to seeing our task party volunteers return to the waterside and to supporting the return to work of volunteers on the restoration projects we champion, when it is safe to do so. We are also devoting energy and resources to a range of projects including the imminent publication of our Practical Restoration Handbook, which has been completely revised, and the launch of Part II of our Heritage Report, which highlights the threats faced by our waterways heritage from careless development.
An announcement on the permanent Chief Executive position will be made in due course.
Campaign cruise on the River Weaver
The second annual Restoration Showcase, planned for the weekend of 22nd-23rd August at the Anderton Boat Li and coordinated by IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch, has been postponed until 2021. However, a campaign cruise along the River Weaver and Trent & Mersey Canal intended to take place following the event is still set to go ahead between 23rd and 27th August.
Organised by the River Weaver Navigation Socie , IWA members will join the fl otilla which aims to highlight the restoration work taking place at both Frodsham Lock and Runcorn Locks. Canal & River Trust is making special arrangements for locking along the river and canal. Details about the cruise can be obtained om jim.mole@waterways.org.uk.
On 14th May, Paul Rodgers, IWA National Chairman, addressed an online meeting of the All-Par Parliamentary Group for the Waterways. Convened to discuss the urgent issues facing waterway businesses a ected by the Covid-19 lockdown, the meeting heard how Government’s failure to o er a £20m support package “could precipitate the most widespread and rapid decline of businesses on our waterways”. Paul urged the Government to “intervene at the earliest possible opportuni to save this vital sector of the British economy”.
IWA’s call for action was supported by the words of Richard Parry and John Packman, who between them o ered the navigation authorities’ perspective on behalf of Canal & River Trust and Broads Authori . A representative om British Marine joined them, along with the parliamentarians present, for a question-and-answer session.
Representatives om user organisations and waterway businesses had been invited to a end the meeting and were given the opportuni to raise issues. A number people om the sector gave examples of how fi nancial help is much needed, and the case was made for some waterway businesses, such as hire-boat operators, being able to open up at the earliest possible opportuni .
The meeting closed with the chair, Michael Fabricant MP, stating that the APPGW would write immediately to De a, DCMS and HM Treasury asking for urgent support for the waterways sector.
Hardship grant desperately needed to support waterway businesses
Weeks of lobbying Government to support waterway businesses additional fi nancial support. In our view they are completely with a funding package totalling £20m have so far fallen on deaf failing to recognise the unique nature of waterway businesses ears. This funding is urgently needed as signifi cant numbers of and their contribution to the very in astructure that is our inland waterway businesses could fail through lack of support. waterways system. While businesses have re-opened, many have
Over the last few weeks IWA has had an ongoing dialogue with lost up to 50% of their annual takings. These businesses may be the inland waterways policy team at De a, responding to their able to continue operating through the summer, but our concern many requests for further information. We have wri en several now is that they will not survive the winter and many will go out of times to Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State business before the start of the 2021 season next spring. for De a, and a ended a round table meeting with her. We have Please write to your MP now asking them to support this also addressed a video meeting of the All Par Parliamentary campaign. Details of the key points you could raise can be found Group for the Waterways, which resulted in the APPG writing at waterways.org.uk/news_campaigns/campaigns/support_ to De a, HMT, DCMS and the Welsh Government. We have for_waterway_businesses. submi ed evidence to inquiries being held by DCMS and the APPG A funding package to support for Hospitali & Tourism, and businesses affected by Covid-19 is needed to ensure recently had a meeting with the the longevity of the waterways Shadow Environment Minister, and heritage sectors. Daniel Zeichner MP, who o ered his support.
Parliamentary Questions have been asked on several occasions and hundreds of le ers have been wri en to MPs by IWA members and supporters, which in turn has led to dozens of MPs raising the issue with Government and backing IWA’s call for dedicated funding for the waterways sector.
As of 23rd July, in response the Government has outlined the general support available to businesses and reiterated that there are no plans to provide
Waterways restoration debated in Parliament
Waterways were given a good airing in the House of Commons when Craig Williams, MP for Montgomeryshire, secured an adjournment debate on the subject of waterways restoration, which took place on Thursday 4th June.
Opening remarks from Craig Williams MP focussed on the Montgomery Canal and the progress of its restoration, before he went on to talk about the wider success and benefits of waterway regeneration across the country. He stated: “There are restoration projects in constituencies across the UK, and if we look at the gross value added effect of restoring canals, we see that there is a huge positive return to the Exchequer and the public purse.” This reinforces IWA’s long-held campaigning message that we have brought to the notice of all MPs, including those elected for the first time last December.
The importance of tourism to the waterways was also raised, with many businesses and charities currently struggling as a result of restrictions imposed due to the global health crisis. Mr Williams supported the many letters that have been sent to Government as part of IWA’s campaign for a package of support for navigation authorities and waterway businesses.
Craig Williams MP concluded his speech by suggesting that Government investing in restoring waterways would be
Craig Williams MP (r) was well briefed by IWA Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch chair, Michael Haig, ahead of the debate on waterways restoration.
excellent value for money and could help with the recovery of the UK economy by driving domestic tourism, supporting communities and providing health and environmental benefits. He hoped this would be the first of many debates about the inland waterways. Rebecca Pow, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, responded by acknowledging the health and well-being benefits of being near the water and the important contribution that canals and rivers make to local economies.
Helping hands for waterway charities
Scottish Waterways for All, the consortium of voluntary groups on the Scottish canal network including IWA, has launched a joint appeal to support waterway charities whose activities have been seriously curtailed during the coronavirus lockdown.
Called the Big Splash, the campaign is a recovery fund currently involving 11 of the main charities on the Scottish canal network. SWfA is inviting other waterway charities to join.
Further details about the initiative are available at scvawards.co.uk/big-splash-charities, where you can choose the specific charity you wish to support, and donate via the JustGiving platform. All funds raised go directly to the donor's favoured charity, ensuring that local communities can support their closest organisation.
The Seagull Trust, one of the Scottish waterway charities unable to operate because of the Covid-19 lockdown, has joined the Big Splash appeal.
CRT asked boaters in Bridgwater Docks to prepare to move elsewhere in May – then extended the mooring agreements for three more months.
The future of Bridgwater Docks
At the annual user group meeting for the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal last December, Canal & River Trust informed those present that it would not be renewing or extending its lease of the Bridgwater Docks upon its termination date. Any of the boat-owners whose mooring agreements ran beyond the termination date would receive a credit or a refund for the unexpired period. CRT also reported that it would be undertaking dilapidation works at the Docks, as required under the terms of the lease, and working with Somerset County Council to secure the future of the Docks.
It was therefore a surprise to learn that the lease had been temporarily extended. CRT wrote to boat-owners in May stating that their mooring agreements would be stopped in advance of the eventual termination date of the lease and that they should prepare to remove their boats from the Docks, in the event that nobody is found to take the Docks on for the future.
IWA has pointed out to CRT (and to SCC) that the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal is an isolated waterway, and the secure moorings on the waterway are fully occupied. Removing the 30 or so boats moored in the Docks will be both inconvenient and costly to the boat-owners. CRT has responded that it will continue to extend the mooring agreements for three months at a time for the foreseeable future but will not make any contribution to the costs of removing boats from the Docks.
IWA West Country Branch continues to lobby the local authorities and others within Somerset about the future of the Docks. We are working in particular with SCC and Bridgwater Town Council. At the moment discussions need to take place on the dilapidation obligations that CRT has under the terms of the lease. IWA’s view is that until these are agreed it may be premature for any parties who might have an interest in the future of the Docks to get fully involved.
Win £1,000 in our restoration raffle
This year we are raising money to boost the work of IWA’s restoration team, which supports and champions projects across the country, through the sale of our raffle tickets, a book of which has been included in this issue of Waterways magazine.
The Restoration Hub is an essential part of our charity and helps waterways societies by providing expert advice from our honorary engineers and planners. We issue health and safety guidance, provide environmental expertise, share fundraising advice, and every month our dedicated helpline answers questions raised by organisations across the sector.
Buying raffle tickets makes a difference to the levels of support we can offer. Priced at £2 each, with five tickets in each book, the tickets will be entered into a one-off prize draw, which will take place on 16th December 2020. The top prize is £1,000 in cash, with other prizes including a Crick Boat Show festival bundle worth £250, Imray maps and publications worth £150, a full set of Nicholson Guides, a tug boat driving experience at London Canal Museum, and a goody bag full of IWA-branded merchandise. Tickets can be bought online at waterways.org.uk/ raffle. Please visit the webpage or call 01494 783453 to order more paper books. The deadline for entry is 14th December 2020. Please ensure all paper ticket stubs are posted back to us in time to be included in the draw.
