Autumn 2021
Newsletter of Guildford & Reading Kent & East Sussex and Oxfordshire Branches
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Index Basingstoke Canal Society
John Pinkerton Focus on Accessible Boating Association
Page: 5
Page: 9 Page: 10
Byfleet Boat Club
Page: 11
Canal & River Trust
Page: 40
Guildford & Reading Branch
Page: 4
IWA Chesham
Page: 41
Kent & Sussex Branch – IWAKES
Dartford & Crayford Navigation Thames & Medway Canal Association River Medway Sussex Ouse Northfleet Harbour River Stour River Adur Future Events
Kennet & Avon Canal Trust
Page: 24
Page: 31
Page: 10
Newbury Reading Crofton Beam Engines
London Region
Page: 36
Maidenhead
Page: 15
Mikron Theatre Group
Page: 41
Oxfordshire Branch Banbury Canal Partnership Tooleys Boat Trust
Page: 32 Page: 33 Page: 33
Region Chair Report
Page: 3
River Thames
Page: 20
River Wey & Godalming Navigations
Page: 15
National Trust Future Events
Salisbury Group
Page: 4
Southampton Canal Society
Page: 17
Future Events
South London
Page: 39
Towpath Walks
Page: 37
Wey & Arun Canal Trust Future Events
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Future Events
Page: 17 Page: 27
Page: 36
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Editorial Welcome to this Autumn edition of Cargoes. While I was in North Yorkshire last time, this time I am in Norfolk after spending 3½ weeks on The Thames. More on that later! Most of last year was spent at home so we are enjoying having the freedom of the rivers and Broads. I am grateful for all the articles contributors send in. I enjoy reading them especially now more is happening. This time I have included an article on Lechlade Marina. I know owner Ian Lindsay as Chair of IWA Oxfordshire and was able to stay at his Marina while boating the Thames. If any other boater would like me to include an article about a marina in a future edition of &DUJRHV please let me know. Obviously I can add only one article per issue. Photo: The Reedcutters and Cantley, Norfolk Broads Chris Jones
Please remember there are still some restrictions in place so any events mentioned may be cancelled at short notice.
From the Region Chair Members of the IWA Navigation Committee have been involved in some “blue sky” thinking about how we want the waterways to be used over the next 50 years. The thinking is very much based around multi-functional and multi-use with infrastructure to meet the needs of towpath users and water users. What facilities are needed for the various groups and where there are conflicts of use how can these be resolved? Dave Pullen (East Midlands Region Chair) has pointed out that the new Fens water link, Boston to Peterborough Wetland Corridor is a good example of where the local branches are part of the drive to create increased amenity for boaters, wildlife, cycling and walking. The Milton Keynes to Bedford link has been around for longer but is also facing the challenge of building a multi-use waterway. It is sad there have been reports of a number of water-related deaths this summer. Accidents can and do happen but recent footage from the Broads Authority apparently shows some total lack of awareness of other water-users and ignorance of water conditions, which is a story that can be repeated elsewhere. I was heartened to see some basic common sense applied at Portsmouth when a couple decided to inflate their two -man kayak for a paddle after inspecting the conditions. They returned very shortly afterwards with a deflated canoe that proved to be totally unstable in the windy conditions. A good decision in the circumstances. Due to Covid 19 and Government regulations, it is inevitable that the next three months will be uncertain for many events and meetings, a headache for all Cover Photo: Round House, Lechlade, River Thames
John Jones
4 organisers. Let’s look forward to the IWA 75th Anniversary celebrations at the Worcester Waterways Festival. See you there? Verna Smith - Region Chair
Salisbury Group Our Salisbury Correspondent, Myra Glover writes: Hopefully meetings will be able to commence towards the end of 2021. The Salisbury Group will aim to meet on the third Thursday of October, November, January & February whenever it is permitted and safe to do so. Regular members will be kept up to date by email. If there is anyone within travelling distance of Salisbury who is interested in joining our friendly group then please get in touch with Ron & Myra Glover. glover.3@btinternet.com.
Guildford & Reading Branch Branch Chairman At last, the trip boats are able to resume near normal operation albeit with ever changing rules. The revenue lost to the various charities is considerable and will take a long time to recover. More good news from Odiham as the Raft Race is due to go ahead in September and planning is well-advanced for this. As with all events, trying to control numbers in a public space will be a challenge so the organisers have curtailed advertising for the event. Ultimately, numbers will come down to the weather on the day. Local trusts and societies continue to make significant progress on their many projects, these are mentioned in their reports. Enjoy the waterways and be safe. Verna Smith (acting Chair)
Sales & Publicity Stand Due to restrictions we have not attended many events this year. We have to consider the space available and our ability to stay safe. We shall be attending the Wey River Festival in September. Please let us know if you may be able to help on our stand. Our email address is chris.jones@waterways.org.uk The Sales Team
Future Event Sat 18th Sept: Wey River Festival, Dapdune Wharf, Guildford, GU1 4RR. Unfortunately there is no car parking available on site.
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Basingstoke Canal Society Our Vision for the Future The Basingstoke Canal Society is working to keep the canal alive and vibrant. Our vision is to secure an environmentally sustainable long-term future for the canal for the benefit of its users and the community. To achieve this we believe we need to: ł promote the future of the canal ł preserve its heritage ł protect this unique natural environment ł provide community leisure activities. Our first step has been to create a plan to make sure that all our activities benefit the cultural, social, economic or environmental health of the canal. Identifying a number of actions to take immediately, in the short, medium and long term, we aim to: ł Ensure our canal is a navigable and financially viable waterway both now and in the future; ł Make the most of opportunities for leisure, recreation, health and wellbeing; ł Generate income for the canal to sustain projects and activities; ł Seek ways to support and protect the natural environment for future generations. Our ambitious plans include everything from fundraising projects, building relationships with our local communities and councils and the replacement of our diesel boats to website enhancements. We have continued to work, where possible, throughout the pandemic and you can read about some of our activities, such as the completion of our new Holland Moorings, in this report. Health and Wellbeing Along the Canal Canals and other waterways have an important role to play in improving wellbeing, inclusion and future prospects for individuals and communities. Aimed at promoting healthy communities, the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework highlights opportunities to improve social interaction and access to recreation along our waterways through sports, cultural, civic, learning and community activities, as well as supporting and promoting local heritage. In 2017, The Town and Country Planning Association set up the “Developers and Wellbeing” project. It found that “Waterways have a significant role to play, particularly in tackling physical inactivity, obesity and reducing stress, especially in the many disadvantaged communities with waterways on their doorstep.”
6 These findings are also supported by independent research commissioned by the Canal and Rivers Trust in 2018, which revealed that spending time by the waterways can make you happier and improve life satisfaction, with an equivalent estimated social wellbeing value of £3.8 billion per year (Assessing the wellbeing impacts of waterways usage in England and Wales). Numerous projects in the last few years have sought to regenerate canal networks in the UK, mainly with a view to improving the local economy through creating valuable real estate. Even so, aside from the potential mental health gains, regenerating these networks can bring other benefits such as controlling water levels, preventing floods and making cities more resilient to climate change. It’s a win-win-win situation that combines economic, environmental and health benefits for communities and this is why the Basingstoke Canal is so important to the Society, members and our volunteers. The promotion of these benefits is a key part of our strategy to achieve our Vision. Celebrating 30 Years of the Restored Canal We were set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the canal’s reopening this year but delays caused by the pandemic mean this event is pushed back to next year. However, while details of the celebrations are to be announced, it’s a good time to remind ourselves what sparked the initiative to restore our canal – and why we need to continue to look after it! In 1966 it looked as if the chequered history of the old Basingstoke Canal was coming to an end. Many parts of it had little or no water and much of the rest was overgrown and choked with uncontrolled weed growth. Some bridges were in danger of collapse, the locks and gates needed repair or Sheerwater Bridge Lock 5 Pre-Restoration 1977 replacement and it all needed dredging. To add to the problems, the Canal Company had lost its only natural source of income when, in 1964, the National Gas Turbine Establishment decided not to renew the contract under which the canal supplied cooling water to the giant jet engine test cells at nearby Pyestock. In addition, the canal’s general manager and perhaps its greatest champion, Mrs Joan Marshall, had been dismissed after disagreements with Sidney Cooke, the owner of the Canal Company. By 1966, he had taken what may have seemed the only sensible commercial decision open to him and began drawing up plans to fill in parts of the canal for development. Ironically, this was precisely the fate that the Inland Waterways Association had tried to prevent by bidding to buy the canal when it had come up for auction in 1949. However, on 23rd August 1966, a letter appeared in several local newspapers:
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About a dozen people replied and this led a fantastic volunteer effort to restore the canal along with Surrey and Hampshire Councils supporting by buying the land.
Since then, while there have been challenging times when there has been pressure of funds to maintain the canal, the county councils, along with the local riparian councils continue to support the canal.
8 In turn, and most importantly, the Society continues to actively support the canal with over 200 volunteers helping to keep tidy and maintain the canal, providing new facilities for both boats and the community, fundraising and helping to promote the canal, including working with local councils. The above article by our then president gives a great sense of the passion held for the restoration - which continues and drives our commitment to the canal today! Canal Watch Our amazing volunteers have completed over 100 dedicated patrols since the introduction of Canal Watch in the Spring, earning the thanks of Surrey Police’s Woking Beat officers. The volunteers have been patrolling the Basingstoke Canal towpath as part of a partnership initiative to keep the area safe. Canal Watch is a very worthwhile initiative to enhance users’ enjoyment of the canal and our thanks go to our volunteers for all of their time and effort spent in helping to make it a success! Holland Moorings Open for Bookings The BCS is delighted to announce that work on the new Holland Moorings in Farnborough, Hampshire, are now finished and open for booking. In the last issue of Cargoes, we reported that the mooring itself was finished but that the area needed landscaping. Since then, the path on the bank alongside the mooring has been levelled and given a coat of roadstone and vibration rolled. The bank edge has been cleared of a lot of the bramble and nettles and grass seed sown to tidy the area. A ramp down to the launching slip entrance has also been widened and given a coat of roadstone. The car park is divided into two areas: the outer area being open access while the inner section requires a British Waterways (BW) key. The open access car park has a new coat of roadstone and a wheelchair slope to the middle access ramp for the mooring. A large seating and observation area on top of the bank overlooks the launching slip and winding hole. There is a second BW key-controlled gate that gives access down to the launching slip. The gate posts for this were rather rotten so we also replaced these.
9 All the sloping banks had to be reprofiled to produce a slope that could be more easily strimmed. The main corner of the viewing area had some turfs laid as it was felt this sloping area would not take well to grass seed. Finally, we finished laying roadstone on the second car park area and rolled that while other members of the working party spread grass seed on all the soil we had smoothed out. Celebrity Paddleboarders Navigate the Canal Eleven intrepid celebrities including adventurer Charley Boorman, rugby star James Haskell and former racing driver Damon Hill took on a 30-mile endurance paddleboarding challenge along the canal to raise money for charity. Completed over two days, the event was held in support of Movember, a leading men’s health charity with a particular focus on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer. Lisa Taylor
Trips aboard the John Pinkerton II and Kitty Boat Trip News Public trips are now open for booking on .LWW\ in Woking and -RKQ 3LQNHUWRQ ,, in Odiham. Public trips will be running on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as on Fridays until the end of October. -RKQ 3LQNHUWRQ ,, public trips are on Wednesdays and Sundays. Private charter trips on both boats can be booked. Full details are on the booking site. All trips are crewed by trained volunteers who are passionate about the canal and all proceeds go towards maintaining and enhancing the canal for all to enjoy. NB. All our boat trips may be subject to change. Please check the latest news for more information.
Future Events Theme trips on the -RKQ 3LQNHUWRQ. Fri 3rd Sept, 7pm: Join us for an evening of Live music with Jen Marchant. Price £22.00 Please check our website for additional theme cruises If you would like to charter on a day without a trip shown, please contact us at https://basingstoke-canal.org.uk or phone the Booking
10 Team on 01256 765889 (10am - -8pm). Cruising in the peaceful surroundings of the Basingstoke Canal is a great way to relax. You can charter the whole boat for exclusive use by family, friends or work colleagues. Trips from Mytchett: Boat trips on board our friendly 12-seater boat 5RVHEXG usually run at weekends and on public holidays from Easter to September. Please contact us for up to date information. Tel 01252 370073, email info@basingstokecanal.co.uk or check on Facebook or Twitter.
Focus on Accessible Boating Association We are now back cruising. The boats and all our crews are back on the water. If you would like to make a booking, register your interest, or talk to us about a small group booking, then please ring our bookings line on 07934 926683. The Accessible Boating Association, (Accessible Boating or ABA), is a registered charity initiated in 1985 by Mildred Stocks, then Chairman of Hart District Council, who wanted to enable people who couldn’t use existing canal boats to enjoy cruises on the Basingstoke Canal. Two boats are available: 0DGDP %XWWHUIO\ is a comfortable 7-berth cruising boat and 'DZQ is a 12-person day boat Both boats are based in Odiham at Galleon Marine’s boatyard with trips operating from Colt Hill Wharf from April to October. For more details see the website www.accessibleboating.org.uk. New volunteers are always welcome; speak to one of our volunteers or contact our Chairman, John Ranson at chairman@accessibleboating.org.uk
Kennet & Avon Canal News Newbury Branch
Following the partial easing of lockdown in May -XELOHH was able to operate “Boat of 6” trips in accordance with “the rule of 6”. These proved very successful with virtually all our trips being sold out. Our enthusiastic volunteer crew were
11 happy to finally be able to get back on the water, and introduce our lovely passengers to the Kennet and Avon Canal. Since the Government announcement in July removing most restrictions, -XELOHH resumed normal operations, albeit with a reduced capacity. Some special summer evening cruises were added to our schedule and the boat remains available for private charter. We hope to run our special Halloween and Santa trips later this year, depending on the situation prevailing at that time. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that things will keep getting better and our boating activities can really get back to normal. Sarah Foley
Reading Branch Chairman’s Report Hello again, I hope you are all keeping well. Reading Waterfest took place on the 12th of June, a challenging event, but all who attended seem to have enjoyed themselves. The work of Lucy, Sian and their colleagues from Reading Borough Council deserve huge congratulations in making the event happen. The weather gave some concerns with heavy rain just prior to the event putting both Blakes and County locks on red boards up to mid-day on the Saturday reducing any boat movement. Just to add spice to the event it was noticed and reported by one of our boaters at midnight Friday that an oil pollution issue was going on. This was eventually traced to road culverts above County lock which caused both County and Blakes locks to be closed and oil boom equipment deployed. The event started with a really good expected boat count, but sadly a number of boats were consequently unable to get there. We had a great atmosphere on the waterside at Chestnut walk. Jessica Stiles our potter was working from her boat, creating a “Waterfest” vase and having attendees make their mark on the item before it was finish glazed and fired. This has now been presented to Reading Borough Council and will be on display. We also had a boater decorating the side of his boat with a traditional castle scene he was planning to add roses to complete his decoration.
12 For the first time we had a floating stage with many local musicians making some terrific sounds and providing a tremendous atmosphere along the cut. For me the highlight of the stage was “Daughter of the Water” playing from her new album, who attended on her traditional narrow boat. We had our Trip Boat 0DWLOGD formally named and, as is traditional, 1HSWXQH received his libation with bottles of Oxford Brewery’s “Matilda’s Tears” dousing her bow. The naming party was made up of Reading’s Mayor and Mayoress and the Kennet and Avon Chair Chris Sims. The Waterfest was closed with the traditional duck race. We are still seeing the “Sustrans cavalcade” of motorbikes giving their regular “devil may care” ride along the towpath, frightening walkers, children and dogs alike. I do hope that the CCTV cameras are picking up the activity…I suspect not however. To repeat If anyone has witnessed the motorbike exploits, please report to the police. The riders are dangerous and are breaking the law. A recent event has caused some mayhem and has made us look at how we take friends on trips on our boat. A private boat (no it wasn’t a hire boat!) was going up Southcote Lock 104 from Reading, with 2 friends operating the paddles on the lock. The boat was drawn towards the top gates, and the fender settled under the bar on the gate. Despite the helm shouting to drop the paddles, the inexperienced crew were unsure what to do. This hesitation led to the gate being lifted, pulling the anchor stone up with it. Luckily no one was hurt, CRT were swiftly on site, and assisted in freeing the boat, but little else could be done on the day. The Lock is currently closed and unusable. Talking to a number of boaters many admitted that they have had similar experiences, generally close shaves, and not generating the chaos that this incident has. Reflecting with my fellow skippers, on our trip boat training it seemed that the essential crew instruction to “drop the paddles” was the one overriding drill and instruction that anyone working a boat through a lock should know, whether it be trained crew, or friend, or casual acquaintance. In our
13 training the point of dropping the paddles had been explained. The lock area is one of the most dangerous areas that the boater will encounter. Enclosed spaces and lots of fast rushing water. By dropping the paddles this rushing water is calmed almost instantly and any problem and issue can be addressed and dealt with. In our training the physical signal crossing arms above the head calls for the paddles to be dropped and current activity stopped. This signal goes past the noise of the engine and the racing water. This outage has obviously impacted many people, including well known Mikron Theatre company on narrowboat 7\VOH\ and our own trip boat 0DWLOGD. Boat trips on 0DWLOGD had been included in Reading Borough Council’s “Children’s Festival” and we were showing some good advanced bookings. However, as 0DWLOGD is moored above the lock at Southcote between trips, the stoppage meant no longer being able get to the centre of Reading, so we quickly rearranged some trips to run from Burghfield. Mikron Theatre company were travelling from sell out performances at the Row Barge at Woolhampton, towards the Thames and Goring, at the time of the lock incident. 7\VOH\ is currently safely moored just above Southcote lock, and since the show must go on the troupe is travelling to their show venues by Minibus. CRT have kept the people updated. A heavy lift crane and barge has been ordered to site and the mobilisation order has been raised to permit the boat to be transported by road to a nearby offloading point. The next steps will be to drain the lock chamber and ascertain the scope of the damage before then repairing the brick and stone work and lifting the gate back in place. It is hoped that the repair will be completed in 2-3 weeks. On a recent canal trip away from the K&A we spotted /DQFLQg up in the Alvecote Marina near Tamworth. /DQFLQJ was one of the early trip boats, working when the K&A was in danger of being closed and used to fundraise for the campaign to keep the navigation open. We are trying to contact the new owners to see if she might venture south to join next years 60th anniversary celebrations of the Kennet and Avon Trust. With the strange weather we are seeing fewer young birds this year. We have spotted some baby swallows and have had a family of seven Mandarin Ducks swimming around. We have had a Grey Wagtails nest and spotted another nest on a lock gate, and we have seen a young kestrel but definitely not the numbers of last year. We have had a few months break for meetings but planning to restart our branch
14 meetings, likely via Zoom again in September. If anyone would like to join, please let us know and we can provide the link. You can look for us on Facebook (Kennet and Avon Canal Trust - Reading Branch) for most up to date information. If you would like to sit in on the planned presentations, please contact me. Keep Well, Stay Safe, Test Safe Graham Puddephatt Chair.reading@katrust.org The regular winter meetings will hopefully be restarting in September. You can keep up to date on the branch’s Facebook page (Kennet and Avon Canal Trust (Reading Branch)), or the trust’s web page https://katrust.org.uk/reading-branch/. Entry donation, including K&A members, £2.50 (to help with expenses). Further details can be found on the Website at www.katrust.org.uk The Eastern End K&A Volunteers (an independent Community Waterway Adoption group) is authorised by CRT to carry out maintenance work on certain parts of the K&A on the 2nd Wednesday and last Saturday of each month. If you would like to join a Working Party, email Mick Savill for dates and details and to check the next one will be taking place. (micksavill@icloud.com)
Crofton Beam Engines Steaming Saturday – 24 July 2021 There was great excitement at Crofton in June when the boiler was fired up for a public steaming. The first time since 2019. Over 200 visitors saw the 1812 Boulton and Watt beam engine perform the role it was designed for in the 19th century. Industrial heritage in action in Wiltshire! Graham Snook – Crofton Branch Chair said - “A huge thank you to all our visitors who came to enjoy a piece of living industrial history. Also, a special thank you to our dedicated volunteers who are working tirelessly in these challenging times to bring the sight and sounds of steam back for everyone to enjoy.” The Boulton and Watt beam engine was in steam and working again on Saturday 24 July. Crofton was also be open for static viewing, not steaming, on Sunday 25 July. More information about future steaming days, details of ticket prices, and discounts for Kennet and Avon Canal Trust members/National Art Pass holders, can be found on the Crofton Beam Engines website https://www.croftonbeamengines.org/ . Guide price ‘standard’ adult £10.75 for Steaming Saturday (£12 with Gift Aid). Accompanied children under 16 are free. Children still need to have a booked timed ticket with their group to keep visitor numbers in line with current Government guidelines. Crofton Beam Engines plan to open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until the end of September 2021. Ticket prices for non-steaming days start at £5. Children (under 16) free. Tickets may be purchased on arrival for non-steaming days.
15 The café at Crofton Beam Engines is closed until further notice. Public access to the site is by the main gate only. There is no access from the lower canal entrance at lock 60. This helps our hardworking volunteers and staff regulate visitor numbers to the site and keep COVID safe. The Crofton Beam Team hopes to confirm more steaming dates shortly Photo copyright David Eaves Press release by Crofton Beam Engines
River Wey &Godalming Navigations There has been more traffic on the river with the easing of lockdown. Day and weekly hire boats and local and visiting private boats have all been in evidence. The National Trust has now introduced new mooring and licencing software which will accept direct debit and BACS payments and will shortly be able to take debit and credit card payments. The Trust has been obliged to limit the opening hours of the offices at Dapdune but staff should be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Due to the financial challenges of the last year it has been necessary to reduce the number of staff in the administration team. The Trust has managed to sustain the maintenance effort required for the navigations and has acknowledged the support of river users during lockdown by not increasing licencing and mooring fees this year. Mike Lewis G&R River Wey Representative.
Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group “Trustees have adopted a subtle rebrand of the group, to become known as “)ULHQGV RI Maidenhead Waterways” (FoMW). The change more accurately reflects our partnership and support role to the RBWM council, which is undertaking the major works and formally responsible for maintaining the Repairing Dislodged Boom
16 restored waterway. Our focus is also shifting more towards activating the newly restored waterway, now we have a usable 1.1 km of clear channel. As Covid restrictions eased clearance work on the channels has resumed. A successful trial was undertaken this year of the biological treatment Biofix, helping to slow growth and prevent excess weed in the channel, reducing the need for manual clearances. During hot weather, blanket weed tends to build up which can be problematic for submerged plant life and also for waterway users. FoMW volunteers in dry suits have repaired a dislodged boom in the weir basin that had broken free – a tricky manoeuvre in the deep water…! In July we also used sandbags to build up the clay bund that separates the restored York Stream arm from the unrestored Moor Cut part of the consented waterway plans. The bund had eroded during winter floods and, as Moor Cut is porous, water was escaping from the weir basin where it is needed to supply the fish and eel passes. Plans for a ramp and pontoon access directly into the main Chapel Arches water basin from the terrace of the adjoining Baked artisan café are finally going ahead. This will allow easy boat loading/unloading onto the restored waterway, as well as providing FoMW with boat storage inside the closed off arches under the road. We are also developing plans for boat launching points at Town Moor in the north and Green Lane in the south. All three initiatives will help activate the restored waterway and encourage boating use. FoMW recently presented an update on the waterways project to RBWM’s Maidenhead Town Forum, looking back over the 15 years since the project was first mooted and reminding councillors of
17 the transformation that the project has already achieved. Pictured is the Chapel Arches area in 2011 (before any works) and now in 2021. A community-led family fun day centred around the restored waterway is being planned to celebrate progress … more next time. Richard Davenport, Chairman
Southampton Canal Society Future Events Thurs 7th Oct, 7.45pm: Members get together. The first meeting since March 2020 is for members only. Thurs 4th Nov, 7.45pm: Irish Waterways. Ron and Myra Glover will talk about their boating experiences over in Ireland. Please visit our website for up to date information. Meetings, unless specifically stated otherwise, are held at Chilworth Parish Hall, Chilworth Southampton SO16 7JZ. Start 7.45pm, Visitors welcome. For monthly Newsletter visit www.sotoncs.org.uk or ring 02380 675312.
Wey and Arun Canal Trust WACT News Milestone moment for Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s latest restoration project It was a big moment at the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s latest major restoration project on June 3rd as the footbridge for the road crossing at Tickner’s Heath in Alfold, Surrey, was put into place. The 6.5 tonne steel frame was carefully lifted in by a 100 tonne crane, ready to be attached by Four-Tees Engineers from Fareham, who created the 16m specialist structure. The footbridge is part of a project that will also see the construction of a new road bridge and excavation of the canal at the summit. The original arch bridge across the canal has long been demolished and the road realigned onto an earth causeway which blocks the route of the canal, so the
18 Trust intends to create a new road crossing and canal cut to rejoin the original canal to the west of the old crossing. As the road over the new bridge will be no wider than the existing road, the separate footbridge will be used by pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. Work on the project began last Autumn and since then volunteers have created culverts, a construction compound and the concrete bankseats on which the footbridge sits, as well as the brick facing for the footbridge abutments. Their next task is to install the oak timber deck and handrails. Project manager Tony Ford said volunteers and Wey & Arun Canal Trust employees had accomplished a lot in difficult circumstances. “Volunteers have really shown their commitment to this project, given construction has been stopstart thanks to the several lockdowns we have experienced over the past year. Small teams have worked incredibly hard to ensure we have reached this point in the build and that we can press on to the next stage. “We now look forward to constructing a short temporary diversion for Dunsfold Road to take traffic away from the site of the new canal crossing. Following that a water main needs diverting by Thames Water and we can then finally get on to build the new road bridge.” Gill Davies Finishing touches put to Birtley Bridge site Students from St Catherine’s School in Bramley have been lending a hand to get the canal towpath at Birtley in shape this week. The Year 11 girls donned gloves and picked up their tools to cut back vegetation and clear invasive weeds ahead of a members’ guided walk planned at the site on the morning of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust Annual Meeting on July 31st With exams finished the activity week provided a chance for the pupils to leave the classroom behind, help their local community and learn more about the abandoned canal on their doorstep. The students also got to grips with Himalayan Balsam pulling, an invasive non-native weed that can smother other indigenous plants. July is the perfect month to pull the balsam, before the plant has a chance to set seed.
19 Last month a weekend working party installed the temporary bridge deck at the site. The bridge deck had been constructed last October and overwintered at Tickner’s Heath awaiting the end of lockdown to allow volunteers the opportunity to finish the job. The two-tonne deck was made from timbers utilised at Drungewick Lock, where they had been put into action as props during lock repairs, alongside many metal joining pieces and bolts. The structure was transported to its new home late last month when volunteers spent several days installing it and fitting the kickboards, Douglas Fir timber planking and hand railings. The bridge’s completion means members will be able to experience the circular walk that the Trust has created in this particularly stunning part of the countryside. The walk will be flanked by the Downs Link path above and Cranleigh Waters in the valley below. The walk will be opened to the public later in the year. Gill Davies
Future Events Themed Cruises Fri 27th Aug, 2pm & 4pm: Cream Tea Special. This popular boat trip will be 1.5 hours and include a cream tea served while you cruise along the lovely Sussex countryside. To coincide with the school holidays, we are offering a children's menu for the August trips (sandwiches, crisps and a soft drink) at a reduced price of £10. Adult ticket price is £16 per person. Bookings online. Fri 3rd Sep, 2pm: Cream Tea Special. This popular boat trip will be 1.5 hours and include a cream tea served while you cruise along the lovely Sussex countryside. To coincide with the school holidays, we are offering a children's menu for the August trips (sandwiches, crisps and a soft drink) at a reduced price of £10. Adult ticket price is £16 per person. Bookings online. Scheduled Trips Boat trips resumed on the 19th May on Wednesdays and Sundays at 10.30am, 12pm and 2pm. Booking is online only through our website www.weyandarun.co.uk and tickets are on sale now. Saturday and special cruises have now been added to the mix For general information on the work of the Trust, please telephone our Northern Office on 01483 505566, or visit www.weyandarun.co.uk
20
River Thames A Boaters View
At last we managed it! A trip on the River Thames. We actually got away on our boat for 3½ weeks – and got all the way to Lechlade (even if we did ground just short of the Round House!). The first night was spent at Windsor after leaving Walton on Thames about midday. The weather was changeable although we did avoid most of the rain. We tend to be fair weather boaters and will stay somewhere safe and accessible if we think deluges are on their way. Then it was up to Reading via a night against the fields at Henley. Although the cost of mooring at Henley has increased it is still worthwhile. Fairly close to town and a nice outlook over the race course. We spent 3 nights in the Kennet & Thames Marina – or rather my husband and the boat did – I had an appointment with my Mum which I didn’t want to get out of. John went shopping for maggots and did a bit of fishing. We also managed to arrange a Tesco’s delivery for there. Try telling a driver that - no you’re not looking for a house, come all the way down to the Marina and I’m waiting for you. Half an hour later….! If you have ever been to that Marina you will know what I mean. Although Reading Council don’t encourage boaters the town does have its uses with a good railway service and a large Supermarket! The River between Walton and Reading is fairly built up and looking into people’s back gardens can be fascinating. Seeing what houses are for sale and how high some of them are from the ground (to avoid flooding) can be quite a talking point. Once you leave Reading the scenery changes. More fields with a variety of livestock. As ex farming folk we find the countryside more interesting than towns. We look to see what crops are being grown and how many fields haven’t been cut for hay or silage. Is this farmers making more wild flower meadows to encourage
21 bees, butterflies and other insects? Also, how much Himalayan Balsam there is around. There is a lot although you can see where it is being managed, in some cases quite successfully. I really wish EA would encourage volunteers to help with keeping it under control. Or is it down to whoever owns the banks? We did have a go at pulling plants out where we were able to, but it needed more than 2 of us. After Reading we stopped at Wallingford for 2 nights. The limited moorings are close to town with pubs close by and the weather was due to be awful, just beware of swimmers and paddleboarders near the bridge. Then it was up to Abingdon – again for 2 nights – Launderette (very good) – Takeaway (Excellent). The curry came from a little takeaway called 0DKHH which we can recommend. They had a good menu with a few items we hadn’t seen before like Saag Rice. I understand there is also a good Chinese restaurant although we didn’t try that – maybe next time. Abingdon is a lovely town and certainly encourages boaters. Lots of free moorings on both banks and you can stay for 3 days. Above Abingdon it is wise to be more careful. There is/was a boat sunk in the middle of the channel with 1 white buoy as a warning. In several places we were surprised at the number of trees that had fallen into the river or were hanging over reducing the channel quite substantially. Talking to another river user we were told it was up to landowners to keep riverbanks under control (for want of a better word!). Should EA area managers be telling landowners of their responsibilities and what the consequences could be if the “Right of Navigation” is impeded? Then it was up to Kings Lock, the other side of Oxford. We had to take the windscreen down to get under a couple of bridges and luckily avoided the rain. Up to this point we had seen very few boats – a few hire boats - and not many lock keepers. This did not worry us as we are used to self service locks. That evening we had a barbecue – a mistake as the wind got up and it started raining. Fishing umbrellas come in very useful although you have to be careful they don’t fly away!
22 Our last stop before Lechlade was near Radcot, where we contacted Ian Lindsay who is the owner of Lechlade Marina. I know Ian as Chair of IWA Oxfordshire branch. Ian had an interesting story to tell of his journey to buying the Marina and his plans for the future. More later. We stayed in the Marina overnight and treated ourselves to a pub meal. The next morning we walked up to the Round House and saw the shoal of gravel we had grounded on the previous day (Front Cover). Our journey home started that afternoon. Most of the time we stayed at the same places as on the way upstream. Two stops were different, The Ferryman Inn at Bablock Hythe where we again had a pub meal and Beale Park where we spent the afternoon in the park. We also managed to spend time with friends, and family who decided to join us for the day at Reading. The weather improved to the extent that we were seeking shade and sleeping on top of the duvet. Travelling early and mooring up early too. Most of the locks on the way back were manned, sometimes by a lock keeper and volunteer. There were many more boats, wild swimmers (nice to see some of them with markers and on the right side of the river), canoeists and paddleboarders (have they got licences?). Coming down from Penton Hook lock there were at least 12 boats waiting to lock upstream. We have received information that EA are looking at standardising some charges across all EA’s waters, a good idea? I don’t know. Our boat is a 21ft long, narrow beam cruiser so shouldn’t affect us an awful lot. St John’s lock was the first time we saw a notice about ALL craft needing to be licenced. It could have been larger and on all posts at all locks. Chris Jones Lechlade Marina 3 years ago Ian Lindsay and his wife Jules bought Lechlade Marina. I can remember going passed it about then and seeing a tumbledown wreck of a place. Now it is very different. The overhanging trees have been tamed and a new bridge welcomes you into the Marina, and there is a new floating pontoon close to a very substantial slipway. There is a new office and shower block (very good – we used it!) and ample parking if you want to leave your car and trailer while boating.
23 A new electrical system and Elsan point have also been installed. Wildlife is returning including Kingfishers and voles. The marina could still do with dredging in places, and this is on the “list of things still to do”. They have about 100 berths and a long waiting list! A bit of background to the new owners – Ian attended Royal Agricultural College and started his working life managing estates for other people including the National Trust and Althorp Estate. Jules had a career in office management and bookkeeping. All skills required for the successful management of a marina. Ian can remember boating holidays with his family as a child and how much he enjoyed them. As well as being Chairman of IWA Oxfordshire Branch, Ian is also a Town Councillor, on the steering group of the local Business club and Secretary of the River Users Group (RUG) for the Upper Thames. He prefers to use local businesses for work he can’t do himself.
24
Kent & East Sussex Branch IWAKES Chairman’s Piece The waterways are having a much better year than 2020 with fewer restrictions. Guidelines replaced rules as infection rates surged across the country and hopefully the government’s approach will prove successful and there will be no further need for lockdowns, fingers crossed! In the branch area many positive things continue to occur for example on the River Medway which the EA continues to fund and maintain remarkably well when compared to the River Thames. Challenges remain as, for example, the plans for Northfleet Harbour, which you can read about elsewhere in &DUJRHV, are extremely disappointing with a proposal that sees the harbour being potentially removed. Whilst we may need new homes this does not justify wrecking the exciting plans of The Northfleet Harbour Restoration Trust. As the Trust points out the Harbour can offer sporting opportunities, employment, boat repairs, historic sailing ships, marina services, heritage interpretation, education and much more. A wonderful opportunity to enhance the area and provide a valuable public resource. We support the Trust’s aims and hope that common sense will win the day. Enjoy the waterways over the last few months of 2021 and hopefully we can look forward to a normal year in 2022. Les Etheridge
Dartford & Crayford Navigation news from Brian Franklin On the morning of Saturday 19th June at 8am (to catch the tide) members of Dartford and Crayford Creek Restoration Trust supported by the Mayor of Dartford used the recently restored public slipway for the first time to launch our creek workboat and to land our other work boat so it could go away for a refurb. This is the only usable public slipway on the lower Thames. We would like to record a big thanks to Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Rosanna Currans, Mayor’s Escort Corinna Bailey and Councillor Avtar Sandhu who came along to be a part of the first launch and recovery on Dartford’s newly resurfaced public slipway. The Mayor was a great sport and actually helped launch our work boat 'LYD¶V )ROO\ and then went for
25 a spin on the river. A great launch, a few hiccups but the new surface really made a difference for both launch and recovery. Trust volunteers set about restoring the slipway a few years back to get it usable and maintain its use. Dartford Borough Council put a Section 106 requirement on the adjoining developer, Weston Homes, to resurface the slipway for community benefit and now it is available to allow Sea Scouts and Cadets, kayakers, canoeists, rowers, sailors, paddleboarders and day boaters to get on the water and carry on what was Dartford’s nautical birth-right. 3KRWR 0D\RU RI 'DUWIRUG &RXQFLOORU 5RVDQQD &XUUDQV DIORDW ZLWK VNLSSHU 3HWHU /XFLD +HQQLV
Thames & Medway Canal Association The TMCA held another successful AGM at our Mark Lane site and it didn’t rain, which was a bonus as we gathered afterward for a BBQ and social chat. Our past Chairman David Rouse, requesting lighter duties, has agreed to become our official historian. We continue to do battle with Joseph Homes at the Albion development to ensure that the canal can be restored without the need for relaying services and disruption caused by piling. The Nuralite section threatened with infill will now be conserved for wildlife as it cannot be restored as a navigable section due to the underwater asbestos contamination. The land owner has installed bat-boxes and ensured the canal level is kept up with clean water, evident by all the fish that can be seen. The work party has been very productive providing another bench giving those who use the benches a wide view of the Thames and marshes. We have also installed a pathway there with a small wild flower area in front but are still battling the nettles. Shorne Parish Council donated a number of new hand tools for our use which are surplus to their requirements. Although our Open Day was cancelled “Rat Race” on Saturday 7th August should be an interesting event as runners and walkers travel from London to Canterbury passing along the towpath. Dave Parnell
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River Medway news from Mike Marsh Allington Lock reopened to navigation on June 3rd. The site is still under contractor’s control at the time of writing. There have been some delays caused by an extended wait for materials but is anticipated a lot of the finishing work will be completed by the 7th August. The lock was officially opened by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Fay Gooch, during the annual Mayor’s Cruise on 7th August 2021.
Allington Sluice repair project has commenced. It is a 3-year, summer only project to replace wires, pulleys etc. Currently, the weir is operating on No.3 sluice while No.1 is being worked on. Boater’s facilities at Tonbridge and Allington have now been upgraded. The Yalding facilities are planned to be upgraded in September this year. Emergency work on East Farleigh sluice is to be carried out this summer. Capital work to remove Teston sluice and replace it with a passive structure, starts in 2022. Six boats have been seized for non-payment of license. All 712 boats on the Medway have now been photographed for record purposes and owners asked to display their registration “M” numbers for identity purposes. The Embankment Restaurant Barge (fire damaged in February 2020) has legal proceedings underway for its removal. The EA has the power to seize but costs make it unviable at present. A strategic review of navigation charges is underway and the consultation period to the proposed changes started on 19th July for 8 weeks. The plans are to introduce standardized charging across all 3 regions, Anglian, Medway and Thames. The main proposals are to charge boats by area, remove the 11m cap and make a charge for tenders. Amendments to the discount system also proposed. Plans are in place for Water Awareness sessions on hot summer days. This involves Police and RNLI engaging with youths at the hotspots to raise awareness of the waterway’s hazards and risks. CCTV is successfully operating at Yalding / Hempstead and Allington Locks. Maidstone River Festival will not take place this year but is planned to be back on 30th July 2022.
27 The Medway Valley Country Partnership team have chemically treated 3000 giant hogweed plants on the River Medway since March and are continuing plastic clean ups with three already completed this year.
Tonbridge River Trips are back in business with electric boat trips and rowing boat hire. All the details on are on their website and Facebook page… https://www.tonbridgerivertrips.co.uk www.facebook.com/tonbridgerivertrips
Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust Recent activity by SORT seems to have been mainly keeping the grass and weeds down around Isfield Lock! Serious mowing and strimming are required regularly to stop all our work being lost behind a mass of foliage. We had a significant quantity of Himalayan Balsam, which we regularly pull. There was a large patch of it just below the weir that was over 6 ft tall. We didn't have time to pull it, so we did the other acceptable remedy which was to cut it before it let its seeds loose. But of course, that is not all we have been doing. We are moving our lock-side storage container and compound a short distance down the footpath to where it has no impact on the view of the lock. Mr John Sclater, the landowner, has continued his greatly appreciated support of SORT by allowing us to use an area of his land for our storage zone. Moving our 20 ft (former) sea-going container 100 metres has been a big challenge but we had an ace up our sleeve in Brian, one of our members and directors, who used to build fishing boats in Newhaven. He borrowed some wheels he used to own and welded them to the container. After some additional stiffening measures, we used our dumper to tow it to its new home. Job done. Dave Evans
28
Northfleet Harbour Northfleet Harbour’s nautical future is at a curious juncture. We had been working with the Ebbsfleet Garden City team for the last few years; building up plans for a working harbour with lock gates. Then the Ebbsfleet team came forward with a planning application to simply put a park on the river bed within the harbour walls and allow no future provision for Northfleet Harbour Restoration Trust to get the harbour opened up. Following an upswell of objections to the planning application, possibly close to a hundred, we are hoping the Ebbsfleet team will have a rethink and allow the harbour to have a nautical future after they’ve built their houses and left town. Our vision of a working harbour with employment, apprenticeships, historic ships, marina facilities, Sea Cadets, marine volunteer services, and maybe a pub thrown in for good measure will be far more valuable to the community than a park with harbour walls covered in graffiti and motorbike tracks.
Volunteers haven’t lost hope though and have still been working on the harbour’s heritage in the interim. We have been slowly exposing the tracks of the Victorian crane. Unfortunately, we only have the base but it, along with the tracks, still makes for an interesting curio. There was a set of three cranes. Our crane base is the one in the background of the black and white photo. Conrad Broadley
River Stour news from Malcolm Hasler As the whole country edges out of lockdown and restrictions are removed, the Kentish River Stour is beginning to wake from its slumbers as once again boaters begin to venture out on the river. There is no doubt that numbers of boat movements are down as I write this report, but I am sure this will change as the summer holidays commence and the British public begin to venture out on their “staycations”. With foreign travel being full of risks and uncertainty it is inevitable that the numbers of leisure users on the river, as was observed last year between lockdowns, will again increase. This will
29 undoubtedly bring unfortunate conflict between different leisure users on the river, the anglers, and the boaters. What was once known as “the secret little gem of East Kent”, the Kentish Stour, has been discovered by the public. All parties now need to work together to ensure that everyone is educated in the usage of the river, the etiquette and safety precautions needed to allow continued safe and enjoyable leisure. In general life on the river has been quiet with one or two exceptions. River levels have fluctuated especially recently with flash floods after heavy rainfall higher up the river along with very unpredictable violent isolated thunderstorms. As a result, the river is carrying higher than usual levels of silt and floating obstructions, along with vegetation, which are causing weed filters to clog up more frequently. In addition, a major fire in July adjacent to the British Rail Crossing at Grove Ferry resulted in the complete destruction of two buildings and one boat despite the best attempts of the Kent Fire Brigade who responded with several appliances and their Marine Unit which were on site for four hours. This caused delays to the passage of trains, the temporary closure of the river to navigation and stopped vehicular access from the A28 at Upstreet. On the last weekend in July, the postponed celebration of 50 years of The Boat House at Grove Ferry is to be held. This is now being held in conjunction with the celebration of the life of Roy Newing who dedicated his life to the river, as previously reported. I have no doubt that this event will be well attended by all who knew him. Some impromptu cutting of low and overhanging branches between Plucks Gutter and Redhouse recently, by persons unknown, unfortunately resulted in sizeable branches being released and subsequently being allowed to spend the next few weeks floating up and down the river – be aware! It is hoped that the removal of the second temporary bridge by the National Grid will have been completed by the time that this report goes to press, being the conclusion of the works affecting the navigation on the river. Contact me by email on Malcolm.Hasler@waterways.org.uk 3KRWRJUDSKV L P\ ERDW PRRUHG DW 5HGKRXVH LL WKH PRRULQJV DW 7KH %RDW +RXVH DQG LLL WKH QHZ WULS ERDW RSHUDWLQJ IURP 3OXFNV *XWWHU
30
River Adur news from Brendan Whelan As reported in the last issue, attempts are being made to render useless one of the last, public launching sites on the River Adur. The IWA and the Shoreham Slipways Group (SSG) met with a representative of Adur District Council (ADC) and the Sussex Yacht Club (SYC) to discuss concerns and try to view the issues of access from multiple perspectives. The Environment Agency and West Sussex County Council (WSCC) were invited but no representative attended. The SYC are concerned about the security of the site and that encouraging members of the public to launch may interfere with their activities; particularly their “Sailability” programme. However, they noted that “Sailability” training only occurs at high tide and that other water users tend to launch on a rising tide and return on a falling one; hence limiting possible interference between river users. Both the IWA and the SSG noted that there are many shared launching facilities and shared waterways (e.g. at Littlehampton, at Itchenor and in Lymington). It is a matter of tolerance and cooperation. The ADC representative promised to reconsider their plan to greatly restrict access to the River Adur at this point. All parties wanted to avoid a public enquiry. Recently, letters from 1998 and 1999 between the then Vice-Commodore of the SYC, acting in a personal capacity, and WSCC have come to light. They clearly show that Stowes Gap was used for launching boats but this was discouraged by parked cars blocking the legal access to the water. WSCC noted that the hard was used as a slipway. (The words “Hard” and “Slipway” are often used interchangeably; the classic example being Buckler's Hard where many naval ships were launched). A member of a sailing group had said, at that time, that access was difficult and had suggested improvements. How little has changed during the past 21 years! The IWA and the SSG will continue discussions with ADC and, ideally, the EA and WSCC (the latter organisation being the custodian of rights of way).
IWAKES’ web-page co-ordinator Kent and East Sussex Branch are looking for a volunteer to support the Branch pages on the exciting new IWA Website. https://waterways.org.uk/waterways/branches/iwa-kenteast-sussex-branch Can you help by receiving occasional updates for the webpages (such as news items, photos and details of up-and-coming events) and inserting them onto the website? You would be trained how to do this.
31 If you would be interested to receive more details, please email Roy on roydavidsutton@yahoo.co.uk or kenteastsussex@waterways.org.uk We would love to hear from you.
Future IWAKES and Other Events Thursday, 14th October 2021: 7.30 for 8.00pm: Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood, Kent. ME2 2AH: “RNLI – Innovations”: Colin Brown of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute will extend on the great talk he gave at Strood in 2019. Thursday, 11th November 2021: 8.00pm Our traditional annual joint meeting with Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust will again be a webinar as last year’s was so successful. “Vision for the Ouse” by a speaker from the Environment Agency. Registration will be through the IWAKES pages of the IWA Website which are at… https://waterways.org.uk/waterways/branches/iwa-kent-east-sussex-branch
Wednesday 15th December 2021: 7.30 for 8.00pm Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend. DA12 2BS “Puffing a’Wey” by Mark Rudall, a stalwart of the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain. Get-together with Thames & Medway Canal Association, with tea, coffee, nibbles and licenced bar. Our agenda comprises one ‘virtual’ meeting and two ‘physical’ meetings. We are investigating webcasting the ‘physical’ meetings. If that proves feasible then registration will be through the IWAKES webpages, which are at… https://waterways.org.uk/waterways/branches/iwa-kent-east-sussex-branch If you are on the internet then please check the IWAKES webpages before committing to travel to the venue. If you are not on the internet then please call Roy Sutton on 01342 317569 to check the event is still proceeding (and to register to be called back if it is subsequently cancelled). Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES ‘physical’ evening meetings. Entry is free with a raffle to cover costs. Venue maps are on the IWAKES webpages All IWAKES events are open to non-members and you are encouraged to bring friends to ‘physical’ meetings or to tell them about ‘virtual’ meetings. Similarly, if you know a local club or society that might be interested then please do tell them.
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Oxfordshire Branch Branch Chairman Following my last article I am delighted to say that a branch member Roger Badger responded to my request for help with running the branch. Roger has written a short introduction to himself below but he has kindly taken on the treasurer’s role from the current office holder who was press ganged into the role (my wife!). Roger has also agreed to try and take on the branch planning officer position. Whilst he will admit himself he has little experience of planning matters he is able to devote some time to starting to get the alerts set up for planning applications that might impact on the Thames and the Oxford Canal within our branch area from all 8 local authorities. Robin Williams the branch secretary, Roger and I would still be very grateful if more members were able to come forward and offer some time to help the branch become more active and arrange events and other things for our members. Further more experienced help with the planning role would be most welcome too. A few days before writing this we heard that unfortunately the Oxford Canal Festival has been postponed again until September 2022, we will endeavour to have a presence at the event when it happens. Before I sign off and hand over to Roger to introduce himself, I have also recently had the delight of welcoming Chris Jones the esteemed editor of this magazine and her husband John to Lechlade in their boat. I hope that you have been able to enjoy the waterways this summer too. Roger Badger - Roger has been an IWA member and supporter of our waterways on his narrowboat for some while. However, with his children and grandchildren becoming keen waterways enthusiasts with their canoes and paddleboards, he decided that the time was right to play a more active role in trying to ensure that these pleasures are available for future generations. Ian Lindsay
Tooley’s Boatyard Trust Our long awaited boat trips in the 'DQFLQJ 'XFN started with the lifting of Government’s Covid 19 regulations. We then started our live demonstrations in the recently refurbished Forge. Please check our website for dates. There should be a demonstration on the 1st Saturday in September. So do please come along, any time between 11am and 4pm. And if you fancy a trip on the Canal, please go to our website https://tooleysboatyardtrust.org.uk
33 to book. The work on the Forge was carried out by local firm P.R.Alcock & Sons and funded by a grant from Historic England, so a big Thank You to both of those! Only materials and techniques appropriate to the historical building were used, and the result is an authentic eighteenth-century survivor in the heart of Banbury, made fit for the 21st century. From the Architectural Heritage Fund, who had supported our Viability Study completed last March (just before the first lockdown!), came further support in the form of a £22K grant to help us develop our social media presence and plan our marketing strategy over the months ahead. And we have just submitted an initial Expression of Interest form to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This is the first step along the road to obtaining significant funding. If they think we have a viable plan they will invite us to work on a full-scale application. But we still need your help, not only to fund the current work but also to demonstrate to the NLHF that we have your support. One way is, of course, to support Cherwell District Council’s Community Lottery. To buy tickets for this, and be eligible for weekly prizes as well as helping our own good cause, go to: https://www.cherwelllottery.co.uk . Another (painless!) way is via: When you shop at Smile.Amazon, 0.5% of your purchase (not including VAT, shipping costs or returns) will be donated to the charity of your choice – in this case Tooley’s! Go to: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1182371-0 to start shopping (note: not the usual Amazon website). Tooley’s Boatyard Trust is registered with the Charity Commission: no. 1182 From Tooley’s June Newsletter
Banbury Canal Partnership Following on from the previous issue of &DUJRHV we moved a little down the Canal. There is a peculiar arrangement where the canalised River Cherwell rejoins the Oxford Canal via Nell Bridge lock. But the tail of the lock goes immediately under a road bridge without a towpath. In order to navigate the lock therefore you have to moor on the other side of the road, climb up to and, cross the road and climb down the other side and operate the lock. As you cannot see through the road bridge which is in effect a short low tunnel you have to repeat the operation to get back to the boat. However our task was to replace the fence that led up from the canal to the road. The road is the main road leading between the main Oxford-Banbury Road to Bicester/M40 and is both busy and high speed. So if you come this way, cross with care!
34 The old fence part fallen down and part requiring repair ± all to be painted
Fence and steps under repair
Part of finished job!
35 On the next work party we tidied and painted Nell Bridge lock itself.
Virtually as found ± road DQG ³WXQQHO´ EH\RQG ORFNgate.
All done – lock painted and grass strimmed
36
We also did some tidying up and graffiti removal in Banbury around Tramway bridge. As always if you want a day out in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside come and join us. You might just enjoy it so much you become a regular Please contact myself or Chairman Colin Garnham-Edge if you would like to be put on our emailing list. Remember we have an email contact address : bcpontheoxford@gmail.com We also have a Facebook page Brian Saunders BCP Cargoes representative
Future Events Cancelled: Thurs 16th to Sat 18th Sept: Oxford Canal Festival. Further details www.oxfordcanalheritage.org
Wilts & Berks Canal After some delays, because the boat was in use elsewhere, the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has now taken delivery of its new work boat 1HOVRQ. She was very kindly donated by Rob Locatelli of River & Canal Services in Woking and the Trust purchased the HIAB separately. By way of thanks, we have awarded Rob life membership of the Trust.
37 As can be seen, she is a steel narrowboat and sports a HIAB, so now we have good dredging capability. She was craned in at Templars Firs, Royal Wootton Bassett; this stretch was restored many years ago and has suffered from weed growth and some silting. There are also two places where gravel has been allowed to wash into the canal from nearby developments, so she can be put to immediate use. All this has been made possible by a very generous bequest from the late Vic Miller, an active member in Royal Wootton Bassett. Our second piece of news is that the contract with Highways England for a grant of almost £43,000 as the first stage in constructing a canal crossing under the M4 by Swindon has been signed off, so initial design & feasibility studies can begin, leading to a projected £12.5 Million project. As part of this, the canal line is scheduled to pass under a road diversion nearby which is part of a separate motorway underbridge currently being constructed. These works have included a canal & towpath culvert in anticipation of the above, so we have the first tangible evidence of what is to happen over the next few years. As well as the canal & towpath, the culvert has a wildlife shelf! Canal restoration at Wichelstowe (beyond the M4 in the photo) is a Section 106 obligation there and must be done by the time 2.700 homes are occupied, so relatively soon. The M4 works are likely to have a similar timescale, so the length of navigable canal
38 will be almost tripled, as the canal will also link up with a section in East Wichel which was constructed just over 10 years ago as part of the ‘South Swindon Bypass’. All this will take us about half way to the projected Swindon to Royal Wootton Bassett link, which will also be a walking & cycling route between the two communities. Of the second half, around half of that is already in water and we have planning permission for one of the two road bridges needed, so we have much to look forward to! Chris Barry, Comms Secretary, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
Future Events Dragonfly is currently at its mooring outside Waitrose and undertaking short trps. Please visit our website for up to date information. The Boating season for 'UDJRQIO\ normally starts at Easter and finishes in September. Trips may extend through October depending on the weather. The boat can be chartered and is popular for birthday and anniversary parties. Plenty of notice is required to make it easier to find crew. For further information, please call the boat team on 07401 220076 or preferably email boat.bookings@wbct.org.uk
London Region Future Events Future webinars and meetings: At present we still have no idea when we can return to Paddington but, regardless of that, we have now decided to run further webinars on the 4th Monday of the month: The link to all IWA webinars and the calendar is https://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/online_talks. The link to recorded previous webinars is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ROBJ6rpm_41BSmu-Glf2Q Please visit our website or contact Libby Bradshaw for up to date information
39 Details of each talk will be sent out in advance by email and also can be found following the link https://www.waterways.org.uk/branches_regions/london/london_region
South London Branch Future Events South London Branch Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 for 8:00 pm in The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP. Admission to talks and presentations is free to members and non-members, but we do ask that you donate a minimum of £2 per person to offset room hire charges and speakers’ expenses, thank you. For more information please contact the Social Secretary: Shea Richardson. Tel: 07803 904803 or email: shea.richardson@waterways.org.uk
Towpath Walks Group Prior booking is Mandatory on these walks. Please contact London Walks on 020 7624 3978, or using their website: http://www.walks.com Sun 12th Sep, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: River Tyburn – Little Venice. Meet Baker St (Baker St North/Lords exit) Sun 19th Sep, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square – St. Pancras. Meet King’s Cross (by taxi queue) Sun 3rd Oct, 2.30pm: Grand Surrey Canal, Royal Navy Victualling Yard, Greenland Dock. Meet Surrey Quays Sun 17th Oct, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square – St. Pancras. Meet King’s Cross (by taxi queue) Towpath Walks Group is looking for volunteers to guide small parties of walkers on short walks along the towpath of the Regent’s Canal (and elsewhere). This introduces newcomers to the pleasant world of waterways – which most outsiders don’t realise is here! It is also a good way of recruiting new members to IWA. No experience? No problem, we’ll brief you. For more information about Walks (Normal charge: £15.00, Concessions, Student rate and accompanied children over 16yrs £10. Accompanied children 815yrs: £5.00. Accompanied children under 8yrs: free) please contact London Walks, telephone: 020 7624 3978. Booking Essential "It is very important to watch the up-to-date status of the walks, as shown on the IWA website and the London Walks website as changes may have to be made at short notice."
40
Canal & River Trust: Boats are returning to the water in fleets as restrictions lift and the sun shines. With school holidays starting, it could be a record-breaking summer for boating. Boats cruising the canals pass through locks when they need to go up or downhill, filling and emptying the lock with water. These lockages are monitored by CRT as an essential part of its water resources management to understand the changing patterns in use across the waterways. Comparing the weekly lockages in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for the three busiest lock sites in each of CRT’s six regions indicates that the numbers of boats out cruising have recovered and in some regions are higher than before the pandemic. The data compares the latest figures from mid July, which covers the final week of Step 3 of the UK Government’s Coronavirus roadmap, and shows a 5% increase in average lockage counts compared to 2019 and an 11% increase compared to 2020 when boaters were able to take advantage of the reopening after the first national lockdown. Matthew Symonds, CRT’s National Boating manager, said: “It is said that boating is the fastest way to slow down, and it is clear to see that boaters are keen to get back out on the water cruising after a year that has seen them moored up for months at a time, or unable to take their hireboat holidays. The four-mile an hour maximum speed gives people the perfect opportunity to unwind, take in the changing landscape, spot wildlife, and let the stress of the past year float away. With recent research showing that regularly spending time out on the water has a beneficial effect on mental wellbeing, it’s heartening to see boaters exploring the canals once again. As we head into the summer holidays, this could be a record-breaking year for boating on our inland waterways.” CRT Website
41
Mikron Theatre Group
Anywhere for Everyone by Canal, River and Road: We are back on tour for 2021 on our narrowboat, 7\VHOH\. Please check our website for information on the plans we have to keep you safe. All tickets are available on line. We tell stories of uniquely British things: In our 2021 season we once again explore two fascinating British stories with two brand new commissions by two new writers. In Atalanta Forever The game is on! It’s 1920, and in post-war Britain, women’s football is big news Explore the extraordinary world of heroic hounds, pampered pedigrees and naughty nobblers through the halls and history of Crufts, with A Dog’s Tale Please visit our website for up to date information on our tour dates and venues. www.mikron.org.uk
IWA Webinar Programme During the last few months IWA has been running webinars on a variety of subjects. Please visit the IWA for up to date information. Registration for all our webinars is through the IWA website at https://www.waterways.org.uk. The link to recorded previous webinars is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ROBJ6rpm_41BSmu-Glf2Q
The Inland Waterways Association Chesham Staff Phil Hornsey Chief Executive Officer
extn 609
Tracy Higgin Administration Manager Day-to-day running of the Head Office at Chesham.
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Rachel Bryant Membership
extn 600
42
The Inland Waterways Association IWA South East Region Chair: Verna Smith 63 Avondale, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5NE Tel: 07986 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com
IWA Guildford & Reading Branch Committee Acting Chair: Verna Smith 63 Avondale, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5NE Tel: 07986 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com Secretary: Chris Jones Tel: 07711 784374 Acting Treasurer & R. Wey: Mike Lewis Basingstoke & R. Thames: Vacant
Email: chris.jones@waterways.org.uk K & A, WACT & Planning: Verna Smith
IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch Committee Chair: Les Etheridge Tel: 07768 132703
Email: les.etheridge@waterways.org.uk
Secretary, Sussex Ouse & &DUJRHV Contact: Roy Sutton 79, St Leonards Park, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1EG Tel: 01342 317569 Email: RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk Treasurer & Royal Military Canal: Peter Wilkinson Membership Secretary: Les Etheridge Social Secretary: Sue Schwieso :DWHUZD\V 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV R. Medway: Michael Marsh R. Stour: Malcolm Hasler Thames & Medway: Bernard Snell Dartford & Crayford: Brian Franklin
R. Adur: Brendan Whelan Northfleet Harbour: Vacant R. Rother: Malcolm Jones Faversham & Swale: Vacant
IWA Oxfordshire Branch Committee Chair: Ian Lindsay Tel: 07889 070623 Email: ian.lindsay@waterways.org.uk Secretary: Robin Williams Tel: 07490 454260 Email: robin.williams@waterways.org.uk Treasurer: Roger Badger Webmaster: Robin Williams
&DUJRHV co-ordinator & Jericho: tba 1RQ &RPPLWWHH 5HVSRQVLELOLWLHV
Thames RUG 3: Sue & David Cooper Next issue: Winter Copy date: 29th October 2021 Opinions expressed in &DUJRHV are not necessarily those of IWA. IWA, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1WA. Tel: 01494 783453 Company No: 612245. Charity No: 212342 www.waterways.org.uk &DUJRHV Editor: Chris Jones chris.jones@waterways.org.uk
IWA Festival of Water 2021 43
28th TO 30th AUGUST PERDISWELL PARK, WORCESTER, WR3 7SN
Join us at IWA Festival of Water on the banks of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Perdiswell Park for a bank holiday weekend of fun for all who love spending time by the water.
free entry
• • • •
Stalls & Crafts Children’s Rides Illuminated Model Boats Fishing Taster Sessions
• • • •
Coracle Demonstrations Real Ale Bar Live Music Drive a Digger
Supported by:
Free parking available off the A38/Droitwich Road © Photo by Mike Newman
01635 414 567
event.enquiries@waterways.org.uk
waterways.org.uk/festivalofwater IWA’s ‘Festival of Water’ is organised by The Inland Waterways Association which is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Company registration number 612245. Charity registration number 212342. Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham. HP5 1WA. Photo © Andrew Lachlan.
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