chairman Good feelings! do and how we do it. So, just because a vaccine has arrived and people are starting to think life will Here we are at the end of one of our strangest return to normal is no reason to ignore this opporyears ever. However I’m sure this edition of Navvies tunity. The Covid working group have already been should stop you all from feeling too downhearted. able to consider lots of ways of working that norLet’s start with the extracts from early editions of mally we never have time to think about. What I’m trying to say is that all of this might result in some Navvies on pages 27-30 which remind us that, for all our frustration at our lack of activity this year, at additional ways of working. So perhaps longer but least we have not been up against a set of authori- smaller camps, or camps with actual separate rooms, or all sorts of options. So if you have ever ties (both local and national) who have a stated policy of trying to close our network down. been interested in an alternative to our traditional In fact I think the monumental changes that offering then now is the time to contact Head Office while we are devoting time to examining options. have occurred since then are something that the doom and gloom might have hidden from us. This This is the last edition on Navvies for 2020 year has done a lot of damage world-wide, but and tradition states it should include an element of when the government needs to launch its recovery prediction for the coming year. So, despite it being plans what does it go with? A green recovery plan. only a twinkle in the eye of me and a few others, I Not another HS3 or a big investment in the city or like to tell you about some work we are doing that anything like that but an attempt to restart things should surface in 2021. by investing in green things – such as the work we On page 7 Martin talks about Waterways in do. Now I’m not suggesting that it was the waterProgress – the IWA report that seeks to prove that ways alone that swung it for the policy makers, but we even relatively small-scale investment in standalone have for many years been playing our part in promot- projects along a waterway could bring benefits ing the value of these ideas. So, at least for the next from day one. It’s been well received and we like to few years (till we have to bail the bankers out again) think it has made its point. So next year we are this should be a golden time for waterway restoration. going to the other end of the spectrum. There is lots Both the general public and the policy makers seem of evidence about how an individual waterway restoto appreciate the waterways for all the benefits they ration brings benefits be it jobs, tourism, community bring and we should be capitalising on this. cohesion, etc. But we feel what is needed is to sell This good feeling continues on page 24 with the idea of a whole restored network as a single good news about how other authorities and organi- entity. We need people (and government) to see sations are helping fund our efforts and aligning the waterways network as they see a road or rail with the message we have been giving for a long time. network, and to see how restoration provides the Then there are pages 10-23 that give the good expansion of it by another 700 miles or so. news from restoration schemes who are not only We intend to put together a series of case producing plans but are actually doing work, mov- studies that show how all those benefits of health, ing some of our favourite restorations forward in regeneration, environment, heritage, education, very significant ways totalling millions of pounds. national resilience, infrastructure and just being a Finally, in our own little world, we have a nicer place to live would be delivered in a more report from our Covid working group on pages 8- effective way if considered as part of a national 9 which means we can be sure that, in one form or network. Every mile you add to the Nitts and another, we will be back in action on site soon. Stuffs canal is not just a mile of that canal, but Sometimes it can be quite hard to see it, but another mile of a massive vibrant network *. I think there is good news all the way from the There is still much to sort out (including very highest national strategic level all the way getting the resources together) but over the next down to those very boots on the ground. year you should see how the contributions we are So am I suggesting all is well and if you can all about to (re)start making are part of a much just hang on a little bit longer then all will be back bigger picture – one that the whole nation should as normal? Well yes and no. Because right from the be supporting. We will keep you posted. start we said that we should use this period of Thank you all for all you have done to help standstill to do the things that we never have time 2020 pass by with some laughter and smiles. to do. This includes having a good look at what we Mike Palmer * Before anyone gets too worried about their isolated waterway don’t worry – you are still part of page 6 the network in the same way an isolated steam railway line is still part of the railway system.
Chairman’s Comment
