Cleanup March22-23:weneedyourhelp toclearrubbishfromtheBCN... BCN Cleanup 2003 Help to launch the 2003 National Clean-Up Month: come and join the annual 'BCN fishing' competition... only you'll be fishing for rubbish in the canal... 2003 Birmingham Canal Navigations Clean-up (Otherwise known as the Great Spaghetti Clean-up) Salford Junction, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canal and the Tame Valley Canal, March 22nd & 23rd 2003 The site of the next annual BCN clean up is located to provide the best evening’s on-site entertainment facility that has even been available to a WRG camp (unless of course someone can come up with something better). It is hoped that this added attraction may entice all those armchair WRGies to come and do a bit, even if it is only for part or one of the days, towards recovering our waterways. Then once you have had a dabble then you can then relax all those aching muscles (without the Radox Bath) by enjoying a film in one of 27 auditoriums within the adjacent cinema complex. However if you're still feeling energetic then perhaps have a game of ten pin bowling, or just enjoy some of the other entertainment facilities that are available within the Warner Brothers Star City Complex... On the other hand if your idea of an evening's entertainment involves WRG cooking and a few beers, I'm sure you'll be catered for. Star City is located within the junction of the Birmingham & Warwick Junction and the Birmingham & Fazeley Canals. It has only been open two years, being built on the old Nechells Power Station site (where in years gone by coal was delivered by boat from the many collieries that used to exist in the West Midlands) and is the country’s biggest cinema and entertainment complex. During the weekend it is planned to clean out all the four canals that radiate from this junction that is located under the infamous ‘Spaghetti Junction’ on the M6. Such is the proximity of the motorway that considerable lengths are underneath it so don’t be put off if it rains, you’ll just become muddy and wet from your feet upwards rather than both directions.
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Despite the motorway the area in which Salford Canal Junction is located is historically important in that it is the junction of old turnpike roads that lead from Birmingham to Lichfield and Tamworth. It is also located adjacent to the junction of the Rivers Rea (the river that created Birmingham) and the Tame, hence the existence of the Tame Valley Canal and its junction with the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal at Salford. Planned to take place over the weekend 22nd & 23rd March it is the first of many clean-up events that are being devised to take place between then and the end of April. Starting from the Junction it is hoped to work out in all four directions clearing out the residual remains of many years of industry that existed in the area until the late 60’s. Both the Tame Valley and the Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canals are known to cause trouble for deeper drafted boats when competing in the BCN Marathon Challenge Cruise, and whilst we don’t want to make it too easy for them we don’t want to see unnecessary damage to the boats. It is hoped to remove the rubbish via the Star City Site and this is likely to be the signing on point (A to Z Map Ref 4E 61, nearest Railway Station is Aston - 3/4 mile away - which is regularly (including Sundays) served by trains from Birmingham New Street to Walsall and Lichfield). More details will be provided in the next edition, but in the meantime, please complete the application form opposite and send it to Head Office. Even if you only plan to attend on one or other of the days, it would be helpful if you could also complete it so that we can get an idea of the numbers likely to attend. Once again British Waterways are helping by providing the usual floating and road hardware, supported by BCNS’s boat 'Phoenix' and, hopefully, by Dudley Canal Trust with their tug. They will of course be supplying the usual work-gloves that we know you all appreciate. The overnight accommodation is expected to be at the Ackers Trust in Small Heath, Birmingham (Birmingham A to Z Map Ref 1F 91). This is located at the side of the Small Heath Highway - A45 - adjacent to the Grand Union Canal between Tyesley and Small Heath. It has a small basin that can provide accommodation for those that may wish to come by boats. Again more information in the next issue and those that book will be advised once it is finally confirmed. More next time. Vaughan Welch