The
N N N
Northern Navigation News
Newsletter of the North Riding Branch of the Inland Waterways Association
The new automatic sluice has been successfully installed at Castle Mills Lock on the River Foss, which is open for business again
Issue 11 - Spring 2014
The Inland Waterways Association Selby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina are pr oud sponsors of Nor thern Na viga tion News proud Northern Naviga vigation
NORTHERN NAVIGATION NEWS - SPRING 2014 EDITION CASTLE MILLS LOCK BACK IN BUSINESS Firstly, some good news for boaters visiting York. Castle Millls Lock is back in business. The automatic sluice has been commissioned, and, depending on the water levels in the River Foss itself, passage up the River Foss can be had again. Telephone 07588-236-597 and leave your mobile phone number, your name, the name and length of your boat.
Castle Mills Lock is back in operation after the new automatic sluice (above) was put into operation
BOATERS’ FACILITIES, MUSEUM GARDENS, YORK This has not been a happy saga to say the least of it. The Star Inn the City restaurant/bar is now open and is, by all accounts, a success, especially for lunch (two courses for around £12). I am sorry, but this reminds me of a little part of York history and what is a mindset that still persists today. To wit that the basics are dull, and the provision of fine dining is more fun, if not more important. A brief canter through the history of The Ouse Navigation Authority, the statutory body which oversaw the safe passage of craft on the strongly tidal River Ouse. The burghers of York were duty bound to inspect the state of the river once a year. So, a splendid barge was built that the
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burghers and their wives could sail in comfort along the river once a year. It already had a roof, but was then fitted with sash windows to make it more snug. The smallest of the two tidal locks at Naburn (90 foot long) was built in 1792. It proved to be too small, but it was not until nearly a hundred years later that the 150 foot one was built. However, in between times a grand banqueting hall was built. There are currently plans to restore this listed Georgian style building to its original splendour. After the first lock was installed, one would have thought that there would have been a major effort to dredge the shallow parts of the River Ouse. Even though, pre-steam, it would have been a bucket and spade job. It was not until the canals were competing, and Leeds had become a major wool centre, that, through steam power, that the River Ouse was seriously dredged. Then there were the railways! So, game over. The point of this, is that providing basic facilities for visiting boaters has become problematic. Not the building of restaurant. As of our last visit to the site by Lendal Bridge, we noted that the stand pipe is where it was promised (at least 10 foot nearer the river) and minimal sign age. If you want to discharge your chemical toilet, you have to carry it along Dame Judi Dench Walk, up the cobbled hill and left through the arch to the rear of the restaurant. As of writing, however, the sluice is behind the kitchen and by the two disabled toilets, but is a concrete hole in the floor. When I last visited the site, the sluice was the parking place for a new mountain bike. The two public disabled toilets are the responsibility of a local developer and not the responsibility of the restaurant owners. They have no control over the yard area at the rear of the restaurant either. It's Greys Court all over again, where there was a dispute over access and use. We have pursued all the City of York officers and councillors who have had a say in the project, as well as the Chief Executive of York Gallery and Museum Trust, Janet Barnes, who are partners in the venture. Recently, we have received an e-mail from a Council Officer quoting 'contractual confidentiality' over who actually owns what, but they are pursuing the developer for full reinstatement. There is still a skewed sense of priorities, as there was with the building of the banqueting hall all those years ago. (TM)
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NOISE PATROL When Marygate Moorings are busy again from the Spring, there is the plus of boaters being able to 'phone a friend', if the noise levels are too high, or there is any nuisance on the moorings at night. You can phone the Environment Protection Marygate Landing (photo: Neil Ward) Unit (EPU) on 01904 551 555. You do not have to be a 'householder' to phone them about any noise problems.
DREDGING I was brought up near the River Thames and had some misspent Thursday evenings in the now very aptly named Ship Inn in Shepperton, recent flooded. On the Somerset Levels, the flooding has been dramatic to say the least, and even David Cameron, PM, was moved to pledge the dredging of the River Parrot once the water has subsided, even the building of a barrage within five years. A Tory MP was moved to say that there should be an independent 'Rivers Authority' instead of the Environment Agency. Well, I remember twenty or so years ago, when the original NRA was absorbed in the Environment Agency, just when the NRA had sensibly sorted out a flooding problems with the River Ravensbourne in Lewisham and Catford by letting the local playing fields flood instead of people's back gardens, saving the ÂŁ1 million that putting the local river into a concrete culvert would have cost. The plan never happened, as the sensible NRA was abolished. So, can we now expect the City of York Council, backed by the Canal and River Trust, to see the sense in dredging the rivers Ouse and Foss? The River Ouse has been dredged either side of Linton Lock by the Canal and River Trust, at the instigation of Paul Benson, the owner of Linton Lock Marina. (TM)
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SELBY MARINA Selby Council has, at last, given its blessing to a new marina complex on the River Ouse. A Dutch company is planning to build a marina with a block of luxury flats. It was the height of the block of flats that caused the initial planning problems, but this has now been resolved. The site is on that of a previous paper mill with access to the marina from near Selby Lock. The pontoons will only be 145 feet apart, which, apparently, is far too narrow. The plans can be examined on the Selby Council's Planning Portal.
TALL SHIPS - SAILING ADVENTURES 'Tall Ships - sailing adventures for all' was an illustrated talk by Rowena and Adrian Lovett, given at the IWA North Riding Branch meeting on 10th April. The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a sail-training charity which owns and operates two modern square-rigged sailing ships - Lord Nelson and Tenacious. These are the only two tall ships in the world designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail sideby-side as equals. They now provide a chance for up to 2000 people a year to be crew members. Rowena and Adrian both recently sailed as crew members on Tenacious, Rowena The “Tenacious� along and across the English Channel and Adrian along the Mediterranean coast.
CURRENT BRANCH OFFICE BEARERS Following the AGM on the 10th April, the office bearers are:
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Chair - Michael Cadoux (MC), Treasurer - John Reeve (JR), Secretary - Tony Martin (TM), Press - Keith Chapman (KC).
CRT USER FORUM IN CASTLEFORD, APRIL 7TH There was a presentation on the Leeds Flood Alleviation scheme (see Youtube “Leeds FAS”; sadly visualisation only, no commentary), which is interesting as a collaboration with Leeds Council and the Environment Agency putting up the money, but CRT has ensured that other interests are catered for. The CRT engineer said that originally it looked like simply being flood walls through the city, but now features for boaters, walkers etc are incorporated. Jon Horsfall , head of CRT NorthEast, presented the actual budget for the next year as against what he'd like to spend to deal with all urgent requirements. You've guessed – he'd like at least £1 million more on the £6½ million available. However, various factors such as improvements in contractors' terms mean that we're getting more bangs for the limited CRT buck. Now that CRT is a charity, Jane Thompson is able to liaise with other bodies in new ways, for fundraising and projects, which weren't legally open to BW as part of DEFRA. (MC)
STICKLEBACK As at mid-April the icecream boat is operating, moored just above Millennium Bridge on the Fulford side, but Stickleback Cafe is still being refurbished and should appear at Museum Gardens soon (see Facebook page for “York River Cafe”). Sadly young Alice Gostling who ran it last year has moved on, and let's not forget Andrea from the previous two seasons, but word is there's a nice Polish couple lined up for 2014.
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BRANCH WEB PAGE I've recently been given access to update the Branch's page on the IWA website, so updates should soon appear at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/northriding/north_riding To add or update your email address to IWA records and hence save us postage, please email northriding@waterways.org.uk which comes to me and Tony Martin. (MC)
A WORM’S EYE VIEW In March, new head of CRT Richard Parry came to Leeds as part of his tour round the regions to meet the punters. The meeting was opened by Regional Manager Jon Horsfall, who reminded us that there was to be the usual user group meeting for local issues in three weeks, so very reasonably wanted us to ask Richard about national-level issues. Richard then spoke, with admirable brevity, of course wanted to listen to boaters' concerns, more dredging, new sources of income opening up ... you've already read this stuff. And did you know how much you care about asset management? No, not your pension fund - from his non-waterways background with Network Rail where he managed Victorian-era assets, he sees management of 18th Century build as similarly key to progress. But oh dear, it would then have taken a squad of armed paramilitaries rather than poor Jon to stop the torrent of local issues raised. What about an abandoned workboat obstructing navigation, an unrepaired landing stage, un-emptied bins. To be fair, there were also quite a few national issues raised, including one (modest cough) about CRT recruiting individual supporters, and the use of "chuggers". Richard said he was happy with having so far got up to 5,500 Friends of CRT, but I suggested that while any increase in volunteering was welcome this should be in partnership with existing organisations, not competing for members with - just for example, of course - IWA. We had to agree to differ. What about unlicenced boats when all of us present stump up on time? Don't assume that because you don't see anything, that nothing is happening; data protection limits what CRT can say,
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CUT, THRUST & PARRY AT A BOATERS’ MEETING “Boaters have a large stake in the waterways and pay a significant sum to keep their boats afloat: they deserve accountability from their navigation authority, they should be listened to, and be able to capitalise on CRT's protection and enhancement of the network.” So began Richard Parry, now eight months into his job as Chief Executive of the Canal and River Trust, in his question-andanswer session with over a hundred boaters in Leeds on 14th Richard Parry March. He concluded his address with an appeal and invitation for boaters to be the eyes and ears of the waterways and for us to work together on a necessarily long programme of fixing the problems: CRT doesn't have a monopoly of wisdom on how to do it all, and with the help of its users can have better decisions on running our great waterways. All the meeting's participants would probably choose different extracts from the questions and answers as most important, and CRT have already published a (bland) version of them on their website. Generally we all seemed to find the effort in attending was worthwhile, and Richard clearly has the enthusiasm and ability to remould CRT as a customer-oriented organisation responsive to the long-term needs of the waterways, and do the job better than in BW-days. There were a lot of specific issues raised, and it's never easy to know how much any of these represents a general issue across the CRT network. In particular, the depth and need of dredging of the
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River Foss Society formed in 1973 to protect and promote enjoyment of the river from Pond Head (Oulston) to Blue Bridge in York where it joins the River Ouse. Please contact the Secretary for the 2014 Programme available now and then updated by additional information in the current Newsletter and on the website. At least one walk and one other event (talk, visit, litter pick, etc) are organised each month until October.
Annual subscriptions :- Individual £8.00, Concession £6.00, etc. Contacts :Secretary – Tel no 01904 760871, E mail m.burton599@btinternet.com Membership – Tel no 01904 768071, E mail chrisandpete@haxby147.fsnet.co.uk
www.riverfosssociety.co.uk Please note that all views expressed in “Northern Navigation News” are those of the authors and may not represent those of the Inland Waterways Association.
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Ouse and Ure was discussed, empahsising the effective entrapment of some boats until it is done: a review of the 2014 timetable was promised, perhaps using different dredging craft to the ones which have had mechanical difficulties and caused the most recent delays. Compared with raising the same issue at the user-group, here the commitment to a review was made within the direct hearing of the boss, and that always makes it easier for local managers to meet their commitments. Richard mentioned that, across the network, additional dredging had been included in the 2013-14 winter programme in specific response to boaters' preferences expressed last year. Dredging has always been a poor relation, and has been frequently put off for urgent safety or other emergency works such as the Dutton breach. Also mentioned was the 'buddy' scheme by which boaters have been offering to host short or longer trips for CRT's permanent people, giving them a view of their waterways which they might not normally see: this could be valuable on our more remote northern waterways to experience these depth problems first-hand. Friend-recruitment for CRT and the relationship with IWA membership was discussed. Richard expressed support for CRT remaining as a non-membership organisation with the public-interest represented by its partially-elected Council who appoint the Trustees and, jointly, the senior management team. He did not see a conflict with IWA membership and thought that co-operation could continue to work: CRT needs support of all groups across the waterway communities including canoeists cyclists, local community groups etc. CRT do not want pressurised as aggressive recruiting of Friends, which would create a lot of turnover as people move to other interests: CRT needs long-term relationships with its supporters including volunteering commitments which can make long-terms savings in maintenance. On another question Richard repeated the commitment to its permanent people that nobody would lose their jobs as a result of volunteering. For CRT's version of the remaining questions, see http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/5784.pdf Peter Scott IWA Region Chairman North East and Yorkshire
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