Ouse News, Autumn 2011

The Inland Waterways Association

Ouse News - Autumn 2011 The Cambridge Branch Newsletter covering the Great Ouse area

Contents: Branch Committee p2 Chairman’s Corner p3

August on the Great Ouse Photo: Fred Ray

Campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the Inland Waterways.

Book Review

p4

RSPB

p6

All Aboard

p8

Waterways of Ireland

p9

A lock too far?

p10

Branch News

p12

Govt. Plans

p13

Festival 2011

p14

Droitwich Canal p15 The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the Cambridge Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers.

Ouse News Page 2

Branch Committee Chairman: Keith Alderton Holly Cottage, 57 Globe Street Methwold Thetford, IP26 4PQ Tel. 01366 727236 e-mail:keithalderton@sky.com Secretary: John Hodgson 9 Beaufort Way, Brickhill Bedford MK41 7XQ Tel 01234 344884 e-mail: jhodgson@rivouse.fsnet.co.uk Treasurer: Enid Hodgson 9 Beaufort Way, Brickhill Bedford MK41 7XQ Tel 01234 344884 e-mail: jhodgson@rivouse.fsnet.co.uk Ouse News Editor: Carole Alderton Holly Cottage, 57 Globe Street Methwold Thetford, IP26 4PQ Tel. 01366 727236 e-mail: carolealderton@sky.com Sales Officer: David Anderson 21 Cambridge Street St Neots PE19 1JL Tel 01480 477227 e-mail:david.anderson70@ntlworld.com

Membership Officer: Peter Webb 35 Norfolk Road Ely, CB6 3EJ Tel 01353 658581 e-mail: peter.c.webb@tesco.net Webmaster: Stephen Foote 14 High Street, Chrishall Royston, SG8 8RP Tel 01763 838936 e-mail: g4foh@tambourine.org.uk Member: Derek Bradley 24 Witchford Road Ely, CB6 3DP Tel 01353 661601 e-mail: bradleyd@waitrose.com

May we remind members to send any changes of e-mail addresses to: tracy.higgin@ waterways.org.uk

Ouse News Page 3 Chairman’s Corner Well, summer has now gone – or did it just not arrive? At least most of us did not suffer from either too little or too much water!

Having at last extracted myself from the day-to-day running of the chandlery we did manage to enjoy our first two-week holiday on Watermist for some eight years. We had a very leisurely run from our mooring at the top end of the Little Ouse to Bedford and back and were pleasantly surprised to find just how attractive the upper reaches of the River Great Ouse are.

The miles of riverside and lakeside walks at Bedford are well worth visiting.

As reported elsewhere, this year’s National Waterways Festival at Burtonon-Trent proved to be a great success, despite fears that the change from the traditional date over the August Bank Holiday weekend to July would have an adverse effect on attendance. Unfortunately the venue was too far ‘up North’ for any of the committee to get there by boat. Peter Webb did make a valiant effort, only to be thwarted by falling under his boat and badly smashing his ankle in several places, resulting in a stay in Macclesfield hospital whilst his leg was put back together with the aid of a box of stainless steel screws. However, I am pleased to report that both Peter, Jean and the boat are all safely back home once again and Peter’s leg is well on the mend.

I understand it was mooted that the Festival be held at Peterborough next year, but in the end it was decided that the event be cancelled because of the Olympic Games. Hopefully we will get the chance to host the National in the Eastern Region once again before too long.

You will find listed in this edition the full branch programme for the 20112012 season that we hope you will find to be of interest. As always, we have endeavoured to present a varied programme of both informative and social events that will suit a variety of tastes. Please remember that all are welcome and so do not hesitate to bring along any friends or colleagues who you consider would enjoy meeting a bunch of waterways enthusiasts.

Keith Alderton

Ouse News Page 4 (Sutton Publishing Ltd. 2005 et seq ‘The Landscape Trilogy’ by L.T.C.Rolt ISBN 0 7509 4139 1) Book Review by Stephen Foote I have never understood the awe in which L.T.C.Rolt is held as a writer, so it is perhaps unsurprising that his autobiography did not move me to a frenzy.

His book is divided into three parts, and it is the second part, sub-titled ‘Landscape with Canals’ that covers the period of his life aboard his narrowboat ‘Cressy’ and the publication of the first (and greatest) success of his writing career – ‘Narrow Boat’. This second part is likely to be of most interest to waterways enthusiasts. Although one of the founders of the Inland Waterways Association, I was surprised to find that he was actually only involved with the Association for a relatively short period; from foundation in 1946 to his abrupt resignation in 1950.

What does the autobiography tell us of the man himself? I discovered a man ill at ease with the world as he found it; trained as an engineer but seeming to despise the very machines he had helped to create; unable to come to terms with the fact that there is nothing as certain as change and you can’t turn the clock back – ever.

So his love of old cars, old railways, old canals, old buildings, old anything speaks volumes. The meeting at Tardebigge between him and Robert Aikman in 1946 was the catalyst for the formation of the IWA – but it would be hard to imagine two people less likely to relate to each other. Where Aikman was the assertive, abrasive doer, Rolt was the romantic dreamer, trying to re-create a world that had already gone for good and would never return.

In his book he despairs of the canals being reduced to a ‘playground’. In fact, the renaissance of the canals as a leisure resource is one of the outstanding achievements of recent times.

Having read his book, I get the impression that if he could return to the waterways today he would not like what he found. Such a pity. In the foreword to ‘The Landscape Trilogy’ his wife Sonia writes ‘... he said, ‘I have had a happy life’. I do hope so.

Ouse News Page 5 Watch out!

Cambridgeshire eel catcher, Peter Carter, is to feature in a new television series called Ade in Britain, which will be celebrating traditional regional food. The programme is scheduled to be shown on ITV1 in November. Mr Carter is one of the few eel catchers left in Britain and was filmed on one of his recent expeditions catching and then preparing eels.

A well stocked Inland Chandlery with friendly and knowledgeable staff catering for Cruisers & Narrowboats

Come and see us (you'll find us 2 minutes walk from Ely waterfront), or have a look at our easy to use mailorder website Boat Safety Scheme Examinations

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Ouse News Page 6 Those of you who are familiar with the Little Ouse will have seen people striding along the flood bank carrying cameras or binoculars - well now is your chance to find out what this is all about! David White, Information Officer from the RSPB Lakenheath Fen Reserve is joining us on 27th October to give us a talk, but in the meantime he has given us some background information:

When the RSPB moved in to what is now Lakenheath Fen nature reserve in 1995, they were faced with the task of converting just over a square mile of arable farmland and poplar trees into a reedbed nature reserve to provide habitat for bitterns, a rare member of the heron family. In our favour, the area chosen had the following benefits; it was large, flat and “wettable.�

Sixteen years down the line, bitterns have nested on the reserve for the third consecutive year. Hold the phone though; I have just skipped the story of many years of hard work, trial and error and ingenuity!

Of course, the biggest issue was where to get the water from, as there’s no use having a dry reedbed! Fortunately, the northern boundary of the reserve is the Little Ouse river, which straddles the Norfolk/ Suffolk border. The land here is peat overlying sand, which makes it very porous. Water seeps in under the riverbank, moves through the reserve through artesian pressure, and would usually continue moving beyond the southern boundary. Keeping water on-site required a major piece of infrastructure to be put in place, known by staff as SID. SID is our Seepage Interceptor Drain, a four point two kilometre drain that runs for the length of the reserve. Water from the river is re-circulated within the site using two electric pumps situated at either end of SID. It is then pumped into a high level feeder channel running along the northern edge of the reserve, and fed back into the reedbed through a system of 21 sluices. Up to one million cubic metres of water can be taken (by licence) from the river between November and March; it comes in though a pipe, by gravity. This assists in achieving high water- levels in spring. However, it has not been necessary to use that source since 2006.

Ouse News Page 7 The reedbed was created in five phases between 1996 and 2000. Altogether about 20 kilometres of channels, 50 small pools and eight kilometres of bank were created. Water levels in each major reedbed compartment are controlled with sluices. As the top-quality soil has to be retained on site, water levels have to be held above natural ground level. As over 25,000 cubic metres are held on the reserve, the Reservoirs Act was invoked. This required that a safety bank, or reservoir dam, be constructed to prevent any water escaping if the internal banks failed. The earth bank was also four point two kilometres long.

So that, in a nutshell, is how the water is managed. Another large task was planting the reeds. Incredibly, between 1997-2003, a third of a million were planted by hand, mostly by volunteers. The reeds came from two sources, some were grown from seedlings and others were cuttings from existing reedbeds. As the reeds were planted, wire mesh was placed around them to prevent marauding coots and geese from eating the reedbed before it had a chance to grow!

Hopefully this has given you an introduction to what we have done at RSPB Lakenheath Fen. In my talk, I will explain some more history surrounding the area and about some of the wonderful wildlife that has colonised it in the last sixteen years. I look forward to meeting you soon! David White Don’t miss the Half Cut Theatre on 24th November Following last year ’s popular performance Up the Cut, we welcome back Derek Harris, who will be presenting Characters on the Cut. A series of both humorous and serious insights into the people, past and present, who have, for one reason or another, been drawn to the canals of this country. Told from the viewpoint of an observer at ‘The Pub on the Cut’, the audience is introduced to a variety of characters including an ‘Idle Woman’ and a ‘Gongoozler’. Each has a song to sing (some of which require audience participation) and a tale to tell. The show is now in its third year.

Ouse News Page 8

All aboard ‌ There was good news this summer for people wanting river cruises. The Liberty Belle has returned to the Great Ouse in Ely after Steve King’s sudden death last year. Mr Martin McKeever, who lives on a narrowboat in the Ely area, has taken over the tours.

He has also started a new Cruise and Dine service, which involves an evening cruise to a local pub. Martin has more plans to expand his business next summer and having lived in the area for 20 years feels he would like to make a contribution to the city. For more information contact Martin on 07572 829386.

The owners of The Swan restaurant and bar in Littleport have also commenced boat tours. Customers have been offered afternoon river trips throughout the summer as an extra treat, either before or after their meal. It is also hoped that the Blue Bayou will be hired for parties and other events. Mr Walker feels that this will make The Swan just that little bit different from other local restaurants. Further information can be obtained by either visiting the restaurant or by ringing 01353 861677.

Ouse News Page 9 Waterways of Ireland – an introduction The inland waterways system in Ireland is managed by Waterways Ireland, an organisation similar to British Waterways in the UK. They cover all the waterways in the whole of the island of Ireland. Again, as in the UK, the navigable waterways of Ireland are a combination of natural rivers and man-made canals. They are now largely linked together so boats may travel throughout most of the system enjoying a whole range of environments from the glorious natural beauty of rural Ireland to the former industrial areas. The major navigations are the world famous River Shannon which runs almost exactly north – south from Boyle in County Roscommon to discharge into the Atlantic Ocean at Limerick. The Grand and Royal canals both join the Shannon in the midlands and run east to Dublin. From its junction with the Grand Canal near Naas to the west of Dublin is the Barrow Navigation, discharging into the ocean at Waterford.

Further north, other major waterways linked to the main system are the Erne and the Shannon – Erne Waterway which links the two.

There is a “stand alone” waterway, the Lower Bann Navigation, from Coleraine on the north coast to Lough Neagh, west of Belfast.The parallel with the UK does not end here!

We have a sister organisation in the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI.) Founded a little later than our own, in 1954, it is also formed into branches that are generally geographically based around their local waterways. They have regular branch meetings dealing with items of local and general interest and cruises in convoy on their waterways. The picture shows the banner at such a meeting which was held in New Ross Boat John Hodgson Club towards the south of the Barrow navigation.

Ouse News Page 10 A lock too far?

You may be aware that that that there has been a long standing controversy regarding the future of Welches Dam Lock. The lock has now been out of operation for over 5 years and it is feared that if it is not restored soon it will be lost for all time.

The problem as always is cash – or more appropriately, lack of cash! I understand that repairing the lock itself would be relatively straight forward and could be achieved by replacing, or repairing, the gates and carrying out remedial civil engineering work on the structure of the chamber.

In the past, the offer of help using the voluntary labour and expertise of the Waterways Recovery Group to carry out this work has regrettably been rejected by the Environment Agency.

The repair of the lock itself would not be prohibitively expensive; however the major problem lies elsewhere with the poor state (or porous state) of the navigation channel. Prior to closure, the section between Horseway Lock and Welches Dam was filled overnight on specific weekends to allow the passage of boats. However, as soon as the lock had been used the water quickly drained away. The EA has carried out extensive surveys and have come to the conclusion that there is no cost effective way of rectifying the problem.

In these difficult financial times, the question has to be asked whether it is reasonable to expect vast sums to be spent on restoring a little used waterway that is tucked away at the extreme end of the system. How much would it cost per boat movement? It must be remembered that the EA has a finite navigation budget that can only be spent once and money spent on Welches Dam could well mean a substantial reduction in expenditure elsewhere in the Anglian Region. It would be a shame if the considerable improvements made to the infrastructure and facilities on the River Great Ouse and tributaries in recent years were to be allowed to go into decline.

Ouse News Page 11 The long-term solution may be for the Welches Dam section of the Forty Foot Drain to be bypassed, with a new section of channel and lock providing an additional access point to the Ouse near Earith as part of the proposed Fens Waterways Link Route. This would provide a new route from the Middle Level avoiding tidal waters and, along with the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterways, really would be worth investing large sums on as both would provide new through routes to the canal system.

‘In your dreams’ I hear you say! Back in the real world, what do we do with Welches Dam? The IWA has a long proud history of fighting seemingly lost causes and our efforts have saved many an abandoned navigation. There are those in the organisation who consider that Welches Dam must be restored now, not withstanding the curent budget restraints. Others take a more pragmatic view and, with reluctance, would be content to see restoration held over until funds become more readily available. However, everybody agrees that we must not allow the navigation to be officially abandoned.

These are difficult issues with no easy solution. Please make us aware of Keith Alderton your views.

Boat fire at Ely

Increased traffic on waterways!

A fibreglass cruiser exploded at Ely Marina in August, resulting in two crew members receiving minor injuries.

It is thought that petrol fumes were ignited by the engine ignition system shortly after refuelling.

The incident highlights the need for a very high standard of maintenance and safe working practices when using petrol in a marine environment.

Investigations are underway to transport sewage sludge from the Ely area to the Anglian Water treatment plant at Clenchwarton, near King’s Lynn, by river rather than road.

This would reduce the number of tankers on the road. Could this be a way of clearing the roads and utilising the rivers? We shall learn more after further consultations and costings.

Ouse News Page 12

Branch News Winter Meetings

are at 8 pm. on Thursday evenings at the Cole’s Road

Community Centre, Milton (North Cambridge) CB24 6BL.

Members & Visitors welcome.

Our October meeting will be a talk about ‘Lakenheath Fen nature reserve’ and will be held on:

THURSDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2011 Our November meeting will feature the ‘Half Cut Theatre’ and will be held on:

THURSDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2011 Our February meeting will be a quiz together with a fish and chip supper and will be held on:

THURSDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2012 Our March meeting will be our AGM and update from the river managers of the Environment Agency. This will be held on:

THURSDAY 22ND MARCH 2012

We welcome the following new members to the branch and hope they will introduce themselves to us when coming to an event or meeting: Mr J L Barlow, St Neots Mrs A Bromley, Cambridge Dr M Macauley, Potton Mr M P & Mrs D F Warbuton, Harleton Mr L Lee Leonard, Littleport Mr E D Rowt, Saffron Walden Mr C Collins, Cambridge Mr S Bavester, Over Mr D Jermy & Ms A Mayer, Chittering Members who have moved to the branch: Mr S J & Mrs C A Fisher, St. Ives

Ouse News Page 13 Government Plans to Increase Houseboat Moorings The Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, has stated that financial incentives are to be offered to councils to allow more moorings for houseboats on waterways.

BBC News reported Mr. Shapps has said that :‘Houseboats could allow people to live in areas that otherwise might be out of their financial reach - around 15,000 people live on our waterways and many more would like to do so. Money that councils receive from mooring sites could be invested in new marina facilities or recreational activities that everyone could benefit from. Creating more residential longterm moorings could also reduce the number of boats overstaying on the towpaths of canals and waterways.’

If you look at the situation locally, there is an obvious need to improve the situation in Cambridge where residential boats take up the majority of the available moorings, leaving only a handful of spaces for visitors. The creation of off-line residential moorings could potentially free-up space to accommodate many more 24/48 hour mooring slots and hence encourage people to come and spend money in the City.

We are lucky in our area, as we do not yet have a major problem with ‘continuous moorers’, but you only have to look at the waterways around London to see how easy it is to let the situation to get out of hand. The danger is that as residential boats move off of the towpath into marinas their places are taken up by yet more people seeking cheap accommodation.

On balance, I think that we should welcome more investment in residential marinas, but must also ensure that the relevant authorities enforce the rules regarding overstaying on towpath and visitor moorings.

Keith Alderton

Ouse News Page 14

Sunshine and Success for The Waterways Festival 2011 Shobnall Fields, Burton-upon-Trent The huge swell of support from boaters, volunteers, exhibitors and visitors has generated the most successful national festival for The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) since 2007.

The Waterways Festival, staged in Burton upon Trent from 29th to 31st July, also enjoyed beautiful weather for the three day event which was a welcome return after a run of mixed weather for the last four years.

Latest figures from the festival organisers revealed: • • • • • •

Around 25,000 visitors attended the event over the three day period 360 boats moored along the Trent and Mersey canal – stretching 1.5 miles in either direction of the festival site.

A record breaking 28 historic boats were on show 350 camping units stayed on-site Hundreds of volunteers were involved in staging the festival Over 250 exhibitors - ranging from boat builders to local crafts people

Commenting on the success of The Waterways Festival 2011 - Ian West, IWA Festivals Chairman, said: ‘It’s been a delight to return to Burton which has been a beautiful site for us to stage this year’s festival. We have been really encouraged by boaters, local authorities and of course, the general public, who have attended and supported the IWA’s longstanding campaign for the use, maintenance and restoration of Britain’s inland waterways. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported us this year - it’s been a truly spectacular event.’

Ouse News Page 15 Droitwich Canal Opening 1st - 3rd July 2011 The highlight of my recent canal trip was reaching Droitwich Spa during the celebrations for the re-opening of the Droitwich canals. I have to confess that, prior to my journey, I had no real idea where Droitwich was. Now I can say it is near Worcester and close to the bottom of the famous Tardebigge flight of narrow locks. I can recommend it.

The Droitwich Barge and Junction canals were officially closed in 1939 and the Droitwich Canals Trust was formed in 1973 to re-open them. It has been a long haul with money, labour and sheer doggedness from many private and public bodies.

One of the volunteers told me that when they seemed to be going nowhere they would organise a working party and 200 volunteers would turn up.

No-one could then say there was no demand for the re-opening of the canals.

There were lots of other stories. One man living by the canal had bought a tiny narrowboat some years earlier and had used this ever since to go to the shops a few miles down a short stretch of navigable canal. Another told me how part of the canal had looked like an open sewer in the past. Another man had been walking the same section for 20 years. He had known it completely weeded over, with impassable lock without gates (or water).

He said it was fantastic to see it fully restored.

As we arrived and passed through the Droitwich Barge Lock the church bells rang – definitely a first. We were later told that the vicar had offered to ring the bells in celebration that morning. There were thousands of people enjoying the sunshine, walking along the canal and looking at all the boats.

Members of the press were there in force, a band was playing and the food and beer tents were in full swing. It was a great occasion.

John Revell (Peterborough Branch)

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Droitwich Canal Opening A typical lock on the Droutwich Barge Cana l

Preparing to pass under the M5

Celebrations in full swing

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no 612245 Registered as a charity no 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Rd, Chesham, HP5 1WA. Phone 01494 783453