Sou'Wester - November 2020

Sou’Wester Aberdulais Aqueduct November, 2020 Pictures courtesy of Dr. Gareth Hughes, Chair of Neath & Tennant Canals Trust

January - April 2021 / Issue 186 IWA South West and South Wales Region www.waterways.org.uk/ southwest

South West and South Wales Region Committees South West & South Wales Region Committee: Chairman: *Roger Francis Members: Hon. Secretary: *Andrew Strawson Sou’Wester Editor: *Joyce Potts Navigation Committee Representative: *Steve Warwicker

*Ray Alexander *Geoff Brown *Geoff Harman Baz Juniper *Steve Peet *Tony Pugh

Avon & Wiltshire Branch Committee: Chairman: *Geoff Brown Member: *Steve Warwicker Hon. Secretary: *Tim Wheeldon Hon. Treasurer: *David Chalmers Events Officer: *Geoff Brown 100 Club Administrator & Publicity: *Vivienne Hook Salisbury Group: *Ron & Myra Glover Jon Van de Geer Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Committee: Chairman: *Steve Peet Members: Vacant Hon Secretary: Jackie Peet Acting Treasurer: Chris Handscombe South Wales Branch Committee: Chairman: *Tony Pugh Hon. Secretary: Vacant Treasurer: Henry Brown Minutes Secretary: Vacant Membership Officer: *Tony Pugh Publicity Officer: Vacant Volunteer Co-ordinator Vacant West Country Branch Committee: Chairman: *Ray Alexander Hon. Secretary: *Vacant Hon. Treasurer & Events: Mike Aldridge Volunteer Co-ordinator: *Mike Slade

Members: Mike Synan Chris JL Yewlett

Members: Julian Gibson Chris Jewell Maurice Pinner

*Contact details for these appear inside the back cover.

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Region Chairman Dear Members and prospective members, Welcome to the 186th edition of the Sou’Wester, and hopefully looking towards a more stable environment, where we can at last, come to terms with this pandemic that has changed our lives.

It is nice to see that most have realised that the application of common sense is the best weapon to combat most situations, along with hands, space and face.

Our narrow boat is moored near Brecon, and it is quite some time since we have been able to get to it. Imagine our surprise therefore, when we were watching Countryfile, a couple of weeks ago, and we saw a nice looking row of narrow boats, and suddenly realised the one in the foreground was ours! In fact she looked quite smart too, and that is down to Kathy scrubbing the aft cover the last time we visited.

In the period between magazines, quite a lot has been going on in our region, the main ones being that of the ongoing saga of Bridgwater Docks and the flood defence plans. We have also begun having some concern about the Aberdulais aqueduct, a grade 2 listed structure near Neath, the latest on both are highlighted within these pages.

There is also occasion to say well done to the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal, as they, supported by the West country IWA branch, have been awarded Heritage Harbour status, which is the fourth such award in the UK. So there is lots to read, and lots to share around, for that may just encourage others to dip their toes into the IWA waters. Some who have been unable to do so for a very long time, are those men and women of the world’s Merchant Navies, including our own, who are spending many months longer than their sea time on their ships as no one wants to repatriate them. It is estimated that this is affecting over 200,000 seafarers. Some have been on their ships for 20 months, and they are unable to go ashore when they do get into port, so it is already generating huge mental problems, and now there is a huge number of Cont on page 4/…

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‌/cont from page 3

seafarers waiting to return to their ships who are unable to, and they have to remain at home off pay. These seafarers are considered key workers by most countries, and their treatment so far has been very shabby indeed.

To sum up this appraisal of shipping today, there have been 31 armed robbery incidents in the Singapore Straits so far this year, and numerous piracy incidents are occurring off West Africa and elsewhere in the world.

So enjoy this edition and please keep the hands face and space in your vocabulary.

Roger Francis

Notices FORMAL NOTICE OF BRANCH AGMs Each branch will be holding its AGM in 2021

Contact details for Branch Chairmen can be found on the inside back page.

Agenda (which is common to all branches) 1

Apologies for absence

2

Minutes of 2019 and or 2020 AGM

3

Report of Chair

4

Treasurer’s report and accounts

5

Election of Committee

6

Any other business (previously notified to Chair before the meeting).

Immediately after the AGM, the new Committee will meet to appoint its Officers.

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Avon & Wilts Branch: Thursday 11th March, 2021:

7.30pm

By Zoom, contact details to follow

Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch: No details at present.

South Wales Branch: Saturday, 8th May, 2021

3pm

Venue: The Royal British Legion Club, the Lock House, Riverside, Aberdulais, Neath. SA10 8ES Phone: 01639 643386 There will possibly be a visit to Tonna workshops and the Aberdulais Aqueduct, if weather and Covid-19 restrictions permit.

West Country Branch: Thursday, 18th March, 2021

7.30pm

By Zoom - contact details to follow The AGM will be restricted to the formal business of the meeting, including questions from members.

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News Obituary – John Kemp

Photo: courtesy of Michael Kemp, taken 2012 We sadly have to report the death of John Kemp, at the age of 95. He was a long-standing member of the Avon & Wiltshire Branch and for 16 years, ran, with his wife Doreen, the Branch’s 100 Club until he passed the baton to Vivienne Hook in 2014. With judicious publicity they built up the Club`s membership so that it became the Branch’s main source of income being used to support Region projects, and for this work they received the coveted Brian Sheppard Award in 2010.

He and Doreen (who died in 2015) were keen boaters and travelled widely in their narrowboat “Finham III”. They had both been brought up in Coventry and particularly enjoyed the narrow canals of the Midlands.

In another sphere, John was an Assistant Chief Development Engineer with Rolls-Royce and was deeply involved in the development of the Pegasus jet engine which powered the famous Harrier vertical take-off “jump jet”. John will be sadly missed.

Geoff Harman, Avon &Wilts branch member 6

EDITORIAL Joyce Potts Welcome to this 186th issue of Sou’wester. At the time of writing this, it is exactly 3 weeks until Christmas Day and the sun is shining and it’s not too cold although in Herefordshire, my home county, there is snow on high ground.

As you will have read on page 6, we have the sad news of John Kemp’s passing. We send our thoughts and prayers to his family.

At our Region committee meeting in October, held via Zoom, everyone felt they did not want this issue to be full of doom and gloom and indeed, wondered whether there would be anything to put in, including me. Well, as you can see, we have 28 pages instead of the usual 24 and I think there’s lot of good news including the Exeter Ship Canal and basin being designated a Heritage Harbour, only the 4th historic harbour in the UK to achieve this status - see pages 8 - 10 for details. PLUS the Cotswold Canals Trust successfully secured £9 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund - see page 23 for details.

Our committee also discussed the feasibility of including a feature on each of the waterways within our region - see page 26 for the list. I would like to do an overview of each waterway, as well as the long abandoned canals which don’t appear on the list, along the lines of when they started/finished; length; source (rivers); are they abandoned; restored or under restoration; any quirky stories or facts, facilities etc. Are there any photos? So, I would like your help please. Do you know anything about your local waterway or can you put me in touch with those that do? My contact details are on page 27.

Well, after this difficult year, a Covid-19 vaccine is being rolled out with the news of more to follow. For the moment, however, we have to abide by the Government restrictions in force so there is a brief summary of what this means to our members in England and Wales which can be found on page 19.

I and everyone on the South West and South Wales Region committee wish you a very Happy New Year and may 2021 be better than 2020.

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Somerset Coal Canal Society (SCCS) Derrick Hunt, member SCCS The Somersetshire Coal Canal Society is making Weigh-House magazine available to all at:http://www.coalcanal.org/wh.php During the current Covid-19 crisis, all copies of Weigh-House will be available for download free of charge. We hope current members will enjoy reading back through the archive and new readers will find them interesting enough to consider joining our Society.

The Friends of Exeter Ship Canal issued the following News Release on 23rd November, 2020 Exeter becomes UK’s Heritage Harbour No 4 as a new vision for the historic Ship Canal is published A new vision for Exeter Ship Canal sees the waterway coming back to life with more boats, the restoration of historic vessels and the return of commercial usage.

The radical revival programme, titled Making The Canal Matter Again to Exeter, is published today by the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal to coincide with the designation of the canal and city basin as a Heritage Harbour (HH), only the fourth historic harbour in the UK to achieve this recognition.

John Monks, chair of the Friends, said: “The canal is back on Exeter's agenda.

Its nomination as a HH by the Maritime Heritage Trust (MHT) is an incentive for revitalising Exeter’s centuries old maritime traditions.

“We want to see more boats on the canal and more businesses connected with the waterway, as well as a welcome for the restoration of historic vessels.

There is also an opportunity for the return of commercial usage on a small scale to begin with.”

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The canal, Britain’s oldest ship canal, and basin were built for the port of Exeter so vessels can navigate from the coast to the heart of the city for the benefit of the city’s economy and culture.

The HH scheme is a joint initiative by the MHT and National Historic Ships UK to recognise the long-term benefits that maritime heritage can have for an area. It is linked to similar groups across Europe.

Cllr. David Harvey, Lead Councillor for City Management, said: “This is fabulous news for the city. HH status carries the potential to unlock all sorts of exciting opportunities for the waterway and the port. I am very grateful to the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal for the work they have done in gaining this recognition.”

B rian C orb ett, M HT representative on European Maritime Heritage, said: “The real nomination of a HH arises from the enthusiasm of its waterways community to form a group that aspires to maintain a working maritime heritage in their area for the benefit of everyone. The Friends of Exeter Ship Canal already constitutes that group.”

John Monks added: “We plan an inaugural meeting of the HH community with representatives from quays, boatyards and waterway organisations across the Port of Exeter, as well as the various local bodies involved, joining those from the canal and basin. Their heritage is interlinked and the HH project will extend across the whole port.”

Cont on page 10/…

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The Heritage Harbours vision includes: 

the protection of waterfront and maritime heritage assets



support for local business growth



increased tourism



community involvement



attraction of investment and heritage funding



a welcome for local and visiting historic vessels to find moorings, facilities and support.

Exeter must not miss out on the growing scope and popularity today of waterway uses of all types, the Friends believe. “If today's opportunities are taken the waterway can attract new business and visitors and its heritage will be preserved for everyone’s enjoyment.

We would also like to see the wider community working with Exeter City Council, the canal’s owners, on plans that will be gamechangers for the canal,” John said.

The Friends of Exeter Ship Canal vision, Making The Canal Matter Again to Exeter, was put together with support from the Inland Waterways Association West Country Branch and its chairman, Ray Alexander. It incorporates: Easier and cheaper navigation which will be available when the headroom beneath the bridges across the canal in Bridge Road, Exeter, is raised by Devon County Council.

Historic vessels, such as wooden sailing craft, being restored at the basin, creating opportunities for skilled jobs and training.

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Commercial use with fresh fish and shellfish landed at the basin and produce transported by water.

Holiday attractions such as boat lets and picnic boats; combined bus and ferry tickets from the city centre to Double Locks and Turf; and a horse-drawn canal barge.

A boost to community life with an annual canal carnival and cavalcade and the purchase of the old gas works social club adjacent to the basin for conversion to a new canal office and community activities focusing on the waterway and its heritage.

John Monks added: “These ideas point the way forward but are only a start. The canal and basin need much better marketing and facilities than they have at present. But there is enormous willingness and commitment among canal users, stakeholders and volunteers to see the waterway thrive. Exeter City Council, Exeter Canal and Quay Trust and the Port of Exeter Authority should respond with common objectives.”

The Friends of Exeter Ship Canal are a voluntary group dedicated to preserving and bringing new life to the heritage of the canal as an integral part of the city's life and economy and for the enjoyment of everyone today and in the future. They are corporate members of the Inland Waterways Association.

The full text of Making The Canal Matter Again to Exeter is available on the Friends’ website, www.friendsofexetershipcanal.co.uk Photos Courtesy Peter Nichol: from top to bottom page 9:

Exeter canal basin in the evening light King’s Arms

page 10:

Approaching Exeter

page 11:

Double Locks 11

Boat Handling Begins Roger Francis Now that you have sorted out thrust, cushioning, canal effect, and the rest of the effects that might stop you heading where you thought you were heading, it is time to put it all to use to see if you can have some influence on the anticipated movement of the boat.

One or two general points of interest on general canal manoeuvring, such as passing through bridges may be a good start.

Many a time, one sees a novice slowing down when approaching bridge hole, and peering anxiously along the side of the boat. That may be very commendable, but it is of little use, as the boat is automatically slowed down, when the water that is being pushed ahead of the boat, gets confined by the bridge hole and sets up a back pressure. So there is no need to reduce speed as nature does it for you, as for the anxious peering, read on. Incidentally, have you noticed the numbers on the bridges?

The numbers are not just stuck onto the bridges, they are usually placed in the middle of the keyhole, and in such a way that if you line up the edge of the boat, the cabin top edge in the case of a narrow boat, so that it will pass under 12

the number, you will find that you are passing along the centre of the canal through the bridge hole. The only exceptions to this are where a number has been removed and subsequently replaced by someone unknowing in this tradition. If you know where the number should be placed, you will soon spot a ‘wrong un’. One such is the bridge right above our mooring on the Mon and Brec canal.

Have you ever wondered if the *pawls on lock gate paddles have a more important reason, other than stopping the ratchet slipping when the paddle is being wound up? They are there as an emergency measure, so that if a boat becomes stuck under a beam in the lock, or any other reason needing the water flow halting, they can be tripped to instantly shut the paddle. THIS IS ONLY FOR EMERGENCY USE. They must not be tripped in general use as this can cause the lower bolt on the paddle to sheer off, and the render the paddle inoperable until it is repaired.

It goes without saying that locks are pretty dangerous places and should always be treated with extreme care. Occasionally they provide amusement as well, if someone happens to be standing above a paddle vent hole, and receives an impromptu bidet effect.

Locks are similar to bridge holes in their effect on the boat speed and you can actually enter a lock at a reasonable speed, as long as you plan to reduce once the body of the boat is in the lock, it does not really matter, as the stopping distance is much reduced in the lock, once again due to the cushioning effect meeting the end of the lock, in the form of the closed lock gate. However, a prudent boat handler will always adhere to the well proven maxim of ‘the slower you go, the less paperwork there is, if it all goes wrong!”.

Safe, slow boat handling.

Photo on page 12: “before attempting bridges always check your air draught”.

Roger taking the Ashington beneath Tower Bridge to the pool of London circa 1987.

Courtesy of Walker Wingsail *photo of a “pawl” - the lever that engages with the teeth of the cogs on the ratchet to stop it falling back

down - Editor.

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Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust Ralph Barber, Chairman Tributary of Ell Brook

A native mixed hedgerow is to be planted along the north-eastern site boundary. It will provide a continuous green corridor with opportunities for shelter, foraging and nesting.

The hedgerow will also include a variety of native hedgerow trees.

Malswick House

Please note during restoration, the Malswick site will not be accessible to the public.

Towpath (part of circular walk)

Wildflower meadow will be created over the areas of fill from the excavation works.

Planting of individual native trees such as oaks will provide additional habitat value.

Mown grass path (part of circular walk)

Malswick Cottage

Wildflower meadow with native

Tall herb mea margins to the no Meldon Cottage

Glyn Cottage

New wetland area to be created with native wetland meadow and marginal planting.

View from the north looking southeastwards.

Line of canal indicated in red

Canal Restoration, Malswick, Landscape Strategy

Existing mature oak trees to be retained within a wildflower meadow. Bird and bat boxes to be fixed to the trees.

Existing vegetation in this area is t copse and will include an area of w Newent bluebells.

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Malswick going forward The team, having done all the tremendous amount of background work, have now put in a planning application for the restoration of 600 metres of canal.

This is not due to be determined until the middle of January 2021 so we just have to be patient.

A little bit of history. The team have already spent several years here working with the local landowner to create bridges for farm traffic, enabling us to access the land. This is a revised route of the original canal line due to the railway obliterating the canal when it was built – a common story.

, e

Once the work is complete, this will form part of a community amenity area with public access for walking along the canal with a circular route of 1.2Kms, access for canoes and an improved site for bird and wildlife enthusiasts.

Environment and bio-diversity improvements on the original arable and pastureland, apart from the water corridor of the canal with all its benefits, will be a wildflower meadow, small wetland, copse, and native mixed hedgerows with standard trees. We are fortunate to be able to retain two wonderful existing mature 0ak trees on site.

individual

The appointed landscape architects have created a 10-year landscape and ecological management plan for us that will also improve habit for

adow created along hedgerow orth of the new canal.

bats, slowworms and other wild species. This will involve tree inspections, installation of bird and bat boxes and year by year management plan for the site.

Community picnic area Log piles provided as refuge for invertebrates, reptiles and small mammals.

Land to be re-graded and restored after canal construction is completed. Native broad leaf woodland with woodland edge shrub planting and shade-tolerant meadow to periphery.

to be managed to restore the woodland meadow with native

We believe it will be a great asset for the area.

As we further restore the canal it will create a safe walking, cycling Area of steep land for and canoeing agricultural improvement during canal works. environment for travel to Gloucester and up towards Hereford – and eventually of New wetland area to be created course we will have with marginal planting. narrow boats back on the water.

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RIVER PARRETT AT LANGPORT

By Ray Alexander The West Country Committee is delighted to report that the Langport River Project has now been completed and that this was duly marked by the first use of the repaired slipway on the River Parrett at Huish Bridge by cruiser Nauti Sausage on 25th October, 2020. See photo below.

The final works comprised the construction of a new all-weather riverside path from Langport to Huish Bridge where a new car park and amenity area has been built and the repairs to the slipway completed. The slipway allows canoeists, kayakers, paddle boarders and trail boats to access 7.6 miles of non-tidal waterway across the Somerset levels.

Other new facilities include: 

Four pontoons with access ramps and safety equipment, three of which are at Langport and one at Muchelney;



Three fishing platforms for disabled anglers;



Benches, picnic tables, bins and cycle racks for visitors; 16



New steps to permit access to the water by canoeists and kayakers;



Interpretation boards and new signage; and



Solar lighting on footbridges, a fitness trail and an outside tap for filling reusable water bottles or washing muddy boots

The project is already reaping rewards as visitor numbers have increased and these numbers are expected to increase now that the final works have been completed. The waterway regeneration has attracted several new businesses to Langport, including a bike shop and a bakery.

Aspiring users of the river should note that operation of the sluice gates downstream at Oath causes the river to have both winter and summer levels and that the slipway is probably best used in the warmer months. Furthermore, the pontoons are removed in November each year for cleaning and storage over the winter period and are not normally replaced until late March.

For additional photographs see pages 22 and 23 of the Winter Issue of WATERWAYS and the West Country Branch website.

Photos: Launching of the Nauti Sausage and the all weather riverside path and bird hide Courtesy of Mike Slade, IWA West Country Branch Volunteer Co-ordinator 17

NEWS FROM THE NEATH & TENNANT CANAL TRUST Margaret Gwalter, Deputy Chair There is ongoing concern over the Aberdulais Aqueduct especially since the flooding last February and the possibility of further damage if there is more flooding. The Trust is grateful to the Swansea Bay Inland Waterway Partnership, Bwrdd Cymru, the local CRT personnel and the IWA Heritage and Restoration teams for their support towards its urgent repair and restoration. See photos on front cover and below:

Photo taken about 2010, courtesy of IWA After 25 years of giving boat trips along the Canal the “Thomas Dadford � is no more. When it was taken out of the water it was found to have deteriorated beyond economic repair and has been taken for scrap.

On a more positive note, the towpath below Neath has been tarmacked and the towpath from Neath to Tonna will shortly be given the same treatment, all courtesy of a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.

For up to date news from the Trust, including what is happening to the Aqueduct please go the the Homepage of the Trust's website http://www.neath-tennant-canals.org.uk 18

COVID-19 AND CURRENT RESTRICTIONS I do not live in Wales: Can I travel to Wales to secure my boat for winter? Under the rules in Wales, a boat owner from elsewhere in the UK may return to collect their belongings and secure their boat for winter. A time and date to visit the site needs to be agreed upon. Whilst on site you should continue to observe social distancing measures. You are not permitted to stay overnight while these travel restrictions are in operation.

However, you will also need to check that what you are planning to do is allowed under the rules where you live, which the Welsh Government cannot advise you on.

I live in Wales: Can I visit friends and family outside Wales?

At the moment, because of the high levels of prevalence in Wales, you are not permitted to risk spreading the virus by leaving Wales without a reasonable excuse. Visiting friends and family socially is not a reasonable excuse.

However, there are some circumstances in which you may have a reasonable excuse to visit people outside Wales – for example if you have caring responsibilities, you have entered an extended household with them, or you have compassionate grounds for going to see them. This also applies to travel from England into Wales.

IWA AVON AND WILTS 100 CLUB DRAW Vivienne Hook The result of the Avon and Wilts 100 Club Winter Draw : In the absence of a Christmas meeting at which to hold the Winter Draw for the Avon and Wilts 100 Club, three members of the Committee met on Zoom to hold the draw on 30th November. Congratulations to the winners: 1st Prize Mrs. V. M. Hook nd 2 Prize Mr. Ware rd 3 Prize Mrs. L. C. Martin Donations from the 2020 Draws will go to the Balmoral project.

The recipients for 2021 will be decided at the next Branch Committee meeting early in 2021 but if you have any suggestions that you would like to be considered, please email Vivienne.

Anyone wanting to join the 100 Club should contact Vivienne Hook: email: vivienne.m.hook@blueyonder.co.uk or write to me at 48 Broadfield Road, Bristol BS4 2UQ. One share will cost ÂŁ6 and gives you a chance in each of the three draws during the year. You can have as many shares as you want.

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Branch Reports IWA West Country Branch Ray Alexander, Branch Chairman Branch Achievement Award To say the least I was totally surprised but delighted to discover at the IWA National AGM on 26th September that the Branch had won the “Branch Achievement Award” for 2020, particularly as the Branch won it previously just 3 years ago.

The tribute was read by Sarah O’Grady, our Chief Executive and mentioned the hard work that is undertaken by our work party volunteers and the progress that the Branch has made on various campaigns and projects, more information on which are given below.

Langport River Group The West Country Branch congratulates Langport Town Council on completing the Langport River Project which was duly celebrated by a small and socially distant gathering on 25th October, 2020 that witnessed the first use of the repaired slipway on the River Parrett at Huish Bridge. Please see the full report on the project on pages 16 and 17.

Exeter Ship Canal The West Country Branch also congratulates the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal on Achieving Heritage Harbour status for the Canal and Basin and in publishing its revival programme for the canal in its document “Making the Canal Matter Again to Exeter” which the Branch fully supports. The News Release issued by the Friends on 23rd November, 2020 is set out on pages 8 to 11.

Bridgwater & Taunton Canal Our Branch volunteer work parties, which operate at both Bridgwater and Taunton, normally on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and also at Langport on a monthly basis, were suspended for the duration of the second lockdown.

They recommenced in early December following the end of 20

the lockdown, subject to complying with the constraints of Tier 2. There is some hope that these will now be able to continue uninterrupted in the future.

I am pleased to report that Canal and River Trust (CRT) has been carrying out a programme of dredging on the canal, mainly from the cut above Firepool Lock through to the M5 but also some spot dredging at Maunsel. The cost of this is £414,000 and has dealt with part of the dredging needed that had been identified by users of the canal. Hopefully there will be more dredging to come in the future.

Photos: Courtesy of Mick Chinnock Bridgwater Tidal Barrier IWA’s submission to DEFRA on 11th February included 4 Objections and 10 Representations on the Draft Order to build the Tidal Barrier on the River Parrett at Bridgwater. Following this, the Environment Agency (EA) twice asked DEFRA for an extension to the deadline for the Secretary of State to decide how to proceed with their Application, the second of which expired on 31st July. This resulted in a decision not to hold a Public Inquiry but to proceed with the “Written Representations” option, which is now taking place.

At the time of writing, three separate rounds of Written Representations between the EA and IWA have been completed, with the latest response from ourselves being submitted on 26th November, 2020. It should not now be long before the procedure closes and the Secretary of State, DEFRA, proceeds to adjudicate on the points that IWA has raised, however, we are also aware that the EA has announced that they now expect the process to take longer than previously anticipated and that the formal decision by the Secretary of State is not expected until June - September 2021.

Bridgwater Docks We were recently contacted by the historian of the Shropshire Union Canal Society regarding the history of Bertha, the resident scraper-dredger at Bridgwater Docks from the 1840s to the 1960s. He lived in Somerset until some 50 years ago and had seen the photographs reproduced in Sou’Wester 184 of the chain that had been moved by the work party Cont on page 22/…

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‌cont from page 21

volunteers; he is also interested in the proposed restoration of Bertha, which we understand is currently in store at Sharpness Docks.

Progress on the dilapidation works is moving forwards but at a fairly modest pace. CRT has had internal meetings regarding the dilapidations works, has made a site visit to Bridgwater and is preparing a priority list of works to discuss with Somerset County Council. It is understood that CRT is fully committed to commencing the dilapidation works in 2021 but it seems to us that there is an enormous amount still to be agreed to achieve this. We further understand that the owners of boats moored in the Docks have been given notice by CRT that their mooring agreements will terminate at the end of January 2021, after which they will be required to remove their boats from the Docks. It is believed that this was predicated on the assumption that the dilapidation works will be completed by the end of February next year, which IWA regards as extremely unlikely and has, therefore, lobbied Somerset County Council to request CRT to extend the notice period by two or three months.

IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch Geoff Brown, Branch Chairman As in the last issue, there is little to report due to the Covid-19 situation. Emails will be sent out, possibly at short notice, if the situation changes and we are able to organize any events, so it could be to your advantage to allow head office to have your contact details.

By the time you read this, we will have had our online Christmas party, and will have some idea of whether or not this is the way forward. One obvious advantage is that we will be able to involve the whole branch, rather than just the Bristol/Bath area.

Here’s hoping that 2021 will be a better year.

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IWA Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Steve Peet, Branch Chairman Due to this shocking virus and the vulnerability of some of our members, both boating and physical contact have been either very limited or impossible this year.

As you all know Jackie, Chris and I have been trying to resurrect our local IWA branch since last year, and unfortunately the pandemic has scuppered our plans at the moment. Due to this uncertainty we are unable to make any dates/plans for meetings or an AGM at present. However, we three are still in touch regularly.

FANTASTIC LOCAL NEWS! Late September, 2020 the Cotswold Canals Trust secured ÂŁ9 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the ÂŁ24 million for delivery of phase 1B. This money will restore the canal from Saul Junction to The Ocean at Stonehouse, connecting the previously restored 5 miles to Stroud town and beyond, with the remainder of the national network. As previously reported in our magazine, the A38 roundabout which forms part of this project, has now been completed. This represents a major step forward. Major engineering works on this exciting project are set to begin early next year, with Network Rail scheduled to replace the railway bridge at The Ocean in May 2021.

For further reading on this matter please go to Cotswold Canals Trust website: www.cotswoldcanals.org.uk.

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IWA South Wales Branch Report Tony Pugh, Branch Chairman

The South Wales Branch Committee has held impromptu email meetings but still no face to face meeting. Welsh covid-19 restrictions are still in place.

To our South Wales Members, would you like to attend a virtual meeting on ZOOM? Contact me on anthonyhpugh@gmail.com with your views and let’s see if we can hold an online meeting.

News from around South Wales: The Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal Trust’s (MBACT) Electric Trail Boat Edith Elizabeth has been removed from the canal and stored for the winter.

Goytre Wharf café now opens where the restrictions allow. https://www.goytrewharf.com/cafe/ The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre is open Wednesday to Sunday run by volunteers. The café is open 10am to 4pm each day, there is a serving hatch for takeaways, again where restrictions allow.

There is better news on the Mon & Brec. at Pontypool where Taylor Wimpey are to tunnel under the canal. It would appear that an agreement has been reached with tunnelling and dredging. There is a pressure group on Facebook, Bridge 46 to Five Locks, which now have over 1000 members.

Members of the Swansea Canal Society have re-started work strictly within the National and the CRT safeguarding guidelines.

The Neath and Tennant Canals Trust has a separate report in this issue on page 18.

There is grave concern with the lack of progress on the repairs and restoration to the Aberdulias Aqueduct. The aqueduct, lock and canal links will be lost by negligence if action is not taken soon.

Provisional notice is given of the IWA South Wales Branch AGM at 3pm on Saturday, 8th May, 2021 at The Royal British Legion Club, the Lock House, Riverside, Aberdulias, Neath. SA10 8ES with possibly a visit to Tonna work24

shops and the aqueduct, if weather and Covid-19 restrictions permit.

The Torfaen Canal Volunteers, the group holds monthly activities in the Cwmbran area including removal of litter and fly tipping in the canal and cutting back vegetation, usually meet on the 2nd Sunday of each month, commencing at 10 a.m. and working for 2-3 hours with a break at half time for refreshments.

Stay safe, stay well. Let’s hope this coming year will be a better year for all.

For up to date information on the local South Wales Canal Society’s activities: The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre http://fourteenlocks.mbact.org.uk/ The Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust http://www.mbact.org.uk The Neath & Tennant Canals Trust: http://www.neath-tennant-canals.org.uk/ The Swansea Canal Society http://www.swanseacanalsociety.com The Swansea Bay Inland Waterways Partnership Swansea Marina http://www.swanseamarina.org.uk/ The Torfaen Canal Volunteers Contact: Hugh Woodford 01663 862481 heatherhugh@hotmail.com The Cardiff Bay Harbour Authority http://www.cardiffharbour.com

Forthcoming Events Due to the current Covid-19 government guidelines, there are no forthcoming or branch programme of events, meetings etc. If/when this changes, you will be contacted by Myra Glover, Steve Peet or Head Office with details of any events or meetings.

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Waterways in the IWA South West and South WalesRegion Â

Avon & Wilts Branch Rivers Avon & Severn: Tidal navigation that is the responsibility of the Bristol Haven Conservancy, downstream of the second Severn crossing Avon Navigation: Hanham to Avonmouth, including River Avon & Bristol Docks Kennet & Avon Canal: Hanham Lock to Froxfield Bridge North Wilts Canal Somersetshire Coal Canal Wilts & Berks Canal: Kennet & Avon Canal to County Boundary 1m West of Shrivenham Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch Coombe Hill Canal Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Leominster Canal Lydney Canal River Severn: from Mythe Bridge, Tewkesbury to a point on the tidal navigation which is the seaward extent of responsibility of the Gloucester Harbour Trustees, downstream of the Second Severn Crossing Stroudwater Navigation Thames & Severn Canal River Wye: Hay-on-Wye to Severn Estuary South Wales Branch Brecon & Abergavenny Canal Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals Monmouthshire Canal Neath & Tennant Canals Swansea Canal River Usk River Wye - Hay-on-Wye to source West Country Branch Bridgwater & Taunton Canal Cann Quarry Canal Dorset & Somerset Canal Grand Western Canal Par Canal Somerset Navigations Tavistock Canal Torrington (Lord Rolle’s) Canal

Bude Canal Chard Canal Exeter Ship Canal Liskeard & Looe Canal River Parrett Stover Canal River Tone Westport Canal 26

Contacts Ray Alexander

Steve Peet

rayalexander01@gmail.com

scpeet59@icloud.com

Geoff Brown geoffl.b263@gmail.com David Chalmers david.chalmers@waterways.org.uk Roger Francis roger.francis@waterways.org.uk Myra Glover 01722 710322 myra.glover@waterways.org.uk Ron Glover ron.glover@waterways.org.uk Geoff Harman 01179 623812 geoff.harman@waterways.org.uk Vivienne Hook vivienne.m.hook@blueyonder.co.uk

Joyce Potts souwester@waterways.org.uk or joyce.potts@waterways.org.uk Tony Pugh tony.pugh@waterways.org.uk Mike Slade mike.slade@waterways.org.uk Andrew Strawson andrew.strawson@waterways.co.uk Steve Warwicker steve.warwicker@waterways.org.uk Tim Wheeldon 01225 723890 tim.wheeldon@waterways.org.uk

Next Issue of Sou’Wester The next issue of Sou’Wester is due out in May, 2021.

Please send all copy to the Editor at souwester@waterways.org.uk by

Thursday, 1st April, 2021 The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of IWA. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee. Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1WA. Tel. 01494 783453 Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a Charity no 212343. www.waterways.org.uk 27

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