Firstly, I must congratulate Jeanne & Derek Smith, staunch members of our branch, in receiving the Richard Bird medals at this year’s AGM for their many decades of work for the IWA. There is a separate article in this edition for further information.
There seems to be only one topic of conversation at the moment with the waterways in our region and that is the forced closure of the River Weaver due to the long-term closure of the Anderton Boat Lift and the electrical failure of thegatesatMarshLock.
The Anderton Boat Lift has been out of action all year and now, since September, Marsh Lock is also closed, meaning that for some considerable time the Weaver, once a heavily used commercial waterway is now completely cut-off for boaters with no access to the national network. A commercial boat yard taking vessels larger than the standard narrowboat willnowberestrictedinits abilitytotrade.
I attended a Canal & River Trust Open Day on the 28th October where we were shown a presentation to improve the operation of the lift gates using an actuator system and were told this will give a “robust and reliable solution” for the future of the lift. However, this solution will be 18 months to fruition with only one caisson operational by May 2027. The lift will remainclosedthroughoutthe2026boatingseason!!
If anyone wants to view the presentation, I can send it if you contact me on the usual email address –Jim.forkin@waterways.org.uk.
With Marsh Lock the failure of the electrical motors that drive the opening and paddle mechanisms of the gates have been condemned. One gate will be operated manually as a trial
which place on Tuesday, 3 December 2025. This passage was for narrowboats only, under a single gate manual operation.
After this trial passage, CRT will review the process and explore the possibility of offering an additional passage in January 2026 for boats needing to return to their home moorings.
Also, the SS Daniel Adamson, normally giving public cruises on the Weaver Navigation and to cross the Mersey to Liverpool requires passage through Marsh Lock to enter the Manchester ship Canal and onwards to Liverpool, but due to Marsh Lock being inoperable, The “Danny “is now marooned on the Weaver indefinitely as there is no estimate for a repair dateformulatedforthelock.
Please see an article in the Packet Boat for more woes of the Danny
On a brighter note the 2025/26 season of socials are taking place at the Holiday Inn, Ellesmere Port and details of the programmecanbefoundin thisedition.Ihopetosee many of you there but in the meantime, I would like to wish you all a MerryChristmasandaHappyNewYear.
BestWishes,
JimForkin BranchChairman
It should be noted that the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IWA. They are published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA is a registered charity No 212342
Civil Engineers High Profile at Boat Museum
The elite of the Institute of Civil Engineers came to Ellesmere Port Boat Museum in November to present the progress being made on the Montgomery canal which links the Shropshire Union via the Llangollen Canal into the Severn valley in Mid Wales. The IWA and the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society were invited as guests alongwithseniorofficialsof ShropshireUnionCanal Society.
Amongst the presentations which focussed mainly on the current major civil engineering contracts funded essentially by government “levelling up” were detailed descriptions of the environmental and road building required as a part of returning navigation to the Welsh border. The most appreciated presentation covered the work of the volunteers currently working at Crickheath some of whom are IWA members.
The Last Grain Trade to Warrington
Recently emerged are some photographs taken by owner Nigel Bowker ofthe lastbargetrips through WaltonLocks on theMersey in 1984.More detailsinnextmagazine.
Weaver Infrastructure hits “Danny” Revenues
The woefultale of thefailing locks andbridges on the Weaver navigation are now well known but the effect this is having on the finances of the historic 1903 built steamship is now comingtolight.
Initially the falling of electric motors on Marsh Locks meant that the vessel could have got to Liverpool Docks but may not have got back into the Weaver, its main cruising waters, for the 2026 season. This meant that lucrative and high profile bookings for the Labour Conference in Liverpool in September were lost. However as work started on the troublesome Weaver Bridge on the A56, contractors have now occupied the Sutton Weaver parking area where the vessel is booked and customers leave their vehicles. The “Danny” could have take revenue from carol services and eventsatleadinguptoXmasbutthisisnolongerpractical.
These limitations now come when the charity that manages the vessel needs some £150,000 for a 10year boiler overhaul andnewliferafts.
Sankey Canal to help Warrington Flooding problems
Warrington Borough Council has approved plans for a new drainage system and pumping station in the Sankey Bridges area by utilising the historic Sankey Canal as a drainage channel. Aimed at reducing flooding to 62 properties in the Liverpool Road and Hood Lane areas the scheme will cost some £899,000 and be funded by United utilities and Environment Agency. The scheme will help pressure on the surface drainage and reduce the risk of both surface and foul waterflooding.
Seventh Series of Canal Boat Diaries filmed
Waterway explorer Robbie Cummings has been filming a further series of his popular “Canal Boat Diaries” starting in Wales then working his way back to West Yorkshire , which sadly will not include our Bridgewater Canal as an essential part of the journey. One of his jaunts was on to the Montgomery Canal where he was seen interview Tom Foulda ,ProjectEngineerontherestorationworkatCrickheath.
“Danny” Historical Artefacts On Display in Warrington Museum
Working with the curator and his staff at Warrington Museum ,volunteers from the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society(DAPS) have put together a display about the Manchester Ship Canal for donated artefacts and a bequested collection of photographs and documents from a sadly deceased founder member. Going on display from 29th November until end of February 2026 it is to be called “The Danny –bringing the Manchester Ship Canal to the People of Warrington”
Many of the items and photographs have never been seen in public with the pride of place going to the original fog horn used on Latchford Locks during those dark industrial “smogs” oftheC19thandearlyC20th.
New “Waterside”Housing for Liverpool Waterfront
Work is soon to start on 2,000 new homes on Liverpool Waterfront ina26acrePeelprojectwith Liverpool`s canal Link being incorporated into a “Central Park area. Once again the building industry knows the value that waterside properties bringtohousingprices.
Heat from Leeds and Liverpool Canal Water
The IWA planning scrutiny team have reported that energy in canal water from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is to supply low carbon heating to central buildings on Liverpool Waterfront including the Cunard building. The multi million pound scheme will utilises heating pipes and be managed by theMerseyHeatandEnergyCompany.
IWA Chester & Mersey Branch Programme of Meetings – 2026
January 13th- Jim Mole talks on the Scottish Crinan Canal andhisvoyagethroughinAugust2025.
February 10th - Ken Pye talks on historic ships of Merseyside andsmugglersandpirates ofWallasey.
March 10th - Les Green talks the history of the people and shipsontheManchesterShipCanal.
IWA National Awards - Richard Bird Medals
These are for members of the Association whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to the Association over a sustained period. From 2013 onwards, no more than six medals are likely to be awarded in any one year. The half-century service of Jeanne and Derek Smith shows extraordinary loyalty, energy, and spirit. It’s a privilege for National Chairman Mike Wills to award the Richard Bird Medals to them at the Association 2025 AGM.
Citation: Jeanne and Derek first volunteered with IWA in 1975 giving an incredible 50 years of almost continuous service. They have worn many hats during that time, from organising National Trailboat Rallies, to editing publications, to leading their branch monthly waterways walks, to running sales stands and websites. Since 1975 they have been at the heart of IWA, and even now, after 50 years, theyarestillvolunteering,stilltrailboating,andstill inspiring others.
Busy Time On Sankey Canal
Things have been moving quickly for the team at Sankey Canal Restoration Society with high level involvement in a funding bid to create a heritage trail in the Blackbrook and Parr areas. A further bid has been submitted to result in the first phase of exposing the canal from Bradleigh to Penkford Bridge. This bid is for £95000 from the Newton-Le-Willows neighbourhoodfund.
Work is also continuing with the Rainhill Trials 200 Team to coordinatecelebrations ofthe200th anniversary ofthe London toManchesterrailway.
Lost Prints of the BCN
If anyone has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the late Jack Parkinson’s collection of black and white prints with negatives, could they contact Jim Forkin (details on back page).
Anderton Boat Lift on TV
Anderton boat lift was featured on Channel 5’s “Most Scenic Counties”ina60minuteprogrammebasedaroundCheshire.
AGM Agenda
The Inland Waterways Association Chester and Merseyside BranchNotice ishereby giventhatthefortieth AnnualGeneral Meeting of the Chester & Merseyside Branch of the Inland Waterways Association will be held on Tuesday 10th March 2026 at 7.45pm at the Holiday Inn, Lower Mersey St., EllesmerePort,CH652AL
