Worcester Bar, Winter 2013/14

Worcester Bar

Edition No: 4 Winter 2013/14

The Newsletter of the Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch, Inland Waterways Association

Contents From The Helm

1

Lapal Canal Outlook 2 Some Events Around The Midlands in 2014 3 Worcestershire Groups Meet with CRT 3 Bradley Update

4

Recent IWA Meetings at Coombswood 4-5 Notice of Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch Annual General Meeting 6 Notice of West Midlands Region Annual General Meeting 6 Forthcoming Working Parties 6 Square Lock Bollards, Handrails and now…….. 7 Winter Programme 2013/2014 8 New Members

8

From The Helm

Greetings for 2014, from the Chair - or from the front seat in the accompanying photo. I can take a passenger or two in this one!

I wish you well for any boating or working activities you get involved with during the coming year.

Hopefully you will notice all the events mentioned in this edition of Worcester Bar ... including the work-parties.

There are important developments in our patch, which I hope you will find interesting, and able to support in any way you can. Just moral support is good - but active support is even better, and enable our good reputation to spread - both in official circles and keeping the boating and other waterway users communicating with each other.

Our meeting at which Richard Parry visited us was a great success - we were both impressed by his vision of partnership for the future and his willingness to listen and to help with communication and ideas for more efficient use of people’s time and energy, both within and without the organisation which he has joined as ‘chief executive’.

Best wishes, David S.

Lapal Canal Outlook

Page 2

Readers will recall the long running saga of the development of this site and in particular the applicant’s retraction of their S106 agreement (Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended)), to restore the first part of the Lapal (Dudley No.2) Canal.

As a result of further discussions with the applicant and after heavy lobbying by the IWA BBC&W Branch, Birmingham City Council approved the application on 28th November 2013 subject to conditions. Here follow edited excerpts from the Planning Report to Committee.

Earlier discussions centred on whether the Lapal Canal ought to be fully re-instated as part of this development; the financial viability of the proposals allows for partial re-instatement as part of the development (Phase 1), with the part-constructed canal route safeguarded as ‘The Greenway’, to allow future canal completion as and when further funds become available to others (Phase 2).

Phase 1 is now the formation of the canal section in the supermarket undercroft, the insertion of sheet metal piles along the remaining length of the Lapal route either side of the undercroft, and the insertion of sheet metal piles for the winding hole on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Phase 2 would complete the canal sections and winding hole.

A significant issue concerned the gas main, which runs alongside the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and would require diversion to allow a new Lapal Canal to form a junction with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Verbal assurances had been received from National Grid that the main could indeed be diverted. The applicant has met National Grid again, and National Grid have confirmed in writing that no gas main works are needed in advance of the proposed development.

The applicant is however exploring the possibility of carrying out some early enabling works on the gas main, which could reduce the works to be carried out by others at Phase 2 of the Lapal re-instatement. If they are feasible, these measures would be carried out by the applicant as part of the site-wide de-contamination works.

Planning officers considered the estimated towpath costs were too high, mostly due to the Government’s recent Cycle City Grant, and because the Canal & River Trust identified some unnecessary facilities which had

been costed. A total of some £267,000 will therefore be available to be spent on the Lapal re-instatement instead. An estimated £150,000 will be for the provision of sheet piling to the winding hole, required opposite the new junction with the future Lapal Canal. The remaining £117,000 is highly unlikely to be able to be spent on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal edge copings after the Cycle City Grant’s new towpath is installed, so would transfer across instead into the Lapal spend.

Further examination of the various canal costs has been undertaken, with the applicant engaging their engineering consultants, and the applicant has met the Canal & River Trust again, twice. Some objectors had raised the possibility of some lower canal construction costs, specifically the use of flexible canal lining instead of concrete.

The applicant’s proposed S.106 spend on Lapal Canal re-instatement increased considerably since June 2013 when the sum was £950,000. As cost estimates were refined, they rose significantly. In order to complete the undercroft canal section and wider sheet piling as the Phase 1 works, the applicant committed an extra £628,000, giving a total of £1,578,000. A further £267,000 is identified above, in the Worcester & Birmingham Canal Section, to which the applicant has committed to a total of £2,345,000.

The Planning officer went on to say, “In conclusion on canal matters, the applicant had already increased the proposed spend on the Lapal Canal prior to 5th September, and has now been able to commit to yet further very significant sums, to a very substantial total in the region of £4.4 million. Also, the scheme would provide a new bridge over the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and an attractive canalside public plaza. The Lapal Canal would be part-constructed, 69% of its cost would be spent or reserved, and the route safeguarded as an attractive, landscaped public walkway. As such, the key policy test of the Unitary Development Plan (20.16A) would clearly be met – that the development “…would assist with the future reinstatement of the former Dudley No. 2 Canal…”.

Whilst this is not as good as originally proposed, it might well have been much worse but for the positive discussions held by the IWA an d other interested parties, the outlook for the Lapal Canal is much better than was feared last year but continued vigilance will be required to ensure that promises are met.

Page 3

Some Events Around The Midlands in 2014

BCN Clean Up – 5 & 6 April – contact - cbmorgan@sky.com Tipton Real Ale Festival - John Whitehouse Locks/Coronation Gardens & Fountain Inn - details later St. Richards Festival Droitwich 3-5 May – contact - david@eurotexsales.com Allen Boat Gathering – 10 & 11 May Titford Pump House - Contact - hecla777@hotmail.com Explorer Cruises – 9th May – 16 - 18 May & 18 – 26th May - contact – bcns.explorercruise@gmail.com BCNS Summer Rally - 16-18 May Titford Pump House – contact - barryjohnson7@tiscali.co.uk BCNS Photo Workshop - 24 May - limited spaces - contact - workshop@kevinmaslin.co.uk 24 Hour Challenge – 24 & 25 May - contact - bcnschallenge@gmail.com Stratford River Festival – 5 & 6 July – contact - http://www.stratfordriverfestival.co.uk/ Black Country Boating Festival – 13 & 14 September – contact – www.bcbf.com Tipton Community Festival - details later Park Head Rally – 27 & 28 September – contact - ste.bingham@talktalk.net Stourbridge Navigation Trust Open Weekend – 18 & 19 October Bonfire Rally - 1st November - contact - barryjohnson7@tiscali.co.uk

IWA Events 2nd - 5th May 2014 - Braunston Boat Gathering (IWA Northampton Branch) 2014 Campaign 6th - 8th June:

IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch (Chester Basin)

2014 Trailboat Festival 24th - 26th May:

Devon County Council (Grand Western Canal)

Worcestershire Groups Meet with CRT In November, I met with Nick Worthington, Waterway Manager for South Wales and Severn area CRT in Droitwich and Pam Davey, Chair of Droitwich Canals (Pamela May) Trust, John Hemingway, Worcester Birmingham and Droitwich Canal Society and Margaret Rowley, Vice Chair of both.

The forthcoming 200th anniversary of the completion of the Worcester and Birmingham canal, in 2015 was discussed. The recently completed barge ‘The Hereford Bull’ being a two-thirds size Wye Trow, may be invited to visit thus focussing on the ‘barge’ size of the Droitwich Barge Canal and would be a reason to dredge the winding-hole by the railway bridge, and clear Japanese Knotweed!

Concerns raised included the ‘ring’ aspect of the Droitwich restoration, stiffness of the Tardebigge

paddle-gear, moorings, volunteering and the provision of sanitary stations.

A new ‘work-boat’ for use in and around the Worcestershire canals, was discussed has been acquired, but is in need of some work - estimating at least £20,000, some money has already been found, and more is forthcoming. The plan is that a local organisation/consortium would manage and use the boat for maintenance work-parties.

A useful meeting showing how the two canal societies have common objectives for the waterway and we agreed to share information on work-parties and other forms of helping, which would also help Nick and his waterway objectives of involving more people.

David Struckett

Page 4

Bradley Update The IWA Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch has supported proposals that the Bradley locks and canal be restored. The Bradley Canal falls within the boundaries of three local authorities, namely Sandwell, Walsall & Wolverhampton, the majority being in Wolverhampton.

A restored flight of locks would make an ideal linear park to the benefit of local people & boaters as well.

With proposed redevopment work in the Bilston area, now may be a good time to start preparing for restoration of the canal and locks.

In 1998 a report was commissioned about the feasibility of restoring the locks but was not progressed due to lack of funds. However, that report forms a good basis to start from because it showed how the locks could be restored quickly and economically. In 2013, the IWA produced a DVD showing the current canal with a brief history by Ray Shill the well known local waterways author which supports the argument for restoration.

In principal Canal & River Trust have verbally agreed to support the restoration as long as the ongoing maintenance costs are provided for. This is standard procedure with canal restoration & sometimes a stumbling block. However it is a relatively easy project to carry out compared with some of the large restoration schemes being carried out currently in the UK. Costs would largely hinge on how much local voluntary labour could be provided, supplemented by the Waterways Recovery Group.

Since an initial meeting with interested parties in 2013, attended by David Struckett and Dave Pearson from the BBC&W Branch, some useful progress has been made. The next stage is a Feasibility Study and an assessment and tender has been received from planning consultants in the region of £10,000.

A commitment has been agreed from WM Wildlife Trust which is submitting an application as a Nature Improvement Area. The IWA Restoration Committee is considering an application for funding and WM Waterways Partnership is expected to endorse the project in its Action Plan and will provide resources and possibly funding. At the recent BCNS Council meeting support was also approved with a donation towards the cost agreed.

All in all a very promising start and it is hoped that the feasibility study can be commissioned soon. This can be followed with a more formal Partnership, which will progress the project as a relatively easy restoration to implement in a reasonable timescale.

The Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch Committee have agreed to donate £1000.00p to the feasibility study.

Recent IWA Meetings at Coombswood Monday 21st October saw a good turnout for the initial meeting of the winter season at which Dick Skeet, former chairman of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust (HGCT) gave an informative and entertaining talk on the Trust’s work.

Work on the canal commenced in 1793, running from the River Severn at Over some 34 miles to the centre of Hereford. Having surmounted numerous obstacles along it’s 34 mile course, it was completed in 1845 only to almost immediately be overtaken by the advent of the railways and in 1881, the canal was closed.

The HGCT was formed in 1992, formed from the informal group which had come together some ten years earlier. Dick explained how the Trust work with local councils, landowners and developers on a “can do” basis. This approach has resulted in the Trust making considerable headway at many sites along the canal track including the creation of a basin at Over, the building nearby of The Wharf House, containing a restaurant/café, and accommodation, all of which contribute financially to the Trust’s coffers. With help of local volunteers, the WRG and some bequests, considerable progress has been made, although there remains a lot to do before Hereford is reconnected to the Severn.

Additionally the Trust has bought a parcel of land and part of the river which will in time be used for hydroelectric generation. Recently, the only pub on the cut came up for sale, so the Trust bought that too! And they intend to run it with a tenant landlord.

It became clear that the Trust have some very capable people on board, with vision, drive and the right contacts to make thing happen.

For further information, please look at the Trust website at http://www.h-g-canal.org.uk/index.html

On Monday 18th November, Andrew Phasey gave an illustrated talk on Navigating the Tidal Thames. This talk was aimed at boaters hoping to cruise these waters.

Andrew is the Commodore of the St. Pancras Cruising Club, which was established in 1958.

Andrew’s wife Frances began the talk speaking ‘on behalf of’ Jeremy Batch, the lock keeper at Lime House Lock.

Limehouse Lock is the access point for the Tidal Lower Thames from the Inland Waterways. This lock is the width of 2.75 narrow boats & Frances described, & showed illustrations of, some of the tips & hazards of going through the lock from either way, up or down, from the lock keeper’s point of view, as he says “remember, the lock keeper is the man in charge”.

(Continued on page 5)

Page 5

(Continued from page 4) Andrew continued the presentation saying that a wide variety of boats belong to the St. Pancras CC a lot of whom cruise the tidal waters of the river. Safety measures are taken seriously & are mandatory which include wearing of lifejackets, insurance, anchors & VHF radio. Cruises do not take place when the wind speed is expected to be above 18 knots. Good communication is essential & the VHF radio broadcasts every 30 minutes relaying the river’s condition.

Andrew then took us on some of the cruises the Club takes such as to the Victoria Docks, through the Thames Barrier down to Barking Creek & further upstream to Teddington & Richmond. In 2007 they took part in the Campaign Cruise to the Palace of Westminster, 2010 the opening of the City Mill Lock and in 2012 the Olympics & the Jubilee Pageant.

On many of these cruises they saw anything from big cruisers & Royal Navy boats down to small rowing boats.

They hold cruises for visiting clubs such as the Russell Newbury Club & the Cotswold Canal Club. In 2013 there were 10 cruises which included 77 boats, 193 crew, lots of dogs & an African Grey parrot!

The St. Pancras Club believes that convoys promote narrow-boating, they are very sociable & can be enjoyed by ‘ancient & modern’. In 2014 they intend to cruise the Olympic Park Circuit.

Their web site is: http://www.stpancrascc.co.uk.

This was a most interesting talk reminding some of our Members of cruises they had once made & it held the attention of all of us until the very end.

On Monday 16 December there was a good turnout for the Christmas Buffet and “slide” show, featuring images taken by Dave Pearson of some of the amusing official signs he has seen on his travels in China, Italy, Spain, the USA & UK. This was followed by Mike Rolfe who talked us through images of some of his canal walks along the Gloucester & Sharpness and Stroudwater Canals. th

Members enjoyed an excellent buffet, (with enough left for several “doggy bags”), entertaining slide shows and a wide variety of raffle prizes.

A record attendance of some 45 members greeted the very enjoyable talk by CRT Chief Executive on Monday 20th January. This was the first IWA branch meeting which Richard had been to and he provided a short synopsis of his first six months in post.

Having spent much of his working life in the management of London Underground, he is familiar with familiar with the concept of managing old and under maintained infrastructure where his role was to keep the water out, whilst here it is to keep the water in and ensure that navigation is promoted and maintained.

Richard said that on his first day in post, he had a short meeting with IWA Chairman, Les Etheridge, who provided a useful overview of the current situation. He aims to create a long term, sustainable future for the waterways, protecting the system to maintain navigation; a theme he returned to frequently.

He sees connecting with and inspiring people as vital for the system as well as individuals, improving their wellbeing and connecting them with history and wildlife. In this way, communities take ownership of “their” waterway and help look after it. There are now some 5,500 CRT volunteers and Richard wants to increase that number considerably and encourage them, through relevant training opportunities to take on more complex tasks.

He considers that fund raising is progressing well after a couple of false starts, (chugging etc), and given the prevailing economic climate. Funds have come from sources as diverse as the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Arts Council and the use of local postcode lotteries is being investigated along with more diverse income sources.

Environmental challenges he faces include climate change, security of water supplies and HS2 legislation. He went to say that canals form a very important part of regeneration and the development of Curzon Street as a station for HS2 may be very advantageous for the local system.

He intends to build CRT’s influence and authority as a charity promoting the waterways as an agent for economic improvement.

There followed a Q&A session. Richard finished by telling the meeting that he is encouraging the CRT Boating Buddy Scheme, whereby CRT staff spend some time with a boater to see particular areas and gain an understanding of the effects of their working roles. So if you fancy offering, phone the CRT Boating Team!

Notice of Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch Annual General Meeting

Page 6

The 2014 Annual General Meeting of the Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch will take place at 7.30pm (19:30hrs) on March 17th in the ‘Cabin’ at Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8AW. AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of minutes of the last AGM and any matters arising from these minutes 3. Report from the Branch Chairman 4. Financial Report 5. Election of members of the Committee 6. Any items requested by members of the Region provided the Region Chairman was notified in writing of the item at least six weeks prior to the AGM. 7. Address by Region Chairman (this will be deferred to the Region Meeting that follows the Branch AGM) This agenda is based upon the Association’s by-laws.

Any member, regardless of the length of their membership, who feels that they can contribute to the work of the committee is welcome to volunteer for election, this is normally for a term of three years.

This can either be done in advance of the meeting by contacting the Chairman or Secretary, or at the start of the item dealing with the election of the committee when the Chairman of the meeting may seek interest from the floor. No formal nominations are required in either case.

Each member of the branch present will be entitled to one vote at an AGM or EGM and decisions shall be made by majority decision. In the event that the number of votes is equal the chairman of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.

Notice of West Midlands Region Annual General Meeting

The 2014 Annual General Meeting of West Midlands Region will take place at 8PM (20:00 Hours) on March 17th in the ‘Cabin’ at Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8AW and will follow the Annual General Meeting of the Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch.

AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of minutes of the last AGM and any matters arising from these minutes 3. Report from the Region Chairman 4. Financial Report 5. Election of members of the Committee 6. Any items requested by members of the Region provided the Region Chairman was notified in writing of the item at least six weeks prior to the AGM. This agenda is based upon the Association’s by-laws.

Any member, regardless of the length of their membership, who feels that they can contribute to the work of the committee is welcome to volunteer for election, this is normally for a term of three years.

This can either be done in advance of the meeting by contacting the Chairman or Secretary, or at the start of the item dealing with the election of the committee when the Chairman of the meeting may seek interest from the floor. No formal nominations are required in either case.

Once constituted the new Committee will elect it Officers, other than the Chairman who is elected by means of a separate poll once every three years, at its first meeting following the AGM, normally this will place within the following few days.

BBC&W Work Parties

To help make a positive impact on “our” waterway patch, we have arranged a series of working parties over the remaining winter and early spring months. They will usually be held on the second Wednesday of each month, commencing at 10.00am and finishing at about 3.00pm, with members being asked to spending whatever time they can contribute to helping. Old clothes and sturdy footwear should be worn and bring your waterproofs too. Those who wish to spend the day are asked to bring a packed lunch.

The first work party is on Wednesday, 12th February, 10.00am-3.00pm at Falling Sands, accessed off Lisle Avenue, Stourport Rd, Kidderminster DY11 7DJ. Tasks will include painting, vegetation clearnace and general tidying/litter picking.

Details for the March working party will follow.

In April we will be supporting the BCN Clean-up, over the weekend of 5/6 April, and 3.

Leaping ahead to Nnovember, the Worcester & Birmingham Canal clean-up near Bourneville will be held over the weekend of the 15 & /16.

Square Lock Bollards, Handrails and now……..

Page 7

In October last year, Tony Philips was cruising the Stourbridge and Staffs & Worcs Canals. He noticed that on many locks he had to hold the ratchet catch clear of the cogwheel in order to wind the paddle down.

On closer examination he saw that the pawl (ratchet catch restraining bar) had been move to a “12 O’clock” position, thus preventing the catch to remain clear of the cogwheel when dropping the paddle. As a result, both hands now have to be engaged in two separate operations at the same time – holding the pawl clear of the ratchet-wheel and dropping the paddle.

He wrote to Dean Davies, Midlands Waterway Manager at CRT, saying that the practice of having only one hand on the windlass when winding a paddle down was potentially dangerous and liable to cause injury, particularly to inexperienced boaters.

He went on to say that the pawl, when standing upright, can be seen from a distance signifying that the paddle is fully down, thus avoiding a walk from one end of a lock to the other and back adding that he had come across several paddles, which because of this had been left partly open, resulting in water wastage.

He also pointed out that the locks and their mechanisms are subject to conservation regulations as part of the nation’s historical heritage and therefore should not be interfered with and changed in such a manner.

Subsequently he met with a representative of CRT in November at Stourton and demonstrated his concerns.

The CRT response was to the effect that there were many inexperienced boat and lock operators, who sometimes failed to remove their windlasses from the paddle spindle after use. Lifting the ratchet catch to the upright position, where it had always previously been located, introduced a danger from the windlass spinning round and flying off causing injury. Therefore he had instructed CRT staff to modify the position of the catches so that the ratchet had to be held above the ratchet wheel and only then could the paddle be closed: if the ratchet was not held, it would drop back by gravity on to the ratchet wheel. He considered it a matter of safety and he needed to protect CRT from claims of negligence and damages.

Boaters who regularly use these canals say that they have not noticed any recent changes to the mechanisms and confirm that there are many locks on the system where the pawl has to be held up whilst lowering the paddle.

Within the IWA there has been limited, (but increasing), discussion about this initiative.

In trying to minimise one, as yet unproven, risk, another more likely one has been created because in order to hold the pawl up, crew now have to wind paddle gear with their back in the wrong plane, increasing the risk of back injury if the paddle gear is stiff (and one has to use one’s body weight to wind the paddle) and with only one hand on the windlass, the possibility of the windlass slipping off the spindle is greater than when using both hands.

Once again this will be seen as a consequence of yet another knee-jerk edict under the smoke-screen of Health & Safety and public liability that results in the same unnecessary expenses as incurred by the unwanted square bollards and overbridge handrails, issued by someone who hasn’t a clue about lock working practices. What evidence is there is a need for this change? What consultations with user groups have taken place? Why hasn’t the issue been publicised?

The real concern here is that it appears from what Tony was told by a CRT representative that this is a national policy. If so, once again it has not been subject to consultation with user groups. Perhaps the CRT representative is mistaken and used a default response of Health & Safety in the absence of any other reason and not wanting to look stupid?

If that is not the case and it is policy, Oh when will CRT think to discuss such navigational issues with IWA and other organizations before rushing to (inappropriate) action? We cannot afford to squander precious finances in such a profligate manner.

Bob Fox Ed.

Winter Programme 2013/2014 IWA meetings at: Coombeswood Canal Trust, Hawne Basin, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8AW Starting at 7.15 for 7.30pm.

17.2.14

The Grand Canal of China

17.3.14

Liam D’Arcy Brown, Author

AGM followed by Members’ slides, etc.

21.4.14

Taking IWA Forward

Les Etheridge National Chairman IWA

19.5.14

Taking a Narrowboat to France

Chris Clegg

For further information, contact Chris Osborn (details below).

Members are very welcome to bring guests to any of these meetings.

New Members

Mr C and Mrs S Tallents Mr G Caine Mr C Fogg & Ms J May Mr R & Mrs Cull Mrs D Wilkes Mr P Blackmore Mr G Hindhaugh Mr J K Edwards Mr M D Bull & Family Mr P Norton Miss R Worrall & Family Mr S Apps

Bewdley Birmingham Worcester Solihull Stourbridge Stourbridge Newbury Droitwich Kingswinford Bromsgrove Brierley Hill Smethwick

Mr M & Mrs J Kinnings Mr B J Elliott & Ms H J Clarkson Mr L R & Mrs K E Jennings Mr D Bradley

Wolverhampton Birmingham Kidderminster Brierley Hill

Welcome to the IWA Birmingham Black Country & Worcester Branch. We look forward to meeting you at our social evenings or on our working parties. If you would like to help please contact any committee member to discuss.

Bob Fox Editor

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BBC&W Branch Officers & Committee: Chair: David Struckett dstruckett@aol.com Michael Payne Vice Chairman Planning Officer (Birmingham) michael@payne.name.

John Taplin Vice Chairman, Planning Officer (Worcs) johnwtaplin@btinternet.com Secretary: Becky Smith-Keary rsk63@yahoo.co.uk Treasurer: Chris Neal cptjneal@yahoo.co.uk Members: Freddie Cooke Planning Officer (Walsall, Wolverhampton & South Staffs) freddiecooke@googlemail.com Dave Pearson dave@daveapearson.com Bob Fox Planning Officer (Sandwell & Dudley), Newsletter Editor bob@bobfox.demon.co.uk Michael Smith-Keary Membership Secretary: sk63@btinternet.com Chris Osborn Meetings organiser jcosborn@btinternet.com John Butler j4hnb@yahoo.com

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Views expressed in Worcester Bar are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch or the Inland Waterways Association.

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