March 2006

About People

Due to ill-health, Dave Prior has reluctantly had to resign as chairman of IWA’s Grand Junction Region Chairman after less than a year in the post. A successor is to be elected shortly after the Region’s forthcoming AGM.

Paul Streeter resigned from his post as Managing Director of National Boat Shows on 6th February. He had been in post for six years and had overseen the move of the London Boat Show from Earls Court to Excel in Docklands. Whilst the 2004 move was declared successful, attendance in 2006 was below expectations. Rob Stevens is to join the British Marine Federation as chief executive in April 2006, following John Clarke’s retirement.

British Waterways Licence Structure

The National Association of Boat Owners is undertaking an on-line survey of boat owners’ views concerning British Waterways’ plans to restructure its licence fees, and has invited the support of IWA members to give their views too. IWA is co-operating with the survey and encourages members to complete the on-line survey. The purpose of the survey is to see how much support there is for the recent proposals put forward by British Waterways, which IWA, the National Association of Boat Owners and other organisations have expressed concerns about. The results of the survey will be presented to BW and other interested bodies.

By mid-February, there were 145 entries on the survey, with about 88% of respondents indicating that they do not support higher licence charges for those that use the waterways the most intensively, even though over 50% of respondents only used their boats for holidays. The survey can be accessed at www.nabo.org.uk/fee_survey.html (note the underscore between 'fee' and 'survey').

Carriage of Freight on the Waterways

The Inland Waterways Freight Group, part of IWA’s Navigation Committee, has produced a leaflet designed to highlight its work and the potential of water transport. The leaflet contains a brief history of the group as well as a summary of what the Freight Group is doing to advance the interests of water freight.

At a time when environmental concerns are foremost The Inland Waterways Freight Group is campaigning for greater consideration to be given to freight transport by water. Water transport consumes less of the earth’s finite resources such as, fuel, aggregates and land, and is less damaging to the environment in terms of air and land pollution, as well as noise and visual intrusion. With one litre of fuel, water freight can move 127 tonnes over 1 kilometre, whereas rail manages just 97 tonnes and road only 50 tonnes.

The Freight Group works closely with other organisations to encourage a positive attitude to water freight both at government and local planning level through talks, publications and the monitoring of planning decisions. Although there have been signs in the past few years that water freight is moving up the Government’s agenda, it still operates at a financial disadvantage and in many places wharves, which are essential to water freight transport, are disappearing. Water transport already plays a key role in the transport network not only carrying goods such as sand, cement and recyclables, but also abnormal loads, such as aircraft wings and much more. In 2003, 24% of goods moved in the UK were moved by water, compared to 8% by rail and 4% by pipeline; however, IWA believes that the potential of water transport is much greater and should be exploited.

Development and Flood Risk

During February, IWA responded to The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s consultation on Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25: Development and Flood Risk. The revision purports to provide clarity on what is required at regional and local levels to ensure that decisions are made at the most appropriate level and in a timely fashion to deliver sustainable planning for development and flood risk. It is the main guidance used in the planning system as to whether to grant planning permission in areas that can be affected by flooding. This is particularly important for any proposed developments for navigational infrastructure and related recreational facilities alongside river navigations.

In general, IWA supports the proposed Statement, particularly the acknowledgement of, and provision for, the planning needs of navigation and recreation facilities. IWA welcomes the requirement that local authorities allocating land, and developers seeking sites in areas at risk of flooding should demonstrate that there are no appropriate alternative sites available in areas with a lower probability of flooding, which can help to reserve waterside land for waterside activities rather than unrelated housing or commercial developments.

Building related to navigation and water-based recreation needs to be near the relevant water body. IWA supports that uses of land should be allowed in all flood risk zones, including in the functional floodplain, for water-compatible development including docks, marinas and wharves, navigation facilities, boat building repairing and dismantling, water-based recreation and tourism (excluding sleeping accommodation), amenity open space, outdoor sports and recreation and essential facilities such as changing rooms and essential ancillary sleeping or residential accommodation for staff required by uses in this category (subject to a specific warning and evacuation plan).

IWA agrees with the proposal to make the Environment Agency a statutory consultee for certain types of development at risk of flooding. However, IWA expressed concern that loading a greater burden on the Agency would need to be matched with additional financial resources; otherwise the Agency’s functions for navigation and recreation could be further squeezed, to the detriment of the waterways.

IWA Membership Rates

IWA has announced that membership is now available to both new and existing members from only £1.40 a month. Paying monthly by Direct Debit spreads the cost of IWA membership into twelve payments and saves the Association administration costs compared to payments by means other than direct debits. It also provides a steady income to the Association, which is particularly welcome as it enables IWA to plan ahead.

The introduction of an option to pay for membership by monthly instalments is intended to encourage new members to join, and provide an incentive for existing members to switch to paying by Direct Debit. Existing members will be given the opportunity to switch to paying their subscription by monthly Direct Debit and will receive further information with renewal notices sent out when their current membership is due for renewal. A leaflet that details the new monthly subscription rates and provides further information is available from IWA’s Head Office and full details of all subscription rates can also be found at www.waterways.org.uk/membership.

IWA National Festivals

The 2005 IWA National Festival and Inland Boat Show held at Preston Brook was widely acclaimed a great success in raising the profile of the inland waterways and local waterway restoration schemes. It also provided a good opportunity to work closely with Halton Borough Council and other interests who are supportive of waterway causes and are helping to promote restoration of Runcorn Locks and other projects. Unfortunately, the poor weather conditions over the bank holiday deterred many visitors from the site, particularly on the event’s final day and, as expected, the event made a loss of about £12,000.

The Association’s objectives for holding is National Festival vary slightly each year, depending on campaigning potential and the viability of the site to make a surplus that can be ploughed in waterway restoration. The 2006 site at Beale Park will provide an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of the restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal in particular, as well as the eastern end of the Thames & Severn Canal. Previous national festivals on the Thames have benefited from profitable sponsorship deals and the 1987 and 2003 festivals at Henley and Beale Park respectively produced surpluses of about £50,000 each. Even without the sponsorship, given good weather, the Festival organisers are hopeful that the event will be able to make a worthwhile financial contribution to the Association’s objectives this year, as well as achieving its other aims.

Lancaster University Waterways Study Day

Lancaster University Centre for North-West Regional Studies is holding a study day celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of The Inland Waterways Association. Entitled “A North-West Perspective of Inland Waterways Alive!” it will be held on 22nd April and the cost is £16 (£15 for IWA members). Lunch refreshments may be purchased on campus or there are Common Room facilities.

Co-ordinated by Dr. Jean Turnbull, the four speakers are: John Fletcher, about the political context of inland waterways in the 21st century; Margaret Fletcher: “Waterway restoration in the North West today and tomorrow”; Sue Day (Chairman of the Horse Boating Society) with the subject of “Waterways as Living Heritage: horse boating in the 21st century” and Gillian Smith concludes with “Waterways and the Next Generation”.

The centres’ study days are frequently over-subscribed, particularly those that they have held on waterway subjects, and early booking is essential. For bookings and any questions concerning the event, the contact at the university is Christine Wilkinson, CNWRS, Fylde College, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YF, or E-mail Christine.wilkinson@lancaster.ac.uk.

Red Diesel

IWA welcomed the statement in Gordon Brown’s November 2005 pre-budget speech that the Government was minded to apply for an extension of the derogations for fuel used in craft for navigation.

Since the Chancellor's assurance in the pre-budget review, officials visited the Commission in January, to identify with Commission staff how best they could present the UK case for continuation of the derogation, and to mark up that it was an issue on which the UK Government would press strongly. Commission officials were receptive and identified the sort of case they would expect to see in a Regulatory Impact Assessment, which the Commission requires the UK Government to submit. The Commission officials have since written to the UK Government outlining what they require and giving UK officials one month to submit the Assessment.

UK officials are liaising with their counterparts in Ireland, Belgium and Malta, who all have confirmed that they also are fighting to retain the derogation and they are all sharing their case evidence.

The chairman of IWA’s Navigation Committee attended a meeting with H.M. Revenue & Customs and Department of Trade & Industry officials and other interested organisations in late January to discuss the detail of the draft Assessment on the effects of ending the derogation for private pleasure craft. UK officials had prepared a first draft, which The Royal Yachting Association, The British Marine Federation, The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers and IWA were invited to discuss. The officials identified various factual gaps that needed filling before the end of February. These covered environmental impacts, social effects, technical problems and especially implementation costs, together with the cost and other issues for the fuel suppliers themselves. The organisations concerned are now working to fill in those gaps and make sure the Assessment is as robust as possible.

The next stage is for the Commission to review the Assessment, during March and April. Commission officials have indicated that they expect to give their preliminary response, on how they value the UK case, in the early summer. If it is refused, the UK has the right of appeal, which would require the UK to provide further evidence.

The matter is now with officials and will be so for the next six months. Waterway supporters are therefore advised that there is no benefit from writing further letters to members of Parliament at the moment as the officials in the UK are 'on our side' and are working hard to get the best case ready. This is then submitted to the Commission officials and the Commissioners. It is only if the UK is forced to the appeal stage that IWA may need to call for additional evidence from members.

A document entitled ‘Seeing Red’ produced by the four national bodies, explains the issues, presents arguments for the retention of the derogation, and provides details of research undertaken to quantify the situation. The document is available on IWA’s website at www.waterways.org.uk/Seeing%20Red%20Final%20Version%20July.pdf.

Diesel destined for marine use is currently chemically coloured red and the price per litre is kept at a lower level than diesel used on the roads, due to a reduced rate of duty. Marine diesel presently costs about 40p per litre. The Council of the European Union specifies minimum levels of duty for mineral fuels. Diesel fuel used for commercial purposes currently enjoys reduced rates, and the UK is among countries that have a derogation to extend this saving to pleasure craft. This exemption is due to cease on 31st December 2006. Without the exemption, diesel used for private leisure craft in the UK would be charged at the same rate of duty as that used in road vehicles, which could lead to an estimated price of 98p per litre - an increase of about 60p per litre.

IWA, together with The Royal Yachting Association, The British Marine Federation and The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers, and supported by other waterway organisations, has campaigned to retain the exemption. The British Marine Federation is the national trade association for the leisure marine industry. The Royal Yachting Association is the national governing body for all forms of recreational and competitive boating. The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers is the trade association for almost all of the oil distribution industry in the UK and Ireland.

Many members of all the organisations have lobbied their MPs. The campaign explained to Government that recent research indicates that such a dramatic increase in the costs of boating would probably lead to a decline in participation. This would have a detrimental impact on the industry that serves the boating and water sports markets, and would give rise to concerns about safety through making the use of petrol more economic. There would be an impact on jobs and tourism, with little or no gain in duty revenue for the Government as the potential for any increase would be negated by the loss of other taxes if participation in boating and related discretionary spend reduced and marine businesses faced a downturn.

Residential Boaters’ Security of Tenure

The consultation by The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister into the security of tenure for residential boaters closed during February. IWA’s response reflected the balance that whilst people living on their boat have very little legal protection to stay on their moorings (unless they own the land both under and in access to their mooring), there is also a severe shortage of residential moorings, and that any legislation to enforce greater security of tenure is likely to only make this worse. IWA supported the suggestion for a widely recognised and respected code of conduct for residential moorings as being preferable to new legislation, but accepted that stronger powers might be necessary if this failed to work.

The strains of the current situation are particularly evident in London, and probably symptomatic of current high property prices, where demand greatly outstrips supply of residential moorings, and where there are well-known cases of attempts to evict residential moorers by land-owners or neighbours. The Mayor of London's office responded to the consultation to call for greater protection for London's residential boat dwellers, saying the current legal framework leaves them more vulnerable than any other residential group. Neale Coleman, the Mayor's Director of Business Planning and Regeneration, called for those who live on the capital's waterways to gain legal protection equivalent to that provided by the Landlord and Tenant legislation for home dwellers on dry land.

The Mayor of London’s submission stated that: “The Mayor is aware that residential boat dwellers in London face considerable problems, and has recently received several appeals for assistance from residents facing eviction. In particular, residents have complained of arbitrary and excessive charges, harassment and eviction when riparian land is redeveloped. The Mayor has publicly supported the residents of Downings Road moorings in Southwark in their campaign against eviction. The current status of residential boat dwellers is anomalous and unfair. Since the Mobile Homes Act 2004 removed a similar anomaly for park home residents, residential boat dwellers are the only group in the UK not covered by protective legislation, making them disproportionately vulnerable to arbitrary rent increases, harassment, eviction and homelessness. In addition, residential boat dwellers do not have recourse to regulatory authorities like tribunals or ombudsmen comparable to other tenants. As renters of moorings, residential boat dwellers should therefore have legal protection equivalent to that provided under Landlord and Tenant legislation, although any system of protection would need to take into account the complex legal position of residential boats.”

Review of IWA Structure

The Association’s Council has engaged a consultant, Charlie Pellatt, to undertake a review of the Association’s constitution and effectiveness in delivering to its charitable objects. In summary these are:

· The conservation and restoration of inland waterways.

· The education of the public about inland waterways.

· Appropriate research into inland waterways.

A random sample of 500 members and officers of the Association have been invited to submit their opinions, in confidence, of how they perceive the Association, how they believe that it achieves, or otherwise, its charitable objects and where and how it could improve. These views should be submitted to iwa@askcharlie.co.uk. All views expressed will be absolutely confidential as the consultant is, at Council’s request, looking for forthright opinions, honestly held, about the way that IWA can improve its constitution and operational effectiveness.

Charlie Pellatt also undertook a review of the Association’s systems, particularly at Head Office, during the summer of 2005. The report was well received by members of Council and other relevant officers, and most of the recommendations have already been implemented or are in the process of being so. The most significant of these is possibly the installation of a new management information system, which will modernise the Association’s bookkeeping procedures and availability of management information to officers throughout the Association.

Waterway Recovery Group Canal Camps 2006

Waterway Recovery Group has published its 2006 programme of Canal Camp online, at www.wrg.org.uk/camps_bod.htm and a booklet with all the details is likely to be available shortly. The programme includes regular sites such as the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire, Grantham, Wey & Arun and Monmouthshire canals, a return to the Chesterfield Canal and new sites such as Lord Rolle's Canal in north Devon and the Wilts & Berks Jubilee Junction project, which will create a brand new junction between the Thames and the Wilts & Berks Canal near Abingdon in Oxfordshire. The programme starts at Easter, with two Camps, one on the Lichfield Canal (at Tamworth Road Locks on the outskirts of Lichfield) and another on the Wilts & Berks (at Seven Locks) in Wiltshire.

Ashby Canal

IWA has announced a grant of £8,000 grant towards site investigation works on the Snarestone to Measham section of the Ashby Canal. The site investigations are part of Leicestershire County Council's scheme to restore the Ashby Canal from its terminus at Snarestone to Measham. The investigations will include trial pits and bore holes, soil samples, hydraulic study, archaeological survey and ecological studies. White, Young, Green Consulting Ltd have begun work on the site, and this is taking place in conjunction with independent hydrological studies to establish water resources, and an archaeological survey being carried out by Leicester University.

The Ashby Canal carried coal to the Home Counties until 1981. However by 1966, the mines it served had caused the closure of the northern most 8 miles of the canal through subsidence. The Ashby Canal passes close to the site of the Battle of Bosworth Field. The Battlefield Railway line runs parallel with the canal between Shackerstone and Shenton.

Basingstoke Canal

Following cuts in the County Rate Support Grant of some £50 million by central government, Surrey County Council has employed consultants to advise it how to achieve these economies. The consultants have proposed cuts from Surrey’s usual contribution of £150,000 per annum towards the upkeep of the Basingstoke Canal, to be implemented as a £50,000 reduction in 2006-7 and £100,000 for 2007-8. Whilst the cuts are only proposals at the moment, their suggestion has caused alarm amongst the canal’s supporters, especially following shortfalls in funding from some of the district / borough councils that also contribute to the Basingstoke Canal Authority each year. Hampshire County Council and the Canal Authority have expressed their concern. Surrey & Hants Canal Society, supported by IWA’s Guildford & Reading Branch, has made strong representations to Surrey County Council of the damage such cuts would cause to the maintenance of the waterway.

Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation

2006 will be a busy first year for IWA’s new subsidiary company Essex Waterways Ltd, which has taken over management of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, as it strives to update mooring records and administration, and catch up on a backlog of repairs and maintenance work, all on a limited budget.

During January, contract labour was employed to plant 380 cricket bat willow sets at various places along the Navigation. The trees take about 18 years until they are sufficiently mature for harvest. Growing willows as an annual crop is an important source of income and felled trees need to be replaced.

The next project is the installation of new paddle gear at Barnes Mill, Sandford Mill and Cuton Locks. The new gear is to be installed at Sandford Mill when the lock is closed for major repairs between 20th March and 13th April. During this time, repairs are to be undertaken to brickwork, the lower lock gates, cills and quoins. New upper gates, made by British Waterways at its Bulbourne workshops before they closed, are to be installed during the stoppage. The contractor has guaranteed that Sandford Mill Lock will be re-opened for the Easter weekend. Funding for this work is being provided by IWA’s Chelmsford Branch, Essex Environment Trust, Chelmsford Borough Council and Essex Heritage Trust.

At the end of January, volunteers from IWA’s Chelmsford and Ipswich branches, along with local boat owners, spread 20 tonnes of aggregate on the boaters’ car park at Paper Mill Lock, and more works of a similar nature are planned for the area adjacent to the slipway at this site later in 2006. During the same work party, dead and dangerous trees were removed from the adjacent roadside and the trailer park cleared. Work parties have also been held at Heybridge Basin to clear scrub and rubbish to allow for additional boat storage out of the water.

In April and May, Barnes Mill Race Bridge is to be re-decked, (and possibly Barnes Mill Inlet Bridge, depending upon the amount of rotting timber that is found). This work is to be funded by Essex County Council. Also during April and May, the sluices at Little Baddow Mill are to be repaired, to allow improved control of water levels. There are likely to be three weed cuts along the Navigation during the year, timed for May, June and August. Also later in the year, more piling is to be installed near Barnes Mill Lock to provide better landing areas.

Essex Waterways Ltd plans to hold two meetings for waterway users each year, which will be open to everyone who wishes to attend. The first of these meetings will be held at 7.30 p.m. on 21st April at Langford Village Hall.

Cotswold Canals

Following the announcement on 25th January of £25 funding for the Cotswold Canals, including £11.9 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £6 million from South West Regional Development Agency, British Waterways, as lead partner, is understood to have begun the process to recruit additional staff to the restoration team immediately.

The first stretch of the canals likely to be restored under the funding package is from Dudbridge Lock to Ryeford Double Lock. This will include canalisation of a length of river, the reconstruction of Oil Mills Bridge, removal of infill to the west of the bridge and the installation of a discharge weir from a section of Main River into the river Frome, at a total cost of about £350,000 from European funds as part of the overall funding package.

Work is to proceed to a tight schedule as these contracts must be completed by the end of December 2006 to satisfy European Union funding rules. Work is also likely within this time scale to restore Ryeford Double Lock and replace swing bridges at the Ocean and Upper Mills. British Waterways asked Cotswold Canals Trust volunteers to assist, during February and early March, by removing brushwood in the vicinity of Oils Mill Bridge to facilitate survey work.

British Waterways, on behalf of the Cotswold Canals Partnership, has submitted a Living Landmarks bid to the Big Lottery Fund to link Stonehouse with Saul Junction, which would link the length to be restored under the above £25 million funding package from Stonehouse to Brimscombe to the national waterways network via the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. .

The Big Lottery Fund has been asked for £15.95 million, and the funding announced in January may be eligible to match this application. The Living Landmarks project would cover constructing the canal channel under two major roads (the M5 and A38) and a railway bridge. The focus of the bid is based very heavily on community involvement and builds on the experience gained in creating the Heritage Lottery Fund bid on the themes of education, environment & heritage and engineering. If successful, the project would be delivered over three years, with completion in August 2010. An atlas, which details the entire project, can be downloaded from the Cotswold Canals Partnership Web site: www.britishwaterways.co.uk/cotswolds

Saul Canal Festival, Cotswold Canals Trust’s an annual event to raise funds for the restoration is due to be held over the weekend of 1st & 2nd July at Saul Junction, where the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal and Stroudwater Navigation intersect. In addition to a large gathering of boats, other attractions include children’s entertainments, folk music, theatre, craft fair and marine trades show. Details can be obtained from the Festival Web site: www.junctionevents.org.uk or ( 01285 643440.

Grand Union Canal - Brentford

British Waterways has opened its new office and customer reception on the Grand Union Canal in Brentford. The purpose-built base, which forms part of a £100million waterside development of new provides both a staff base, an information centre for canal visitors and boaters, and boaters’ facilities. In addition, a new operational yard is to be established at Adelaide Dock, close to North Hyde. The new office at Brentford is one of four BW offices in London. The others are at Enfield on the Lee Navigation, on the Isle of Dogs in Docklands and the regional head office at Paddington Central.

The contact details for the new office are * 24 Canute House, Durham Wharf Drive, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 8HP. ( 020 7985 7780 and fax 020 8847 1780, e-mail meave.hillen@britishwaterways.co.uk. British Waterways’ West London team had been based in ‘temporary’ Portacabin facilities at Norwood. The new arrangement will provide a purpose-built and more efficient alternative. British Waterways is now considering options for the future use of the Norwood site.

Development at Brentford Lock has been undertaken by a partnership between BW, Brentford Lock Ltd and St George West London Ltd. Work started in 2001 and is due to be completed later in 2006. The £100million scheme includes 350 new homes, a hotel, restaurant and bar, new retail and office units, new facilities for boaters including 34 new permanent moorings.

Grand Union Canal – Saltisford Arm

IWA has awarded a £2,000 grant to the Saltisford Canal Trust towards the cost of converting a former canal warehouse, latterly used as a barn, on the Saltisford Arm of the Grant Union Canal, near Warwick, into an office for the Trust. The project will convert the warehouse into the Trust's new headquarters, a visitor centre, shop and disabled toilet facilities. For the last five years the Trust has been operating out of a Portacabin which was installed when its previous headquarters became unfit for use.

The Saltisford Arm is all that remains of the Warwick terminus of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal. Restored from dereliction between 1982 and 1988 by the Saltisford Canal Trust, and recorded with numerous photographs at the Trust's Centre. The Arm is managed by Saltisford Canal Trading Limited on behalf of the Trust, a registered charity.

Hatherton Canal

Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust has submitted an application to the Big Lottery Fund under the Living Landmarks theme for a grant to cover 75% of £19,573,863 – the cost of restoring the canal as calculated by the study for the Trust, financed by the European Regional Development Fund, undertaken by Ove Arup & Partners in 2005. The Living Landmarks theme supported by the Big Lottery Fund will provide substantial grants for a small number of projects throughout the country. Applications for grants are greatly in excess of the total funds available, and only a small percentage of applications are likely to succeed. Requirements of applications include excellence in design of the physical environment, partnership working and encouraging best practice in construction and project management. Applicants are to be short-listed in spring 2006, with the big grants announced in summer 2007.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal

British Waterways Yorkshire has commissioned a tourism and leisure consultancy, The Continuum Group, to carry out £150,000 improvement works on Standedge Visitor Centre, following disappointing attendances in recent years. The cost of opening the visitor centre was part of the £32 million Millennium Lottery funded package that enabled completion of the restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in 2001, and is seen by the Millennium Commission as an integral part of the project; closing the visitor centre, despite recent poor visitor number was therefore not an option. New plans at Standedge during 2006 include:

· New interpretation to be installed on the ground floor of the warehouse;

· Free entry to the exhibition in the ground floor of the warehouse;

· More guided boat trips into the Tunnel, with trips running five days a week (Saturday, Sunday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Bank Holidays) from Easter until the end of October;

· Better facilities for school groups, including nature trails and pond-dipping activities at Tunnel End Reservoir and new educational resource material;

· Making the warehouse available for use by the local community, out of normal visitor centre opening hours;

· Improved signage, to help visitors navigate easily around the different areas of the site.

The changes are due to be complete by the summer, although the guided boat trips into the Tunnel will restart at Easter. The planned changes reflect feedback from visitors, and consultation with supporters of the project, including the Millennium Commission, Huddersfield Canal Society and Kirklees Metropolitan Council.

Lichfield Canal

Substantial behind-the-scenes negotiations appear likely to secure a solution to the threat posed to the restoration of the Lichfield Canal by the building of a new southern bypass around the southern edge of Lichfield. The original line of the canal has been lost in this area, and Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust has relied upon a designated corridor for a new length of canal to be built that fitted in with the by-pass when built. However, the planning consent given by Lichfield District Council to developments who are to build the road as part of a housing development appeared to place the canal restoration in jeopardy when it allowed insufficient room for the canal corridor.

The Canal Trust made strenuous representations to find a solution, and British Waterways made a behind the scenes approach to Staffordshire County Council, which is responsible for the road, to offer specialist expertise and advice to assist. BW engineers are now working with the Council to achieve the best solution. It is likely, however, that there will be a significant cost to making a solution work – possibly as much as £500,000, which would have to be raised by the Trust. At the moment, the actual cost is not known, and it may be possible for the Trust to offset some of these costs, but the Trust is preparing itself for another round of significant fund-raising.

At the western end of the Lichfield Canal, the Trust has purchased Top Lock Cottage at Ogley through the generosity of Sir John Smith (founder of the Landmark Trust and IWA vice president) and the Manifold Trust. The house brings with it ownership of half the lock, albeit buried and containing a septic tank at the moment. For the moment, the Trust is arranging to let the Lock Cottage on a commercial basis. At the eastern end of the canal, the Trust is progressing discussions with Lichfield Cruising Club, which currently uses the westernmost length of the canal for moorings.

The Trust’s contractors are making speedy progress with the building of a new canal bridge at Cappers Lane. Work began on 10th October 2005, and the bridge is expected to be ready for a formal re-opening at about the end of April.

Llangollen Canal

On 11th February, IWA’s Shrewsbury District and North Wales Branch presented a cheque for £1,500 to the Lyneal Trust to assist the refurbishment of one of its boats. The Trust was established 20 years ago at Lyneal Wharf on the Llangollen Canal when former IWA National Chairman John Heap and his wife Joan gave the Trust a canalside property that they had owned for many years. The Trust now has two boats that are designed for use and operation by people with disabilities. As part of the Branch’s commemoration of the bicentenary of the Llangollen Canal, it ran a raffle. Tickets were sold at all the events the branch attended through 2005 and to members of the Association across the country. The draw took place at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct bicentenary celebrations on 26th November 2005, and the proceeds were divided between the new visitor centre at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Lyneal Trust.

North Wilts Canal

In January, North Wiltshire District Council submitted a Living Landmarks application to the Big Lottery Fund entitled ‘The Cricklade Country Way Project’. The bid was submitted on behalf of a partnership that includes restoration promoters of both the Cotswold Canals and the Wilts & Berks Canals, and if successful the bid would have benefits for both restorations. Originally the bid was intended include the full restoration of the North Wilts Canal from Swindon to either Lechlade or the Cotswold Water Park via the Thames & Severn Canal. However, after a rigorous selection process, involving four options, the promoters opted for a Cricklade Country Way plus restoration of the towing path along the line of the Thames & Severn Canal to the Water Park at a cost of £15.4 million, of which £12.5 million would be funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

An initial outcome of the bid is likely to be decided during May 2006, when the Programme Committee is due to decide to award Stage 1 development grants or reject applications. A grant potentially gives £250,000 to prepare a Stage 2 application, and this alone would enable crucial water studies to be undertaken for both the North Wilts and Thames & Severn Canals as. Final decisions on grants are due to be made in summer 2007.

River Thames

On Sunday 14th May, IWA’s Guildford & Reading Branch is organising a small boat cruise down the Abbey River, reviving a branch tradition of exercising rights of navigation. The Abbey River is a lock bypass stream leaving the main channel of the Thames at Penton Hook and meandering for about two miles, re-appearing just below Chertsey Lock. Through passage is available to small craft, such as dinghies and canoes. About halfway along the Abbey River, there is an interesting set of boat rollers under a listed bridge, bypassing a small weir. The cruise will be during the afternoon and on the way down the stream the branch has arranged to stop at Chertsey Abbey where a guided tour may be arranged.

There is no entry fee for the event, which will be based at Penton Hook Marina where car parking and slipway facilities will be available. The cruise will show participants part of the river that most visitors probably would not normally visit, and combine it with a visit to a site of historic interest. Participants will need to bring along their own small boat. Bookings to attend can be made via the branch chairman, Tony Clark ( 01932 340607 or e-mail: tony@tugno1.org.uk

Trent & Mersey Canal – Burslem Port Project

The Burslem Port Project team, sponsored by IWA’s Stoke-on-Trent Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal Society, have been campaigning for the reopening of the Burslem Arm for the last nine years. The arm was built in1805 and was a short branch of the Trent & Mersey that helped relieve the congestion on the main line and opened up three extra wharves from where raw materials could be taken by horse tramway up Navigation Street into the heart of Burslem. Finished pottery ware was brought down by the same route. The arm was closed and filled in after a major breach in 1962, as commercial carriage had virtually ceased, although a National Coal Board boat was trapped in the arm.

The Burslem Port Project comprises the restoration of the arm along its original length and the development of moorings for 60 boats. A main aim of the project is to create a safe haven for visiting boats to attract visitors to Burslem and Middleport. Currently, in excess of 7,000 boats pass through the City of Stoke-on-Trent, but few stop to enjoy its facilities. With the help of an IWA grant and a donation from the Hanley Economic Building Society, plans were published in 2003 illustrating the project and explaining how it could benefit the waterside community of Middleport.

From 2003, the Project Team sought funding for a feasibility study to demonstrate the viability of the project. With support from British Waterways, nearly 100 people, all with a professional or political interest in the regeneration of the city, were taken on site walks and boat trips when team members were able to expand on the project. In 2005, a regeneration agency, RENEW, agreed to fund the study with a contribution of £50,000. IWA’s Stoke-on-Trent Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal Society each also contributed £1000. The consultants Arup were commissioned to undertake the work, which they completed in October 2005.

In December 2005, the board of RENEW received the report and in January and February 2006 the Joint Commissioning Committee agreed to continue to support the Partnership that had overseen the work of the study. The process to include the scheme in the City’s Local Development Framework is now underway.

Arup estimated the cost of constructing the Port Project at £10.5 million, but the construction of the project will give an overall up-lift to the value of adjacent developments. The feasibility study identified five development sites: the Bakery Site; the Anderton Wharf site; the Mersey Weaver wharf site; the Gas bottling plant site; and the Slater Street area. Without the canal development, two of the sites have a negative development appraisal; overall, there would be a deficit of approximately £2 million. However, the economic appraisal estimates that the canal development would contribute about £9.9 million. In addition, there would be wider regeneration benefits in terms of environmental improvements, the generation of a significant number of jobs and an increase in tourism activity in the area. The estimated revenues that can be expected would exceed the operational costs of the restored canal.

The conclusion of the study is that the restoration of the Burslem Arm is feasible from an engineering perspective and will considerably affect the value of adjacent developments. The principal challenge remaining is to establish a mechanism by which the uplift in value can be captured to pay for the works that will be necessary.

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