Waterwitch July 2009 by Lancaster CanalTrust

Number 140

July 2009 Edition

WATERWITCH MAGAZINE OF THE LANCASTER CANAL TRUST

The Lancaster Canal Trust (Registered Charity No.24O957 Affiliated to the Inland Waterways Association Ltd.) http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk/

The things you see on a towpath stroll.

Left: The

monster emerges from the deep.

Right: Come

in number two your time is definitely up.

Left: So

it is true; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Superlife on the Canal

Contents Letter from the Editor Chairman's Report Cruising the Liverpool Link Member’s Morning, Over Kellet Skipton Show Tramway at Over Head Quarry, Capernwray. ‘Canal Society’ Ian Dunn Fuelling Stops on the Lanky Members’ Letters Boat Operation Manager’s Report Any Questions Working Party Report BW Update Optimist Article The things we get up to! Lune Aqueduct Update Canalside Path, Lancaster City Centre. Country Fest Show, Crooklands

3 4 6 10 12 13 15 17 18 21 22 23 25 27 28 29 31 Back Page

Letter from the Editor Dear Members Summer Edition 2009 Welcome to another edition of Waterwitch, and many thanks for the letters I received from some members who wrote to make suggestions and record thanks for the new look magazine. It is good know that all the work put in by our contributors is appreciated. We seem to have struck a cord with old tramways, with further articles in this and the next magazine, no room for them all this time. I have also taken on board the suggestion that we have a regular pub/ restaurant review and I have started with one in Lancaster. Keep the letters and suggestions coming, also if you have any questions about the Lancaster Canal let us know, and we will try to give a response, as on page22. The Liverpool Link continues to feature in an article supplied by our Chairman and we are lucky to have discovered a further interesting series in the paintings and reminiscences of Ian Dunn. The Trust is arranging to get lift the Trip Boat out this September and we hope it will not give nasty and expensive shocks. Do contact Frank Chalmers if you fancy joining in. Likewise, we will shortly start planning what we hope will be an extended programme of work for the Working Parties this coming autumn/ winter. More, hopefully, in the next issue. The Trust wishes all members a happy summertime out and about on our wonderful waterways. Again I hope you enjoy the read. Regards David Currington, Editor

Front cover picture: Waterwitch, Docked at Canal Head by Ian Dunn B.A., A.T.D., 3

Chairman’s Remarks

to all who have assisted manning the stand so far and will do so at remaining events this summer. The other event I must mention is the members’ morning we held at Over Kellet village hall recently. A special thanks to Fran Valiant for organising it and to those of you who attended and provided feedback on the event. The purpose of the exercise was to try to encourage more of you to become active in the Trust by presenting it ‘as it is’. This was the first attempt at such an event so no-one knew how it would turn out. However the morning proved to be more successful than we could have hoped and I would like to thank those who gave the presentations and who provided the refreshments. It has certainly given us encouragement to look at organising similar events in the future, perhaps in different areas to reach as many members as we can. The highlight of the morning was undoubtedly the presentation of a small gift to Liam McCooey who helped at Skipton and single handedly, obtained nearly 700 signatures on our restoration petition. Liam is not a Trust member – he was there helping his aunt, Ruth Symonds, with the IWA stand – and he is only 14! Youngsters often get a bad press but Liam is a shining example to us all. He was presented with a model narrow boat – a small price for such achievement; and enthusiasm like this needs to be encouraged. Young people like Liam are the future of the waterways. From the feedback, it is clear many of you wanted to know when restoration will start and came expecting to hear

ummer is here - our busiest time with the trip boat operating and the stand out at various events. So far, we have been to Skipton Waterways Festival, Coniston and the Country Fest held on the Westmorland Agricultural Society’s field at Crooklands - thanks to Pat and Gordon Clapham for making their caravan available, the awning acting as the display area. This event used to be a North West Fine Foods event, but the format has been changed and it certainly worked as the numbers who came to the stand showed. Skipton coincided with the Coniston event which stretched both manpower and equipment resources to the limit but we managed it. Coniston was new event organised by the Electric Boat Association to promote eco-friendly methods of propulsion and ourselves and the IWA were there, as the inland waterways are particularly suited to electric powered craft. The location was chosen as the launches which operate on Coniston have been converted to electric power from solar panels, but although the lakeside was busy enough, the displays attracted few punters. Skipton by contrast was very successful including collecting nearly 700 signatures on our restoration petition, but more of that anon. By the time you read this, the stand will have been at Distington Vintage Festival in West Cumberland and the Lakeland Rose Show at Crooklands, and will be out again at Preston Riversway Festival, the IWA National Waterways Festival and Westmorland County Show. So if you are planning to attend any of these events come and see us – better still, lend a hand for a few minutes, if it’s only going and getting the brews! My thanks

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more about, that though this was not the purpose of the morning. I realise that you are frustrated by the apparent lack of progress, but not half as frustrated as we are, particular those of us who have spent many years devoting our spare time (and money!) to bringing boats back to Kendal. But to put things in perspective. Restoration has started; the work that has been going on for the last couple of years to produce the most favourable option for the regeneration of the canal corridor through Kendal is essential as it is this that will provide the money for the first stage rebuild of the canal. Winter working parties carry out repairs to structures; small projects, yet significant pieces of the jigsaw! Unfortunately, forces beyond the control of any of us often take a hand in derailing the best laid plans; it is not that long ago that we were confidently being told by British Waterways that the first stage from Canal Head to the outskirts of Kendal could be restored by 2009 and the whole project completed by 2013! This, of course, was before it was announced that the Treasury was to chop a considerable chunk of funding to BW, forcing yet another major reorganisation. It was also before men (and possibly women) in banks started behaving badly and the country plunged into the worst recession for decades! Work on phase 1 is continuing but painfully slowly. There is nothing the Trust can do to speed up the process; the project is in the hands of the professionals - the planners from SLDC and engineers, but 10 years now is being quoted as the timescale for completing stage 1. In engineering terms, restoration is not difficult – but it is expensive! Three motorway crossings; two by a dual carriageway plus seven other roads, re-routing 5

utilities including a major sewer, relocating businesses and a flight of locks for good measure! The bed north of Stainton is owned by a number of different landowners, though fortunately to the south the route is under the control of British Waterways. To complicate matters further, the canal is located in a largely rural area in a part of the country which is considered to be well off compared to other parts – funding regimes available elsewhere, particularly European assistance, do not operate in this part of Cumbria. But £20million of public funds could be found to build just over a mile of canal – in Liverpool! How much of the Northern Reaches could have been restored for that! Ideally we should be extending the navigation from Tewitfield. Putting in new gates and paddle gear on the locks is well within the scope of WRG, and low cost – but there is a culvert in the way to get to the locks at about £3million to remove and provide less than a quarter of a mile of cruising. To get anywhere Cinderbarrow culvert must be replaced – which requires the top lock to be moved and the channel lowered. This would extend navigation to Holme for a cost of about £10million – except for the lowered water level, roughly a metre below what it should be. This not only restricts available depth as we know from operating ‘Waterwitch’, but also the width of the canal, making it difficult for boats to pass. Raising the level would leave the natural flow of water from the feeders to the north at a lower level, with the consequential need for pumping and flood risk. We have always believed we have to start at Stainton and work south, but it is the lack of funding opportunities available behind starting in Kendal; by linking restoration to the regeneration of a large (Continued on page 30)

Cruising the Liverpool Link

from Liverpool traverse the link in the afternoon to spend the night at Eldonian Village prior to passage back along the canal. On the day of our visit, boats which had come up the link the previous day had needed to leave the terminus at 6am that morning!

his project has been extensively covered in the waterways press, including an article in the previous edition of this magazine following an evening back in March when Richard Longton, the BW manager for the project, gave members a fascinating insight into the building of the Link. But to be able to actually cruise the link beats all the pictures and descriptive text, so when Bob & Angela Seed phoned to say, ‘we’re booked on it – are you coming?’ Could we say no?

We travelled to Liverpool by train. Sandhills station on Merseyrail’s northern line is the nearest station to the link and requires a walk of a little over half a mile to the canal’s terminus. We travelled from Preston via Ormskirk, the limit of the Northern Line’s electric service, but could have used Lime Street station just as easily. We arrived at the Eldonian Village to find ‘Meanderer’ moored on the offside. There was just enough time for a quick coffee and photo shoot before we needed to cast off to be at the top of the Stanley Dock Branch locks at the appointed time. Now the first problem -

Granted, this is the first year of operation so teething problems may be expected, but to use it requires some careful planning. Approaching Liverpool, two swing bridges have to be operated by BW staff so you need to be there by the appointed time. Boats travel in convoy to the terminus of the canal at Eldonian Village to spend the rest of the day and that night, prior to making the passage of the link the following morning. Boats returning

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there is no winding hole at Eldonian Village – boats longer than 50’ need to reverse from here back to the junction with the Branch. Passage is with the assistance of BW staff though Bob decided to lend a hand leaving yours truly at the tiller of ‘Meanderer’. The locks were straightforward; I only managed to clout the masonry once, though the look on Angela’s face when she realised Bob was on the lockside, said it all. The bottom lock opens in to the dock system itself though at first this is not apparent, as the narrow opening of Great Howard Street Bridge hides the view of the docks. Using the locks is a pleasant enough experience – new housing and trees have hidden the scars of the industrial past, although there are still enough reminders and the view of the river and the massive Tobacco Warehouse to make one realise that industry is only a stone’s throw away.

One emerges from Great Howard Street bridge into the vast expanse of Stanley Dock, the forlorn remains of Victorian warehouses to both sides. Hardly a ripple disturbed the water as we cruised towards the bascule bridge carrying the dock road over the link to Collingwood Dock. Next problem – the bridge no longer works and beneath the deck massive supporting girders were just about head height. We scraped through between two of them – a wider beam boat could have difficulty! As water levels in the docks can vary, some high visibility paint on these girders would be a help. Through Collingwood and into Salisbury Dock. Directly ahead lay the Jessie Hartley Tower on the river wall with disused locks into the river. Here we turned to port to enter Trafalgar Dock. The water in the dock system was clearly deep as ‘Meanderer’ made way at 4mph with hardly a wash, but one had visions that all may not be what it seems and there may be hidden dangers below the water. Fortunately BW have marked a channel with strings of bright orange floats. Entering Trafalgar Dock the great mass of the Liver Building and the redeveloped part of the docks around Pier Head came into view. All around it was a forlorn sight of abandoned docks and dereliction – (Continued on page 8)

whilst you are still in daylight, notwithstanding the time needed for sight to adjust to the lower light levels meant that despite headlight, ‘Meanderer’ only just managed to avoid contact with the tunnel wall. It was a relief when the other end appeared. One emerges from the tunnel to gaze up at the ‘Three Graces’ a few hundred feet away – quite an experience from a canal boat. Directly ahead lay the box like building of the new Museum of Liverpool, still under construction. A second short tunnel before the final tunnel under the Museum building and one enters a world of complete contrast – to the left futuristic flats under construction at Mann Island – to the right the beauti-

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not even the river was visible to brighten this wasteland. As much of Trafalgar Dock had been infilled ,a new channel has been cut. Now it was more like a canal again but the high quay wall of the former dock that forms to port side of the channel reminds you this was once a dock. With the Liver Building getting ever closer the channel ended as we passed under a new road bridge and entered West Waterloo Dock then Princes Half Tide Dock. A further road bridge marked the passage into Princes Dock and a world of newly constructed high rise office and flats complexes. Ahead lay a futuristic footbridge – we had been told to keep to the right of the channel and no wonder! Barely enough headroom - any deviation to the left would have resulted in contact with some serious metalwork! Now for the exciting bit and the next problem! A shallow lock lowers the link by 4’. We were the last of three boats making that passage that morning and we had caught them up. Negotiating the lock was a slow process as there was just one BW staff to operate it. No provision for boat crews to leave the boat and assist has been made. Similarly, there is no provision for waiting boats to moor, with high concrete walls on both sides. With judicious use of the engine and bow thrusters, Bob managed to keep ‘Meanderer’ out of danger, but with high rise buildings on three sides, this area has the potential to be a real wind tunnel. A floating pontoon should be provided.

fully preserved Great Western Railway Goods Depot, a reminder of the once extensive rail network that served the docks.

Leaving the lock one almost immediately enters the St Nicholas tunnel above which is the access road to the ferry terminals and which begins to curve almost immediately. Of course, for the steerer nearly 50’ of the boat is in the tunnel

The shallow Mann Island lock followed, (Continued on page 9)

(Continued from page 8)

BW operated and a little more user friendly. Hard hats could be useful here as we were perilously close to the flats under construction and which towered above us. It seemed odd to have dropped nearly seven feet from the docks to the north to the southern dock system with water levels controlled by the same tide. The sea gates at the tail of the lock gave a clue to the fact that levels in the docks can be higher than those on last section of the link. Presumably when this occurs, the link cannot operate. We emerged into Canning Dock to a scene totally different to what we had seen in the northern docks; ahead two ships were moored, one a former lightship, now used for leisure. Trees lined the quays. We made a 180 degree turn to starboard to enter Canning Half Tide Dock then left into Albert Dock then left again into Salthouse Dock. The place buzzed! Parties of children cheered and waved as we passed through. Despite it being a weekday it was busy with people enjoying all the Albert Dock complex has to offer. Mooring pontoons have been provided with water and electricity, though these had not yet been connected. Bob steered ‘Meanderer’ to the appointed berth – journey over! Lunch could now be taken so we steered a course for the Pump house now converted into a plush pub. Time for the train back to Preston, this time from Lime Street. We could have used the underground system to reach Lime Street from 9

the adjacent James Street station but decided instead to walk, taking in the sights of Liverpool One on the way. Conclusion - £20million may seem a lot to spend on just over a mile of new waterway; that would restore nearly half of

the Northern Reaches on today’s costings, but that is to ignore the potential for regenerating the western end of the Leeds & Liverpool, not to mention the opportunity to cruise more of the southern dock system and the Mersey to Ellesmere Port, thus creating another cruising ‘ring’. But the sheer exhilaration of being able to moor one’s boat amid the vibrancy of the Albert Dock complex and all that it offers with Liverpool One just across the road, and a host of other attractions just a stone’s throw away! Liverpool has had a bad press in the past, but the regeneration that has and still is going on, must rank it the place to visit. Clearly, there are improvements needed to the link and the canal, particularly at the terminus at Eldonian Village, but hopefully these will come as more boats use it. If you get the opportunity, do it! DS

Members’ Morning - Over Kellet

here was a good attendance at the Members’ Morning held at Over Kellet Village Hall on Saturday June 6.

in which members can actively support the LCT. Mike Valiant completed the session on how we get the message out

Despite rather damp weather at the outset, around 33 members came along to join the team of 12 who gathered to set up at the excellent venue arranged by Helen Thomas. Madeline Dean and her helpers ‘got the kettle on’ straight away and early arrivals were greeted with refreshments. It was pleasing to welcome some long standing members and also a number of new faces, who expressed enthusiasm in becoming active participants in the Trust’s work. David Currington led off with an overview of the LCT structure and an explanation of the Executive Committee’s role. His talk set the theme for the day, which was all about joining in. This was very apt on the 25th anniversary of National Volunteering Week. Fran Valiant followed with an account of her own experience in becoming a Trust volunteer and gave a glimpse of what goes on behind-the-scenes at events, the work of the Recruitment and Promotions sub-group and the wide variety of ways

there by highlighting the increasingly important role of the website. Despite a technical hitch which sent her carefully prepared slide show off into the ether, Trish Buzzard miraculously man-

Above: Chairman David Slater presents Liam with his Certificate. (Continued on page 11)

(Continued from page 10)

aged to produce an excellent instant montage of visuals to illustrate her lively description of the trials and tribulations which recent EU legislation and the ever more stringent Health and Safety regulations have placed on our trip boat crews. Despite the bureaucracy, helping out on the boat looks like fun! With the weather brightening up and the provision of further refreshments, the assembly settled down after the break to hear Richard Trevitt talk about the sterling efforts of the winter work parties. Richard also outlined the forthcoming Lune Aqueduct project which evoked particular interest amongst the audience. David Slater rounded off the morning with reflections on how the Trust has evolved since its early days, our achievements to date and how vital our members are to our continuing campaign. After answering questions, it was David’s pleasant duty to receive from 14 year old Liam McCooey the 1000+ signatures he

100 Club

Fran Valiant

LCT Events Diary

Prizes: 1st £25; 2nd £15; 3rd £10. Winning Numbers since last Issue

25th July Riversway Festival at Preston Dock 29th to 31st August IWA National, Red Hill, Radcliffe-on-Soar, Notts

April 2008: 1st 39 Blank 2nd 81 Dilys Golden; 3rd 54 Keith Midgley

Volunteers for this event please contact : Pat Clapham (01524) 781489

10th September Westmorland County Show, Crooklands

May2009 1st 51 2nd 13 3rd 80

had collected at the Skipton Waterways Festival for our petition. Liam was presented with a model boat and thanked for his outstanding contribution. Members dispersed to enjoy the free boat trips from Crooklands which had been organised by Alan Mather and his team. We received several firm offers of help at forthcoming events, with the regular boat trips, and with next winter’s programme of working parties. Thanks to all who came, to members old and new who signed up and whom we look forward to getting to know better as the season progresses. Thanks to the presenters and helpers named above, as well as to Beryl Bowcott, Pat and Gordon Clapham and Paul Shaw who all beavered away before, during and after the event. Our superb team is living proof that you can have a lot of fun whilst supporting a very worthwhile cause!

Mrs Fitzherbert-Brockholes Don Cook; Eric Golden

Volunteers for this event please contact : Pat Clapham (01524) 781489

13/14 September Pendle 17th October Coffee Morning (see page 24)

June 2009 1st 83 Adrian Hughes 2nd14 Fred Butterworth 3rd 80 Eric Golden

Skipton Waterways Festival 2009

After dark, the illuminated boat parade was a big draw to locals and visitors alike. We were due to return on Monday but the weather turned wet and windy and it was reluctantly agreed that we should stand down. However, we were pleased to learn that on the Sunday the IWA had been active on our behalf, most notably through 14 year old Liam McCooey who had collected a staggering 26 pages of signatures for our petition. Many thanks to Ruth, Mary and Liam and to our own Beryl Bowcott for all their help.

he weather forecast for the Bank Holiday weekend was mixed but Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny, if a little breezy, as we congregated at Skipton to set up our joint IWA/ LCT stand at the annual Waterways Fes-

tival. The Canal Basin was a riot of movement and colour as visiting craft had donned extra finery to take part in the decorated boats competition with this year’s theme of ‘At the Movies’. Pirates of the Caribbean vied with Titanic and Harry Potter amongst others; the boat crews had surpassed themselves in their ingenuity! We had 193 visitors to the stand during the day, achieved very respectable sales figures and signed up a new member. The Festival was well attended and there was a great carnival atmosphere.

Fran Valiant

Hello! Mr. Mrs. C Castle Penrith Theand Lancaster Canal Trust extends a very warm welcome to the following Mr. G. Maskell Kendal new members and we hope to see you at some of our events: Mr. S. Hesford Bolton C Castle,Kendal Penrith Mr. G. Maskell, Kendal Mr.Mr. andand Mrs.Mrs. J. Huntington Mr. S. Hesford, Bolton Mr. and Mrs. J. Huntington, Kendal

Tramway at Over Head Quarry, Capernwray

t must have been serendipity that Philip Pacey’s article about tramways linking to the Lancaster Canal was published in the last edition of Waterwitch, just when Trust committee member Helen Thomas and I had been investigating the tramway at Over Head Quarry at Capernwray (sometimes known as Jackdaw Quarry, now Capernwray Diving Centre). Helen had been loaned a copy of an 1891 map (OS La n ca sh i re Sheet 25.1 , 25” to 1 mile) which clearly showed the tramway, running straight down from the quarry to the canal adjacent to a building marked ‘Railway House’.

‘two-up two down’ semidetached cottage. When the concrete floor of this barn was dug out to increase the headroom, stone cobbles and the remains of stalls were revealed; this had been where the tramway ponies

‘Railway House’ is now Over Head Map of route from Over Head Quarry to the Canal Cottage and the current owner of the property were stabled. was also very interested to see At the end of what is now the this map. He described how garden of Over Head Cottage, in when he acquired the property in line with where the tramway ran, the 1970s, there was a single is a stone wharf with a sloping storey barn (now extended up(Continued on page 14) wards) to the side of the original 13

run parallel to the row of trees/ bushes forming the boundary of the present car park. These are relatively recently planted – the quarry was reworked in the 1960s/70s to provide materials for the M6 and substantial alterations made then (according to the manager of the diving centre) but nevertheless they clearly coincide with the line of the tramway as marked on the map.

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chute running downwards to the canal where the limestone was tipped over straight into the barges. The area around the former wharf was full of ash and cinders, possibly because the

The map also shows a ‘fan’ of four smaller tramways at the head of the quarry joining the main one, in the area below where several inQuarry today looking south novative grass-roofed holiday homes have reboatmen emptied the ash from cently been built. their stoves here. One or two of Barbara Bailey the metal fixings which would have held the rails in place on May 2009 the sleepers have been found Barbara Many thanks for your article and in the garden. The line of the tramway running photo. It seems the old tramdown from the quarry must have ways provide much interest for members ED Publicity Trisha Buzzard has recently accepted the Executive Committee request to be "Acting Public Relations Officer". May I therefore ask Trust members to let her know of any articles which may appear in your local paper or on local radio/television (wherever that may be ....) from which we may obtain some publicity (such as events, canal related stories, stories about people who might be approached for publicity purposes) AND to keep an eye open for our own publicity - which seems to be very difficult to place .. but not for want of trying ... Many thanks in anticipation of your help and for the loan of your eyes and ears. Trisha’s contact details are on page 34 at the back of the magazine. 14

First in an occasional series of recollections and paintings of the Lancaster Canal by Ian Dunn, B.A., A.T.D

1. CANAL SOCIETY

he only form of travel before the Canals were opened was either horse or walking, so take your pick.. But there was a large cumbersome wagon called the ’Flying Machine’ which travelled from London taking weeks to arrive in Kendal, stopping outside the Fleece Inn to unload, cold if it was winter dusty if summer. The Blocking of the street started numerous fights and traffic jams. The print of my painting gives some idea of what it may have been like to travel in the early 19th Century. The waiting room at Bridge Street in Kendal would have been a hive of activity. Amongst the passengers waiting to board the Packet Boat for the journey south there would be those who had never been further than Sedgwick, with a feeling of excitement & apprehension, waiting for the boat to travel to Preston, a larger industrial town than Kendal. When the passengers purchased their tickets the cost to Preston was, fore cabin six shillings, after cabin four shillings, this (information was on a poster in the Booking Office), the passengers would make their way to the side of the Canal (now covered by Gilkes & Gordon Turbine works) & embark on a smooth, safe, but crowded journey.

When I was a boy we used to skate on the frozen Canal from the Grammar School ……. Strictly forbidden…..to Canal Head. We needed to climb onto the towpath underneath the bridges where the ice was thin. At Canal Head we could stand on the side and slide down to the middle on our skates because the water had gone down so much through leakage whilst it froze and left the surface bowed down to the middle. The Canal, by the way, was filled with water from the Leat that supplied Castle mills…. It circled past the old High School. This is now filled in. Regarding the painting of the ’Waterwitch’, docked at the Canal Head departing at six in the morning, the overall impression that the Companies tried to give was of a splendid and aristocratic equipage way of travel. The packet boats were, in the early days, maintained to a high degree, but later when the railways were taking passengers from the canals a packet boat was left to deteriorate on the Canal bank at Lancaster, and I think it was broken up in 1926. The painting of the packet boat shows the Packet boat tied up on the right bank facing (Continued on page 16)

who was always after boys swimming or enjoying some other prank. He is long gone. The Canal at this point was always good for pike fishing if you kept a good look out for officialdom. The Aqueduct never stopped dripping water onto the road beneath, Near this point is an ice house belonging to Sedgwick House and is still to be seen with permission from the owners of the land. It was filled with ice from the Canal, to be used in the summer time if it had not melted. There is another ice container underground at Natland Mill Beck; this also was filled with ice from the Canal. Ian Dunn

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the warehouse. The arches are still to be seen, now in the work area of Gilkes; turbine assembly floor. The packet boat was afforded precedence over the slower industrial boats. There was a theory, but there is no evidence, that a knife was fitted to the bow of the packet boats to cut the cable of the slower barges who might not get out of the way in time. I think that this procedure would have been highly dangerous. I once rode a pony along the Canal towpath. I could not stop the stupid thing. You had to be mighty quick to duck under the bridgesâ&#x20AC;Ś no crash helmets then â&#x20AC;Ś and look out for the maintenance men, they would have you off the Canal in a flash. There was one gentleman, (a well known character from Sedgwick).

We hope to have more paintings and reminiscences from Ian in future editions ED.

FLYING MACHINE ARRIVING AT THE FLEECE INN KENDAL. .BY KIND PERMISSION FROM MRS ANN THOMPSON. PRIVATE COLLECTION

A date for your diary Talk: Rochdale Canal Restoration Speaker: Brian Holden - Secretary of the Rochdale Canal Society Date/Time: November 3rd, 2009 at 7:30pm Venue: Bilsborrow Village Hall

Fuelling Stops on the ‘Lanky’ 1-The White Cross, Lancaster

he first in our new series reviewing pubs and restaurants highlights one roughly halfway along the Canal. The White Cross is situated by the Canalside in a former mill warehouse. It is CAMRA Lune Branches Pub of the Year 2009 and boasts 8 to 10 cask ales on at any one time. The focus is on Lancastrian & Cumbrian brews and the regulars include Theakstons Best & Tirril Old Faithful. On my visit Hawkshead Red, Timothy Taylors Landlord, St Austell’s Tribute & Jennings

Snecklifter were also on offer., plus three ciders including the natural still Weston’s ‘Old Rosie’. The pub has one long bar which runs alongside the waterfront and a restaurant facility towards the rear. Food is served noon till 9.00pm Mon. to Sat. (8pm Sun when there is also a roast on the menu). The menu is based on traditional home cooked, locally sourced food. A wine and cheeseboard can be ordered. There is a covered smoking area out at the back and dogs are allowed in the bar at non food times. On Tuesday a well run ‘Quiz Night’ is attended by all types of customer from students, to visitors, to couples & to regulars. The Inn is only a few pulls on the oars northwards from the Waterwitch Inn so why not give it a visit and see for yourself. Titus O’Newt.

Members Letters suggested to me that the building was in fact a packet stable and that the one at Crooklands was not for canal horses at all but for Gatebeck tramway horses, the line having passed alongside it with a siding on to the wharf, but if that were the case why would there be a need to change horses? The tramway was only three to four miles long, with no steep gradients and well within the capacity of a horse hauling a single wagon. So I am back to the theory that the Crooklands stables were for packet boat horses and the Farleton building was for the lime trade. Large scale Ordnance Survey maps show the Farleton building, but with no clue as to its purpose. However, many years ago when I was researching the history of the canal I was able to see a set of 2chains to the inch plans of the canal dated about 1880 which showed everything in great detail. They were kept by British Waterways at its Leeds office, in the days when the Lancaster was controlled from there, and in spare time I steadily worked my way through them northwards, making notes about features of interest. Unfortunately my job took me away from the north of England before I reached Farleton. I can't remember the details and all my notes have long since gone to the Lancashire Record Office at Preston, but if the plans still exist somewhere in British Waterways archives they would probably give the answer. Is there someone in the Trust or at BW who could find out? Yours sincerely Gordon Biddle

Mr David Currington Editor Waterwitch Dear Mr Currington . In connection with the piece in the last issue on narrow gauge railways serving the Lancaster Canal I have written to Philip Pacey giving him the name of someone who has researched the history of the Gatebeck Tramway. His article also brings to mind the old building alongside the canal opposite Farleton basin. Recently I attended a lecture entitled Packet Boats to Kendal by Dr Andrew White, when the speaker speculated that the building might have served as stables for the packet horses. It is two storeys high, built against canal embankment with ground floor doors on one side and first floor doors leading on to the towing path on the other. We know that stables were built at five miles intervals for changing horses, and because the Farleton building is only about two miles from the old stable restored by the trust at Crooklands it has always seemed to me that the Farleton building was more likely to have been used in connection with the extensive lime traffic from the various limekilns nearby. A broad track, wide enough for a horse and cart, runs from it alongside the canal to the A6070 road at Farleton Turnpike Bridge, whence a lane leads direct to the kilns. Bagged lime from the kilns could have been taken to the canal, stored in the building and hoisted up to the wharf for loading into boats. The building appears to have incorporated living accommodation, doubtless for the wharfinger. Someone, I cannot remember who, once

Gordon Biddle (Continued on page 19)

(Continued from page 18)

Dear Mr Editor Congratulations on a superb "First Currington Edition" of Waterwitch. It gets full marks for content, and for greatly improved design and graphics. I look forward to a continuing high standard in the future. My only regret is that, compared with other canals, the Lancaster is relatively poor in canalside pubs, as a regular pub review feature would enable you to combine your interests and skills! Oliver Barratt Oliver, Thanks for input. On page 17 I took your advice and started what I hope will be a regular series on ’Fuelling Stops’ near the Canal . ED. From Veronica Hardy Dear Pat, Many thanks to all concerned for the Winter edition of Waterwitch. I found it very interesting and helpful, especially for those of us in distant places, to hear about the updates on all aspects of the canal and its developments. I have recently returned from a very pleasant 10 day stay in Lancashire, using Garstang and Carnforth as bases. The purpose of the trip was to walk the parts of the towpath of the Lancaster Canal which I had not visited previously, and now am pleased to say that I have walked in the Garstang area, Glasson to Galgate to Lancaster, to Carnforth to Tewitfield, and made it by bus to Kendal, where I saw the Canal Head area. Previously I had 19

attended the Trailboat Rally at Crooklands, and walked in the Sedgwick area, and the Ribble Link. It brings the information that you provide to life when there is some knowledge of the area. The Canal was a delight to visit, with the added attraction of the ice increasing each day. I was disappointed to hear about vandalism on the Lune Aqueduct, but thrilled with the scenery and interest in some parts of the area. I only saw one boat on the move, but there were plenty of people using the towpath. I stayed on two Caravan Club 5-van sites (members only) in my motor home. The transport by bus is of course very good in the whole area Preston to Lancaster and Lancaster to Kendal. I particularly recommend the Garstang site, situated very near Bridge 51, and give the owner’s details below, because she had lots of Tourist Information, but nothing about the Canal on her doorstep. I am sure she would be delighted to display Canal and Trust information. She also does B&B, so would be of interest to anyone wishing to stay in the Garstang area. The 2nd place that I would like to recommend is the Waterside Café in Kendal – the lady running it is a member of the Kendal Civic Society and is well aware of the discussions re Canal Head. Again, she has Tourist information in her café, but not anything relating to the Canal. (Continued on page 20)

Veronica. Many thanks for your letter and rest assured the two places you recommended are now shown above and we will approach them both with literature. ED

(Continued from page 19)

I think she would be interested in some literature. I really enjoyed my stay in Lancashire in early February, and was particularly pleased that the weather there was far superior to the weather experienced in my home in Sussex at the time! I also found the new Lancaster Canal Guide very useful and informative.

From Penelope Andrews Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the Members' Morning last Saturday; it was very informative and good to put faces to the names which are familiar from the magazine. It would be worth doing again after a suitable interval, but please remind some of your speakers to keep it snappy and speak up. The boat trip was great too: a lovely ride. Congratulations and many thanks to all who worked hard to put on this occasion!

Yours sincerely, Veronica Hardy, Member Camp-site (also B&B) Mrs M. Richardson Little Stubbins CL Site Stubbins Lane Claughton-on-Brook Preston PR3 0PL Waterside CafĂŠ Kent View Waterside Kendal Cumbria LA9 4DZ

Regards

Penelope Andrews

Helenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word Puzzle No.1 There is one canal related 9

letter place word in the square. See how many other words you can find of four or more letters. All words must use the central letter (C). Each letter can only be used as many times as it is in the square. Apart from the 9 letter word then no proper names, plurals, foreign words or abbreviations are allowed. All words can be found in the Collins English dictionary. Answers the next edition. ED.

30 Fair 50 Good 75 Excellent 100+ Champion 20

Boat Operations Managers Notes

he Waterwitch (boat) is getting better and better. There have been several important improvements – often ones that have been requested by passengers or volunteers. • The new non slip surface is working well and is a clearly identifiable Blue. • Work continues on the other paint areas, as time allows – we would welcome anyone who can paint “to a good DIY standard”. • Our training regime is progressing and we now do “micro training” modules each Sunday to refresh the aspects of the IWA requirements and to keep us sharp. These easy modules and are completed in 15 minutes and are sometimes in the form of quizzes or just reminders of what we should remember. • Our volunteer team are good at suggestions and many of these are put into practice to simplify or improve the way we do things. • There is now an established “Duty Manager” system, that ensures that someone on the day is directly accountable and can guide the days operations. The Duty Manager is there as a direct link to the Operations Manager, as required by IWA.

The recruitment of new people for the boat is steady and their training is in hand. Each person will be given sufficient boat experience to enable them to pass successfully the IWA assessment. Some of our new people have no previous experience, some are very experienced – all have to be assessed on the WW and on our canal by the IWA. The stats of our volunteers are – 28 in total; 14 accredited Steerers of whom 3 are female. We have 7 new trainee Steerers and 2 shore only crew and 1 shore& boat crew person. Of the 28, 7 are female. We have volunteers who are disabled, both as shore crew and as Steerers. So long as you can meet our risk assessment criteria you would be most welcome to join the crew and Steerers of n/b Waterwitch, and as you can see there are several different roles for all people to enjoy. Contact me (Frank Chalmers – Ops Manager) on 07973112046 to discuss joining the Waterwitch team – or email me on frankrdale@yahoo.co.uk Thanks to the Boat Operations Sub Committee, Exec members and Trust volunteers for the support. Frank.

New Sedgwick Aqueduct Information Board The new board was installed several weeks ago and is now in full colour. For those who are walking past, especially with their children, there are three hidden animals. Can they be found? What are they? 21

Any Questions?

Chairman’s Reply

From Philip Wallbank

Hi Philip

Hello, Whilst walking on the Lancaster Canal I noted an interesting object alongside the towpath close to the Calder Aqueduct, near Garstang. Thought you may know what it is or what it was used for, in bygone days? Picture attached. (below) Regards,

It’s the remains of a wooden roller around which was wound a chain (normally left in the canal). This provided leverage to pull a plug out of the bottom of the canal in order to drain it for maintenance purposes (think of a bath plug). Water would drain into a culvert which you can find when the foliage is down and then into the river . Dave

Below: A picture from the Westmorland Gazette with caption “The above picture of the Canal at Kendal was taken on Monday. There was then about 18 to 24 inches of water at the bottom of the Canal. Now there is less than half that amount.” Ideas for the date?

Working Party Report

deed any other comments you may have around this theme. In addition, would you be prepared to carry out the occasional supervision of these additional working parties? This would simply be organising the work on the day, with full background support from myself and the rest of the committee. As well as this, the Trust are considering arranging a first aid course, so again can you let me know first of all if you are interested, and secondly when would you be available for training. Priority will be given to active Trust members, especially working party and boat crew people, but any remaining spaces would be available to others. Have a good summer!

here’s very little to report on the working parties front for this issue, as we’ve stopped the main working parties for the summer. Small amounts of maintenance have been carried out at the stables and Millness store. Traditionally, we’ve held working parties through the winter, on the second Sunday of each month. However, at the recent member’s meeting at Over Kellet Hall Paul Shaw – Working Party Supervisor (full details of this elsewhere in the 01524 35685 magazine), it was suggested that working 07866 803351 parties could also be carried out at other paul_shaw@lineone.net times. With the possibility of some major projects on the horizon, we feel that we could perhaps justify these additional working parties, but we need to know just how much interest there would be for these. If you think you could help on working parties, whether you are a regular WP member or just feel you’d like to get involved, can you let me know if you’d be available on Saturdays, midweek, during the summer (possibly during the evening Tewitfield (Lock 6) 2003. Before my time. in summer) or inWhere are they now? ED. 23

RECENT TRUST PUBLICATIONS The Lancaster Canal Trust has now re published three leaflets which were based on interesting and varied walks starting from the Cinderbarrow Picnic site owned by the Lancashire County Council. The leaflets have been completely updated by Mairi Miller who was responsible for the original text, illustration and graphic design on the first issue and who was ably assisted by Geoff Dunn, to both of whom the Trust wish to record its thanks. These leaflets are now available, and will be on sale at all Trust events, talks and at Tourist Information Centres etc. at a cost to the general public of 50p each or all 3 for £1. Members can obtain their free set by sending a 22cm x 11cm s.a.e. to: David Currington, Sec. LCT 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6AD

Fourth, revised edition Including the Ribble Link, this book will take you from the lively town of Preston, through peaceful scenery to the historic City of Lancaster, past the end of the navigable section at Tewitfield. On via towpath and footpath along the beautiful Northern Reaches to Kendal and the canal's original terminus. The clear and concise maps show amenities found en-route, including nearby shops, services and, of course, pubs! Retail Price of 4th edition UKP 5.95 (plus £1.00 per copy P&P) to 91 Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 9AH.

Lancaster Canal Trust

and exhibition SATURDAY 17th OCTOBER Cakes, Raffle, Tombola, Canalware Admission £1 - includes coffee and biscuits

Proceeds to The Lancaster Canal Trust 24

In the MEMORIAL HALL BURTON in KENDAL 10.00am to 12 noon Registered Charity No. 240957

ritish Waterways

Update……….

ince the last issue, we have received two press releases from BW which may be of some interest to Members. They have been slightly abridged to fit into two pages. CHANGES AT BRITISH WATERWAYS 29.04.09

British Waterways (BW) is today announcing to staff, customers and stakeholders the results of a major strategic review which it believes will form the basis for the continued renaissance and long-term sustainability of the 2,200 miles of canals and rivers in its care. The key proposals are to: increase efficiencies; open up new funding and partnership opportunities; create closer links with local communities and: start a gradual move over the next decade towards the waterways achieving a ‘third sector’ trust or charitable status. As a first step, BW is proposing an internal restructuring of its operations in England and Wales with the creation of 11 smaller, ‘hands-on’ waterway units, the removal of a layer of management and, subject to consultation with staff and trade unions, approximately 100 redundancies from office staff. Together with other planned changes these proposals would enable approximately £10m per annum to be redirected to waterways’ maintenance. The newly established 11 waterway units in England and Wales will focus solely on delivering BW’s core maintenance programme to ensure high levels of efficiency and customer service. Whilst the units will be more evenly balanced in terms of waterway length, number of waterway structures and customer base, the exact boundaries between each will be the subject of a customer consultation. Certain functions currently carried

out in existing waterways units, such as managing moorings, developing partnerships and carrying out major engineering projects, will be undertaken by specialist teams. In the revised structure, additional focus will be put on working with volunteers and local communities, whilst the creation of a new regeneration directorate will build on the ability of the waterways to kickstart regeneration and contribute to social inclusion. The directorate’s aim will be to develop new relationships with community stakeholders and funding bodies at both a local and national level. Robin Evans, BW chief executive, comments: “In the last decade we and our partners have successfully eliminated a massive backlog of safety repairs on our canals and rivers, we have generated record levels of third party and commercial investment, and the network is bigger, busier and in a better shape than for generations. The waterways are visited by millions of people each year and offer a huge range of public benefits, including leisure, health and wellbeing, flood mitigation, wildlife havens and investment opportunities. This is an extraordinary change from the 1950s and 1960s when, with the exception of a few enthusiasts, the waterways were largely looked upon as derelict ditches and a public health risk. “Despite this turnaround the waterways today still face serious challenges. The global downturn has reduced our ability to earn additional funds for the network, public funding will come under considerable pressure for the foreseeable future and we are already short of the money required to maintain the network properly. “With this in mind, our absolute priority must be to maintain investment in the waterways and this means reducing spending elsewhere. Our proposed new structure will both redirect important funding to essential maintenance work but also make us much more responsive to customers and partners.” In the longer term, British Waterways believes the time is right for some fresh thinking about what the waterways mean to Britain (Continued on page 32)

FOR SALE Wooden Trailboat 11’ 6" x 4' 6" Professionally converted to an electric launch in 2005. Beautifully varnished and painted. Snipe trailer, electric outboard, 2 pairs of batteries hardly used, plus all equipment. Ideal for inland waterways. £1295. Price includes 6' x 4' x 9" wooden cargo box body for alternative use on trailer - 2 trailers for the price of 1. Contact: Stephen Appleby Email: stephenkappleby@googlemail.com Tel: Kendal (01539) 725449

A new exhibition by Lancashire Museums Museum of Lancashire, Preston 30 May – 12 September 2009 Lancaster Maritime Museum 26 September – 23rd January 2010 For more details and opening times please visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums

THE OPTIMIST An optimistic story from Stephen Appleby.

ven being an optimist, it was stretching the laws of probability that, at 81, I should ever manage to have a boat of my own on the Lancaster Canal. As a member of the Lancaster Canal Trust, lobbying for the restoration of the remaindered section known as the Northern Reaches, I sometimes drive the narrow boat we run for publicity purposes, but a boat of my own .... that was just dreaming.. Fifty years ago, a friend of my son-in-law built a Jack Holt Vagabond Dinghy. He enjoyed sailing it for many years until one day, on Lake Coniston, it was damaged, sunk, retrieved and taken home for repairs and repaint. Ten years later, when it was still on its side in his garage, he asked my son-in-law if he would like to have it to do up. He replied: "Not for me, but I know someone who would". Thus a wreck arrived at my carport in Kendal, sans mast, sans centreboard, sans rudder, sans everything. It leaked like a Haws watering can - but no cost so far! Lacking the energy at my age, I sought advice from a local wooden boat builder. He thought it was worth repairing so I gave him a ceiling figure and told him to make a job of it. He replaced most of the bottom and strengthened the transom, removed the centreboard case and mast step and added a new hog and keel before sending it home for me to paint. Following his advice it had a total of eleven coats of yacht paint outside plus four coats of varnish inside. It looked good. Next came the technical stuff. The canal 27

has lots of weed growth, so I needed an outboard rather than an inboard engine to be able to lift the prop out for frequent de-weeding. As I have angina, the basic hull had to be as light as possible to lift out, using a trailer winch. Since there is no slipway it would have to slither down the grassy bank a couple of feet and up the same way, so I bought a Snipe trailer. It was to be kept at home safe from vandals, but petrol outboards are heavy to lift in and out. Lakeland Electric Boats suggested that, although the total weight of a small electric outboard plus batteries would be heavier than a petrol unit, the motor alone and single small batteries would individually be much lighter. Ideal! I have finished up with a Motor Guide 301b thrust motor, plus four small 12v 24Ah batteries each weighing only 22 Ibs. They sit in two battery boxes under the thwart. Two are coupled in parallel to the main switch via inline plugs and another two likewise. If one pair gets low, I switch to the other pair and know I have enough juice to get home again. In the circuit is a horn and an LCD to show the state of charge. This setup gives me a range of five miles on each pair of fully charged batteries, at full power, i.e. about 3 'A mph. This is quite adequate on the canal where the speed limit is 4 mph and there is negligible water current. Motor and batteries, mudpole and boathook, and all the other clobber, ride home in the car boot. Soon I plan to add a canopy. The outboard and ensign flagpole are both mounted off-centre to allow room for each on the transom, but this does not affect steering at all. Now age has finally decreed that I give it up and it is now up for sale (see opposite). SA

The things we get up to!

eing on the Executive of the LCT gets a person involved in all sorts of one off tasks which makes it such an interesting pastime. Last edition, as we reported, we were dredging the Millness wharf in a snow shower, this time it was up to our boots in water as necessary and very urgent repairs had to be made to the jetty at Crooklands. This was not the public jetty but the one on the opposite bank where Waterwitch is moored up when not in use. One of the main legs of the jetty had rotted after many years underwater and the whole landing stage had collapsed into the Canal. Having searched for a competent joiner we were very lucky to light upon the local joinery firm run by Alan Strong and his son. The attached photos indicate the work undertaken and we are very pleased to have a renewed and much stronger jetty now back in use. DC.

Making a start

Replacing a support

A new & much strengthened joint

The finished job 28

LUNE AQUEDUCT UPDATE

he last edition of Waterwitch carried a comprehensive article by Steve Higham of British Waterways on the various development activities along the Canal, including the proposed enhancements at the Lune Aqueduct. Since the announcement of the Heritage Lottery Fund initial award of ÂŁ50,000, the Steering Group has had its first progress meeting with HLF. BW staff have also been busy finalising the terms of reference for various environmental plans and public participation plans that will form part of the second stage bid to HLF for a grant of ÂŁ1 million. This application, if successful, will provide funding for a pro-

gramme of enhancements on and around the Aqueduct, including upgrades to the towpath, a new ramp connection between the towpath and the Riverside Millennium Path as an alternative to the present daunting flight of steps, vegetation management on and near the structure. Also included are the removal of graffiti, repairs to vandalised parapets and a programme of signage and public

involvement that will be designed to help combat these antisocial activities. The Steering Group currently comprises BW, Lancaster Canal Trust, Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council and will be expanded to include other interest groups as the work develops. RT 29

around a mere £10million, so if you know any millionaires, could you have a quiet word with them. Who knows – the recession may be the catalyst we need. Funding regimes available elsewhere may be extended to this part of Cumbria. The Foot & Mouth outbreak of a few years ago was a disaster for the area but it made people realise that an economy based largely on agriculture was risky and focussed minds on the need for diversification. I am in no doubt that those in SLDC and the other authorities fully appreciate the benefits a restored canal will bring, which is why they are continuing to support the scheme despite the difficulties. Clearly, with this going on, it is difficult for the committee to move forward. In this period of economic difficulty it is imperative that we keep public support for the project alive; the recession will end sometime! Perhaps now is the time when we need to review all we are doing to ensure that we are getting the best value for our limited resources, particularly manpower. Your thoughts on where we should be going would be welcomed!

(Continued from page 5)

chunk of Kendal means rebuilding the canal will be paid for by the developers, but due to the recession this is not as attractive as it was a couple of years ago. South of Watercrook there are no major obstacles other than land acquisition; restoring the channel is well within the skills of the volunteers; this why we have pressed to have the Natland Road crossing included in phase 1. The canal can be restored from Canal Head to the north side of the A590 very cheaply and this will be the carrot that will be dangled under the noses of the funding bodies to meet the cost of the ‘missing link’ – stages 2 & 3. Is there anything else we can be doing? There are plenty of bridges that need repairs, but we will need a lot more bodies than the number who normally turn up at our working parties if we are to make much impact. I have always believed that the rebuilding of a culvert would be a clear demonstration of intent and that we should go for Millness then the A65. We have a slipway at Millness, and the length from Stainton to Farleton would offer a potentially viable cruising length, particularly if the water level can be raised to what it should be. It would only cost

David Slater

If you go down to the Park today You're in for a cup of tea!

Pictures courtesy of Hal Bagot’s goats.

Waterwitch's Brew tent still continues to attract all sorts of ‘visitors’ to Levens Park on every third Saturday in each month. Come and have cuppa with us!

THE LANCASTER CANAL CANALSIDE PATH in Lancaster City Centre The new development of apartments at Aalborg Place, Lancaster – opposite the White Cross pub – now has a canalside path through the site. The path connects to the pedestrian crossing at Penny Street Bridge (No. 99) and through a new gap in the wall onto the ramp of Friarage turnover bridge (No. 100) – see photo. You now have a choice; to walk or cycle continuously along the west side of the canal via Aldcliffe Road and the new path, avoiding the double crossover at Bridges 98 & 100, or follow the towpath across to the east side - with the opportunity to pop in for a drink at the Waterwitch and/or the White Cross. RT

UK’s third largest collection of listed structures – has led British Waterways to explore alternative ideas for securing the waterways’ future. In becoming a trust, British Waterways believes it would be able to encourage greater community ownership of local waterways, more involvement from the voluntary sector and a wider funding base. If successful, the move could help to make the waterways safer, better maintained and more vibrant while increased community support would help to ensure that they never revert to the dereliction and decline that saw historic canals abandoned and filled-in during the 20th century. Tony Hales, British Waterways’ chairman, comments: “The waterways have had an extraordinary rebirth since the middle of the last century when all but a handful of enthusiasts viewed them as dangerous ditches. Today they offer some of Britain’s greenest recreational facilities, they are breathing new life into scores of waterside towns and cities, and they collectively comprise one of the most important examples of industrial heritage anywhere in the world. British Waterways believes that it should become a third sector, ‘public interest company’ or trust in the next decade and is suggesting that, as part of this, its annual deficit grant funding could be changed into new government contracts “In the long term we believe that the waterways should join the great family of voluntary sector organisations and good causes which have achieved so much for our heritage, wildlife and landscapes. This change will take time to implement fully and successfully, so we believe it is right to start the debate now.” Visit www.britishwaterways.co.uk/ twentytwenty for more information about British Waterways’ 2020 strategy.

(Continued from page 25)

and how their sustainable future might be secured. Next month it will be launching a public debate on the role of Britain’s former industrial canals and rivers, highlighting their considerable modern-day contribution to society and seeking views on its proposals for how they should be used, run and funded in the future. Central to the debate will be BW’s view that the time is now right to consider the option of changing its structure to turn it, by 2020, into a third sector ‘public interest company’ or trust. Such a change could: stimulate far greater participation in the waterways by volunteers and other individuals; enhance openness and accountability for communities and waterway users; create opportunities for new sources of income such as grants and donations and; ensure the historic network is held in trust for the nation. The waterways are still likely to require public funding some time into the future. However, BW believes that in the long term this could evolve from annual deficit funding into a contract with Government. This would allow BW greater certainty in planning future expenditure and give Government a clearer understanding of the public benefits, such as flood control and public open space, which the waterways deliver. CALL TO PUT WATERWAYS IN TRUST 18.05.09 British Waterways recently launched a national debate at the House of Commons about the future of Britain’s former industrial waterways and their role in the 21st century. The organisation is proposing that its 2,200miles of canals and rivers should, over time, be moved out of direct state control and into a new ‘national trust’ for the waterways in order to continue the renaissance of the 200year old network. Despite a turnaround in fortunes which has seen the waterways playing an increasingly important role in supporting jobs, waterside regeneration, biodiversity and the UK leisure and tourism industry, the mounting cost of maintaining an aging network – including the

LANCASTER CANAL TRUST Officers and Committee President

C.H.Bagot J.P. F.R.I.C.S.,D.L Vice - President

John Gavan Chairman

David Slater 91 Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 9AH. (01772) 746914 Vice - Chairman

Richard Trevitt 2 Fern Bank, Lancaster. LAI 4TT (01524) 846303 Secretary

David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal LA9 6AD (01539) 732599 Treasurer

Adrian Hughes “Ilex", Keasdale Road, Carr Bank, Milnthorpe LA7 7LH (01524) 761879 Membership Secretary

Adrian Hughes “Ilex", Keasdale Road, Carr Bank, Milnthorpe LA7 7LH (01524) 761879 Public Relations Officer

Trisha Buzzard 07802438412 Waterwitch Editor

David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal LA9 6AD (01539) 732599 Working Party Organiser

David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal LA9 6AD (01539) 732599 Grants Officer

Helen Thomas 7 Bay View, Over Kellet, Carnforth, LA6 1DR (01524) 735504

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & OTHER TRUST OFFICERS Pat Clapham Recruitment & Promotions 54, Morewood Drive, Burton-in-Kendal LA6 1NE. (01524) 781489 Paul Shaw 07866 803351 Working Party Supervisor Frank Chalmers Boat Operations Manager 07973113046

Trisha Buzzard 07802438412 Acting Publicity Officer & Trip Boat Committee Alan Mather Trip Boat Committee Sandra Henstock (L.C.B.C. Representative) (01253)764171

Affiliated Members Arlen Hire Boats Australian Canal Society Beetham Parish Council Burton - in - Kendal Parish Council Bury & District Anglers Association Catterall Parish Council C.A.R.P. Ltd Holme Parish Council Lancaster Canal Boat Club

Kendal Civic Society Natland Parish Council Newton with Clifton Parish Council Preston Patrick Parish Council Ramblers Association (Preston Area) South Lakeland District Council Westmorland & North Lancashire Long Distance Walkers Assoc

Waterwitch is is copyright 2009, published by The Lancaster Canal Trust (Registered Charity No. 240957) c/o David Currington, 12 Sedbergh Road, Kendal, LA9 6AD The Lancaster Canal Trust may not agree with the opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or an official announcement, unless so stated - otherwise the Trust accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication.

Visit LCT website at:

http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk/

The deadline for contributions to the next edition of Waterwitch will be September 30th 2009 Contributions may be e-mailed to dadcurrington@hotmail.com Or by post to David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6AD Printed by Kent Valley Colour Printers, Kendal. (01539)741344

Some beautiful views of the Canal around Ingol

Country Fest ,Westmorland Show Ground, Crooklands, 24/25th May 2009 The Trust attended this well attended inaugural show. Our stand was very popular and all our volunteers worked extremely hard at answering the many questions posed. NB. It was the real Sheila at the stand, not a life sized statue!