IWA Lichfield Branch Magazine Autumn 2022

Lichfield Lines

The newsletter of IWA Lichfield Branch

The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 7,000 miles of canals and navigable rivers.

The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or as an official pronouncement, unless specifically identified as such.

The Inland Waterways Association is a non profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342

Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk

Walkers on the Ashby Canal Path (see Page 5)

Lichfield Branch

Lichfield Branch

Chairman’s Report

We have had a pretty good summer for a change with some extremely hot weather causing water shortages on some canals. Despite this I hope you have all been able to get out and about on our wonderful canal and river system. Sue & I recently had a week on the Mon & Brec, a canal we had never been to before. As an isolated canal it had to be on a hire boat, we chose ABC operating out of Goytre Wharf. All went well for the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning before we were stopped by a very large fallen tree near Abergavenny. CRT’s contractors turned up very early on Monday and chopped a large section out of the tree to clear the towpath and then disappeared. They came back on Tuesday morning and spent most of the day clearing the canal so we lost two and a half days of our week. It was still a great week with some beautiful scenery. The canal is narrow in some places and very shallow everywhere so if we met another boat one or both of us would go aground causing much swearing (!!) and pushing with poles. There was work being done on the offside veg with a very strange paddle-wheeled boat as can be seen in the picture.

Sue and I worked on the Sales Stand at the Festival of Water at Burton and had an enjoyable weekend. The event was blessed with good weather and plenty of locals turned out to enjoy the show. Branch member John Parry had put together a display showing the history of Burton’s waterways and this was well received by the locals, including the Mayor and Mayoress. We also attended the IWA National AGM which was held at the beautiful Guildhall in Lichfield. I was surprised and very pleased

Lichfield Branch

to be presented with the Branch Achievement Award by National Chairman Les Etheridge. Well done and thanks to everybody who played a part in the Branch being awarded this prestigious Salver.

This year’s Christmas Dinner will be held on Sunday December 11th at Darnford Moors Golf Club in Lichfield (see full details and menu later in the magazine).

On a more sombre note, two years ago, in the absence of any other volunteer I reluctantly took on the roles of Branch Chairman and Secretary to help out. This was to be an interim measure as my preference is to undertake “backroom” roles rather than “front of house”.

After much discussion and thought I have decided to stand down from these roles and also from the committee at the Branch AGM in March. I will be continuing to edit this magazine, the web site and produce posters for the foreseeable future. I will also be continuing as an active Branch member supporting both local and national events. I must thank my wife, Sue for stepping in to take over my previous role of Branch Treasurer to allow me to become Chairman in the first place as the two roles must be separate.

I am sure the Branch will continue to flourish under new leadership and I hope that more of you will come forward to fulfil some of the outstanding roles. More of this in a forthcoming email.

All the Best

Forthcoming Events

Thursday 10th November 2022—Walk—"Brownhills and the Wyrley & Essington Canal."

This is an easy 5½ mile circular walk with no stiles along disused railway lines, footpaths, pavements, and the towpath.

The McLean Way runs alongside the car park of our starting point, and we follow this disused railway westwards as far as Beck’s bridge where we pick up the towpath. Leaving the canal by the disused Slough Arm, we proceed along a former mineral line to

Pete Gurney 17th October 2022

Becks Bridge

Lichfield Branch

Brownhills Common. After safely crossing the A5, a footbridge soon takes us over the M6 toll and into Chasewater Country Park. We rejoin the canal at Anglesey Basin and follow this branch as far as the aqueduct over the former Walsall to Lichfield line, which we then walk along for a second time back to our starting point.

Meet 10:15 for a 10:30 start on Thursday 10th November 2022 in the car park of The Smithy’s Forge pub, 7 Lichfield Road, Brownhills, West Midlands WS8 6HR.

Contact Clive Walker: clive.walker@waterways.org.uk

Wednesday 16th November 2022—Meeting—Crossing the Severn Estuary

Branch member Neil Barnett has been on his travels again and will give us an illustrated account of his battle with the Severn Estuary. This will expand on the article later in the magazine.

Meet at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Off Walsall Road, Lichfield WS13 8AY

Sunday 11th December 2022—Christmas Dinner

This will be held at Darnford Moors Golf Club, Darnford Lane, Lichfield WS14 9JG gathering at 12:30 for a 1:00pm meal. See centre pages for the menu.

To book contact either Pete or Sue Gurney at the next meeting or phone or email your requirements to Pete. Contact details are on the committee page at the end of the magazine.

Sunday 1st January 2023

Walk

"Atherstone and the Coventry Canal."

This is an easy 4 mile circular walk with no stiles, on the towpath, a footpath, and pavements. From the front of the hotel, we turn left along Long Street and join the towpath by lock 5. We proceed up the flight of locks and beyond to the outskirts of Mancetter where we finally leave the canal. After crossing the railway line by a footbridge, we walk through leafy suburban streets back to our starting point.

Meet 10:45 for a 11:00 start on Sunday 1st January 2023 in the car park* of The Atherstone Red Lion Hotel, 99 Long Street, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 1BB. Contact Clive Walker on clive.walker@waterways.org.uk

NB: The car park for the hotel is to the rear of the building, off South Street

Wednesday 18th January 2023

Engineering, Progress and Plans

Meeting

Lichfield Canal Restoration

Our first meeting of 2023 will be an update on recent progress on the Lichfield Canal restoration, the engineering challenges and plans for the future. This will be presented by Peter Buck and Bob Williams of Lichfield And Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust.

Lichfield Branch

Meet at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Off Walsall Road, Lichfield WS13 8AY

Recent Activities

Thursday 8th September 2022—Walk—

"Ashby Canal Path"

This walk had been well advertised, both by the IWA and the Ashby Canal Association (ACA), who were using the walk as an informal opening ceremony. In addition, posters had been placed around the town of Measham. Consequently, there were several new faces among the 25 walkers who assembled in the car park of The Globe Inn in Snarestone. The landlord was keen for us to place our food orders before we departed, and once this had been sorted, we set off along the towpath trail. Volunteers from the ACA have replaced any stiles along the route with kissing gates, which makes for quicker and easier progress.

After half a mile we paused at Snarestone Wharf, whilst Dave Watts from the ACA explained the purpose of the recently fitted stop gate. An unexpected heavy shower saw us rushing for cover in the shop, where a few people made some impromptu purchases.

The trail is well sign posted, and it is easy to

Lichfield Branch

follow the route through to Measham. Eventually, the canal will follow the same course. On reaching Navigation Street in Measham we admired some of the houses built with distinctive over sized bricks, an enterprising idea of local resident, Joseph Wilkes, who wished to save paying too much brick tax! From the High Street, where the towpath trail ended, we descended towards the old railway station and the adjacent sundial memorial, where Geoff Pursglove related a brief history of the entrepreneur Joseph Wilkes and his role in enabling the construction of the Ashby Canal.

Here, the walk leader intended to get back to the starting point by following the original line of the infilled canal. The Globe Inn had already been notified that we were running late, and so we set off at a faster pace from the sundial memorial, following a grass path lined with dense scrub. The leader’s route involved a sharp right turn through some trees shortly after passing under Horses Lane bridge. At this point the whole group of 25 was strung out, and unfortunately the rear contingent missed the crucial detour and carried on walking ahead. A brief phone call established that some of those in the rear group knew the surroundings and were happy to make their own way back to Snarestone via the Forterra brickworks and Gallows Lane.

Meanwhile, the advance party followed the old line through a pine coppice, across a field with horses, cows, and a very sedate bull, and into a crop field, before ending back at Ilott Wharf, from where we followed the Towpath Trail back to Snarestone. The ‘rear’ contingent got back to The Globe Inn quickly and were already on their desserts when the ‘advance’ party finally arrived! However, the main courses soon arrived for those who had gone the long way round, and we all left content.

Report Clive Walker

Photos Clive Walker and Margaret Beardsmore Wednesday 21st September 2022—Meeting—"Burton’s 18c Waterways Part 2"

Our first meeting of the season saw Branch Member John Parry give us a second talk on Burton’s waterways, mainly concentrating on the River Trent Navigation from it’s heyday in the 18c and 19c to the decline in the 20c rather than the canals. The talk was incredibly well researched as all John’s talks are and absolutely fascinating.

Wednesday 12th October 2022—Stroll—"Kings Bromley to Fradley"

A select group gathered at Kings Bromley marina and had a gentle stroll to Fradley with much chatting and even managed to dodge the showers. An enjoyable lunch in the “Mucky Duck” followed. Return to the marina was either by boat , walking or car most people chose car! This was the first of a planned series of short walks being organised by Neil Barnett. Look out for the next one!

Lichfield Branch

Lichfield Branch

Lichfield Branch

Crossing the Severn—An Epic Journey

Over the years I’ve always fancied taking our narrowboat on the River Severn Estuary but have been apprehensive about its reputation for having the second highest range of tidal rise and fall in the world, the notorious and dangerous unpredictable currents, hidden sandbanks and rocky outcrops hidden just below the surface, the two motorway bridges to negotiate under, the unpredictable gale force winds suddenly whipping up huge waves, and of course the large ships going in and out of Sharpness, Avonmouth, and Portbury Docks.

I have a fair amount of experience with choppy and tidal waters but the Severn Estuary is of course a completely different ‘beast’. The fact that our narrowboat is 27 years old, and so is it’s old BMC 1.8 engine with 13,000 hours ‘on the clock’ merely added to my trepidation.

If only we could brave the estuary it would mean only having to do the beautiful but challenging Kennet & Avon Canal in one direction instead of a round trip journey from Reading to Bristol and back, a saving of about 100 miles and 107 locks.

My angst lay dormant in the back of my mind for years because subconsciously I knew that it was a journey I doubted I’d ever make. However, now both into our late 60’s, a certain ‘now or never’ factor also came into play, both for us and our aging boat.

Preparation

This time around, instead of my preliminary investigations putting me off the idea, the more I looked into it the greater my enthusiasm became. The positives were beginning to outweigh the negatives as my initial trepidation began to wane. Surely the pilots wouldn’t risk their lives if it was that dangerous and we would only be allowed to do it if the conditions were suitable for a safe passage. My mind made up, I began to make the plans and decided to go in the downriver direction from Sharpness.

I phoned the very helpful Gloucester pilots a few months beforehand and they advised me of the dates when there were suitable tides. Having chosen a provisional date, they noted my request in their diary and told me to contact them a few days beforehand, by which time they would have a better idea of their availability, how much shipping

Leaving Sharpness Dock

Lichfield Branch

would be about, and a more accurate idea about the imminent weather conditions. Unless you know these waters intimately and have a VHF radio, employing a pilot is a must, besides which I’m fairly sure your insurance company would insist on it. The narrow section of the estuary (referred to as the fairway) is quite hazardous with extremely strong and unpredictable currents, and sandbanks just below the surface which change on a regular basis. The pilots are so familiar with it they are able to ‘read’ the water and tell you where to steer your boat accordingly. The passage

And so the day arrived and at 5.30am we reported to Sharpness Dock to meet our pilot. At 5.45 am the gates opened and we were on our way. After a little initial turbulence as we exited the harbour, any nerves disappeared as soon as we cleared the harbour wall. I stared in awe at the vista before us, the huge wide expanse of water all around, and this is when one appreciates just how wide the estuary is. We were blessed with winds of only 8mph (12mph Force 3 is normally the permitted limit), and after those initial few ‘choppy’ minutes leaving Sharpness, the remainder of the journey down to Portishead was relatively calm. My pre-trip trepidation had all but disappeared and I was now thoroughly enjoying the experience. Two hours into the journey we reached the first of the two motorway suspension bridges, a truly awesome sight and from this perspective one can really appreciate the sheer size and scale of them.

The water was still calm; however the turbulence in this narrowest part of the estuary was clearly visible. Cauldron esque currents were swirling and bubbling in front and all around us, and this is where the pilots really earn their money, at one point Matt took over the steering briefly as we negotiated a particularly hostile stretch of water. Despite the favourable ebbing tide my old BMC engine was working hard but at approximately 350 RPM more than average canal cruising speed it was coping well with only a marginal increase in the engine temperature. After the motorway bridges the estuary began to widen and in the distance we could see Avonmouth Docks. I had thought the estuary near Sharpness was wide, but that paled into insignificance compared to what was before us as we were now entering what is usually referred to as the Bristol Channel.

Lichfield Branch

Beyond Avonmouth we could now make out Portishead with it’s prominent white apartment buildings strewn along the shore on either side of the marina, and a little later we were passing the docks and the mouth of the Bristol Avon, arriving at the large lock at Portishead at 9am to ascend into the marina where we would spend just over 7 hours waiting for the next tide to take us up to Bristol. Shortly after 4pm our pilot for the second leg of our journey arrived. By this time the wind speed had nearly doubled from this morning’s, to a rather worrying 15mph. With this in mind I asked him if we would be okay to proceed and after a somewhat disconcerting (and deliberate) hesitant pause he said ‘yes we should be fine’. Into the lock and down we went. When the gates opened I was alarmed to see just how choppy the water had become, and as soon as we left the shelter of the harbour wall our little 62ft narrowboat began to pitch and roll. I loved the excitement but my wife didn’t, and she was so glad that she had taken some seasickness tablets. However only 20 minutes later, once we had passed Avonmouth Docks, we were into the sheltered mouth of the Bristol Avon.

Now we were back in calmer waters as we steadily made our way upstream, the glorious late afternoon sunshine enhancing the stunningly beautiful river and gorge before us. As we rounded a bend we caught a tantalising glimpse of the magnificent Clifton Suspension Bridge ahead, gradually revealing itself in all its magnificent glory as we approached, until there it was before us, with Brunel’s iconic abutments nestled atop the gorgeous sandstone cliffs and the magnificent bridge span towering 300 feet above us. This is and will remain so, one of my most memorable moments in 42 years of narrowboating.

A few minutes later we arrived at Bristol, and through the lock into the floating harbour, so named because the lock gates keep the harbour water level at a constant height.

We’d done it. A long day but well worth the preparation, the cost, and my pre-trip trepidation. It was a truly wonderful and unforgettable experience.

Report and Photos Neil Barnett

The Avon Gorge and Brunel’s Suspension Bridge

Lichfield Branch

Planning Matters

This report summarises the more significant of about 50 planning matters dealt with between mid July and mid October 2022. Further details are available on request.

By the Trent & Mersey Canal at Riley Hill near Kings Bromley, the small marina at Wharf Farm wants permission to sell fuel, pump-out and boating items, to carry out maintenance work on boats on the moorings, and for the currently private moorings to be used for up to 8 hire boats and 2 day boats. In supporting this we suggested conditions limiting any noisy external work and the number of hire boats to avoid problems with the neighbours and congestion on the canal. CRT have since pointed out that operation of hire boats will require their consent.

At Barton Marina an application to moor 9 houseboats on a pontoon overlooking the Waterfront would result in the loss of at least 34 narrowboat moorings, possibly 44 due to privacy issues with the remaining ones being right outside the houseboat windows. This is I in 7 of the marina moorings, at a time when more moorings are generally needed as boat numbers grow. The houseboats are 5.6m wide so the access jetties would need to be moved further apart, but as they are fixed to the marina bed it may be necessary to temporarily drain the whole basin, with massive disruption to the other boaters. The proposed Houseboats are not boats but are chalets on pontoons which could be provided elsewhere on the site. IWA has therefore objected to these floating houses displacing so many proper boat moorings.

The Coventry Canal and Birmingham & Fazeley Canal in North Warwickshire could benefit from a proposed Planning Obligation that development sites within 800 metres of the canals should contribute towards towpath improvements.

On the Ashby Canal at Hinckley Boat Club, the replacement of their caravan with a cabin was supported and has since been approved.

Just north of Trinity Marina the previously approved 2 storey canalside apartment blocks are now proposed to be 3 and 4 storeys high with unattractive ‘saw tooth’ rooflines and spuriously nautical porthole windows.

At Bosworth Marina the proposed new café which we supported last year has now been refused.

At Pare’s Bridge 59 south of Snarestone, plans for the conversion and extension of Bridge House have twice been amended following our and other objections, now retaining more of its historic character and reducing the size of the extension.

On the restoration route at Measham Show Ground, permission for continuing car boot sales requires access across the canal line to be moved on 6 months’ notice to safeguard the route.

A paddock by the A42 in Measham, proposed for housing, shares an access track which should be retained for future reconstruction of the canal on the Measham Waterside housing site, although this is currently on hold pending Government

Lichfield Branch

decisions on the final route of HS2

On the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Bloxwich the proposed siting of 3 steel storage containers between a refurbished shop building and the canal that we objected to have been removed from the application. At Brownhills a proposed small incinerator would have outside storage and loading of waste and we expressed concerns about the visual impact, noise and possible wind blown litter in the canal.

On the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Acton Trussell a boxy, flatroofed house extension with black cladding that we objected to has been redesigned with pitched roofs and red brick and rendered walls, as we suggested.

At White Park Farm, Calf Heath 7 narrow boat moorings with electric points and wooden storage sheds have been created on the offside bank. We supported a retrospective application for these, but were concerned that it did not cover a large collection of sheds, containers and a steel awning erected over the canal and within the Conservation Area. Permission was granted subject to prior approval for the other structures.

Nearby, on the West Midlands Interchange site a phasing plan shows this development starting on Vicarage Road with the first of the many large warehouses which will be visible from the canal.

The HS2 High Speed Rail Bill for Phase 2b West (Crewe Manchester) was changed as expected by publication in July of Additional Provision AP1 which removes the Golborne Link. Other AP1 changes include a poorly designed towpath access ramp on the Middlewich Branch. I have submitted two Petitions for IWA, against the Bill and separately against AP1, and provided a News report for the website.

IWA’s main petition reiterates our Environmental Statement submission concerning the need for noise fencing at viaduct crossings of the Middlewich Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal and at a construction compound adjacent to the Ashton Canal in Manchester.

Due to the various Government changes and Royal events, the HS2 Select Committee membership and the start date for petition hearings have not yet been announced.

Phil Sharpe, Planning Officer

White Park Farm

Calf Heath

Lichfield Branch

Editorial Notice

Lichfield Lines is the newsletter of IWA Lichfield Branch, it is produced 4 times a year to keep members informed about our forthcoming public meetings, walks, work parties and other activities, to provide reports on recent meetings and events, and to include articles of general interest to our members.

The editor, Peter Gurney, welcomes articles, letters or photographs of waterway activities in our Branch area which can be emailed to pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk (Please note there is a 35MB limit for emails with attachments sent via this address). The copy date for the next newsletter will be 15th January 2023, for publication in February.

Advertising

Lichfield Lines is posted or emailed to about 350 Branch members. It can also be read and downloaded by anyone from the Branch website pages.

If you would like to publicise your waterway related business to our members, and others that read the newsletter online, we can offer advertising space at the following rates:

Full Page - £20 inc VAT per issue Half Page - £10 inc VAT per issue

Please contact the editor to discuss artwork and layout.

By advertising you will help to sponsor IWA's charitable activities and reach potential customers who are all committed to the waterways.

The IWA has a range of corporate members some of whom offer discounts to members. The discount details can be found on the IWA website at https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways to give/corporate membership

Corporate members in our area are

Lichfield Cruising Club 2000 Ltd

Longwood Boat Club

Stafford Boat Club Ltd Ashby Canal Association

Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust Tamworth Cruising Club

Ashby Canal Trust Ash Tree Boat Club

Lichfield & Hatherton Canals

Countywide Cruisers (Brewood) Ltd Restoration Trust Elite Furnishings

Canal Transport Services Ltd Birmingham and Midland Marine Services

Waterways World Ltd River Canal Rescue Ltd

Midland Chandlers

Hargreaves Narrowboat Trust

Norton Canes Boat Services Ltd Stafford Riverway Link

Lakeland Leisure Estates Ltd All Leisure Boating Ltd

Please mention the IWA when contacting any of these Corporate Members.

Lichfield Branch

Your Committee

Chairman and Acting Secretary

Tel: 01785 255101

Email: pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer

Tel: 01785 255101

Email: sue.gurney@waterways.org.uk

Planning

Tel: 01889 583330

Email: phil.sharpe@waterways.org.uk

Newsletter and Website Editor

Tel: 01785 255101

Email: pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk

Volunteer Coordinator & Membership

Tel: 07808 846434 or 07481259955

Email: neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk

Navigation Officer

Tel: 07847 470112

Email: derek.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk

Publicity—Press & Magazines

Pete Gurney

Sue Gurney

Phil Sharpe

Pete Gurney

Neil Barnett

Derek Beardsmore

Vacant

Social Secretary Position vacant

Minutes Secretary

Tel: 01283 713125

Email: adrian.wedgwood@waterways.org.uk

Ex Officio: Region Chairman

also Branch Sales and External Talks (noncommittee posts)

Tel : 01543 491161

Email: helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk

Non-committee posts

Walks Coordinator

Email: clive.walker@waterways.org.uk

Social Media Editor

Email: Richard.curtis@waterways.org.uk

Branch Contact Address

Email: lichfield@waterways.org.uk

Adrian Wedgwood

Helen Whitehouse

Clive Walker

Richard Curtis

Branch

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