See inside for our fantastic range of activities over the next few months 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.
www.waterways.org.uk/lichfield
Issue 46 Winter 2024
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Lichfield Branch
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Inside This Issue •
A View From The Helm
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•
Forthcoming Events
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Walks and Meetings till April 2024 Map and directions to new Venue •
Recent Activities
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Recent Walks and Meetings •
Recent News
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Article re Canal Funding from Local Government magazine •
Boating Tips from River Canal Rescue
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•
Your IWA Needs You
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•
Planning Matters
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•
AGM Notice
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•
Editorial Notice
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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: Unit 16B, Chiltern Court, Asheridge Road, Chesham HP5 2PX Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk
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A VIEW FROM THE HELM Welcome to 2024 and, to our new meetings venue - Darwin Hall. After ten years at Martin Heath Hall and having heard that some regulars at our meetings have ceased coming because of parking difficulties and the unlit environs we've found a new splendid home for our Branch meetings. Some benefits of Darwin Hall at Heathcot Place, Lichfield WS13 6RQ (ignore the Darwin Hall sign to Waitrose at the roundabout): * Well-lit plentiful parking * Welcoming entrance leading directly to the hall & toilets (including accessible) * More space for a sociable layout for refreshment breaks. notice boards and the IWA shop * Space to accommodate a growing attendance * Nearer to a bus route (& only a few minutes from our existing venue) * Next to the Inkwell pub for pre & post meeting gatherings for real ale & food * Adjacent to Waitrose supermarket for last minute shopping and an overflow car park from whence there's a hard surfaced path to the Hall. The new location has necessitated the change of our meetings day to Fridays. Many of us think that may also help increase attendance at our meetings. Having the Inkwell pub next door might help! Darwin Hall
Please come along with friends, whether members or not, to explore our new venue and listen to Harry White's talk in February on Saving the Brewing Heritage of Burton. East Staffordshire Borough Council is planning to develop Burton's High Street listed buildings & riverside former site of Bass's greatest brewery & later Molson Coors
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offices into a tourist attraction that will include interactive displays of brewing history & the development of the town's primary industry. Following closure by Molson Coors of the former Bass Museum of Brewing sterling work by members of the National Brewery Heritage Trust is dedicated to the preservation & availability for public access to thousands of historic archives and artefacts that chart the history of Britain's brewing capital and our brewing industry. These include information on the impact of the arrival in Burton of the Trent & Mersey Canal. I have asked Harry to bring along some examples for us to examine after the refreshment break. Do bring to the meeting any brewing memorabilia you have - Harry (a Director of Research at Bass prior to his retirement) would be interested to see it. Fund British Waterways Campaign. Keeping the pressure on Government & the Opposition in Election year is vital if there's to be any chance of providing a proper level of funding for CRT. Following an appeal from IWA we are looking at arranging a 'Lock Wind' at Fradley or Great Haywood on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend. Look out for details on our Website www.waterways.org.uk/lichfield Following the outstanding success of their presentation at our November meeting you'll be interested to see some Seasonal Tips for Boaters from River & Canal Rescue in this edition of Lichfield Lines. This is the first in a series for all our magazines this year. You'll also find an appeal for more volunteers to help us run our Lichfield Branch of IWA. We're probably amongst the best & most active in England with our programme of fascinating talks and Neil Barnett's volunteers activities featured in the current edition of Towpath Talk. Our Committee does a terrific job - with help we could do more! Please attend our AGM on Friday 22 March and offer your support. Our talks programme for September 2024 to April 2025 is well advanced. As well as traditional waterways subjects we are exploring offers of talks on canals in the US, Wildlife on our canals & rivers, the Suez Canal, Bell-founding at Loughborough and Astronomy of the night sky at Tixall Wide with planets in 3D. Look out in April for our full programme.
Please let me know what you think of Darwin Hall & any suggestions for ways to increase further our attendance at meetings. Best wishes to you all for 2024. Adrian Wedgwood Chairman IWA Lichfield Branch
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Forthcoming Events Please note the change of Venue and day for our meetings starting February 2024. Our New venue is Darwin Hall, off Heathcot Place Lichfield WS136RQ.
Map and Directions
Directions Turn off Sainte Foy Avenue onto The Whytmore and then left onto Heathcot Place, keeping straight ahead for the car park. Additional parking may be found in a designated section of the Waitrose car park but please don’t park in The Inkwell pub car park. Darwin Hall Postcode WS13 6RQ
Lichfield Branch Friday 23rd February 2024— Meeting February’s meeting continues the subject of beer from our January meeting with Dr Harry White of The National Brewery Heritage Trust on “Saving the Brewing Heritage of Burton” a massive but very worthwhile task.
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Some of the Brewing Heritage of Burton
Thursday 7th March 2024—Walk around Walton-on-Trent and the Trent and Mersey Canal This is an easy 4¾ mile walk on level ground, with no stiles. Leaving the pub car park, we cross the Trent on the footbridge and walk alongside Tucklesholme Quarry, a nature reserve in the making. We traverse the A38 safely on a flyover and walk down onto the T&M, where we turn left. We say goodbye to the canal by bridge 39 and stroll through the village of Efflinch towards Barton under Needwood, which we leave by the marina. We then return to our starting Tuckleshome Quarry point the same way we came, i.e., over Nature Reserve the A38, alongside the nature reserve and across the Trent. Meet 10:30 for a 10:45 start on Thursday 7th March 2024 in the car park of The Swan at Walton, 34 Main Street, Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire DE12 8LZ. Contact Clive Walker on clive.walker@waterways.org.uk Friday 22nd March 2024— Meeting As usual our March meeting will be preceded by the Branch AGM (see page 24 for official notice). After the formalities of the AGM Branch member Margaret Beardsmore will show us some of her superb photos with a talk entitled “Photographing the Cut”.
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Friday 19th April 2024—Meeting Our last meeting of the season will feature Nick Haynes from the Friends of President giving us an update on “Steam Narrowboat President”. President is currently undergoing an extensive refit the most expensive part of which is a new boiler. This is currently out for tender so it is hoped to get the boat back on the water by summer 2024. Thursday 9th May 2024—Walk "Shuttington and the Coventry Canal." This is an easy 5 mile walk with 3 stiles. There is one gentle climb at the end of the walk, otherwise on level ground. We first head across fields to pick up a green track that leads us to Statfold Farm with its Mease Valley Railway. We then head in a south-westerly direction towards Amington. Shortly after crossing the railway, we join the canal by bridge 65 and follow the towpath as far as Alvecote Marina. Shortly thereafter we walk along a footpath by the river Anker. We cross the river Anker by Shuttington Bridge and Coventry Canal near then proceed uphill across fields back to our starting point. Alvecote Marina Meet 10:30 for a 10:45 start on Thursday 9th May 2024 in the car park of The Wolferstan Arms, Main Road, Shuttington, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 0DP. Contact Clive Walker on clive.walker@waterways.org.uk Recent Activities Thursday 9th November 2023—Walk "Radford Bank and the Staffs. & Worcs. Canal” Radford Bank is currently the closest point that the canal gets to the county town of
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Stafford, that is until the Stafford Riverway Link has completed its ambitious project to connect to the town centre. We passed their site shortly after leaving the pub car park and stopped briefly to admire their progress. There were a couple of new faces amongst the nine of us who set off, including one local lady and her dog, who had seen an IWA poster and decided to join us. The canal feels enclosed here, hemmed in by the Penk and Sow rivers to our left, and the railway above us on the right. We left the canal by Stoneford Bridge no. 103, crossed under the railway line and trudged uphill into Weeping Cross. It is now an affluent suburb of Stafford. It is rumoured that the name of Weeping Cross is a reference to the village’s alleged former role as a place of public execution, but the name is more likely to relate to the base of a missing medieval stone cross, once common across England, where pilgrims could express grief, remorse, or repentance. Anyway, no such rueful thoughts entered our minds as we passed through Weeping Cross, crossed the A513, and entered the streets of Walton and Wildwood. We crossed the busy A34 and walked downhill towards Hazelstrine Bridge no. 96. From here it is a pleasant stroll past Stafford Boat Club with its impressive club house and cast-iron bridge. On our left, we were able to admire the birdlife on Radford Meadows Nature Reserve through carefully trimmed rectangular windows in the hedging. Between Hazelstrine Bridge no. 96 and our destination of Radford Bridge no 98 the intermediate bridge (number 97) has disappeared completely. The Pearson’s Canal Companion mentions that there is “not even any tell-tale narrowing in the canal’s channel where it once must have stood”. Perhaps someone knows how this all came about? We retired to The Radford Bank Inn for a carvery and drinks. I wish to thank Derek Beardsmore for first introducing me to the above walk. Clive Walker Wednesday 15th November—Meeting November’s meeting was a fascinating talk by Stephanie Horton, the MD of River and Canal Rescue. She gave us some examples of the common things that can go wrong with boats and how to avoid them. This prompted a lot of questions from the
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audience. The final part of the talk showed some of the thankfully rare disasters that RCR have attended recently. Altogether an interesting and thought provoking talk. During the interval our Chairman Adrian Wedgwood presented donation cheques to The Ashby Canal Association, Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, Stafford Riverway Link and The Truman Trust. L to R Peter Oakden (ACA), Bob Williams (LHCRT), Yvonne Plant (SRL), Sheila Cook (TT), Adrian and our speakers from RCR, Stephanie Horton and Charlotte Perry.
Sunday 10th December—Christmas Dinner Following the success of last year’s Christmas dinner at Darnford Moors Golf Club we returned to the same venue for the 2023 version. This was equally successful with 31 members and guests enjoying an excellent meal. As last year we had the room to ourselves until almost the end of the meal when a large party of golfers assembled for their Christmas dinner. Monday 1st January—Walk—Huddlesford and the Coventry Canal After all the rain that had fallen over the Christmas period the sun came out to welcome in the New Year. This change in the weather probably helped with the good turnout. There were several new faces among the 27 walkers, who assembled in the car park of The Plough Inn. The heavy rain, however, had led to a flood in Huddlesford Lane by the car entrance to Lichfield Cruising Club – it seems to flood at this point a lot for some reason - and so it was no longer possible to follow the original route as planned. I was already aware of this blockage and had come up with a plan B. Unfortunately, this alternative plan involved walking twice along the same section of towpath, which I knew to be
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Photos by Margaret Beardsmore
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notoriously muddy. We therefore descended onto the towpath at Bowman’s bridge and followed the canal all the way past Whittington. The narrow steps at Bowman’s seemed to have disappeared under a layer of ash, and it was a somewhat precarious step down from the road. Due to this awkward start and the abundant mud the walking party soon spread out and we let Photo Margaret Beardsmore people catch up by “Whittington Wharf”. One walker lost his footing on the mud and fell sedately and uninjured in towards the hedge. We helped him up. Fortunately, that was the sole incident of the day. We paused by the IWA plaque at Whittington Brook. Here, Helen Whitehouse and John Parry gave a brief explanation of the construction of this section of the Coventry Canal and did so in under a minute without hesitation or deviation, and with only slight repetition. We left the canal by Whittington Bridge and walked up onto Windmill Hill. The windmill is long gone but the MOD rifle range is still in use. After a group photo we left the path by the 800-yard butts and descended back down into the village. We then rejoined the same section of towpath by bridge 80, where the Swan pub used to be, and trudged back to our starting point, this time without incident. A booking had been made at The Plough Inn, and I am grateful for the efficient way in which they took our orders and served up our delicious food. Clive Walker Ongoing—Offside Veg Project Our hardy team of volunteers have been busy cutting back the offside vegetation again this winter. Starting in October, they began at Fradley Junction and worked their way up the Trent & Mersey Canal to Great Haywood before turning on to the Staffs & Worcs Canal. They are currently just south of Penkridge and will reach Gailey by the end of January, where they will turn back and spend the following month dealing with some sections on the Trent & Mersey Canal which they were not able to do during their outward journey due to the amount of boating activity that was still going on in October. Volunteer co-ordinator Neil Barnett says ‘In early winter when the canals are still quite busy, it’s difficult to work on some sections, particularly the narrow parts or beside popular moorings. Our two workboats naturally take up a lot of room and we
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obviously don’t wish to impede the progress of passing boaters or to have to keep stopping work and moving out of the way, so it’s better to leave those and sort them on our way back to Fradley in February when there is far less boating activity. The operation began in 2017 as a joint IWA/CRT venture with each party working two days a week. ‘It works well’ continued Neil. ‘The CRT contingent is predominantly made up of their volunteers who operate the locks at Fradley during the summer, and we use the IWA Lichfield Branch pool of 12 volunteers for our two days’. In previous years the teams have cut back everywhere that needed doing as they passed by, however in doing so, progress was very slow. So this winter, in order to cover more miles, they have been specifically concentrating on the places where navigation is impeded or compromised, such as on bends, sightlines, approaches to locks and bridges, opposite popular mooring spots. ‘It’s not ideal’ continues Neil, ‘but because we have to cease the operation as soon as the nesting wildlife begins (usually in early March), we have in the past run out of time and had to finish the operation before reaching some of the more problematic parts of the canal further ahead’. Neil continued ‘we also sometimes have to be selective with what we deal with, for example, a short 5 metre section of hawthorn or brambles can take as much as two hours to do, so we will only address these if they are causing a major problem. Heading the day to day operation is branch member and lead volunteer Jeff Steele, whose main responsibility is to ensure that all the safety criteria is strictly adhered to, as well co-ordinating the volunteers to ensure that there is enough cover for each day with the necessary skills and qualifications to operate the tools and machinery. Our teams work in all weathers. The storms before Christmas were particularly challenging, and it is to their credit that the only ‘lost’ day so far was when the canal was iced over and they were unable to move the boats. We now have some magnetic banners which stick to the side of the work boats so that boaters and towpath walkers know that it is the IWA Lichfield Branch improving the canals’. A final word from Neil, ‘If this is something that is of interest to you, please bear in
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Leathermill Lane steps before and after
mind that most of our volunteers do one day a week and naturally our ‘other lives’ mean that it’s not necessarily every week, but both days are fine if you wish. Why not pop along and meet us, watch us for half an hour to find out what is involved, and then decide whether it’s something for you or not’.
If you are interested in finding out more please contact Neil at Neil.Barnett@waterways.org.uk Lichfield Branch volunteers have also been hard at work with towpath workdays, mainly at Leathermill bridge in Rugeley. We have tidied up the towpath, the steps and dredged the canal producing supermarket trolleys, baskets and a whole tree! Recent News The following article recently appeared in the Local Government Association’s First Magazine authored by Sir Robert Atkins, an IWA Trustee and member of Wyre Council. This magazine goes out to all members of the Local Government Association so would certainly have helped to spread the word about the Fund Our Waterways Campaign. Our canals and rivers are under threat. That may seem a strange statement when you think of the popularity of television programmes like Timothy West and Prunella Scales’ Great Canal Journeys. Or the
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millions of people who regularly use canals and rivers for exercise, recreation or active travel. Or the jobs, heritage or regeneration they enable. I have seen at first hand the increasing popularity of our inland waterways as the 250year old industrial network has been repurposed for leisure. Millions of hours of volunteer effort have gone into restoring derelict waterways. Today, restoration projects continue around the country, and the waterways are being reimagined again for climate change mitigation. Inland waterways are widespread. Nationally there are 5,000 navigable miles and almost 80 per cent of local authorities have a navigable waterway or a waterway under restoration. In 2022, an estimated 8.9 million people took part in an inland boating or watersports activity, resulting in the delivery of £3.1 billion in gross value added to the UK economy in 2022/23 and supporting more than 132,000 jobs. To this should be added the very substantial social and environmental value of waterways. However, the waterways are suffering from inflation, constrained funding and extreme weather events. Failing to maintain the infrastructure has consequences, as in 2019 when 1,500 local residents were evacuated in case the dam at Toddbrook Reservoir above Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire collapsed. Yet despite the value of the waterways, their deteriorating condition and the minimal level of national investment needed, the Government appears unwilling to invest appropriately. To address this threat, Fund Britain’s Waterways has come together. More than 100 organisations, representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways, are campaigning for national and local government to act now to protect the public benefit and natural capital of our waterways. Please join and support us. Encourage people to sign the public petition and write to their MPs. We need everyone’s help to safeguard our waterways for future generations. Boating Tips from River and Canal Rescue De-winterising and servicing Water Check and close any taps left open throughout the winter, replace the plug in the water heater (if removed) and switch the water pump on. Test the system for leaks or issues, and open and run water through each tap. Start with those closest to the pump and work through to the one furthest away – this will push any air locks through the system. Drain any water in the tank out and refill with fresh drinking water.
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Engine When thinking about servicing, include the engine, LPG and electrical systems, fire extinguishers and escape hatches. Check the oil level and oil condition, you’ll be able to see whether the engine needs a topup or service (the latter if the oil’s black). We advise servicing your engine on a yearly basis or every 250 running hours (whichever comes first). This reduces the possibility of excessive wear and tear in the engine internals. When servicing the engine, ensure all fluid filters are changed and check the air filter. Even if they’re clean, it’s good practice to change them so they work well for the coming season. After the service, always run and test the engine to check for leaks and its performance. Also check the antifreeze level - if it’s low, it could be due to a leak; make any necessary repairs and ensure levels are topped up in case there’s a cold snap (you never know with our weather). Fuel Water in the fuel is one of the biggest causes of breakdowns and poor engine performance, so before running the engine, check water trap filters and remove any excess water. If water is present or there are signs of diesel bug (black dust or jelly), dip the tank to identify its severity and treat with a fuel treatment or have the fuel polished accordingly. If you do not have a water trap filter, you’ll need to check the main fuel tank using a clear plastic hose. Drop Engine it into the tank (careful not to Mounting disturb the fuel) and when you feel the bottom, place your thumb over the end to seal it and withdraw the hose. This should provide you with a tank sample, showing the amount of water present, plus an indication of any diesel bug contamination. There is still debate around sticky
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fuel causes– a change in fuel density that appears to clog up injection pump racks, injectors and filter head plungers, and block fuel filters. We believe it’s linked to a change in fuel and fuel treatment additives. Research is still underway, but in the meantime, a strong smell of turps will signal a sticky fuel problem. If this happens, overhaul the injectors and/or pump, empty the tank and refill with fresh fuel. Bolts and terminals Check the bolts on couplings, engine mounts (only adjust the bottom bolt) and prop shaft are tight, and clean off any corrosion on battery terminals. Check the fan belt for tightness and wear (cracks and fraying are a sure sign it needs relacing) and gearbox oil levels. Check the stern gland, a traditional stern gland should leak, but if it’s leaking too much, it probably needs adjusting and greasing. If this does not resolve it, it needs repacking. Cooling system Run your engine up to ‘running’ temperature (if there’s a gauge) or for approximately half an hour. Check the cooling system for leaks or escaping steam and if something is found, check jubilee clips are tight. If a split pipe is evident call out a qualified engineer. Finally put the engine into gear and check the control lever operation, it should move freely with no tightness or ‘grabbing’, grease the ends and check for fraying, replace if required. Deck clearance Clear deck drains of any leaves and debris – it will reduce the amount of water that enters the bilge and prevent rust occurring within the gunnels. Your IWA Needs You
We will welcome help maintaining the smooth running & development of our Lichfield Branch of the IWA. Other branches are struggling from lack of leadership, attendance at events and volunteers to keep them going. Not so here in Lichfield. We have a dedicated team at the helm, a first class magazine & communications network, an extensive programme of interesting events, a new attractive venue in the
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year ahead and increasing attendance at our public meetings. Could you spare Some a few hours from time to Fan Belts time enjoying making new friends? * helping our friendly team with social events, or * staffing our display & recruitment stands at local events, or * Supporting Helen with her sales table And contributing to the organisation & development of our Branch? You don't have to be a 'boater'! Please contact Adrian Wedgwood, our chairman, at one of our meetings or by Email adrian.wedgwood@waterways.org.uk or phone 07939 136937 or Neil Barnett, our vice-chairman on neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk or 07808 846434 to discuss opportunities. Planning Matters This report summarises the more important of 60 planning matters dealt with between mid-October 2023 and mid-January 2024.
On the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Penkridge, a traveller site had been established without any planning consent by the canal on Teddesley Road, but their Appeal against the Council’s Enforcement Order requiring its removal was allowed. At Latherford, between Deepmore Bridge and Moat House Bridge south of Calf Heath, a proposed Battery Energy Storage site would be unacceptably noisy during its operation for any boats moored there overnight, and would be visually intrusive to the canal’s Conservation Area, even after tree planting. It is also on good quality agricultural land within the Green Belt and would industrialise the countryside when alternative sites should be available on the West Midlands Interchange (WMI) or i54 industrial estates. On the Trent & Mersey Canal at Burston, an application for 15 holiday lodges we objected to in 2021 was never determined, and a subsequent application for two selfbuild dwellings on part of the site was also not determined, then appealed, but now refused.
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At Pasturefields, a proposed Traveller residential caravan site we objected to in 2021 and again in 2022 has finally been refused as visually intrusive and detrimental to the rural setting of the Trent & Mersey Canal Conservation Area. At Great Haywood, the proposed housing development directly opposite the junction that we strongly objected to has thankfully been refused. The many reasons include “substantial and irreversible change to the setting of the historic canal junction ‘Haywood Junction’ which incorporates three conservation areas, two listed buildings, and a scheduled ancient monument” with “serious harm to the numerous heritage assets in this extremely sensitive and heritage dense location”. At Kings Bromley Marina the Aquavista application, to remove a condition from the original planning consent limiting residential use of the moorings to 120 calendar days in a year, has been refused. The reasons include it being an unsustainable location for 116 new permanent moorings, even though only 75 residential moorings were previously proposed and about 50 already exist. Also, the intensified use of the site with parked cars, storage, and washing lines (!) even though these have minimal impact. As before, the decision is based on policies for the sustainable location of new housing sites, which are clearly not relevant or appropriate for residential boats, and these issues may provide grounds for an Appeal. Near Horninglow Basin in Burton-on-Trent, another retrospective application has
Kings Bromley Marina
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been submitted for the third one of the four plots of land which had consent in 2019 for building detached houses, but three of which have in fact become gypsy and traveller sites, with 6 mobile homes on each site. By the Coventry Canal at Mancetter Wharf, the new office building for the Rothen Group has been approved, and the work boat stacks will be dealt with as a separate matter. Beside the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal at Curdworth Bottom Lock, plans to extend one of the cottages were acceptable. On the Ashby Canal at Basin Bridge Farm near Wykin Bridge, a house replacing a small bungalow has been permitted, conditional on maintaining trees and hedgerows adjacent to the canal, as we requested. Also, at Stoke Golding, the proposed single storey home behind the boatyard has been approved. By the Anglesey Branch of the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Brownhills, the application for a large warehouse development between Barracks Lane and the A5 that we objected to has been Withdrawn. Also at Brownhills, we have expressed concerned about the ground stability of amended plans for a house at Middleton Road on the edge of a steep slope of made ground above the canal. The Lichfield Canal application for its full restoration between Gallows Wharf and Lock 24 south of Tamworth Road is progressing with submission of various additional reports. This application by Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (LHCRT) continues to be supported by IWA. The Lichfield Local Plan, Submission version was ‘paused’ for 12 months but has now been Withdrawn. This leaves the 2015 Strategy and the 2019 Allocations plans in force which include a policy safeguarding the Lichfield Canal route, but any improvements to the mapping or development funding contributions are back to square one. At Deanslade Farm an updated drainage strategy has been submitted for the housing site development. The present small infiltration basin is not working as planned and surface water run-off is having to be pumped out into tankers. They now propose an overflow outfall via a control chamber to the canal, as previously advocated by LHCRT. But this is only acceptable if the basin is lined as an attenuation basin to remove the threat to the structural stability of the canal cutting. This is fundamental to draining their housing site properly so it should all be constructed by Taylor Wimpey, including a short section of adjacent canal channel. We have lodged a Holding Objection pending the change to the basin design, agreement for the full infrastructure to be provided by TW, and the discharge rate being agreed by LHCRT.
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At Tamworth Road, following a previous refusal for a Care Home development, the associated 15 houses have been removed and the care home relocated by Lock 26, with a landscaped attenuation basin towards the A38. Surface water drainage is to be pumped from the basin into the canal at the winding hole. The layout is an improvement but the design of the care home is too industrial in appearance, and claims that canal architecture is industrial are misconceived. We have no objection in principle, subject to LHCRT agreeing the drainage arrangements, but would prefer a less industrial design for the care home building. By the Hatherton Canal at Oak Lane, demolition of the old cottages and their replacement by two detached bungalows has been allowed. The HS2 Phase 2 cancellation left many unanswered questions and loose ends, but the Trent-Sow HS2 Group has since been reassured that the various Phase 2a environmental projects being funded by HS2, including the Staffs & Worcs Canal towpath improvements, will be completed as planned. The Phase 2b (Crewe – Manchester) Bill was carried over in Parliament for possible retention of the Manchester section of the route as part of Network North, although the work of the Select Committee examining it remains paused.
Proposed Care Home at Tamworth Road alongside Lichfield Canal Kings Bromley Marina
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On HS2 Phase 1 construction work continues, although most of the works north of Birmingham around Lichfield to Handsacre, except for the A38 bridges, are currently on hold for 2 years. In an interesting session of the House of Commons Transport Committee in January the HS2 Executive Chair Sir Jon Thompson referred to the major capacity problems of running HS2 trains north from Handsacre Junction on existing tracks to Manchester and Glasgow. The problem here is that the 4 existing tracks plus the 2 extra HS2 tracks funnel down within a few miles to only 2 tracks through Colwich Junction and Shugborough Tunnel. This major bottleneck was left unchanged when the West Coast Mainline was mostly widened two decades ago, meaning that Handsacre is the worst possible place for HS2 to join it. Running a full HS2 service to the north this way is simply impractical, which HS2 themselves recognised some years ago as they only intended to use the Handsacre Link for one train an hour via Stafford. Sir Jon clearly recognises that 6 into 2 won’t go, and said that building the “2a eastern stub” was still to be decided. Whilst what was called the Manchester Spur, and its bridge over the Trent & Mersey Canal above Shade House Lock at Fradley Junction, is now superfluous with the cancellation of Phase 2a, retaining this would enable the first part of 2a to the east of Stafford to be reinstated to bypass this bottleneck and join the West Coast Mainline around Norton Bridge rather than Handsacre. A similar scheme has been considered previously by Network Rail, independent of HS2, although never publicly disclosed. If the Government’s promise that HS2 trains will still run through to Manchester and Scotland is to be fulfilled, then they will either have to tackle the tricky issue of widening the existing railway through the legally inalienable National Trust parkland and tunnel at Shugborough, which they avoided 20 years ago, or build a bypass line around Stafford, based on the first part of the Phase 2a route, or complete 2a to Crewe as originally planned and authorised. The latter, fully reversing the Phase 2a cancellation, seems politically unlikely, but remains the best option from a railway operational standpoint. This is because, as Sir Jon freely admitted, running HS2 trains any distance on existing tracks will be both slower and with reduced capacity compared with the existing service. The overall speed is reduced because HS2 trains won’t tilt, unlike the existing Pendolinos, so must run slower around the tighter bends. And the HS2 train is composed of two units each 200 metres long but the existing platforms at Crewe, Manchester, etc. can only take 250 metre Pendolinos, so HS2 would have to run single units which would have a lower capacity. In those circumstances, it would clearly be better to continue running the existing trains than build and run shorter and slower HS2 trains north of Birmingham. If, to avoid this nonsense, they do decide to build 2a, or at least to bypass Stafford,
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then it is likely that Great Haywood Marina and the Trent & Mersey Canal there will once again be threatened by the inadequate noise mitigation previously proposed. Or if they were to widen through Shugborough then the T&M Canal at Colwich and the Staffs & Worcs Canal along the Sow valley would be affected, although less so as this is an existing line and trains would not be running at their full speed. The Shugborough ‘tunnel’ is in fact a cut-and cover structure designed in the 19th century to hide the line and with ornate stone portals to satisfy the then landowner Lord Anson. It should be possible to build a parallel tunnel and give it suitably architectural portals to satisfy todays landowner, the National Trust. The rail formation width west of the tunnel is already wide enough for 4 tracks, and to the east land at the former Colwich station would allow widening there, although widening the embankment and bridge across the valley would be more intrusive. Another issue which Sir Jon revealed, is that the design of Curzon Street station in Birmingham was for the full HS2 network with 7 platforms, but cancellation of HS2 East and doubts about the service pattern to the north, means that it may only need 3 platforms. Despite this, the contract to build it was awarded before Christmas and construction will start shortly. Sir Jon also revealed that the Phase 1 cost estimate at current prices has grown again to around £60-65 billion, against the Government’s budget of £45 billion. However, this could be affected by the 6 main decision areas outstanding: Handsacre Junction and connections to the West Coast Mainline; rolling stock design; Euston tunnelling; Old Oak Common; Curzon Street; and the 2a eastern stub. Other admissions were that HS2 should have undertaken geological investigations much earlier to better understand ground conditions and costs, and that the cost increase was partly due to “poor delivery on our part” and inadequate management information and scrutiny. However, the committee failed to take up the implied offer of more information on the delivery failures. In summary, the Government’s decision has left HS2 as little more than a fast shuttle service between London and Birmingham. The current plans for HS2 services to the north are unworkable without new or reinstated track improvements around Stafford. The original objectives of a high speed national network connecting most major cities and increasing capacity is in danger of producing a slower rail service with fewer seats north of Birmingham and at a huge and growing cost. It will no longer contribute to ‘levelling-up’ the north, and the early promise of an integrated service with Europe via HS1 and the Channel Tunnel is long forgotten. In view of its history and all these unresolved issues, what had already become a farce of a project is now in danger of becoming a fiasco. Phil Sharpe, Planning Officer & HS2 Lead
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IWA LICHFIELD BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FRIDAY 22nd MARCH 2024, at 7.30 PM To be held at Darwin Hall, Heathcot Place, Lichfield, WS13 6RQ
AGENDA 1) Apologies for absence 2) Approval of the minutes of the 2023 AGM and any matters arising from these minutes 3) Report from the Branch Chairman 4) Financial Report from the Branch Treasurer 5) Elections to the Committee a) Members completing 3 years in post and eligible for re-election. Adrian Wedgwood Neil Barnett Sue Gurney Derek Beardsmore b) Members co-opted since last AGM and willing to stand for election. (none) c) Any other candidates 6) Any resolutions requested by members of the Branch (provided the Branch Chairman was notified in writing of the item at least 6 weeks prior to the AGM*) 7) Any Other Business Notes: Candidates for election to the committee must be current members of the Lichfield Branch and should indicate their willingness to stand. The Branch committee officers (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) are elected by the committee from its members at their first meeting after the AGM. Current members of the Committee are: Adrian Wedgwood (Chairman), Neil Barnett (Vice-Chairman), Sue Gurney (Treasurer), Phil Sharpe (Secretary), Derek Beardsmore. *Item 6: Please put any resolutions in writing and address them to the Chairman at 31 Meadow Rise, Barton under Needwood, DE13 8DT or by email to lichfield@waterways.org.uk by 9th February 2024.
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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 April 2024, for publication in May. Advertising Lichfield Lines is posted or emailed to about 320 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/benefits Corporate members in our area are— Lichfield Cruising Club 2000 Ltd Stafford Boat Club Ltd Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust Ashby Canal Trust Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Canal Transport Services Ltd River Canal Rescue Ltd Midland Chandlers Norton Canes Boat Services Ltd Lakeland Leisure Estates Ltd
Longwood Boat Club Ashby Canal Association Tamworth Cruising Club Ash Tree Boat Club Countywide Cruisers (Brewood) Ltd Elite Furnishings Waterways World Ltd Birmingham & Midland Marine Services Hargreaves Narrowboat Trust Stafford Riverway Link
Please mention the IWA when contacting any of these Corporate Members.
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Your Committee Chairman Tel: 01283 713125 Email: adrian.wedgwood@waterways.org.uk
Adrian Wedgwood
Vice-Chairman Tel: 07808 846434 or 07481259955 Email: neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk
Neil Barnett
Treasurer Tel: 01785 255101 Email: sue.gurney@waterways.org.uk
Sue Gurney
Secretary & Planning Officer Tel: 01889 583330 Email: phil.sharpe@waterways.org.uk
Phil Sharpe
Volunteer Coordinator & Membership Tel: 07808 846434 or 07481259955 Email: neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk
Neil Barnett
Navigation Officer Tel: 07847 470112 Email: derek.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk
Derek Beardsmore
Social Secretary
Position vacant
Ex Officio: Region Chairman also Branch Sales (non-committee post) Tel : 01543 491161 Email: helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk
Helen Whitehouse
Non-committee posts Newsletter and Website Editor Tel: 01785 255101 Email: pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk
Pete Gurney
Walks Coordinator Email: clive.walker@waterways.org.uk
Clive Walker
Social Media Editor Email: Richard.curtis@waterways.org.uk
Richard Curtis
Branch Contact Address Email: lichfield@waterways.org.uk
IWA Lichfield Branch 34 Old Eaton Road, Rugeley WS15 2EZ
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