Moorland Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8EX Tel. 01254 249265 Email david.faulkner@waterways.org.uk

from Towing Path Topics - September 2022

LCT

Barrowford Reservoir

CRT have given us the following explanation of what they are doing at the reservoir.

"Work is progressing at Barrowford Reservoir on several fronts. • The reservoir has been drained completely to allow inspection of the scour pipes and replacement of the valves. • A new drainage system is being installed along the toe of the NE embankment and is nearly complete. Work will continue with the system along the toes of the other embankments. • Crest lowering has commenced and is about half complete –regrading of the downstream face will follow on over the next few weeks. Due to additional works the programme has now been extended into 2023”

(Scour pipes empty the reservoir. Ed)

When I asked if lowering the crest would reduce the capacity I received a further explanation. NB You can see the stonework being removed on the bottom left of the above photograph.

“Yes, the capacity of the reservoir will be reduced post works

The embankment was raised sometime in the past resulting in steeper downstream slopes and a clay core which was discontinuous in places.

For years the reservoir has suffered from high-level leaks and slips on the downstream face of the embankment – partly due to the leaks and partly due to its steepness

To increase the factors of safety, the decision has been taken to lower the top water level to reduce the high-level leaks (by lowering the crest) and reduce the gradient of the downstream slope of the embankment to reduce the risk of slip failures in the future

Alternative options to retain the current capacity were considered early in the project but were eliminated for various reasons.”

Thanks to CRT for providing the explanation. If you visit the reservoir the reduced height of the walls is obvious and there is now a road around the top Ed

Water shortage

No need to lock the gates at the Barrowford flight, CRT have taken the opportunity to bring forward scheduled winter maintenance

Water shortage An indication of the scale of boating restrictions from CRT.

Whilst the situation is changing all the time, as of 4 August, 89% of the network is open and fully navigable, 2% is open with restricted operating times, and 9% is closed. A water savings restrictions map is published on the Trust website’s drought pages.

The following canals are temporarily closing to navigation, or have restricted operating times until water levels recover: • Ashton Canal– open but at risk of closure in near future • Caldon Canal – Hazelhurst Flight currently closed, whole canal to close from 8 August • Chesterfield Canal – to be closed from 12 August from Lock 41A to Norwood Tunnel East Portal • Coventry Canal – closed from Locks 1 – 5 from 12 August • Grand Union Canal, Leicester Line – restrictions at Watford and Foxton from 8 August • Huddersfield Narrow Canal – closed • Leeds & Liverpool Canal – closed from Locks 30 to 85 • Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Leigh Branch – restrictions in place for booked passage two days a week • North Oxford Canal – restrictions at Hillmorton from 12 August • Peak Forest & Macclesfield Canals – Marple and Bosley lock flights closed • Rochdale Canal – closed from Locks 1 - 45 (pre booked passages to be honoured) • South Oxford – restrictions at Claydon from 8 August and Napton/Marston Doles from 15 August • Trent & Mersey Canal – currently closed from Locks 41 – 71. Restrictions in place across summit and Stoke Flight until 7 August. Closed from Locks 29 to 40 from 8 August, with summit and Harecastle Tunnel remaining open.

On the Lancaster Canal the Glasson flight was closed for a time and then re-opened. The above notice to boaters is included to show the extent of the restrictions that have been introduced over the summer. Ed

Northern Canals Association Update - August 2022

The first meeting of the NCA was way back in June 1991, at Marsden, on the route of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. It was organised by the then Chair of the Huddersfield Canal Society’s restoration company, Keith Gibson.

Keith then continued to organise three meetings a year, for the following fourteen years until 2005. At that point, Keith became President, in recognition of all the work he had undertaken, and Chris Hayes took over the role as Chair.

If anyone can recall any of these early meetings, with dates, it would be useful for our listings of “Past Meetings” for our website. Even better if you have a photo of any meetings up to 2018, that you would like to share – please send to us at northern.canals2021@btinternet.com

Looking ahead, the next meeting will be in Chesterfield on Sunday 9th October. George Rogers writes: “The focus of the day will be ‘Shovel Readiness – What does it mean?’. In particular, we will be discussing Levelling Up Funds and other similar government programmes. All of these programmes have to meet the criteria set out in the HM Treasury ‘Green Book’, so we will be investigating how schemes comply and what this means for planning and delivery of your projects –learning from the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s successful application to the Towns Fund. Whichever colour of government, and whoever the PM, Government programmes are assessed through the Green Book, so be assured the content will remain relevant longer than the current turmoil of British politics.

The Green Book uses a ‘5 Case Model’, with the project examined from a Strategic, Economic, Financial, Commercial and Management perspective. The Strategic & Economic Cases broadly set out why the project should be delivered. Patrick Moss, from Moss Naylor Young, will be leading a presentation and workshop on these elements.

The other cases broadly cover how the project will be delivered, and George Rogers, Development Manager for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, will be leading a presentation and workshop on these elements.

Alongside the workshops, there will be the usual update on the progress of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, progress updates from other societies and a chance to visit the recent works completed at Staveley Town Basin and the route of the Towns Fund scheme beyond” At the moment, we have 102 people on the NCA’s lists, representing 55 different groups, so we think that there will be quite a demand for the 45 Chesterfield places – so when the invites come out later this month, please book early.

Looking further ahead, and some dates for your diaries. Sunday February 12th 2023, we’re hoping to be hosted by one of the Black Country restoration groups, and for Sunday 8th October 2023, the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society have agreed to arrange the day for us. If any group wishes to host future meetings – please let us know.

Look out for NCA’s website appearing soon. Links to member organisations, previous and future meetings and history of the NCA. NCA. www.northerncanals.org. Ivan Cane on behalf of the NCA Team (From an email to NCA members, included as many of our members have not heard of the NCA or are vague about what it is. Ed) ************************************ (See page 7) A ‘Truxor’, image from the manufacturer’s website

IWA / LCT Bamber Bridge walk – Aug 6th

The old tram road and local history After the local council (South Ribble) published an excellent series of local heritage trails in a downloadable format, I thought I would follow one of these and adapt it with some minor changes so that those with an interest in the Lancaster Canal and its tram road could benefit.

The route start and finish was at the rail station car park and we took Edward Street from the station area to get to where the railway passed over the route of the tram road at Meanygate.

The trail then goes into the town itself, which when the tram road was first built in 1803 was only just big enough to be called a village. Station road was the main Preston to Manchester Road and further up is where the tram road crossed it, which was shown to the walkers.

We had some help from a local garage, which is right next to the line of the tram road. The owner brought out a framed map showing the area and the tram road route in 1846, from the first OS map survey.

This was also the site of where in 1990, the local historical society helped to preserve a small section of tram road that had been excavated and is now in Worden Park.

A short walk to the Hob Inn pub where a new memorial has been created for the ‘Battle of Bamber Bridge’ back in 1943 when US Army units clashed over racial segregation.

The same walk will be held on Oct 22nd. See page 30 for details.

Nigel Hargreaves

Nigel in full flow

Section of the tram road now in Worden Park

Walk from Bamber Bridge Saturday 22nd of October 10.30am

This will be a slightly different route to that taken on 6 August. It will start at the Hob Inn, famous for the Battle of Bamber Bridge. Come on the walk and learn more!

There won’t be any canal but Nigel will explain how the Tram Road was relevant to Bamber Bridge and point out historical landmarks.

Meet at the Hob Inn, PR5 6EP for a 10.30am start, cars can be left there or on the nearby streets. The pub opens at 12.00 so there will be an opportunity to have a drink and explore the inside of this historic pub after the walk.

The Hob Inn The walk will be about 3 miles (5km), just under 2 hours, is fairly easy and on the level. Wear sensible shoes, keep an eye on the weather and don’t forget to bring a bottle of water.

The is a joint walk for the Inland Waterways Association, Lancaster Canal Trust and The Friends of Tram Bridge.

Places must be booked and you can do that by e-mailing Wendy Humphreys on delwendwhm@btinternet.com

Nigel will be bringing along copies of The Lancaster Canal Trust Guide Book, Janet Rigby’s book on the Lancaster Canal and copies of Gordon Biddle’s book, ‘200 years on the Lancaster Canal’, so please bring some cash if you want to buy any books.

IWA Club 500

For £12 a year you are entered in a draw 3 times in the year. Half the proceeds go towards the prizes, half to IWA funds. It is an important fund raiser for us. The club is now administered from IWA head office, if you are interested in joining this painless way of helping, e-mail Kelly Gascoine kelly.gascoine@waterways.org.uk

I won the June draw and used some of the money to buy a small drone to take photographs, some are included in this edition. It’s not the first time I have won. And yes I have registered with the CAA and passed the test. Ed