Grantham Canal Society

From Tony Osbond

We are always being asked by supporters of the Grantham Canal Society “will the canal ever get connected to the River Trent again”? Well, plans are afoot to realise this aim, albeit that I am sure it will be a long drawn-out process. Firstly we must acknowledge that work on the canal has been skewed towards the eastern end of the canal, that is from the A1 at Grantham to Woolsthorpe by Belvoir primarily because this is where the water comes into the canal with Denton and Knipton reservoirs being the main feeders. Work has been concentrated on the Woolsthorpe flight of locks with more recently Locks 15 and 14 being rebuilt with Heritage Lottery money and a new slipway constructed so that our canal maintenance boats can be hauled out of the water for general maintenance.

Our trip boat Three Shires, a main source of income in the spring/summer period, is dependent on our maintenance teams clearing the canal of weeds and overhanging branches so that our paying guests enjoy summer cruises. However we have an untapped population in the west ie Nottingham/West Bridgford and various other boroughs where it is felt that a western base could be established to attract volunteers to help with maintaining and clearing the canal of detritus, trees, reeds etc.

We have put a provisional plan together to reconnect the canal to the River Trent through the Adbolton Lane approach and have also identified a location for a western base. Ongoing presentations have been made to Nottinghamshire County Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council, The Environment Agency and Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe. In addition we have also spoken with and are due to meet with National Highways concerning the lifting of the Eastbound lane of Gamston Bridge (A6011) and Gamston Lings Bar bridge (A52).

National Highways have a pot of money to “put right the things that have been done wrong” over the years; they are already funding a scheme on the Cotswold canal This is not going to happen overnight but if we could get a safeguarded route for a new Trent Connection then that would be a major step forward but more importantly in the short term establish a working base in the West

Boat Rally 2023 reminder

The attractions include a variety of trade, historic and leisure canal boats, trade and exhibitor stalls around the grounds. Other important details include:

Join them from 10:00 each day for a great day out, to 16.30.

12:00 Real Ale bar opens

If you are interested in the history of the local canals and buildings then you will enjoy:

A Walk and Talk on the Cromford Canal Extension. Planning has been approved to extend the canal about one kilometre to include a staircase lock, or

A Victorian Pump House talk: Originally built as part of the local sewer works, it has now been restored and re-purposed by

ECPDA volunteers to manage water levels in the basin

For more details go to the Rally Website (below).

Maintenance and voluteeering..

There are regular work parties on Fridays. For details see the main web site (P4).

Events at Sandiacre Lock Cottage

For queries on any meetings at the Cottage, contact Glyn Stenson on 07809 251441. Normally there is a monthly meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm. All welcome. This year open days will br held from 10,30 to 15.30 on Mar 19, May 21, June 18, Aug 20, Sept 17, and Nov 19.

They hope to see visitors basking in the sunshine whilst enjoying refreshments. There will be live music and participation in traditional crafts, both inside and outside the cottages.

Meetings

ECPDA meetings at Sandiacre on May 18, June 15, Aug 17 and Sep 21. at 7.30pm.

https://rally.ecpda.org.uk/

Members may have read about this in one or other of the bulletins or journals already in circulation, but we are pleased to see the prospect of fewer staff changes at Chesham in the future, and to thank the temporary incumbents for keeping the show on the road so well.

We are also pleased to give a short introduction to Dave Pearce. Dave joined IWA as CEO from 3rd January 2023, and will be working 17 hours a week for the association.

Dave has worked in the charity world for over twenty years as a Chief Executive. He was CEO of AgeUK Dacorum for eight years, during which he developed income streams, grew turnover and reserves, and built networks with other voluntary organisations, funding sources, and politicians.

He was CEO of the Middlesex Association for the Blind for nine years, and Circulation & Marketing Manager for a newspaper, having been with the company for 25 years. He has worked in Africa, and in all he brings a broad range of skills, knowledge, and experience to IWA, as well as being a boat owner. He is passionate about the waterways and everybody who uses them.