Ouse News: Autumn 2020 - Winter 2021

Great Ouse Branch

Ouse News - Winter 2020/21 Newsletter covering the Great Ouse and tributaries Contents: Branch Committee

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Branch News

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Chairman’s Corner p4

Brandon Bank Bridge (see page 26) Photo: Carole Alderton

Campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the Inland Waterways.

Chris Howes

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Letters to Editor

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Book Review

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Sad News

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Freight News

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River News

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Brandon Bank Bridge

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The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the Great Ouse Branch. They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers.

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Great Ouse Branch Committee: Chairman: Keith Alderton Tel : 01366 727236 Secretary: John Hodgson Tel : 01234 344884 Treasurer: Enid Hodgson Tel : 01234 344884 Ouse News Editor: Carole Alderton Tel : 01366 727236 Membership Officer: Peter Webb Tel: 01353 658581

Volunteer Coordinator: Gail Mead Tel: TBA Member: Stephen Foote Tel: 01763 838936 Member: Derek Bradley Tel: 01353 661601

We are a small, friendly group and would welcome another committee member to help us organise meetings and events. Please contact the editor.

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Branch News Winter Meetings are at 8.00 pm at the North Lodge Pavilion, North Lodge Park, Milton, CB24 6UD. M ONDAY 1 ST M ARCH

2021 8 PM

This will be our belated AGM for 2019/20 originally scheduled for Thursday, 26th March 2020.

This will now be a virtual meeting held on Zoom. The original documents will be sent out once again together with a link to attend the meeting.

T HURSDAY 22 ND A PRIL 2021

8 PM

This will be our AGM for 2020/ 21which was s chedul ed for Thursday, 25th March 2021.

Once again documents and a link to attend will be forwarded to you.

From your membership officer: I must give my apologies to any new Branch member that is not listed here.

Also during these strange times I have been unable to send a welcome letter and copy of the latest printed Newsletter. Please remember that if you would like a posted, printed version of Ouse News then please contact Head Office or myself at peter.webb@waterways.org

We welcome the following new members to the branch. We hope you will introduce yourselves to us when coming to an event or meeting: Ian Elliott Mitch & Maria Goldberg Jason Williams David Wrigley Mike McManus Brian & Emma Murphy Anne Ward & Joe Rosenthal Jeremy Chaston Mark & Deborah Taviner Graeme Gould Jeanette Dyson Ian Petchey Members who have moved to branch:

Andrew Smith & Family

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Chairman’s Corner Hello at last! Please accept my apologies for the late arrival of Ouse News due to unforeseen editorial difficulties. However, we have got there in the end and re-named it ‘the Winter Edition’.

Having finally been given permission to cruise in June, we moved Watermist to our new mooring at Ventnor Marina in Warwickshire. Although only 20 miles further North than our old mooring at Blisworth, this location puts us at the centre of the canal system with easy access to a great variety of routes, including the Grand Union North and South, the South Oxford Canal, North Oxford Canal and the Leicester Arm. However, it is a long slow drive to get there from the middle of Norfolk! Subsequently, in September we were able to enjoy an 18-day trip to Oxford and back, 10 days of which were in glorious hot sunny weather, 3 were in storm force winds and one in light rain. Very good going for the time of the year! It was pleasing to find that most of the canal side pubs had embraced the new hygiene regulations and were open for business, albeit on a much restricted level. The South Oxford Canal ranks as one of the most scenic as it winds its way through remote countryside from the Midlands to the City. Oxford makes a ‘must see’ destination for anybody who enjoys cruising the network.

Now back to business. In view of the currently deteriorating situation with Covid-19, the branch committee has decided that it would be prudent to cancel all physical branch meetings until further notice. You can be assured however that we shall be reviewing the situation at regular intervals and will recommence activities as soon as is practical. It is therefore intended that with the assistance of IWA Head Office, the Annual General Meetings outstanding will be held as ‘virtual’ sessions via Zoom. Please see page 3 for details.

Ouse News Page 5 Meanwhile, the work of the IWA nationally continues apace, with the commissioning of a new comprehensive website and much lobbying regarding reducing the impact of HS2 on prime waterways sites. On a regional level, I regret to have to report that Chris Howes has resigned as Chairman of both the Eastern Region and the Peterborough branch (see page 6). During his time as Regional Chairman Chris reactivated the long defunct Regional Committee and campaigned extensively for the development of the Anglian waterways. Chris’s hard work and enthusiasm will be sorely missed. It remains to be seen if the branch chairmen in the region wish the regional committee to continue.

Locally, the branch committee has responded to a consultation document issued by East Cambs District Council regarding the installation of additional railings and safety ladders along Ely waterfront. We stated that we were not in favour of additional railings, but suggested that if they were to be fitted, they should be set back from the waterfront so as not to impede access from moored boats. Likewise, we supported the installation of safety ladders, but suggested that they be set into the wharf so as not to impede access or damage to moored boats.

It is good news to learn that the annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities will be held on our patch on Sunday 4th April 2021.

Both the men’s and women’s races will take place on the straight stretch of the River Great Ouse between Queen Adelaide and Ely. The race has been relocated to the Fens in order to avoid attracting large crowds in London during the Covid epidemic. It is understood that spectators will therefore not be allowed to attend. The situation regarding moored boats has yet to be clarified, but it would seem to be wise for boaters to keep clear of the area.

However, the event will be fully covered by the national media. Have a Happy New Year and keep safe.

Keith Alderton

Ouse News Page 6 Chris Howes, ex Eastern Region Chairman: It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve for the last three years as the IWA regional chairman for the East of England. This position brought with it the additional responsibilities of being a trustee of the IWA. Unfortunately, I was not successful in being reappointed as a trustee in the new process this year and I decided to step down as a trustee and region chairman in June. Since then, I’ve been busy completely rewriting the Imray boating guides ‘Fenland Waters’ and ‘River Great Ouse and its Tributaries’. After the end of the first lockdown I’ve boated every possible reach and talked to many boaters. I hope that when the guides are published they reflect my delight in our wonderful flowing waters. Since the link between Region Chairs automatically becoming Trustees was effectively broken in 2016, I believe that it is more important than ever that Eastern Region and its branches have a direct link to trustees and can shape the Association’s objectives. I hope that we will soon find someone to take on this vital role.

Paul Rodgers, National Chair I would like to thank Chris for all he has done in his role as a trustee and as eastern region chairman. His pragmatism and strong voice will be deeply missed but I know that this passion for the waterways of the east of England will continue to see him lead the charge for all the IWA holds dear. Like Chris, I hope that we will soon be able to find someone to help coordinate the activities of the eastern region branches and will be calling a meeting of branch chairs early in the new year to look at how we fill the gap.

More generally, we have many vacancies for branch officer roles across every branch in the region and I hope that all members reading this will consider whether they can take a more active part in the vitally important local work of the Association.

Ouse News Page 7 Letters to the Editor I was reading an article about what stars were watching/listening to in lockdown. Mel Geldroyc has found an old TV sitcom series, The River, from the 1980s starring David Essex, a pop star turned cockney actor, who has escaped to be a lock keeper. For some reason I never saw it when first broadcast. David Essex was of course every teenage girl’s heart throb. https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=the+ river+film+david+essex&_guc_consent_skip=159144444 #id=1&vid=80e96ccae5b05d45152444f4a26b51c4&action=view I’ m afraid I don’ t recognise the lock where it was filmed. I am sure some reader can enlighten me!

Have a look and enjoy its dated charm!”

Anthony Marris

Dear Carole We have been members of the IWA and Cambridge Branch since 1970 and were involved in the running of the branch and various restoration projects, including Gt Barford. Unfortunately, we cannot take an active part now and a few years ago had to sell our boat of 40 years.

We have a complete set of Waterways World from its start in 1972 to 2014. We no longer want to keep them but are reluctant to just take them to a tip! Could you include a note in a branch newsletter to see if anyone would like them. We live near Cambridge.

Best wishes to the Branch. Thank you.

Pam Holt (Mrs) 01223 871788

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Book Review

by Stephen Foote

‘Boogie Up the River’ by Mark Wallington

The ‘Daily Mail’ described this delightful tale from Mark Wallington as ‘the humorous travel book we’ve been waiting for’. He (she, or Madam) was spot-on – this is indeed a very engaging and amusing description of one man’s journey from Hampton to (almost) the source of the mighty Thames at Cricklade – in a 100-year old camping skiff.

Sounds idyllic but the down-side was that he was accompanied by his flatulent mongrel called Boogie who spent the trip getting into more trouble than a regiment of Russians.

The presence of said Boogie also spoilt the author’s attempts to use the trip to win over the lovely Jennifer, his on-off high-flying girlfriend from London.

The Branch Chairman and I, with our ladies, travelled the length of the Thames on our narrowboats several years ago and with those recollections still vivid in our memories, this traveller’s tale had even more resonance than usual. In short, it is a very funny book and the author has a delightful style.

To say more would spoil it, dear Reader – so suffice it to say that this is one of my favourites – if not indeed my favourite – among waterways travel stories. If you read it and enjoy it, I commend a couple more of Wallington’s output – ‘ Five-hundred Mile Walkies’ and ‘Pennine Walkies’. Good stuff.

Ouse News Page 9 Someone asked me the other day ‘Why don’t you review any of the newer waterways books?’ I doubt if I am alone in thinking that the ‘my life on the waterways’ genre had been seriously overdone now. The few that have crossed my desk of late have been at best indifferent; at worst downright dreadful. So for now at least we’ll keep digging through the archives and hopefully find more forgotten gems to read!

‘Boogie Up the River’ by Mark Wallington.

Arrow Books 1989; ISBN 0 09 965910 7

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Bridge Boatyard Bridge Road Ely, Cambs CB7 4DY

email info@bridgeboatyard.com Website www.bridgeboatyard.com Telephone 01353 663726

Moorings in marina and on riverside in historic Ely. Close to rail station.

Repairs and servicing Engineering and glassfibre workshops Slipway Suppliers of diesel, gas and coal Authorised Nanni dealership Gas safe engineer

Ouse News Page 11 Sad News I don’t know how many of you remember our friends Philip & Susan Baker who belong to our Branch and have come to many meetings. They have a boat Aquila and were members of both the Upware Boat Club and Cambridge Motor Boat Club.

Sadly Susan has died and today we went to her funeral. Due to Covid regulations it was a very unusual event with very limited numbers, whereas in normal times I believe the church would have been packed.

We first got to know Susan and Philip in 1974 when our respective daughters were very young. They had had a boat for many years and took us on a couple of trips along the river Cam from the old Banham’s Marina.

In 1988 our two families, 4 adults and 4 children (mostly teenagers), hired a boat in the October half term. It was from a company called Gordons near Napton Junction. We clicked as a crew straight away, and despite being delayed due to a mechanical problem made it up the Hatton flight to Kingswood Junction. We then returned to hire boat base where Philip returned to work and the rest of us finished the week with a day along the Oxford Canal to Fenny Compton before returning the next day when we picked Philip up in the evening ready to return the boat the next morning.

In the following 15 years we had ten more enjoyable boating holidays, most were on the English and Welsh canals but one year we did go to the Burgundy Canal in a wet July. Over the years we had various crews until the last years when it was just us 4 adults !

In 1991 under Philips assistance we bought Sam a small 15 foot boat with a very basic cabin. Now we were able to potter the local rivers often meeting up with S & P.

Ouse News Page 12 Over the years we both had other boats until around 1999 we bought our small Sea Otter narrowboat Arachne and they bought a Shetland 26 cruiser Aquila. Though we spent most summers on the canals we still tried to meet up on the local rivers including the St Ives IWA Festival.

In February 1997 they joined the IWA and got involved by coming to the evening meetings, to the quiz and BBQ at the Reach Fair weekends and by involving the Upware Boat Club with the local IWA Branches when we had the grand opening of the Denver Cut Off Channel rally.

Many great and very memorable times.

Peter & Jean Webb

Freight News Ipswich A heavy lift operation involving a 170 tonnes transformer was carried out at Ipswich in June. The ports owners Associated British Ports said the transformer will be installed at Burwell as part of the National Grid project.

Sutton Bridge The Dutch flagged Westwind called at Sutton Bridge. The Lincolnshire port is close to the UK industrial and agricultural heartland. Some cargoes are still going up to Wisbeach.

Humber Area The River Trader arrived at Goole with a 115 tonne transformer for Cottam Power Station. There it was transferred to a barge Lastdragger 9 for the final leg of its journey. The local tugs Pushette and Gillian Knight towed it to the River Trent and up to Cottam which is up river of Gainsborough. It was on a heavy lift trailer supplied at Goole. The tug company was John Dean.

Robin Adams

Ouse News Page 13 River News from the Environment Agency Waterways Operations Team Leader (Gt. Ouse and Stour Navigations) Paul Separovic In recent editions I have mentioned how we have been working towards establishing our own Waterways Workforce and I was pleased to announce that we had the Great Ouse team in place for the start of this boating season.

Although anything but an ordinary year with the Coronavirus situation, the team of 5 for the Great Ouse has really rallied round and achieved some great things. Many of which you will have either knowingly or perhaps experienced in more subtle ways.

The team as a whole have now tackled well in excess of 100 trees this year that were either completely or partially restricting navigation. Some have been easily dealt with and others less so, requiring specialist contractor involvement and heavy plant or equipment. Whilst further storms will likely bring more trees down and there are still plenty more to go at, it’s likely you would have been stopped in your tracks navigating the river at times this year without the team’s intervention. We have to prioritise trees as most of the time they are the responsibility of third party landowners and there are far more trees that need attention than we have time, resources or financial ability to deal with; but we always endeavour to assess reports we receive and prioritise those most in need of urgent action. Call 0800 80 70 60 any time to report any obstructions to navigation.

The other more subtle achievements of the team include many wildlife enhancements from new wildflower seed beds to bird boxes being mounted at many sites. Our Lock Keeper at Denver has even got involved setting up bee hotels at sites. Then there’s that attention to detail; take a look the next time you’re at one of our sites, the freshly mown grass, the neatened up edging, the fresh coat of paint and crisp white edging lines. It’s those small details that we hope will greatly improve your overall experience and set the right tone that waterways staff do care and are passionate about the work that they do. The selection of accompanying photos show some of their activities this season.

Ouse News Page 14 Finally, although we have plans for expanding our kit ,and there’s not enough operators or boats to do what is required at all times, the team put a great amount of effort this year into keeping the Old West River clear throughout the peak boating season and then to let you know about it via social media.

It may not have been 100% clear all of the time, but we hope you’ll have noticed the difference if you use the Old West regularly and we will only improve on this in future seasons as and when we get more operatives trained and any additional weed boats in the future.

If you see the team out and about, they should be recognisable by their ‘waterways’ embroidered navy blue clothing, then please do say hello to either Matt, Gary, Ray, Dick or Mark.

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Ouse News Page 16 Waterways Asset Investment Engineer Works Diary and Upcoming Works Schedule The Environment Agency’s Waterways Assets Investment Senior Specialist is Andy Bennison who manages the Waterways Capital Investment Programme on an annual basis. One thing that continued largely unaffected by the initial Coronavirus Lockdown was our Capital Works Programme.

However, we have been unable to detail to you much of the work that was undertaken last winter in the spring and summer editions of this magazine.

Instead I thought it would be good to share with you a sample of the works diary entries from last year’s programme. This demonstrates the variety of works undertaken and some of the challenges the programme encountered; from bad weather and the adverse effects from long durations of Strong Stream Advice, which often also prevents our contractors from moving on the river, to the indirect effects of Covid-19 on suppliers in getting constructions works completed. Despite all the challenges though Andy managed to still deliver a Capital Works Programme last year in the region of £5 million.

This year’s programme is set to be even larger across all of our Anglian Waterways. Please check our Navigation Notices for regular updates which you can do directly either via our Shared Online TeamUp Calendar at: http://bit.ly/RGtOuseNavNotices or on our new website: https:// www.visitanglianwaterways.org/navigation-notices-great-ouse

Our Winter Works Programme for 2020/2021 is a major investment in many structures along the River Great Ouse, which will deliver significant and long-term benefits to the navigation.

Ouse News Page 17 However, in order to deliver this, the closure of some locks will be longer than usual and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Subject to weather and river conditions we aim that the river will be fully open for navigation by Easter 2021.

LOCK

FROM

Great Barford Lock

2 .11 2020

20-27.11.2020

Godmanchester Lock

1.2. 2021

1.4.2021

St Ives Lock

23.11.2020 4.1.2021

18.12.2020 5.2.2021

Brownshill Lock

8.2.2021

1.4.2021

Hermitage Lock

4.1.2021

5.2.2021

Brownshill Fencing Infill and Edge Line

TO

Hermitage Lock Upstream Fendering Replacement

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Hemingford Lock Flooded Out Jan 2020

Hemingford Lock Aerial Drain Down - Feb 2020

Hemingford Lock - Within Drained Lock Chamber

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Houghton after Works Pressure Wash Down and Fresh Paint

Offord Lock Drained Down Chamber Works Underway

Ouse News Page 20 River Lark Mooring Works

Social Distancing Mile End Mooring Pilings

Ouse News Page 21 Fisheries incident on the River Wissey at Hilgay, Norfolk Early yesterday evening (11th August) we were out in Norfolk on the river Wissey at Hilgay responding to a fish mortality incident. We’d received several reports via our Incident Hotline number detailing dead fish – in particular perch. Whilst colleagues from our Land and Water – (pollution investigations team) collected formal water samples for analysis and possible evidence, we launched a fisheries boat to check water quality and track the upstream and downstream impacts. It’s important to collect as much information as early as possible in events like this, as it’s essential for evidence and potential control too; so we also recorded numbers and species of fish lost and where possible collected fish carcases for disposal.

It was a late finish, not returning to the office until almost midnight, but we managed to cover 5km of river, with the dead fish sporadically distributed over approximately 4km of this length. Although primarily perch affected we also observed dead pike, roach and tench, all juvenile sized fish.

This is a very strange event, and our investigation continues. We plan to return to the river with our electric fishing equipment and hopefully collect a live perch sample for our colleagues in the Environment AgencyNational Fisheries Laboratory to help with investigations and give us some understanding of the health status of the fish - looking for any bacterial, fungal, parasitic or viral diseases which may have contributed to this mortality.The Environment Agency’s incident team structure is designed so that we have access to all the excellent specialist teams within the organisation, incidents are prioritised above day job and where fish are concerned our on call Fisheries Duty Officer will help lead investigations.

(NB The editor understands that the source of the problem has been discovered and contained)

Ouse News Page 22 Denver De-Silting Works In late March and early April 2020, just prior to the Easter start of the season, we again enlisted the Cam Conservancy under a Public Sector Cooperation Agreement (PSCA) to undertake works on our behalf at Denver on the Tidal River Great Ouse. This is a mutually beneficial agreement that represents excellent value for money and means we get work done that would otherwise cost many times more than it does to work in partnership like this, pooling resources, kit and expertise.

Throughout late March and into early April the Conservators were based on the Tidal River Great Ouse just out in front of Denver Lock using water jets to agitate and disperse the silt accumulation that had re-formed in the space of just a few weeks over late December into January after the flood waters were being discharged from the Ouse Washes. As the photos demonstrate they made great progress and cleared away the silt to improve the approach and exit of Denver Lock on the Tidal River. This work has also made it possible to flush through Denver Lock more recently in June in an attempt to flush the silt and keep it at bay with the Ely Ouse level being retained higher for water resource purposes.

I’m sure we’ll have to return at some point in the not too distant future to repeat the exercise but utilising the PSCA is by far the most cost effective and efficient way for us to do so. The issue is also nothing new, a recently unearthed pencil drawing of the tidal front of the sluices dating back to 1936 clearly shows a familiar island forming in the channel to the front of the sluices.

This also pre-dates the Flood Relief Channel when all flow from the Ely Ouse exited via Denver Sluices. It goes to show that the claim heard many a time that the silt forms as a result of the vast majority of flow going down the Relief Channel via the A G Wright Sluice isn’t necessarily true and that the Geomorphology of the Denver Sluice channel is just as likely to be the culprit of this issue. Our waterways assets team are looking into civil works for the installation of high pressure pumps at our tidal lock sites; the majority of which all suffer to a degree from siltation issues as do many ports and harbours all around the country.

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Ouse News Page 24 Invasive Species Floating Pennywort and CCD The GB Invasive Non Native Species or INNS Secretariat has recently updated its advice to boaters who have larger boats that are kept on the water and navigate the inland, estuarine and coastal waters of the UK. As a result they have produced updated Check Clean Dry materials which you can view and download or order free hard copies and signage for your clubs and marinas via: http://www.nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry/ index.cfm It is vital the advice is followed given the impact that non-native invasive species have on our wonderful waterway and the wider River Great Ouse and the potential impact this can have on navigation. Efforts continue to control and ultimately eradicate species like Floating Pennywort or Azolla, that dreaded reddish green floating blanket weed that can choke the river.

This often appears overnight on the River Great Ouse and tributaries but we all have a role to play in helping to stop the spread, especially those that are regularly on, in or by the water.

The Environment Agency and many volunteers on the river system continue to invest funding and their time to control species like Floating Pennywort, but also the likes of Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knot Weed. It’s no easy task and can be thankless at times where within just a short time efforts can be undone despite the hard work many have put in.

In addition to the Check Clean Dry advice you can continue to report sightings accompanied preferably with an image and either grid reference or ‘What 3 Words’ (http://what3words.com) app location to: anglianinvasive@environment-agency.gov.uk. This is especially the case for sightings within the two quarantine zones between Hemingford and Hermitage Locks and on the Tidal River / Relief Chanel zone around Denver and Salters Lode Locks. Should any incident arise because of the presence of invasive species you can also report this to the Environment Agency any time by calling our incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60.

Ouse News Page 25 Obviously large mats of Floating Pennywort are best left for the proper machinery to remove but if you see smaller fragments why not consider carrying a net with you on your boat and remove these from the river if it safe to do so. You can either bag and dispose of them later with general waste or you can place them out of the water on the river bank as far up away from the river as you can safely reach.

Smaller boats such as canoes and kayaks can often reach further into the river margins than anyone could from land or on larger boats so make the ideal craft to go Pennywort picking from. Just remember to try and remove the plant in its entirety as far as possible and collect any small fragments that come away so that they don’t colonise and regrow elsewhere on the river which fragments the size of a thumb nail can and do.

Contact with the plant is completely harmless to humans, unlike the likes of Giant Hogweed but is an environmental / ecological / navigation nightmare!

Do ensure you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards however as although Floating Pennywort is harmless, other pathogens such as leptospirosis spread by rats can be present in river environments.

Weedcutters spotted on the Little Ouse during August.

Photos: Ian Cornish

Ouse News Page 26 Brandon Bank Bridge Controversy over the bridge linking the villages of Brandon Bank in Norfolk and Little Ouse in Cambridgeshire, has hit the headlines in recent weeks. The current steel structure known to boaters as ‘the cock-up bridge’ has been in place since the 1970s, providing the only public vehicular crossing of the River Little Ouse between the A10 near Littleport and town of Brandon in Suffolk.

Although familiar to boaters, many will not be aware that the bridge is actually located in a very isolated spot, served by very narrow roads and farmland tracks, surrounded by miles of flat fenland. However, the bridge is considered to be a lifeline for access to essential services by the 200 or so residents in the two villages, including a substantial community of residential boaters.

Although the bridge is privately owned, the public and local farmers have enjoyed free access to the crossing for many years. However, the present owners of the bridge and the surrounding estate, namely the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, have become concerned at the likely cost of the eventual replacement of the aging structure.

Ouse News Page 27 The owners have therefore closed the bridge and are asking residents to pay ÂŁ780 a year for right of access. Likewise, local farmers have been asked to contribute several thousand pounds a year. Needless to say, the locals are not very happy about the situation! A recent visit to the site revealed that although notices had been placed stating that the bridge had been closed, no physical barriers had been erected. However those notices had been ripped off and thrown aside.

It is understood that the owners had begun discussions with local residents regarding the options open to them, one of which could be transferring ownership to them. It is hoped that a mutually acceptable agreement can be found as for some residents the permanent closure of the bridge would entail a 20 mile detour to Ely or Littleport to shop.

Keith Alderton

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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 Rd, Chesham, HP5 1WA. Phone No 01494 783453.