BULLETIN January 2014
Recent Storms and Flooding The storms and flooding that hit the UK over the Christmas and New Year holidays have had a significant impact on some waterways, particularly in the South East. Waterways affected include the Wey & Godalming Navigations (Surrey), Basingstoke Canal (Surrey and Hampshire), River Medway (Kent), the Thames and even IWA’s own Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. Many river navigations further north have also been impassable at times, including the Severn, Nene, Great Ouse, Aire & Calder, Trent, Calder & Hebble and Yorkshire Ouse. The Environment Agency has issued Strong Stream Advice warnings along the whole Thames between Cricklade and Teddington for much of the
time. A Strong Stream Advice warning is issued to advise users of all boats not to navigate because the strong flows make it difficult and dangerous. There have been fallen trees blocking rivers, canals and towpaths around the network. For example, 45 fallen trees fell along the Basingstoke Canal over the Christmas holidays and the Canal Authority has held water levels low to try to manage the water as safely as possible. Probably worst hit has been the river Wey, where boats were sunk and the towpath has been closed in many areas including Guildford where there is some concern the whole bank and towpath could collapse into this deep section of the river. IWA’s Essex Waterways Ltd which manages the Chelmer
& Blackwater Navigation has been working hard to keep the navigation and towpath open and safe, by clearing fallen trees, removing debris from the river and keeping property and access secure. Earlier in December, the flood tide saw the Navigation Manager and Heybridge Caretakers evacuating residential boats and visitors at Heybridge Basin overnight as part of a major evacuation around the Heybridge area.
Photo: Flooding at Thames Lock River Wey, 26th December 2013, courtesy of NT River Wey Navigations and Shalford Mill Facebook page.
IWA News Elizabeth Jane Howard, IWA’s first employee, Dies at 90 Elizabeth Jane Howard, the novelist who died on 2nd January aged 90,
was lesser known in public life for her role in the inland waterways, but which was significant during IWA’s formative years. Elizabeth Jane Howard was the Association’s first employee, commencing duties shortly after the Association
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