IWA Waterways Magazine - Summer 2019

Issue 264 • Summer 2019

waterways www.waterways.org.uk

VISION FOR LONDON

New report on the capital’s waterways

blast from the past

ON YER BIKE

Tips for towpath cycling

The covert canals of Royal Gunpowder Mills

PLUS

PULL SNAP STOMP Stopping the spread of Himalayan balsam 001 Cover.indd 14

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Summer 2019 Contents Issue 264 • Summer 2019

waterways www.waterways.org.uk

VISION FOR LONDON

New report on the capital’s waterways

blast from the past

ON YER BIKE

Tips for towpath cycling

5. Overview

Column of the National Chairman

6. News

16

The latest from within IWA and beyond, with a special focus on regenerating the River Parrett

The covert canals of Royal Gunpowder Mills

14. Campaigns update

Including the results of our GapTracker Survey and details of IWA’s visit to Scotland

16. Vision for London

PLUS

PULL SNAP STOMP

The new IWA report on the capital’s waterways

Stopping the spread of Himalayan balsam 001 Cover.indd 14

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COVER PICTURE: Passing through Feildes Weir Lock on the River Lee.

22. Silver Propeller Challenge Exploring the system with the Windlasses

26. Love Your Waterways

Interview with IWA trustee Roger Stocker, and advice for cycling along our waterways

22

30. Royal Gunpowder Mills

The history of the Waltham Abbey attraction WATERWAYS EDITOR: Amelia Hamson Tel: 01283 742962 E-mail: a.hamson@wwonline.co.uk FEATURES EDITOR: Sarah Henshaw E-mail: s.henshaw@wwonline.co.uk ART EDITOR: Claire Davis ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER: Laura Smith Tel: 01283 742956 E-mail: l.smith@wwonline.co.uk ADVERTISING DESIGN: Jo Ward ADVERTISING PRODUCTION: Samantha Furniss E-mail: s.furniss@wwonline.co.uk REPROGRAPHICS: Waterways World Ltd, 151 Station Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1BG. Printed in England by Warners (Midlands) PLC, Bourne, Lincs Articles may be reproduced provided permission is obtained and acknowledgement made.

ISSN 0969-0654 A non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee (612245), Registered as a Charity (No. 212342) Founded: 1946, Incorporated 1958 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 E-mail: iwa@waterways.org.uk Web site: www.waterways.org.uk Chief Executive and Company Secretary– Neil Edwards National Chairman – Ivor Caplan For press inquiries please contact: pressoffice@waterways.org.uk For all other contact details, including trustees and branch officers, visit: www.waterways.org.uk/about/ meet_team Nothing printed in Waterways may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless stated, otherwise IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. Although every care is taken with advertising matters no responsibility whatsoever can be accepted for any matter advertised. Where a photo credit includes a note such as CC-BY-SA, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence; full details at www.creativecommons.org

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34. Don't break the bank

GRP cruisers as an affordable way of getting afloat

38. Restoration Hub

Inspiring projects on the Wilts & Berks and Wey & Arun canals, plus a year in the life of London WRG

42. PULL SNAP STOMP

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Tackling the spread of Himalayan balsam

44. Branch Focus

Summer plans for IWA’s Lee & Stort Branch

48. Then & Now

Ventiford Basin on Devon’s Stover Canal

50. Inbox

Your comments and queries

Seven reasons why your membership contribution is vital 1. IWA Canal Clean-ups led by our branches keep many waterways clear of debris 2. Restoration is kept high priority through funding for the Waterway Recovery Group 3. Over 10,000 days of volunteering each year will be supported with the right training, tools and materials 4. IWA can defend the waterways from unwelcome development 5. We can pass on traditional skills and workbased experience for volunteering young people 6. We can lobby the Government and work with other organisations to repair, improve and protect our waterways heritage 7. Your voice is counted when IWA speaks up for all those who enjoy the country’s canals and rivers

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overview

The Column of the National Chairman

J

ust before I started to write this column, IWA’s Vision for London dropped through my letterbox.

The digital world is great but there is still nothing like a ‘glossy’ to sit and read. It’s an excellent document and really shows the strong collaboration between local branches, trustees led

by Paul Strudwick and the head office staff who have added their professional presentation skills that are so important.

The report will be the major campaign focus at Canalway Cavalcade this year and we are optimistic that it will have an impact locally at that event, but it is also relevant to IWA members who will be boating there, possibly on their way to the Festival of Water in August.

I am particularly pleased to see a reference to community moorings, small sites of up to ten boats possibly utilising disused basins, owned and run by boaters. I believe that there are opportunities to develop these in London and elsewhere. Heritage is another important aspect. With the rapid growth of new development in London, much has been lost and we must fight to protect what remains.

Of course, producing this Vision is only the start; we are committed to continue campaigning to make London’s waterways something that the capital city can be justly proud of.

Also through the letterbox came our copy of the Wilderness Boat Owners

Summer 2019 005 Overview.indd 5

Journal. (I’m an associate member as many years ago I built and enjoyed a Water Rat kit.) I was pleased to read in the chair’s notes a reference to the discussion we had, in which I reaffirmed IWA’s support for WBOC and for the innovative boating that its members do.

Indeed, I believe that the Association should support all trailboating and the use of other small craft of all sorts.

Firstly, this way of boating gives us access to many waterways under restoration or at risk, something very relevant to our Silver Propeller Challenge. Secondly, it makes getting afloat more inclusive and moves us on from the perception that IWA’s focus is large, expensive steel narrowboats.

When we talk about the importance of boats on the move, we must mean all craft large and small, and all journeys long and short.

The highlight of March for me was the visit of a small IWA delegation to Scotland, which is reported in detail on page 15. We had meetings with both the voluntary waterways sector in Scotland, represented by several of the Lowland canals groups, and with the new chief executive of Scottish Canals. My lasting impression is of the sincere welcome that they offered us and of the esteem in which they all hold IWA. Our wide involvement at all levels in England and Wales, our engagement with politicians, our strong volunteer base and the fact

that we run our own navigation through Essex Waterways, were all fully understood and recognised.

Also in this edition you will see an interview with trustee Roger Stocker revealing his passion for cycling, particularly along towpaths. I am well aware that this is a controversial issue and ways must be found to balance the health benefits and enjoyment that recreational biking brings to many people against the conflicting uses of the towpaths and safety concerns. It is really good that Roger has joined us and brought his experience of cycling to assist our discussions of this. We need trustees from a wide range of waterways interests to ensure that all these are represented.

My wife and I are planning to boat down to London and the Festival of Water at Waltham Abbey, which will be quite a challenge to fit in between IWA business, so we are always happy to share the work of lock winding with boating members. I hope to see many of you en route and at the event.

Ivor Caplan

IWA Waterways |

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Waterways News

A WEEKEND OF ACTIVITIES FOR IWA'S AGM Notice is hereby given that the Association’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 28th September 2019 at 11.30am. The venue for the meeting will be St Thomas More Catholic Academy, Longton Hall Road, Longton, Stoke-onTrent ST3 2NJ, and the agenda will be published in the autumn issue of Waterways. A choice of activities will be offered for the afternoon.

Longton is located in IWA North Staffs & South Cheshire Branch area and the team is planning a weekend of festivities to coincide with the AGM and to promote the two Silver Propeller Challenge locations on the Caldon Canal. More details to follow.

Trustee nominations Nominations to stand as a trustee are sought and there are three places available. Any member can submit a nomination for a trustee, which should be accompanied by confirmation from the nominee that they are willing to be elected as a trustee of the Association.

All nominations should include a brief biography or statement not exceeding 400 words, with a portrait-style photo, for publication as part of any ballot paper with the notice convening the AGM to be distributed to members in the next issue of Waterways.

All nominations should be received at Head Office (for attention of the chief executive) by no later than 11.30am on Friday 5th July (i.e. 85 days before the AGM). Full details of the election procedure can be found on our website waterways.org.uk.

IWA North Staffs & South Cheshire Branch will be hosting activities after the AGM to promote its two Silver Propeller Challenge locations: Froghall Basin (shown here) and the Leek Arm terminus.

PLASTIC PACKAGING We have received enquiries about the recyclability of the plastic packaging that protects your copy of Waterways magazine. We would like to reassure you that the plastic used in the mailing of Waterways is recyclable at supermarkets along with other plastic bags, and some councils will permit plastic bags in kerbside recycling bins.

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Alternatively, the wrappers can be returned directly to Polyprint at Earl Road, Rackheath Industrial Estate, Rackheath, Norwich NR13 6NT. Like many other charities we are looking at alternatives. We are evaluating options such as compostable bio-plastics but so far have found that the alternatives, including paper

envelopes, are more expensive than our current packaging and still do not provide a universal solution due to the wide variations in recycling arrangements across the country. We will continue to explore other options, weighing higher costs and varying environmental benefits against funding for waterway protection and restoration.

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Waterways News

FUNDING FOCUS FOR RESTORATION CONFERENCE The launch of Waterways in Progress at the annual Restoration Conference.

Over 40 different restoration societies and 116 individuals came together in Wolverhampton for the seventh annual Restoration Conference, jointly hosted by IWA and Canal & River Trust on 30th March.

This year’s conference was entitled ‘Relining Your Pockets’ and focused primarily on how to source and secure funding for a restoration project. One of the keynote speakers was Liz Shaw from the National Lottery Heritage Fund who gave a very interesting presentation on new funding frameworks and how restoration societies could bid for grants of between £3,000 and £5m.

In addition to the keynote speakers, there were six breakout sessions which looked at many of the different areas around securing funding and running a successful restoration project.

Feedback has been extremely positive and both IWA and CRT are looking forward to next year’s conference.

David Suchet fronts Waterways in Progress report At the event, WRG chairman, Mike Palmer, launched the IWA’s Waterways in Progress report, which aims to provide restoration societies with case studies that show the wide-reaching benefits that a canal restoration can bring to a local area. Attendees at the conference were among the first to see the accompanying video, which is introduced by IWA Vice President, David Suchet. The video can be used by all restoration societies to support the report and standalone case studies; watch it online at waterways.org.uk/waterwaysinprogress.

Mr Suchet has also written a foreword for the report, in which he explains how, by working alongside volunteers from the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, he has seen first-hand the differences that small stepping stones of progress can make towards a full-length canal restoration. As he says, “This report shows the magic that can be created by visionary groups of volunteers who are determined to make a difference to our waterways.”

RESTORATION SHOWCASE FOR NORTHERN WATERWAYS IWA, along with canal societies involved in major restoration work, is to host an exhibition on waterways projects in the North West at the invitation of the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society.

The showcase will be held on the promenade deck of the Danny on the weekend of 21st-22nd September.

The steam ship will be moored outside the Maritime Museum in Liverpool’s Albert Dock and will be open to the public from 10.30am until 4.00pm on both days.

Entry is free and there will be refreshments and tours of the vessel on offer.

Ten societies will be exhibiting, including ones from the Lancaster, Montgomery and Manchester Bolton & Bury canals. Experts from the organisations will be on hand to explain their current work and exciting plans to bring back into use some of the nation’s important transport history assets. IWA and Canal & River Trust will also have stands on the quayside.

Jim Forkin, IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch chair, said: “Thanks to the kind offer of DAPS, waterway restoration societies can showcase their work to the public in one of the nation’s most popular waterborne tourist attractions. These volunteer-led bodies do great work that helps develop financial, health and environmental benefits in the region.”

David Bolton

IWA is saddened to report the death of David Bolton, a waterways writer and chronicler of the restoration movement. Born in 1931, it wasn’t until 1981 that he took his first hire-boat holiday on the Llangollen Canal. Within six months he had taken a second holiday, bought his own narrowboat, and written and published an account of his first trip aboard it. His first 18 months as a liveaboard, was recorded in his first book Journey Without End. After settling in Stratford-upon-Avon, David became friends with the late David Hutchings, who introduced him to Robert Aickman’s former companion, Felix Pearson. She persuaded him to write a book about the founding of the Inland Waterways Association, providing him with invaluable memories and contacts. The book, Race Against Time, was published in 1990.

David Suchet is the face of IWA’s new Waterways in Progress video.

David Bolton (r) on the Dalyan River in Turkey.

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Waterways News

BIG CANAL CLEAN-UP CLEARS

30 TONNES OF RUBBISH

Over 50 Waterway Recovery Group and IWA volunteers combined their efforts with volunteers from Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, Dudley Canal Trust, Withymoor Island Trust, Canal & River Trust, Friends of Tipton Cut and local residents to help clear more than 30 tonnes of rubbish from the Birmingham Canal Navigations – that’s the equivalent of five grown elephants! Motorcycles, pushbikes, lorry tyres and a caravan chassis were among the many items pulled from the 4 miles of canal bed and towpath.

Taking place over the weekend of 30th-31st March this year, the annual effort aims to keep the less well-used parts of the BCN from getting choked up with rubbish and becoming impassable for boats, canoeists and waterway users.

Chris Morgan, WRG organiser of the event, said, “It’s sad really, but people think that if it goes into the dark, murky water then it’s not there. Unfortunately, boat-owners and anglers all end up getting caught on the rubbish.”

He added: “On Sunday, we pulled out a caravan chassis. It took 20 of us to get it out. Last year we pulled out a coffin. There was nobody in it, thankfully – we think it was a stage prop.”

Left: Volunteers on the BCN Big Canal Clean-up in March.

Tim Lewis

Tim Lewis

below: A motorbike was among the items retrieved from the annual canal clean-up.

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CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS NOW MANDATORY On 1st April 2019, it became mandatory for at least one carbon monoxide (CO) alarm to be fitted on nearly all private and non-private boats in line with Boat Safety Scheme requirements. BSS certificates will not be issued to boats without alarms.

IWA supported proposals for this during the consultation held last year, and welcomes the introduction of this requirement, which applies to boats with accommodation spaces – i.e. areas within a boat surrounded by a permanent superstructure and where CO gas may accumulate.

Although the need for CO alarms has been introduced to help protect boat-owners from sources of the toxic gas from neighbouring boats, the alarms are also expected to prevent death or injury to crew members from their own boat engines or appliances.

BSS has published a handout detailing all the new requirements and relevant background information. It also covers how the checks will be carried out by BSS examiners and how the alarms will help keep crew members safe. Key points include: • CO alarm-makers’ guidance about where to place a CO alarm to achieve best protection • what type of CO alarm to buy • what to do if a CO alarm goes off • what to do if CO poisoning is suspected.

The handout is available on the BSS website and copies will be distributed by examiners. It is also available for marinas and boat clubs to distribute. It can be viewed and downloaded from boatsafetyscheme.org/staysafe/carbon-monoxide-(co).

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Waterways News

Focus

REGENERATING THE

UPPER PARRETT The River Parrett

The non-tidal River Parrett runs for 6½ miles from the disused half-lock at Thorney Mills Bridge to Oath Lock (or Sluice) where it becomes tidal. The first section is narrow but after the confluence with the River Isle, which is navigable for a short distance to the disused Midelney Lock and adjacent Environment Agency pumping station, the waterway widens.

The river continues in a northerly direction towards Langport and passes under Muchelney Bridge, which since the floods of 2013/14 has been raised so that the village will no longer be cut off during future deluges. Around 1 mile further on, the Parrett is joined by the River Yeo, navigable for 1 mile to Pibsbury Weir, immediately after which it passes under Huish Bridge with its adjacent car park and slipway. Cocklemoor, one of Langport’s many gems, is another ½ mile away and where many of the

A grant of £179,000 has been awarded to Langport Town Council by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Defra to fund a number of infrastructure improvements on the non-tidal River Parrett, which runs across the Somerset Levels and Moors. This award is the culmination of four years’ hard work by Langport Town Council, South Somerset District Council and IWA’s West Country Branch. Many of the residents and organisations of Langport have been active supporters of the project which aims to enhance the use of the river.

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MIKE SLADE

Improvements

12

MIKE SLADE

Taken together, these works will open up 7½ miles of navigable river, access to which has been difficult, if not impossible, in recent years.

West Country Branch chairman Ray Alexander reveals how a six-figure grant will fund enhancements to the non-tidal River Parrett

The grant will fund infrastructure improvements along the river, both on and off the water, designed to encourage leisure and recreational activities and increase tourism in the area.

The planned works include: four pontoons with access ramps and safety equipment, improvements to the 550m right of way between Langport and Huish Bridge, three fishing platforms for disabled anglers, two sets of steps for canoeists, solar lighting on footbridges, a fitness trail, and the installation of benches, picnic tables, bins, cycle racks, interpretation boards/improved signage and an outside tap for filling reuseable water bottles or washing muddy dogs.

At the same time work is being undertaken to repair the slipway at Huish Bridge, approximately ½ mile upstream of Langport, and there are plans to improve the adjacent car park, thereby enabling trail boaters and paddlers easy access to the slipway. As these works do not meet the funding criteria, a further grant of £5,000 towards the cost of the slipway repairs has been secured from the Canoe Foundation, and a contribution towards the slipway repairs and car park improvements has been received from South Somerset District Council.

Muchelney Bridge on the River Parrett.

Cocklemoor, near Langport, where much of the improvement works will take place.

RIGHT: Val Saunders, chair of Langport Town Council, and Ray Alexander, chair of IWA West Country Branch, at Cocklemoor, Langport.

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 12:49

Waterways News

Marc Fuller

planned infrastructure improvements will take place. A wellused public amenity space adjacent to the river, Cocklemoor was acquired by the Town Council in 2016 from EA. Soon after, the Parrett flows under the Grade II-listed Great Bow Bridge, built in 1840 to replace an earlier structure which had narrow arches and meant that barges once had to unload onto smaller boats here. At one time the river was tidal to Langport and a little further on tidal gates stretched across the river and there was a lock cut and lock. Today, neither the lock nor the tidal gates are needed and the remains of the latter have been recovered and are now kept at Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum.

After flowing under the Great Western Railway 1906 main line extension, the river turns north-west into a delightful stretch across the Somerset Levels and Moors, passing Monks Leaze Clyse and eventually reaching Oath Lock (or Sluice).

Once operational, Oath Lock now comprises a set of sluice gates which are kept permanently open from October to March. They’re closed from April to September in order to pen water on the Levels and Moors for farmers to use.

Additional funding from the Canoe Foundation and South Somerset District Council will go towards repairing the damaged underwater section of Huish Bridge Slipway.

Mike Slade

Focus

The Grade II-listed Great Bow Bridge.

Boating In the recent past just six boats have been based on the Upper Parrett, reflecting the difficulties and potential costs of launching boats onto the river and subsequently recovering them. And while more canoeists and kayakers have dipped their paddles into the Parrett’s waters, access is hardly easy, requiring either the use of a narrow set of steps near Great Bow Bridge or a low section of riverbank.

However, in the last two years, Langport’s visitors and residents have been introduced to the delights of the River Parrett, thanks to the trip-boat Duchess of Cocklemoor. The historic wooden boat, originally constructed in 1908 and used for many decades as a ferry between Teignmouth and Sheldon on the River Teign in Devon, was acquired and restored by a Langport local in 2017. More recently, a canoe hire business has also been

Summer 2019 012 news focus parrett.indd 13

established on the river by another resident of the town.

Investment in facilities for boaters and visitors to the river through the grant will help secure the future of these two water-based entities, and encourage further such ventures on the river and in the local area.

Branch involvement The West Country Branch has been championing increased use of the River Parrett for many years. We encouraged the establishment of the Langport River Project in 2014 and subsequently participated in the discussions, debates and development of a strategy for enhancing the use of the river.

Over the last year, branch committee members have also assisted the Town Council with preparing presentations on project proposals, attending public consultations, reviewing documentation, organising the visit by Waterway Recovery Group BITM, arranging letters of support from local waterway organisations and meeting with contractors.

Furthermore, the slipway was the subject of a report by Roy Sutton, IWA Hon consultant engineer, in January 2017, which identified that the upper 80% of the slipway was in good condition, with the rest requiring significant repairs. A team of ten WRG BITM volunteers carried out improvements to the upper section of the slipway in April 2018, clearing silt, mud and vegetation. The results of this work are still evident and continue to be greatly appreciated by the local community. It is hoped that the volunteers will return in 2019 to assist with improvements to the Hush Bridge car park.

IWA Waterways |

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CAMPAIGNING WITH YOU The provision of boaters’ facilities and the state of Scotland’s canals are among some of the issues we’ve been campaigning on with your help. Here’s how we’ve been doing on these and other affairs…

GapTracker Survey results

Alison Smedley

We have published the results of IWA’s GapTracker Survey, which identified that the majority of boaters who responded to the survey are concerned about the basic facilities provided by navigation authorities – drinking water and waste disposal – rather than other services such as showers, pump-out and laundry. The survey, which ran on IWA’s website during the second half of last year, asked boaters to highlight areas on the UK’s waterways where facilities are missing or are in poor condition.

Hundreds of comments were received about the facilities provided by nine different navigation authorities. IWA has started to follow up the results with navigation authorities, and Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency and Middle Level Commissioners have all confirmed that they will welcome the findings. A meeting with CRT has taken place, where it confirmed that the GapTracker Survey results will contribute to its own facilities

review which will focus on ensuring a consistent level of standards for the core services boaters need.

An overwhelming 84% of the survey responses were about water points, rubbish disposal or portable toilet emptying, indicating a strong demand for those basic facilities. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the tendency of boaters to always end up talking about their toilets, the emptying of portable loos was the subject of the highest number of comments, with 27% of the responses. The issue with the next highest number of responses was rubbish disposal with 16% of the comments, many of them about overflowing existing bins and overuse by non-boaters. Water points accounted for 12% of all comments. Very few people commented on other services such as toilets and electric charging points.

Although recycling didn’t feature highly in the overall survey responses, a

Help keep our waterways alive

significant fact learnt during the meeting with CRT is that its contract arrangements for rubbish disposal requires all the waste to be sorted for recycling, with 78% being diverted from landfill last year. IWA has suggested that CRT should publicise this fact more widely as it is likely that many boaters are unaware of this.

The GapTracker Survey results identifies a number of recommendations that IWA hopes navigation authorities will adopt, including: • The three basic facilities (drinking water, portable toilet emptying and rubbish disposal) should continue to be provided by navigation authorities, and should be available 24 hours a day at no additional cost to boaters (i.e. funded through boat licence/ registration fees) • Basic facilities should be provided in sufficient locations that it will take no longer than five hours (under normal boating conditions) to cruise between • Rubbish bins should be in locked compounds, or accessible only from the water, to cut down the amount of rubbish being added by non-boaters • New facilities could be of much simpler design than some of the current buildings, which are expensive to maintain • Third-party provision for the three basic facilities (e.g. in a marina) is only acceptable (to fill in gaps between navigation authority-provided facilities) if they are accessible 24 hours a day at no charge • Litter bin and toilet provision for use by the general public is an issue that navigation authorities should work with local authorities over, but is not something that IWA would expect navigation authorities to fund.

The full Gaptracker report is available at waterways.org.uk/news_campaigns/ campaigns/pdfs/gaptracker_report_ february2019.

Why campaign with IWA? We strive to make the waterways better for all.

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Campaigns Update

Scottish waterways

Ivor Caplan at Bard Avenue Bascule Bridge.

Keep Canals Alive!

The IWA team, including IWA Navigation Committee’s two Scottish representatives Richard Davies and Jonathan Mosse, also met with members of Keep Canals Alive!, an informal alliance of user organisations, at Kirkintilloch on the Forth & Clyde Canal. IWA offered our general support and advice to the group and a number of issues were discussed, including useroperation of the moveable bridges and consultation proposals from Scottish Canals.

Silver Propeller Challenge destination While in Glasgow, the locals, Richard and Jonathan, took the IWA visitors

on a site visit to look at the end of the Glasgow Branch. This is an IWA Silver Propeller Challenge location, but it is currently difficult to get all the way to the end of the arm. Two new locks were completed in 2007, giving access to Port Dundas and Pinkston (where there is a purpose-built white-water canoe centre) but only a handful of boats have used them as special arrangements have to be made with Scottish Canals for passage.

There are also difficulties gaining access through the lift-bridges on the Glasgow Branch.

IWA would like to see boats able to visit Port Dundas more easily than is currently the case and has raised a number of issues with Scottish Canals to be followed up.

Alison Smedley

Scottish Canals The meeting with Scottish Canals – where IWA representatives met Catherine Topley (chief executive) and Richard Millar (director of infrastructure) in Glasgow – started with an overview of IWA’s background and history, and outlined the wealth of advice and practical support that we can offer.

Recent issues that have been causing problems on the Lowland canals in particular were discussed. IWA’s view was that the long-term future of these canals would be much more secure if a higher number of the locks and bridges could be made available for operation by boaters.

The importance of the hire-boat trade was also stressed, and (ahead of any useroperation being implemented) having the locks and bridges available for booking on any day of the week, rather than the current restrictions to only specific days, would encourage many more people to use the canals.

Alison Smedley

Campaigning about Scotland’s waterways continued in person when Ivor Caplan, IWA national chairman, visited Glasgow in March, accompanied by John Pomfret and Alison Smedley, both members of IWA’s Navigation Committee. The aim of the visit was to meet the new chief executive of Scottish Canals, and at the same time take the opportunity to meet representatives of some of the local waterway user organisations.

Above: One of the two hardly used locks at Port Dundas on the Glasgow Branch.

Left: IWA representatives at Spiers Wharf, Glasgow. L-r: Jonathan Mosse, Alison Smedley, Richard Davies, John Pomfret and Ivor Caplan.

With your support, we can do even more. waterways.org.uk/campaigns Summer 2019 014 Campaigns Update.indd 15

IWA Waterways |

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TIM LEWIS

The Regent’s Canal.

Boats moored two or more abreast pose a fire safety risk.

VISION FOR LONDON

A

s the number of people using London’s waterways continues to grow, IWA has become increasingly aware of the need to address the issues this brings and establish ways of dealing with existing and potential problems.

In March, we launched our Vision for London, an in-depth report put together by members of IWA’s London Region and its chairman Paul Strudwick.

Compiled over five months, the Vision looks at the complex issues faced by the many different users of the capital’s rivers and canals, and will be used as the London Region chairman region’s manifesto for Paul Strudwick. the next few years.

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It’s predicted that the number of boats in London could grow by up to 52% in the next three years.

PAUL STRUDWICK

IWA’s report on the capital’s waterways was published in March. We take a look at some of the key issues raised and the actions being carried forward

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 12:51

Vision for London

Limehouse Basin.

Affordable permanent moorings

“IWA’s aspiration is for London’s canals and rivers to have sufficient moorings for every boater so that they can find and afford permanent moorings”

The popularity of living aboard on London’s waterways has led to a surge in the number of boats in recent years, so it’s no surprise that the shortage of both affordable permanent and visitor moorings, and associated lack of facilities, are among the primary issues identified in the Vision by London Region boaters.

Currently, many boaters are unable to afford a home mooring and are registered as continuous cruisers – essentially trapping them in a ‘towpath shuffle’ where they move the minimum distance required by their navigation authority between short-term moorings every 14 days. IWA’s aspiration is for London’s canals and rivers to have sufficient moorings for every boater so that they can find and afford permanent moorings. Rather than limit the movement of boats and restrict them to a single location, this will allow boaters to explore the network more freely by guaranteeing them a place to return to at the end of the day or after a longer break.

In the report, we outline how the Association will work with both navigation authorities and local councils to try and get the issue of boat residences included on the local planning agenda. Paul Strudwick comments: “Homebuilders across the capital are having to meet requirements to provide some level of social housing in any new developments, but navigation authorities can charge on or above market rate for permanent moorings. IWA calls for affordable moorings to be provided in the capital. These do not need to have the all-singing, alldancing facilities of the more expensive marina moorings, but should have access to basic facilities. We hear time and again from members who have been priced out of living in the capital, and while we understand that market forces will push up the prices, we ask that some affordable mooring sites are set aside.”

Summer 2019 016 Vision for london.indd 17

Little Venice.

IWA Waterways |

Tim Lewis

MOORINGS

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Paddington Basin.

However, Waterside Moorings, a division of Canal & River Trust, announced in March that it would be increasing the cost of nearly 300 of its permanent moorings in central London after it undertook a review. IWA is concerned that the price hikes will drive even more boaters who live aboard to leave their current moorings and turn to continuous cruising.

Now more urgent than ever, IWA is seeking out suitable locations for new moorings. A number of possible sites, including off-line basins and marinas, such as City Road Basin and linear moorings on the towpath side that will extend existing off-side moorings, have been highlighted in the report.

Community moorings The creation of community moorings has also been suggested in the Vision. These moorings would be owned and run by the boaters living there, ideally in disused basins or derelict canalside sites.

“The idea of the community moorings is to use places around London – basins, off-side stretches – that are currently waiting for development. They’re locations that can’t have long-term or permanent moorings, or any work that could reduce future options for developers,” explains Paul.

“It’s based on a concept used on the high street.

Charity shops are often given short-term leases for empty units before a permanent business moves in. A group of boaters will set up a cooperative to look after the land for the duration of the lease and operate the moorings. It’s not a new idea: it was first floated in 2012 when one group tried to set up community moorings in London but it didn’t last very long. We’re hoping that with IWA support, new co-ops will have more success.”

It is expected that these community moorings would contain no more than ten boats, and IWA will work with interested groups through the entire process to get the sites up and running.

“IWA is suggesting that CRT increases the number of pre-bookable visitor moorings” Visitor moorings We know that many boaters based outside of London do not feel comfortable visiting the capital’s waterways due to the widespread belief that no moorings will be available. IWA is suggesting that CRT increases the number of pre-bookable visitor moorings, especially on sections of the towpath that are not currently available for visitor moorings. In conjunction with this, more rangers and increased enforcement are needed to help stop overstaying.

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Facilities

TOWPATH SAFETY

The boat density in London has also resulted in a shortage of facilities. As highlighted in our recent GapTracker survey, water points, rubbish disposal and portable toilet emptying facilities top the list of concerns across the country (see page 14), and nowhere are these services more in demand than in the capital.

IWA’s current national policy is for facilities to be provided every five hours of cruising, but we are suggesting that within central London, they are provided every two hours. Boaters are forced to cruise at tick-over on most of the region’s waterways due to the high number of moored craft, increasing the time taken to travel between existing facilities.

More regular facilities will help tackle overuse and go towards serving projected increases in the number of boaters over the next few years. IWA suggests that navigation authorities also look to introduce a possible charging zone on the most overcrowded waterways in order to fund these additional facilities. While this has received some mixed responses from the public, IWA believes it is a sustainable approach that will ensure the future of facilities in the longer term.

With more and more people being encouraged to make use of our waterways, IWA is looking at how best to accommodate and support the diverse range of people while reducing the potential for conflict between different users.

The Vision outlines a number of campaigning points intended to minimise the risk of accidents for towpath users, including adding cycling and angling restrictions in places where they are deemed unsafe.

This requires gathering data to ensure that locations are appropriately identified. Paul adds: “Any statistics we collect need to be credible and meaningful. And that’s more difficult than we originally thought. We’ve talked to some London boaters who are willing to help with surveys and it’s on the agenda for further discussion.”

Boats are often double, or even triple, moored along stretches of the towpath, which, other than being inconvenient for boaters, has an impact on air quality and fire safety. This issue is of particular interest to Paul, who comments that the excessively long lines of boats are “an accident waiting to happen”. A number of actions have been put forward in the Vision, such as regular breaks in the lines of boats and limiting moorings to two abreast, which will be raised with navigation authorities.

“Air quality has become a very important issue in London recently with the launch of the government’s Ultra Low Emissions Zones,” explains Paul. “IWA needs to be educating boaters – residents and visitors – on the impact of their engines and stoves on the air quality. It can only be a good thing to be seen to be leading the way on making improvements.”

With more and more people using the towpaths, safety is a major concern for IWA.

Summer 2019 016 Vision for london.indd 19

IWA Waterways |

Tim Lewis

Vision for London

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The Tidal Thames.

Roger Butler Tim Lewis

Little Venice.

Heritage preservation is a growing aspect of IWA’s work.

HERITAGE & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT The final chapter of the Vision focusses on the importance of London’s waterways heritage, much of which has been lost over the last few decades.

Inappropriate and unsympathetic developments have caused the destruction of sites and the obstruction of canal views. Although IWA understands there is huge pressure on waterside land, whether beside rivers or canals, in the capital, it will continue to campaign for all development to recognise the heritage, environmental and amenity value of maintaining our waterway corridors.

“Heritage is an increasingly important aspect of IWA’s work, and is a main focus point for many of the region’s branches,” says Paul. IWA is already taking positive steps towards safeguarding the future of our existing waterways infrastructure and has appointed a heritage officer who will be working on a project to record sites of historical interest and value around London.

Encouragingly, the Mayor of London’s New London Plan makes specific reference to the importance of protecting heritage assets and riverscapes, and identifies a number of Thames views, such as Tower Bridge, Victoria Embankment and Jubilee Gardens, to be protected. IWA supports this, and has drawn up a list of canal views that should be treated in the same way.

“We’ve already received a positive response from the Mayor of London’s office about this,” comments Paul.

“The senior strategic planner has asked us to keep them updated and is looking forward to hearing more about our work.”

At IWA Canalway Cavalcade on 4th-6th May, IWA London Region will announce its shortlist of four canalscapes and ask members of the public to vote for their favourites. There’ll also be chance for people to put forward suggestions of their own. The results of the vote will then be sent on to the Mayor of London with the aim of the locations being incorporated into the Plan.

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Hampstead Road Lock, Camden.

Report reactions “The Vision has generally been very well received, with IWA members across the region commenting that it hits the spot and addresses relevant issues. One person said that it’s the ‘first time in a long time that I’ve seen campaigning for London boaters’, so it’s encouraging to know we’re on the right track,” says Paul. “I’ve been discussing the final report with all the London branches, which are looking at how they fit in with the manifesto.”

He adds: “I’ve already arranged to meet with CRT to discuss issues raised in the Vision and hope to be able to organise similar meetings with other navigation authorities and relevant bodies soon.”

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 12:51

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❖ 17/04/2019 16:05

SILVER PROPELLER CHALLENGE

SILVER SERVICE

Exploring the far-flung reaches of the network just got even more rewarding

Sarah Henshaw meets Silver Propeller challengers Hope Talbot and Polly Waller, whose IWAinspired odyssey is helping to promote under-boated waterways and the work of the charity Last winter you made the leap from city professionals to zealous canal boaters. What inspired the move?

H: We were living in Bristol. Polly was working freelance as a broadcast operator and I was doing design and marketing for a city farm. I’d actually considered moving afloat as an alternative to the houseshare I was in. So when Polly, on our first date, told me she already had a boat that was the clincher!

P: We went on a week-long holiday on the boat together and had such a good time, despite breaking down twice. It was just great fun. The day after we came back from it we both quit our jobs, Hope gave notice on her houseshare and then we set off. We initially thought we’d cruise for three months. But it’s already been three months so I think we’ll now keep cruising until September.

Why did you set your heart on the Silver Propeller and not just three months of boating?

P: We didn’t know anything about the Silver Propeller Challenge at first – we were just scoping out waterway websites and getting all psyched.

When we found IWA’s and came across the Silver Propeller we thought it was just a really good excuse to explore the network, but also have some sort of mission – a sense of purpose.

H: It also helped us plan our route. We only knew we wanted to get to my family in Banbury for Christmas and to cruise north afterwards, so the Silver Propeller destinations helped give it more shape.

P: But the fact that IWA awards a plaque – that’s what really hooked us! We’ve found a picture of it on Instagram. We don’t know if anyone else has achieved it yet. We’re hoping to be the first.

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Hope, Polly and little Lottie pose outside their trusty craft Sue Perb.

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 12:52

Silver Propeller Challenge – Silver Service

Titford Pools was the couple’s first Silver Propeller location.

Hope and Polly are leaving a decorative stone at every Silver Propeller point they reach.

How does the challenge work?

“It’s adventurous, it’s full of peril, and you often don’t see anyone else at the destinations”

P: You have to cruise to 20 locations on the Silver Propeller list and submit pictures of you and the boat there as evidence. Some are only navigable by unpowered craft. It’s adventurous, it’s full of peril, and you often don’t see anyone else at the destinations.

H: Consequently the cruising can be pretty rough in places. We’ve had a lot of rubbish on the propeller, including an entire bicycle. Amazingly it was in full working condition, with air in the tyres and everything! We took it for a spin on the towpath afterwards.

Tell us about the journey so far H: We started off just outside Bristol at the end of last year and followed the Kennet & Avon to Reading, and then joined the Thames for a bit. That was pretty wild. It was so big! We didn’t know where to moor or to fill up with water. And we didn’t see any other boats. From there we headed up the Oxford Canal and Grand Union towards Birmingham and we’ve been weaving around the BCN ever since.

P: It was embarrassing in that it took us about two months to get our first Silver Propeller. People continually asked how we were doing but we had nothing to show for it. Now, however, we’re well in our stride and have seven.

Where was the first?

P: At Titford Pools on the BCN. We were met en route by a really nice guy, possibly a volunteer, who drew us a handy diagram of how to get there but warned that we absolutely shouldn’t go into the pools because they’re so shallow. Then Hope’s dad rang and told us he’d spoken to one of his boaty friends, who’d told him that anyone who navigates Titford Pools and then sends off some evidence to prove it, along with £1.50 to cover postage, will receive a plaque.

H: We couldn’t resist that so we went back there the next morning and went all the way round, doing doughnuts in the middle, and now we’re going to get a plaque. It was really fun. That was our first Silver Propeller and still our best yet.

Polly, you were familiar with the waterways before this trip, but Hope's a canal novice. Have they met your expectations?

H: I wasn’t expecting the canals to be so pretty. I grew up near Banbury so had only really seen canals from a townie perspective. But they’re Summer 2019 022 Silver Propeller windlasses SH.indd 23

An engineer removes an intact bicycle from the boat’s propeller.

gorgeous. Even Banbury itself was a revelation. We went to Canal Day last year just before we set off and it was really good. The town is very positive about the waterway and really trying to promote it.

P: Yes, Banbury’s waterfront gets a bad press but the shopping centre is pretty handy! We hung around there for a long time, especially scoping out the food at M&S. It was just after New Year and they had all this party food going out of date the next day. We thought it might be worth our while staying another night. It was – there were so many yellow stickers the next day! We did so well – £35 worth of food for about £5, including scallops, quiche, cheesecake... We had a party food breakfast as well as a party food lunch and party food dinner. It was very exciting. I like that about our trip – we just go with it, seek out the opportunities. There’s no timescale we have to stick to. When we want to stay another night in Banbury, we can.

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Silver Propeller Challenge – Silver Service

A roof-raising success.

Tell us about your prior waterways experience, Polly P: I’ve always been around boats. My grandpas on both sides had narrowboats so I grew up going on canal boat holidays, which were the best holidays as they meant our dog and hamsters could come along too. My dad is a boat-builder, but specialises in racing dinghies. In fact, one of the reasons for buying my boat, which isn’t a traditional canal craft, was so that I could take advantage of his expertise to do any necessary fixes on it. He wouldn’t be much help with a steel hull.

Tell us a bit about the boat P: It’s called Sue Perb and was built in 2004. It’s 24ft and made out of epoxy foam sandwich, which is very light but incredibly strong and durable too. That said, it’s an expensive way to make a boat. The guy who built it was a bit of a hobbyist/enthusiast and I think there are only three from that mould. He built it so that he could explore the inland waterways of France.

Its mass and dimensions are the limit of what you can tow on a trailer with a car.

What's it like to live on?

H: We joke that our boat actually has five rooms – six if you include the roof. Yes, it gets a bit cramped, especially with a dog aboard too, but we get on well.

It was a risk, really, as Polly and I had only been together a few months. We met in July and set off in December. I’m usually so anxious about big changes.

In fact, I invariably just don’t do things because I worry so much. But this trip seemed like a really good idea from the start and I didn’t think twice. I’m never spontaneous, but this time it really paid off.

P: I think if we’d spent long planning it and thinking about it we probably wouldn’t have done it. We would have put so many obstacles in the way. But it’s actually fun, even having to be frugal.

Yes, extended cruising without the luxury of a salary can be quite daunting...

P: We had some money behind us – we were quite fortunate in that. We wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise and we recognise that. Boating is a less expensive way of living, but all of a sudden you can be hit with mega-costs. So if you’ve chosen the

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Shattered dreams at Dudley Tunnel.

lifestyle as a cheaper way to live it’s not without its risks.

H: We spend about £350 a month between us. In Bristol I was paying £390 just for rent, with bills on top of that.

P: We do have very cheap meals! We’re not big spenders. We don’t eat meat.

We’re both quite inventive and don’t mind unorthodox food pairings. Our biggest expense is probably cheese.

What difficulties have you encountered on the trip so far?

P: We both got really ill around Christmas and just couldn’t shake it. And a couple of times we’ve felt vulnerable. One time we phoned the police because some guys hiding under a bridge in Perry Barr started throwing bottles at us.

The police were very little help, and even questioned why we were there in the first place. They suggested we’d put ourselves in a vulnerable position by being two women on a boat in winter. We were pretty scared and had to sleep with the windlasses in the aft cabin that night in case we needed to grab a weapon.

H: There have also been some navigational challenges. Over winter we essentially got trapped on the BCN because of stoppages. The one way we could have got out was through Dudley Tunnel, but we knew we were too high.

The boat has a little extra bit over the wheelhouse, which we figured we could just take off to reduce our air draught. It looked like it was only attached with six screws, but these turned out to be incredibly difficult to remove. Hours later, once we’d finally got them out, we realised that the whole thing was actually glued down with a very thick adhesive. So we started chiselling, and then progressed onto a variety of other tools. By that stage it was coming off no matter what – even if we had to destroy it!

Were you able to get it through the tunnel?

H: No! It took us days to remove and was still, after all that, maybe 2 or 3 inches too tall. We’ve got water ballast so we tried to weigh the boat down by filling that, and then moving everything to the back. Also the water level in the canal at the time was quite high. If there had been less rain we might have been more fortunate. We’ve heard some horror stories though; when the tunnel gauge used to be on a chain (it’s fixed now), a guy lifted it up, went through and got stuck inside for five days!

P: Gosty Hill Tunnel was frightening enough for us. We didn’t take the top off and we were scraping stalactites off the ceiling. It was terrifying and we did get stuck a few times. We immediately did the return leg because we feared we’d never be able to sleep that night if we knew it loomed the following morning.

How have you found the waterways of the BCN? H: I wasn’t too sure what to expect. They’re definitely very industrial. When we first arrived there was a lot of rubbish in the canals, which made it very hard going after a couple of months of plain sailing. And so many dead animals!

When we got to Knowle Locks there was a dead muntjac deer at the top. My cat had died the same day, which compounded the horror of it all. We moored a little further on and then it froze, so we were stuck for five days alongside the deer. That was a low point.

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 12:53

Silver Propeller Challenge – Silver Service

A tight squeeze at Gosty Hill Tunnel.

P: I really like the contrast between Birmingham and, say, the Kennet & Avon. I knew it was going to be industrial and that’s the whole point of why the canals exist. I think they’re beautiful in their own right. But the litter has been really upsetting. I know there are clean-ups, which is fantastic, but it just feels like there isn’t as much pride in the canals here as there maybe is in other cities.

Climbing Knowle Locks.

The seventh Silver Propeller point at the end of the Cannock Extension.

Have you had much press?

P: We’ve been writing about our trip regularly in Waterways World, and we were in the Banbury Guardian, with a photoshoot in Castle Quay Shopping Centre. (We like to drop the ‘Banbury’ bit and just tell everyone we were in the Guardian.) And we were also on local radio – BBC Bristol. It was a bit embarrassing though, so please don’t listen to that. We got a bit hysterical. It must’ve been cabin fever.

When did you decide to extend your trip?

H: In mid-January. We were halfway through our three months, but not remotely interested in coming back yet. It might also be because, at that point, we still hadn’t reached any Silver Propeller locations!

P: Also, because we were iced in for a while we really feel like we deserve a summer on the waterways. We’ve had a few lovely sunny days so far, and they make such a difference to boating. So we’re getting very excited about summer.

Everything will feel so much bigger because we won’t be inside all the time.

“It feels really exciting to have stepped out of the 9-5”

Looking out over the Wyrley & Essington Canal.

What happens after your trip? Will you keep a hand in boating?

P: Well, we’ll never get rid of Sue Perb – she’s going to be with us forever. I feel like she can be a liveaboard, she can be a weekend jolly, we can even go abroad with her. I’d like to keep her on the Norfolk Broads for a bit. But I don’t know career-wise what we’ll do.

Does that worry you?

P: No, it doesn’t.

H: Strangely, being on the boat gives you a purpose, because you’re always doing something. You have an activity for the day all laid out in front of you, even if it’s just little tasks like emptying the bilges or the toilet. I feel like I’ve learnt such a lot, and it’s been fascinating seeing the rest of the country. It’s just been lovely. Neither of us is particularly career-driven. We just want to have a nice, interesting time. It feels really exciting to have stepped out of the 9-5.

P: Yes, and I think our measure of being successful has changed during this trip. I feel like we’re definitely winning. We’re really enjoying it all and embracing it all. I don’t know what we’re going to do after, but I don’t really worry about that right now because we’ve got so many fun days ahead of us.

Summer 2019 022 Silver Propeller windlasses SH.indd 25

Further Information To find out more about the Windlasses’ travels, visit their website, thewindlasses.co.uk, or follow them on Instagram, @thewindlasses.

For further information about IWA’s Silver Propeller Challenge, visit waterways.org.uk/ silverpropeller.

IWA Waterways |

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TRUSTEE STEED IWA stalwart Roger Stocker on boats, getting beached in Deptford Creek, and never being too far from his beloved bike...

Roger’s bike at Wigan Pier. He laments: “Much of the Leeds & Liverpool towpath is only suitable for mountain bikes at many times of the year, which is a shame as it can stop the majority of people exploring this amazing waterway, not to mention people on disability vehicles or with prams or buggies.”

I

’ve got the BBC to thank for my introduction to canal boating. I worked there in the finance and IT departments from 1973, and the first narrowboat my family and I ever hired was Savoy Hill, owned by the corporation. Our inaugural holiday was in October 2000, and we hired every year until buying our own boat in 2012. Since becoming a boat-owner I’ve tried to be an active member of the boating community. For several years I was a Canal & River Trust ‘Towpath Ranger’ promoting safe and considerate use of towpaths, and I attend CRT boaters’ and partnership meetings, playing an active role in these as well as attending several National Bargee Travellers Association London meetings. I’m also part of CRT’s ‘Boating Buddies’ project, offering its staff trips on my boat.

Salar, the sunset, and the Stockers’ faithful canine cruising companion.

We’ve got a 46-footer named Salar, the scientific name for a type of salmon.

It features in the title of a novel by Henry Williamson, of Tarka the Otter fame.

He was born in south-east London, in Brockley, which is where we live, so changing the name wasn’t something we ever considered. We’ve got a copy of Salar the Salmon on board the boat, but I still haven’t got round to finishing it. It has incredibly small font – clearly not printed for anyone with ageing eyesight! I’ve read about three chapters. One day I’ll make it to the end... We don’t live aboard but do try to use the boat as often as possible and keep it moored at High Line in Iver, on the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal.

only a battery, but we had to be towed back. We’ve also done the Thames twice out of Limehouse into Brentford with SPCC, but I tend to think you need a big engine and, because they’re flat-bottomed things, I’m more comfortable cruising a narrowboat along ditches rather than big rivers. So I now help out by crewing on other people’s boats instead.

Our cruising has been fairly adventurous, especially as part of St Pancras Cruising Club trips, including a memorable one through the Thames Barrier in January. It was a little bit cold, to say the least, and then we broke down –

I was stuck in Deptford Creek overnight last May, again part of an SPCC cruise. The boat I was on broke down – overheated – so the club lashed us to a barge

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Love Your Waterways

High and dry in Deptford Creek.

in the creek before all rushing onwards because of the tide. Once it goes out you’re well and truly stuck. There were just two of us on the boat, and no way out because everything is behind barriers and it’s all so muddy. Frustratingly, I was only about 2 miles from home! As I’d just envisaged being crew for a couple of hours, I hadn’t come prepared with provisions or a change of clothes. He didn’t have a spare bed so I slept on the floor. It was a disturbed night anyway because we had to be up at 3am. When the tide comes in you have to really hang on tight – you wouldn’t believe the speed of the water. Despite the experience, I’ve crewed on the same boat since – in January. What could possibly go wrong this time, I thought!

“When the tide comes in you have to really hang on tight – you wouldn’t believe the speed of the water” I was elected to IWA’s board of trustees last November. The role is whatever you make it. Any trustee of a charity is there to make sure the organisation is running properly and meeting its aims. My priority is to help make IWA more representative – to actively speak to members and other waterways users, ask for their opinions, for example on continuous cruising distances or overcrowding in London, and use that to help inform policy. I’ve always been someone who likes to play an active role in the organisations I’ve been a part of, whether that’s been trade unions or as a school governor. I tend to think if you’re inspired to join something in the first place, you should want to get stuck in. A danger of being a trustee is that you try to get too involved. That’s understandable, but sometimes you have to step back a little bit too.

I tend to always take my bike when I go cruising. I have lots of different ones, but a Brompton and mountain bike are particularly useful aboard. I used to be the cycling officer for a London local authority, and a favourite stretch to ride is still along the River Lea, because you’re coming out of London and it’s getting greener and greener all the time. It’s an ecological corridor. Also, because it’s part of the national cycle network and under the care of the Lee Valley Regional Park, the surface is well looked after.

Salar at IWA’s St Neots Festival of Water in 2018.

times, so I got the Brompton out to pick it up. The towpath was hopelessly overgrown in places and a real struggle. I’m pretty fit so my worry is that a lot of towpaths are only really accessible for ramblers with hiking boots, rather than, say, someone wanting to get out with a pram or wheelchair. I know CRT does grade its towpath surfaces, but so many more people might use them if improvements were made, including access to and from them.

Having said that, in many parts of the country improving towpaths is seen as an easy win – getting more cyclists on the canal instead of addressing road safety issues. By doing so they’re essentially turning the towpath into an express route. There is only a finite width and as soon as you get bridges it can create huge problems. Encouraging commuters to the canals can be a quick fix, but I don’t think it works long-term. A commute by its very nature is reasonably fast. And the speed difference between someone walking and someone on a bike is too dangerous, particularly if they’re with dogs, who can be unpredictable. I don’t like cycling the towpath in Islington/Tower Hamlets between City Road and Victoria Park for this reason – it’s just so busy. You’re concentrating so much on what’s in front of you that you’re missing all the stuff around you. The whole idea is to relax and enjoy it. So although I think organisations like IWA should do more to promote cycling, it has to be on a purely recreational basis, not for commuting, and considering the interests of other users – anglers, boaters, walkers etc.

It’s a balance. Any publicity has to be done quite sympathetically and you have to think ahead.

I like rugby league. I’m one of these weird southern people who like northern sport. So a couple of years ago, when my team was playing in Dewsbury, I thought I’d use the match as an excuse to cycle the Leeds & Liverpool from Leeds across to Wigan, because I might never get the opportunity to do that stretch by boat. It started off well – the towpath from Leeds to Keighley isn’t bad, and going through Saltaire was amazing. But once I got to the other side of Keighley the towpath became a muddy bog, not helped by the fact it was February. Even on a mountain bike with knobbly tyres, I was having to concentrate on what was 2ft ahead of me instead of the scenery. It was absolutely appalling. The next day I got to Burnley and a couple of cyclists warned me that a few sections were really terrible towards Blackburn. In the end I gave up, found a local station and jumped on the next direct train to Wigan instead.

To me, if CRT wants to put its effort into well-being, which I think is a really good direction to go, then they need to improve the state of our towpaths. The year before last we boated the Oxford Canal. We shuffled the car a couple of Summer 2019 026 LYW interview SH edit.indd 27

At Stockers Lock on the Grand Union at Rickmansworth.

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ON YER BIKE

Gemma Bolton

Taking to the towpath on two wheels this summer? Dedicated WRG volunteer and cycling enthusiast Richard Worthington offers advice on getting your bike ready and best practice

IWA's Cycling Code

•

Slow down when approaching anglers, towpath walkers and other towpath users, especially family groups and disabled people or those with reduced mobility, and be prepared to dismount or wait for people to get out of your way.

Always have a bell or horn fitted to your cycle and ALWAYS use it when approaching other users of the towpath.

Be prepared to dismount when local signs or common sense indicate that you should, for example at congested locations and under low, narrow or blind bridges.

• •

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• Be considerate to all other users of the • Watch out for hazards on the towpath towpath. Pedestrians have priority.

Be particularly aware of boat crews operating locks or bridges or stepping off a boat onto the towpath.

Slow down when approaching bridges, locks and other structures, especially when there is a blind bend and you cannot see who or what is ahead of you, and be prepared to stop.

Be aware that very occasionally a towpath crosses a road, for example when there is no room under a roadbridge for a towpath. Be prepared to stop and be aware of fast-moving traffic on busy main roads.

•

• •

•

• •

such as ropes from boats, mooring stakes and bollards. Allow anglers time to move their tackle before you try to pass.

If cycling at night, have lights fitted to your cycle and use them.

Wearing headphones can limit communication between cyclists and other users. For this reason it is not recommended.

Avoid cycling in large groups or having races with fellow cyclists – the towpaths are not appropriate places for this.

Be friendly to other waterway users. The towpaths are there for everyone to enjoy.

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 13:15

Love Your Waterways

Courtesy Cyclists on a towpath need to take care if there are other people using it. Walkers, joggers, anglers and other cyclists are common (plus the occasional volunteer) and pedestrians have the right of way, so moderating your speed, giving way and using a bell are important. IWA’s Cycling Code, in the box opposite, has further details.

Towpath Checking out the state of the towpath beforehand will give an idea of the sort of preparation you need. Some are just like a pavement, others a rough track or gravel path. While they are generally flat (apart from where there are locks or tunnels), they can vary in width and surface along their length. A rougher track can contain ruts and potholes that could bounce you into the canal if taken at too high a speed. Very muddy towpaths can be slippery and dangerous.

Bike You don’t need a serious off-road mountain bike for towpath use; anything other than a racing bike should be fine.

Tyres Hybrid tyres (flat in the middle, knobbly on the edges) or a thinner mountain tyre should do on most towpaths, giving a smooth ride on harder paths and enough grip on a rough one. Oversized off-road tyres are unnecessary and will probably churn up and damage the towpath, particularly if it has been raining.

Mudguards

Electric bikes Electric bikes must now meet the following criteria in order to have the same legal standing as regular non-assisted bicycles and to be allowed on roads, bike paths (including towpaths) and other places where bicycles are allowed under UK law: • Electric assistance can only be provided to a maximum of 25km/h (15.5mph) • The motor used must be of no more than 250 watts (maximum continuous rated power) • The e-bike’s pedals must be in motion for motor assistance to be provided • The rider must be 14 years of age or over

Summer 2019 028 LYW cycling SH.indd 29

Mudguards will stop you getting covered in water and mud and can also protect the gears and brakes of your bike from getting clogged up.

Punctures

You can get a puncture anywhere but on a towpath they’re likely to be from thorny vegetation. There are a number of ways to help prevent them: • Self-sealing inner tubes contain a glue which will seal small holes and cost just a few pounds more than a standard tube • Tyre liners go between the tube and tyre to add an extra layer for under £10 • Puncture-resistant tyres offer the greatest overall protection for £15 and up If you do get a puncture, the quickest way to fix it is to carry a spare tube and patch the punctured one when you get home. Obviously a pump is essential and the tools to do the work. Carefully check the tyre to make sure there isn’t anything still stuck in it to cause another puncture.

In addition to a puncture repair kit or tube, a small cycling multitool can mean the difference between cycling and walking home. If you are going for a longer ride additional tools can be useful, but this needs considering against weight and space.

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BLAST

FROM THE PAST Ahead of IWA’s Festival of Water at Waltham Abbey, Christine Richardson explores the history of its Royal Gunpowder Mills – the canal network nobody knows about

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Royal Gunpowder Mills

B

y 1662 there was more gunpowder being made at Waltham Abbey “than in all England besides”. The River Lea had made such developments possible – providing water transport for the supply of raw materials, and the relatively safe distribution of finished products. Via the Lea and the Thames, gunpowder was carried by boats to the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, and the great magazines at Purfleet.

Historically, most armaments production took place in the south-east of England because the threat was from continental Europe. To the north-east of London the Waltham Abbey site was admirably placed and in 1787 it was taken into government ownership and given the title ‘Royal’.

Millhead Stream, a minor tributary of the River Lea, flows through the Royal Gunpowder Mills.

Old River Lea For safety reasons the production buildings were spread far apart and the least risky way of moving items between them was by water. Therefore, a network of canals was created, crossing the area and linking with three ancient main channels, which also provided water-power for the gunpowder mills.

Of those three main channels, two already had a significant past. The Old River Lea had been the through-route for navigation, with a type of flash-lock at what is now known as Newton’s Pool. This caused the usual clashes between boatmen and millers, as a result of which the Cornmill Stream was improved to navigable standard and a pound-lock built to drop boats down to the old river. Not just any lock – the first one in Britain with mitred gates at both ends, completed in 1576. Rioters destroyed it in 1592, and it is thought that no trace remains. In 1767 Smeaton moved the Lea through-navigation to the west – and left the old bypassed channels to form the outline of the gunpowder mills’ waterways.

The aftermath of the French Revolution led England into an almost continuous period of warfare, culminating in the battles against Napoleon. War meant that bulk supplies of munitions were needed, so

Remains of the gunpowder press house. A waterwheel created hydraulic pressure to work the press. The operator could control it remotely from the pump house on the right, where they were protected from harm by the central blast wall.

“The peak of production during the Napoleonic Wars was in 1813, when 250 men were employed, and the canals were used by nine powder-boats, five barges, two ballast-barges, and six punts” many new buildings were added at Waltham Abbey, and the canal system was enlarged considerably.

Charcoal – one of gunpowder’s three components – was brought by boat from Fernhurst in Sussex, and Faversham, Kent. Of the other two raw materials, tons of saltpetre came up the rivers Thames and Lea from Bengal. Together with sulphur they were taken to the various production buildings via the site’s canals.

Damp gunpowder from Royal Navy ships was also carried, to be dried in steam-stoves.

By this time the production systems had evolved from south to north, with the finished gunpowder being stored in the Grand Magazine. From there it was loaded onto spritsail barges which used the Powdermill Cut to reach the Lee Navigation.

Gradual expansion A powder-boat with its distinctive barrel-shaped roof.

Summer 2019 030 royal gunpowder mills SH.indd 31

The peak of production during the Napoleonic Wars was in 1813, when 250 men were employed, and the canals were used by nine powder-boats, five barges, two ballast-barges, and six punts. But demand for armaments slumped with Napoleon’s final defeat at IWA Waterways |

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The wildlife tower at Royal Gunpowder Mills offers a great vantage point to survey the furry and feathered residents who now occupy the site.

An old aqueduct over one of the site’s canals.

Waterloo and by 1822 the workforce was only 34. However, various conflicts in Britain’s growing Empire meant that bulk production of explosives was often required. More canals were gradually added to the network, with waterways on two levels linked by locks. Two cast-iron aqueducts carried one canal over the Old River Lea, both marked with the Royal VR cipher, and the dates 18789. A distinctive style of footbridge was built. They were a semi-circular shape and made of an open grid of wrought iron. At each side were boot-scrapers to prevent grit being trodden onto the bridge that might fall on to passing explosives boats. Such detritus in gunpowder’s raw materials could cause an explosion during the grinding processes.

In 1869 there were 15 covered boats on the system – varying in length between 21ft and 30ft, and 5ft 11ins to 8ft 6ins beam – used to carry dangerous cargoes. Their barrel-shaped roofs were designed to stop explosive dust settling on them, and phosphor bronze nails and fittings were used to prevent sparks. There were also 16 open boats for general errands, carrying charcoal, timber, stores, and acting as ferries.

Volatile cargoes By now the spritsail barges were carrying over 40,000 barrels of gunpowder from the site every year. But evermore larger guns needed more efficient explosives and soon nitroglycerin was added to the dangerous products at Waltham Abbey. This required the on-site boats to carry acids and chemicals – supplied, stored and moved in dark-green glass carboys, covered in wicker.

However, nitroglycerin is so volatile that even water transport was not smooth enough; instead it was moved between processing buildings by gravity – slowflowing along pipes and gutters.

Such volatility meant that nitroglycerine could not be safely used as an armament. Instead, after 1890, it was mixed with other elements to form cordite, a chillingly efficient explosive. As the products became more effective, so did the carrying of them on the canals. By now the boats on the internal network had evolved into two types, both carvel-built in timber, double-ended and capable of holding a 5-ton cargo.

The boatmen pulled or poled their craft through a pretty, thickly wooded landscape. Before electricity was available they worked daylight hours only, as few of the buildings could have flames to provide artificial light. With structures spread thinly among 400 acres there was nothing fearful to see; only the knowledge that some buildings had floors covered with leather hides, held down with copper nails, and kept moist all the time to stop explosive dust spreading. Those producing cordite and nitroglycerine had floors of lead sheet, so that the dust could be seen and cleared up.

Tragedies Boat crews were never hurried – it was policy that no one on the site was pushed to do a certain amount of work in a day. People under pressure make mistakes. Nevertheless, at times of war when production targets were high there were tragedies at Waltham Abbey’s Royal Gunpowder Mills. On 7th May 1894 one building exploded. The design of the area, and the blast-walls, should have contained the damage – but they did not. Three other buildings, also containing explosives, were completely destroyed. The blast was heard 12 miles away in Hyde Park, where people thought it was a gun-salute for the Queen. The trees were supposed to help contain a blast but they proved totally

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ineffectual. Seven men died – one was blown into a canal, five of the others over the river to the Essex marshes. Understandably, the failure of the blast containment system caused considerable alarm among the workforce.

Unhappily, that was not the only catastrophe on the site. In 1902 there was a similar explosion, and twice in 1940 when the production pressures of World War II resulted in the devastation of cordite mixinghouses. But heavy workloads did not always result in mistakes. In 1917 the horrendous demands of World War I caused the workforce to be increased to an all-time peak of 5,000 – the majority women working shifts to secure continuous production.

“The blast was heard 12 miles away in Hyde Park, where people thought it was a gun-salute for the Queen” Infilling Explosives manufacture ceased in 1943, with production switched to areas of Britain out of the reach of enemy bombers. Many of the canals were infilled in the 1950s, but traces remain. The timber piling of their banks can be found, and the clay-linings still retain any dampness, with marsh plants thriving.

The remaining waterways were put to non-navigable use in the 1960s during the research and development of non-nuclear explosives of every kind. Newton’s Pool, the site of the 16th-century flash-lock, now saw flashes of another kind when it was used to test the underwater effectiveness of new explosives – the results of which were recorded by high-speed cameras capable of 1,200,000 exposures per second.

The final closure of the Waltham Abbey site was on 30th June 1991. Since then the Ministry of Defence has carried out a decontamination programme, including the removal of dangerous materials from the canals – a task done without damaging the clay-puddle. The canal system survives partly as open waterways, partly as earthwork features, while others have been infilled and lost. But the Old River Lea still flows through the centre and the site, which has been largely closed to the outside world over most of its history, is now open for public visits and educational events.

Book into IWA’s Festival of Water at the Lee Valley Showground next door to the Gunpowder Mills and visit the site before or after the festival. waterways.org.uk/festivalofwater royalgunpowdermills.com Summer 2019 18/04/2019 13:17

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DON'T BREAK THE BANK Boating on a budget? We take a look at why GRP cruisers are often touted as an affordable and practical way of getting afloat

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Boating on a budget

DOLPHIN CRUISING IWA member Chris Jones has been a boat-owner for over a decade. She reveals why a GRP cruiser was the best fit for her and her husband’s lifestyle

W

e’ve owned our 21ft, narrow-beam Dolphin GRP cruiser Delphun for around 12 years.

My husband started boating in his teens in the early 1960s, exploring the Norfolk Broads, and after we were married we continued to hire boats there. We holidayed on both GRP cruisers and narrowboats before deciding to purchase our own craft.

Delphun After weighing up our options, we settled on a GRP cruiser as we felt it offered everything that we wanted. Our boat is the ideal size for the two of us to handle, even now we’re in our 70s, and has all mod cons. We renamed it Delphun as ‘delphin’ is the Greek for dolphin (the same as the boat’s brand), and we were looking forward to having a lot of ‘phun’ while boating.

My husband was an engineer, so we specifically wanted a cruiser with an inboard diesel engine that he could maintain himself, reducing potential servicing and repair costs. It also means we can have a good hot water system and a decent onboard shower – something that outboard engines can’t support.

Out of the water Delphun is based in a marina off the River Thames but kept on a trailer. Being light enough to tow, it makes sense to pay for it to be on a cheaper hardstanding space rather than in the water. We get all the benefits of the marina’s security but without the expense of a berth.

Keeping it on land means there’s less risk of algae and osmosis developing on the hull, especially over the winter months when we don’t go boating. We’re also able to easily check the whole boat for things like scratches or bent props when it comes out of the water and deal with any damage straight away before it develops into something more serious.

the River Thames and the Norfolk Broads, so tend to explore those most often – the southern Broads are our favourite as they’re so quiet. We did go on the River Wey a few years ago and have talked about boating on the Ouse but we haven’t taken it onto the canals yet.

At just 21ft, the boat is small enough for us to tow and launch onto the waterways almost anywhere, which is obviously cheaper and quicker than trying to get a larger steel narrowboat on and off the connected network. However, as soon as you move onto a canal or river that’s managed by a different navigation authority you have to pay for an additional licence. A licence that covers all the country’s waterways would be ideal for us but it doesn’t look like that will happen any time soon!

Hire option Although Delphun can accommodate up to six people on board, it’s really quite cramped. So a few years ago when we wanted to take the family on a holiday and do the Pennine Ring, we hired a widebeam canal-boat, which was much more suitable for four adults and two teenagers.

The main reason for hiring a widebeam was to have enough space for everybody. However, steel narrowboats are a little hardier than GRP cruisers for exploring shallower canals. Delphun has a draught of 2ft 6in, so we were concerned about it scraping on the bottom of the

Above: Chris at the helm of her Dolphin GRP cruiser.

Below: Delphun, a 21ft cruiser, was the perfect option for Chris and her husband.

canal or getting damaged on debris.

Our concern was not unfounded! On the Rochdale Canal we saw shopping trolleys, a sofa and armchairs, bouncy castle and bicycles.

Cutting costs If you’re looking to purchase a boat, definitely try before you buy. We chose a GRP cruiser after hiring a variety of different craft and taking into account how much time we’d be able to spend afloat each year. And do as much of the maintenance as you can. Labour costs are often what make repairs expensive, so cut down on these by getting to grips with the basics yourself.

The River Waveney at Beccles. The quiet, southern Broads are Chris’s favourite waterways to explore.

Licence locations At the moment we cruise for approximately two months of the year, preferring to go out for around three to four weeks at a time. We have licences for Summer 2019 034 budget boating.indd 35

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BOATBUYING

Q&A We asked Mark Langley, science educator and inland boating expert, for his top tips for getting afloat on a budget What kind of boats have you owned?

My first boat was a Norman Conquest – a 20ft, centre cockpit cruiser with a 10hp outboard engine – and was a steep learning curve. It was basic but very functional.

My first boating experience was on the 1960s-built Norman 23 my aunt and uncle owned; it was based on the River Great Ouse and inspired my love of boating.

Narrowboats came later. They’re fantastic for long-term cruising all year round but require a lot of upkeep, especially as they get older. Two years ago I swapped my narrowboat for a Viking 26 wide-beam GRP cruiser.

What made you go back to a GRP boat?

Firstly, I spend a lot of time aboard other people’s boats carrying out reviews, which is a privilege but does mean I have less time to spend afloat on my own boat than I would always like.

Secondly, I’ve done a lot of coastal cruising and sailing at sea, so the idea of an inland boat that can make forays down

When looked after properly, GRP cruisers can have a long lifespan.

an estuary – to Hull or across the Wash, for example – really appealed. Flat-bottomed narrowboats are not ideal for tidal waters. I’m based on the wider Yorkshire waterways now too, so am not constrained by the width of narrow canals.

Being able to have a large, sociable cockpit when cruising – and protection from the rain – is also a bonus.

What makes a GRP cruiser more cost-effective than a narrowboat?

The shorter length is a massive bonus when it comes to the cost of mooring and running the boat. My 26ft by 9ft cruiser can also sleep six to eight people in three separate cabins plus the cockpit, so you get a lot of useable space for the size of the boat.

GRP also requires less maintenance in general than steel boats, as long as you keep up with cleaning it and giving it the odd polish. Major scratches can be a pain to rectify but good hull fendering and careful handling of the boat minimise the risk.

What sort of things should you consider when looking to buy a boat on a budget – both GRP and steel?

The quality of the hull/superstructure and engine are key on any boat. If either (or both) is going to require serious maintenance then you could end up spending a huge amount of time, effort and money. The interior can always be upgraded but the shell itself is a challenge.

Canopies on boats can be eye-wateringly expensive to replace, so if there is a lot of canvas make sure it’s in good condition.

Use your nose when entering a vessel. Damp is the scourge of boats – often down to leaky windows and poor ventilation. A strong smell of diesel on a boat with an inboard engine can also point to maintenance issues.

Beware of ‘owner upgrades’ that are not high quality. Solid-fuel stoves are common additions on GRP cruisers and often a sign that the boat has been bought for residential use. That in itself is not a problem, but the standard of owner-fitted equipment can be poor.

What are the biggest mistakes you can make when purchasing a boat?

Storing a GRP cruiser on land means that you can easily check the hull for signs of damage.

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Outside spaces on cruisers often convert to extra sleeping berths – perfect for overnight guests in the summer.

Not having someone give you a second opinion! Ideally, a surveyor familiar with that type of boat should at least look at the hull, engine and canopy, which are generally the most expensive bits to deal with.

Some people assume a boat with a year to go on its Boat Safety Scheme certificate will be fine but many changes made by the owner since the last examination Summer 2019 18/04/2019 13:18

Boating on a budget The cockpit is the heart of the boat and has plenty of room, even with the canopy up for friends and family.

What can you save money on while boating?

The biggest running costs are moorings for most boaters. Don’t try not having a mooring, though, unless you really can genuinely continuously cruise – bridgehopping on along one navigation doesn’t count!

Lots of things on board a boat can often be repaired or improved without spending lots of money. Boat jumbles and websites like Gumtree can be useful places to find a bargain. Don’t forget that caravan suppliers often have good deals without the ‘marine’ mark-up on the price. Just make sure any appliances, such as gas ones, are properly fitted and approved for boat use.

And what should you never try to cut costs on while boating? may have invalidated it. I have seen boats fail the BSS examination on many major points because owners did work without reading the standards. A freshly issued BSS is a good starting point to reduce the risk to you and other boaters.

Not taking the boat for a trial run is another mistake. A surprisingly large number of people buy a budget boat – often their first – without a decent trial run to check everything that should work, does. This is key for expensive bits like the engine, but you also don’t want to find out immediately after the purchase that a water heater doesn’t work. Remember that warranties of any description are almost impossible to have on used boats.

Finding out who actually owns the boat can be a challenge – people are known to part with quite large sums of money without doing any checking. There is no equivalent of a car V5 logbook for most boats, but receipts and evidence of ownership, such as licences, can help build a history.

What are your top tips for reducing costs while boating?

Try and do as much maintenance yourself – but read and thoroughly understand the Boat Safety Scheme standards so that you don’t make mistakes.

Regularly clean the boat inside and out – not only will it help keep things shipshape, but it will allow you to spot early signs of trouble.

Consider fitting solar panels – even small ones – as they can help keep expensive batteries in good condition. On outboard-powered boats, solar panels can make cruising a lot easier as they enable equipment like fridges and TVs to be used without worrying about recharging from low-output engine alternators.

Safety! Gas, electric and petrol/diesel equipment and fire safety are all paramount. Keep fuel-burning appliances well maintained, and fit carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Don’t try DIY maintenance for any gas systems. Ensure all spare fuel – especially petrol – is stored properly so that any vapour drains overboard.

Don’t skimp on being a boater – take pride in your boat, no matter how small, old or cheap. Keep things tidy, don’t spread all your belongings and boating paraphernalia over the towpath, and be considerate to other waterways users.

Finally, enjoy your boat and cruise as much as possible. Take pleasure in doing the maintenance and any upgrades – plan it all out and don’t rush. Boating should never be a drag.

Should you expect to spend more upfront to save more in the long-term?

Generally newer and well-maintained boats will cost more, but don’t expect that they will be entirely trouble-free. A boat that needs major work, especially on the inside, might make for a bargain if you are capable and ready to give up time to sort things out.

However, be realistic with your budget and ensure you’ve factored in the initial purchase price along with any urgent upgrades/repairs, ongoing maintenance and general running costs.

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Mark’s wide-beam cruiser is great for river and tidal cruising.

IWA Waterways |

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restoration HUB: Waterways in Progress: The Waiting Gain

I

Wey & Arun Canal Trust

WA’s report on the untapped potential of unfinished restorations was published in March. It includes a wealth of case studies from across the network demonstrating how projects can deliver even before they’re back in water, with additional examples cropping up continually. Waterways looks at just two inspirational accounts...

The Wey-South Path Wey & Arun Canal

above: The canalside Wey-South Path is popular with both walkers and riders.

Below: The Wey & Arun and its towpath to the north of Gennets Bridge Lock.

“Establishing the Wey-South Path on the line of much of the towpath of the Wey & Arun Canal increased public knowledge of the then-derelict waterway and support for its restoration. A ‘virtuous circle’ has been created where physical evidence of restoration projects on view to the public has garnered more support, grown membership of the trust to 3,000 and accelerated progress in reinstating the canal.”

Alan Johnson, vice chair, Wey & Arun Canal Trust

Dennis Gillen

The 2014 ‘Water Adds Value’ report highlighted the utility of towpaths for people looking to increase physical activity. It explained how “restorations open up walking and cycling routes through improvements in towpaths and the canal itself”, adding that the relative flatness of the terrain makes them “especially beneficial to those getting back into exercise”.

Many ‘waterways in progress’ offer opportunities to deliver community-based programmes promoting this. The Wey-South Path is a walking route from Guildford, Surrey, to a junction with the South Downs Way above Amberley, West Sussex. Devised in the early 1970s on behalf of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, the path utilises almost all of the canal’s towpath which is open to the public – necessarily diverting to avoid sections where a right of way does not exist through private land.

The line of the restoration acts as a common thread, weaving together a group of otherwise disparate paths. Along the way, walkers have the chance to see a large amount of work already completed on the canal – a savvy means of attracting future support.

Wey & Arun Canal Trust

Improving Health & Well-being

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Summer 2019 18/04/2019 13:19

restoration hub

Wichelstowe Canalside Development Wilts & Berks Canal

The canal-themed Hall & Woodhouse pub at Wichelstowe, which opened in February, features a narrowboat dry docked inside.

Catalyst for Transformation The Wilts & Berks Canal has proved irresistible environs for a joint venture between Swindon Borough Council and Barratt Developments, which aims to place 3,000 homes on a 250-hectare site at Wichelstowe, south of Swindon. More than 1,000 jobs will be supported by the scheme in the initial stages and the first residents will move in later this year.

The restoration of the waterway will be the beating heart of one particular part of the development, named Canalside. It will include new sections of road, open spaces, improvements to the waterway, a public square and a feature footbridge offering views along the canal and creating a link between the Waitrose store and the new Hall & Woodhouse pub/restaurant.

The Wilts & Berks Canal is currently being upgraded to both improve the structure of the canal banks and introduce a new lit towpath along the western bank.

Following these enhancements, and to capitalise on Canalside’s status as a significant visitor attraction for Swindon, the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust will resume running trip-boat operations from here later this year.

“We are already seeing the benefits of placing the restored Wilts & Berks Canal at the centre of our development. On a sunny day it is fantastic to see people enjoying a cup of coffee outside Waitrose or Hall & Woodhouse, and within the next year we hope to see our first residents enjoying the view from their balconies.

“The canal creates a real identity for Wichelstowe and we hope the growing community will embrace the benefits of using the towpath to walk and cycle through the site and enjoy spending time by the water. We are also optimistic that the canal will attract potential housebuyers, ensuring the development is a commercial success, generating the funds to carry out further canal construction and restoration works within the site.

Rob Powe, Wichelstowe programme manager, Swindon Borough Council

Artist’s impression of the new retirement village, Freeman’s Quay, to be built adjacent to the Wilts & Berks at Wichelstowe.

Consent has recently been granted for the first homes to be built along the canal.

View of Freeman’s Quay across the Wilts & Berks canal

Summer 2019 038 restoration hub SH.indd 39

Wichelstowe Retirement Living

AA6831 - 1041

Perspective view

For Coordination

IWA Waterways |

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restoration HUB:

A year in the life of London WRG

C

an you name the one place where London’s Waterway Recovery Group volunteers don’t restore canals? Surprisingly, or perhaps not, the answer is London. On the whole, the city’s canals are either still very much alive, or very dead. So every third weekend of the month, a team of London WRG volunteers head out into the countryside to work on the restoration of canals up to 150 miles away from the capital.

As the group doesn’t work on London canals, you might assume the volunteers all come from London.

But you’d be wrong. The diverse team has regular and occasional supporters from the West and East Midlands, Devon, East Anglia, South Wales and the South Coast.

This leads us to the obvious question: why does the group call itself London WRG? When it formed, most of the members did live in the city, and the name stuck even after new people joined from elsewhere.

Let’s take a look at what they got up to last year…

January

Cotswold Canals

For many on the January work party, after the Christmas party dig and the WRG Christmas Canal Camp, this was their third visit to Bonds Mill Bridge in one month. The job was to continue clearing vegetation. An evening visit from WRG chairman Mike Palmer added to the fun when he asked for ideas for what to call an article dealing with benefits of partial restoration. He wanted case study suggestions too. It’s where the idea for the new Restoration Hub report Waterways in Progress was born (see p38) – well, that’s London WRG’s story and they’re sticking to it!

February

Buckingham Arm of the Grand Union Canal

A very happening project and one that has become a regular for London WRG. The task was to rebuild the first bridge near the junction with the canal’s main line at Cosgrove. The team received a task sheet with an artist’s impression of the finished bridge, prompting reactions along the lines of “it looks very nice. We just need to build it now.”

March

BCN Clean-up

The annual Birmingham Canal Navigations Cleanup has been supported by London WRG for many years and the team help to organise it. The usual assortment of junk was hauled out of the cut including an old safe with a packet of passports inside – these were deposited at the nearest police station.

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Restoring bridge abutments on the Buckingham Arm of the Grand Union Canal in April.

April

Buckingham Arm of the Grand Union Canal

Returning to the same bridge at Cosgrove, the volunteers were met with a change of plans since their last visit. Now the task was to try and save as much of the old bridge that had been uncovered as possible. The plan for a brick arch had been replaced by one for a flat deck, so the foundations of the old stone bridge needed to be restored. Work started on what was essentially a threedimensional jigsaw project. By the afternoon of day one, the stone team were ready to make their first lime mortar mix and begin building a wall that curved inwards in both directions. No mean feat.

May

Shrewsbury & Newport Canals

After helping on the site event team at IWA Canalway Cavalcade, the London WRG volunteers were off to a dig on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals – another project that’s been taking big steps forward. The worksite was at the portal of Berwick Tunnel, and tasks involved clearing fallen branches and shifting muck to progress towards opening the towpath and creating a circular walk – a good Waterways in Progress-type project.

June

Cotswold Canals

Back to the Cotswolds but this time to Inglesham Lock. The main job was to expose and clean some stone paving behind the brickwork into which stone blocks would then be keyed.

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 13:19

Steppingstones Bridge on the Wilts & Berks Canal where volunteers added coping stones in July.

Clearing vegetation and collecting mistletoe along the Cotswold Canals in December.

July

November

A return to Steppingstones Bridge on the Wilts & Berks Canal, which London WRG last worked on many years previously. This is a bridleway bridge which had been rebuilt from two surviving lumps of abutments (rather like the bridge on the Buckingham Arm, but not in such good condition). One of the parapet walls had never had its coping stones added, and that was the main task.

The October Lichfield dig had been a bit of a preparation for the Bonfire Bash there in November, when London WRG joined a rather larger contingent carrying on with the same wall – as well as various other jobs. A quick walk up to the far end of the site confirmed that not only was there scrub clearance and brushcutting going on around Fosseway Lane Lock, but there were indeed some actual bonfires burning!

Before the end of the month, a return to the Cotswold Canals, coinciding with the start of the scrub-bashing season, led the team to the following plan for December: cut vegetation down and burn it.

Wilts & Berks Canal

September

Wey & Arun Canal and Buckingham Arm of the Grand Union Canal

Back to work after a summer break, the volunteers headed south to the Wey & Arun where the local canal trust was busy getting ready for the grand opening of its new slipway at Dunsfold. It needed help with all the finishing-off jobs, completing a curving wall on the edge of the slipway and landscaping the slope. And then the first boat could be launched on the slipway.

Later in the month the team was back on the Buckingham Arm and building two brick walls – they’ll ultimately be hidden from sight but are important as they affect the level of the final bridge. The walls were on concrete pads, upon which metal supports would be placed, with concrete posts lengthways and all filled in with some brick facing to be added later. Around 1,260 bricks were laid over the weekend to construct one support and the first course of the second.

October

Lichfield Canal

December

Cotswold Canals

Rather aptly, lots of mistletoe was found among the vegetation being cleared, which was handed over to the canals trust to sell to raise funds. And so the year ended as it began: scrub-bashing on the Cotswold Canals.

Lichfield Canal

On their first visit for 18 months to the Lichfield Canal, the London WRG volunteers assisted the local canal trust’s project to build a channel wall at Fosseway Heath.

Getting ready for the opening of the slipway at Dunsfold on the Wey & Arun Canal in September.

Summer 2019 040 restoration hub WRG.indd 41

Join in WRG’s three regional groups and WRG Forestry organise weekend canal restoration digs for volunteers throughout England, and sometimes Wales. Work can be anything from restoring a lock on the Cotswold Canals to bridge repairs on the Lancaster Canal, or even clearing vegetation on the Somersetshire Coal Canals. Volunteers meet on Friday night, and spend Saturday and Sunday working on site, before heading home – tired but happy – on Sunday afternoon.

New recruits are welcome on all digs. The three regional teams are London WRG, WRG BITM (standing for the ‘Bit in the Middle’ of the country) and WRG North West. To find out more about the WRG weekend groups visit waterways. org.uk/wrg.

This article is edited from Navvies issue 293, the magazine for WRG volunteers. Sign up to receive Navvies for £3 for six issues, and find all the work party dates in the diary section – waterways.org.uk/navvies.

IWA Waterways |

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PULL SNAP STOMP Take five minutes to help stamp out Himalayan balsam

Himalayan balsam grows along the banks of canals and rivers.

RUPERT SMEDLEY

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Take five minutes out of your walk to tackle Himalayan balsam along your local waterway.

ALISON SMEDLEY

H

ave you seen the vast swathes of Himalayan balsam growing along the bank as you enjoy the waterways during the summer months? As attractive as it looks, this non-native invasive plant with its reddish stems and pink-purple flowers, is causing the widespread erosion of river and canal banks, leading to problems on the towpath, flooding and the suffocation of fish eggs.

Himalayan balsam grows so quickly that it crowds out our native wild flowers. It also has no root stock, so once it goes to seed and dies back, there is nothing left to hold the soil together during the winter months. In order to stop the spread of these plants, we need to pull them up before they go to seed – and you can help.

IWA is asking you to get behind our Pull Snap Stomp campaign this year. Launching in May, the initiative encourages supporters to help stop the spread of Himalayan balsam by pulling it out of the ground whenever they see it by the canal or river bank, to snap off the root, and to stomp down on it to stop it growing again. Families with young children or grandchildren are encouraged to take part in the campaign as the stalks are very easy to pull up and give a very pleasing ‘pop’ as they are removed from the ground.

To support the campaign, people can register to receive an activity pack which gives more

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 13:20

Himalayan balsam

Alison Smedley

The whole family can join in with a Balsam Bash work party this summer.

information about Himalayan balsam and how to spot the plant along the towpath. Local IWA branches are also organising their own local ‘Balsam Bash’ work parties, encouraging people to take part.

The charity has produced several resources to help people find Himalayan balsam, including leaflets, posters and an online video. Volunteers will also receive a pair of branded gloves to protect their hands while they pull, snap and stomp their way along the towpaths.

Alison Smedley, IWA’s policy & campaigns officer, comments: “We are hoping that large numbers will get behind our Pull Snap Stomp campaign this summer. Over the years, our Balsam Bashes have made real inroads into reducing the spread of Himalayan balsam and we hope this will continue. If

“The plant has hollow stems, pointed leaves and slipper-shaped, purple or pink flowers.”

everyone takes just five minutes out of their walk to stop and pull up some of the plants, we should be able to make a real difference.”

The IWA campaign first ran in 2013, and since then it has gone from strength to strength. IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire branch has been particularly successful in removing Himalayan balsam from its towpaths and it is now hoped that other branches and areas will have similar levels of success.

IWA has a dedicated webpage waterways.org. uk/himalayanbalsam, and will be supporting the campaign via IWA social media feeds. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #PullSnapStomp on any social media posts.

#PULLSNAPSTOMP Help stem the spread of Himalayn balsam If you are out for a walk this summer, look out for Himalayan balsam. Take five and stop the spread of this destructive non-native invasive plant.

PULL – individual balsam stems pull up very easily and have a pleasing ‘pop’ Erica Martin

SNAP – break off the root below the lowest growing node STOMP – pile up all the stems away from the water and the path. Stomp

them down to assist the rotting process.

Summer 2019 042 himalayan balsam.indd 43

IWA Waterways |

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Branch Focus:

THE LONG AND THE

STORT OF IT

It’s set to be a busy summer for IWA’s Lee & Stort Branch, with two festivals and a carnival cruise among events lined up over the coming months. Waterways meets its new chairman, MIKE NEWMAN, to find out more

I

t’s impossible to talk about the Lee & Stort these days without mentioning the elephant in the room: London. Although the branch covers an area north of the M25, the challenges faced by waterways congestion in the capital can’t help but impact further along the network too. Mike Newman, who only took over as chair in March, says the Lee & Stort’s position as something of an outlier on the system has only been exacerbated by this. Its sole connection with other waterways is through the city, and so the increase of boaters and subsequent logjam at services and moorings is, essentially, slowly cutting it off.

“A lot of members now base themselves elsewhere as a consequence of this,” Mike states matter-of-factly. “Of course, it’s not the only reason, but it does affect where members choose to leave their boats. Many are now retired and so not constrained to weekend-only use of their boat. It’s no great shakes if they have to travel elsewhere to pick up their boat.”

ABOVE & BELOW: The annual Ware Boat Festival is the highlight of the Lee & Stort’s social calendar.

RIGHT: The branch has been working closely with IWA’s London Region to launch its Vision for London report.

Cruising frustrations As a narrowboat owner himself (he joined the branch shortly after buying one in 2010, following early retirement), Mike has a lot of sympathy for the problems overcrowding is posing. Although readily admitting the issues facing his patch aren’t half as bad as other London branches, he is nevertheless worried about the impact it is having on boating the Lee & Stort.

“To some extent we narrowboaters have it easy,” he quips. “Normally these craft can accommodate longer journeys, so we just have to grit our teeth and get through London. But for branch members who own cruisers, there’s no easy answer. Typically they tend to boat closer to home, but nearly all visitor moorings are currently occupied. As a result, boat club outings are getting harder and harder to organise. You just can’t guarantee there’ll be adequate space to tie up. Fortunately the Canal & River Trust has been very helpful making arrangements locally to free up mooring space, but it does remove the spontaneity of cruising club trips.”

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Summer 2019 18/04/2019 15:24

Lee & Stort Branch

Serene cruising on the River Lea. Descending Waltham Town Lock.

In an attempt to find solutions to the problem, the branch is committed to a more active role in IWA’s London Region, which covers seven branches in and around the capital. Recently it launched its Vision for London, an in-depth report evaluating the complex issues faced by the many different users of the city’s rivers and canals. It will be used as a sort of manifesto over the coming years, applying pressure to create more affordable permanent mooring sites, so-called ‘community moorings’, and pre-bookable visitor moorings, especially on sections of the towpath that are not currently available for them. In conjunction with this, extra rangers and increased enforcement are being advocated to help stop overstaying, while providing better facilities is also a priority issue (see more on page 16).

Ware Boat Festival Despite these challenges, the branch still finds plenty to celebrate locally, not least its enduringly popular boat festival in Ware, on the River Lea, over the first weekend of July. One of the most successful festivals on the network, it typically attracts between 60 and 70 boats and is run in conjunction with Ware Town Council’s ‘Ware Week’, incorporating, among other highlights, a carnival and music festival.

With the river running right through the centre of the town, visiting boaters are guaranteed to be in the heart of the action. The format is pretty much the same each year, kicking off with a towpath barbecue on the Friday evening.

Saturday, meanwhile, comprises a themed boat parade followed by a boathandling competition. But the real highlight, says Mike, is the Saturday evening quiz for boaters, which takes place in a local hall. “Over the years it has become increasingly raucous and lighthearted – expect to see people dancing on tables!

I must pay due credit to my predecessor, Craig Haslam, for that. As branch chair of at least 15 years, he was exceptionally good at organising these sorts of public events. An awful lot of the attraction of that evening stemmed from the way he meticulously planned it in the weeks leading up, and on the day itself.” Despite having stepped down as branch chair, Craig remains the festival’s dedicated quizmaster.

Before Ware, there’s opportunity to explore the branch’s other waterway, the Stort, as part of Bishop’s Stortford Carnival Parade and Fun Day in June. Although on a much smaller scale than the Lea gathering (an average of 13-14 boats), and without any boater-specific activities, waterborne visitors can nevertheless imbibe the town’s festival atmosphere and benefit from allocated mooring space.

August extravaganza Finally to IWA’s Festival of Water, which is back at Waltham Abbey on the Lee Navigation in August for the first time since 2000. As always, a turnout of around 120 boats is expected, alongside the usual throng of foot visitors. Mike assures festival-goers that a warm welcome is guaranteed, although he concedes that passage to the event might be more problematic than recent venues because of the London mooring issues. Organisers have negotiated priority for festivalgoers on some new and existing CRT pre-bookable moorings through London (see waterways.org.uk/festivalofwater for more details). Plus there’s always the option of taking the Thames route. However, while Mike agrees going upstream from Limehouse can be “great fun”, going downstream “is more challenging and requires careful timing. It’s not something we’d advocate without a good deal of prior thought.”

Summer 2019 044 branch focus lee&stort SH.indd 45

Those who make the journey, however, will be amply rewarded when they reach the branch’s waters.

“The Stort is a beautiful navigation,” says Mike, “a treelined, very rural and charmingly meandering river. It’s a joy to travel on. The Lea too, for most of its journey to London is through a regional park, which provides a green corridor almost into the heart of the city. It’s only really when you get beyond Tottenham that you meet an urban environment. It’s absolutely extraordinary that you can get so far into London and still be surrounded by greenery, wildlife and open landscape.

We hope visitors seize the opportunity to come and explore this summer.”

Dates for the diary Stortford Carnival Cruise

14th-16th June Bishop’s Stortford Town Council welcomes boaters to Carnival Day on 15th June. To book your mooring email stortfordmooring@gmail.com or phone 07721 654410.

Ware Boat Festival

5th-7th July Ware Boat Festival, on the River Lea in Ware, is a weekend of fun and frolics on, in and around the river and town. The theme for 2019 is ‘space’. Entry price is £30.

Find out more at waterways.org.uk/leeandstort/ ware_boat_festival.

Festival of Water

24th-26th August Boat, campsite and trader booking forms are now available for this year’s IWA Festival of Water at Waltham Abbey on the Lee Navigation.

The event offers a weekend of fun for boaters, campers and all who love spending time by the water, with entertainment each evening and an illuminated boat procession on the Sunday. An on-site bar will make your weekend go with even more of a swing.

Find out more at waterways.org.uk/ festivalofwater.

Find out more:

waterways.org.uk/leeandstort IWA Waterways |

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IWA Classies Summer19.indd 46

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47 18/04/2019 13:18

Then and Now: celebrating restoration success stories

VENTIFORD BASIN STOVER CANAL

The northern terminus of the Stover Canal before excavation began in 2014.

T

he short Stover Canal in Devon was commissioned

by James Templer II, a landowner who lived in Stover House near Teigngrace. Construction began in 1790 and the 2-mile-long canal reached Ventiford Basin, the northern terminus, in 1792.

The waterway was primarily used to carry ball clay from local clay pits, via the man-made Whitelake Channel and River Teign, to Teignmouth, from where the clay was transhipped for distribution. The canal was also used to move granite from Templer’s Haytor Quarries on Dartmoor, which was transported to Ventiford via George Templer’s famous granite tramroad from 1820 until the 1840s. Barge traffic finally ceased on the Stover in the 1930s, although it’s thought the upper section of the canal, including Ventiford, was abandoned before the 1880s. Water remained in the canal until 1951 when a retaining bank collapsed, flooding part of a nearby clay works. The channel and all five locks subsequently fell into a state of neglect.

In 2014 excavation began on an old barge which had been left in the basin when it became redundant. At around 50ft long and 14ft wide, Stover barges were solidly constructed and carried 20 tons of freight, sailing down the canal with a square Viking-type sail (or bow hauled). Later that year evidence of the granite tramway was found during construction of the Stover Trail cycleway and footpath by Devon County Council. It was becoming clearer that the open, grassed area of Ventiford held many surprises.

In 2016 staff from a local clay company removed hundreds of tonnes of silt from the canal channel, and four hulked barges and more granite tramway rails were uncovered. That summer WRG volunteers spent two weeks on site taking down damaged stonework, removing vegetation and starting the rebuilding process. In 2017, Stover Canal volunteers repointed the granite blocks and repositioned those that had moved. The Basin is now being relined with clay and, following the construction of a dam, will hopefully be back in water by summer 2020.

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Silt removal at Ventiford Basin in June 2016.

WRG volunteers repairing stonework at the basin in August 2016.

Summer 2019 18/04/2019 13:22

Left: Stover Canal Trust volunteers excavated a Stover barge from the basin in 2014.

Above & Right: Uncovering the secrets of Ventiford Basin, including granite tramway rails, in 2016. below: The partially restored basin today.

All pictures by Stover Canal Trust.

Summer 2019 048 Then and Now stover.indd 49

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It’s your magazine so please write and tell us your views. We will aim to publish responses to letters that ask questions about any aspect of IWA policy or decision-making. Please write to The Editor, Waterways, c/o IWA, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA, or email a.hamson@wwonline.co.uk.

Destination question I have just been reading through the updated list of destinations for your admirable Silver Propeller Challenge in the Spring 2019 issue of Waterways.

I am somewhat puzzled by the inclusion of Saul Junction on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

When we were there in the middle of last year the place was heaving.

Narrowboats, wide-beams, trip-boats, coasting vessels – there was even a (retired) lifeboat, not to mention the marina. It certainly didn’t want for traffic; it was so busy our narrowboat was even rammed by a yacht! (Okay, it was a radio-controlled model yacht, and neither we nor the model yacht came to any harm.)

Paul Snelling The reason we selected Saul Junction on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal was two fold.

Firstly, it is a site not often visited by boats from the rest of the system.

Secondly, but more importantly, it is one of our ‘knocking on the door’ locations – these are places where navigable waterways meet restoration works, proposed link projects and currently unnavigable sections. It’s hoped that in the future we will be able to remove these spots as the restoration becomes part of the network. In this case it is the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames & Severn Canal.

Why not visit the other end of the Thames & Severn Canal at Inglesham Junction on the River Thames too?

Paul Strudwick London Region Chairman and Deputy National Chairman

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| IWA Waterways

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Saul Junction on the Gloucester & Sharpness will be the gateway to restorations on the Thames & Severn Canal and Stroudwater Navigation.

50 years ago on the Jam 'Ole run

Reading the most recent issue of Waterways, I was reminded of an old school chum of mine who recently came across a scrap of paper containing a few words given to her several years ago by another friend of ours, Malcolm Daniel, who for most of his life was both a waterway and film enthusiast.

After a little bit of detective work it transpired that Malcolm, along with a fellow student of his, had produced a short film in 1969/70 of boats working on the Jam ’Ole run to Kearley & Tonge at Southall on the Grand Union Canal, when they were in their final year at Harrow School of Film & Photography. Malcolm went on to become a senior film editor at the BBC, and before he retired he transferred the film onto DVD. The film in question is an eightA still from the 1969/70 film Renfrew and Lucy by minute documentary of the Blue Malcolm Daniel – available to watch on YouTube.

Line Canal Carriers boats Renfrew and its butty, Lucy, only months before commercial carrying ceased.

Considering its age, the film is in extremely good condition. For anyone interested, it can be found on YouTube: search Renfrew and Lucy or use the link youtu.be/5sY8gHsQT-Y. Enjoy!

Ray Alexander West Country Branch

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