Cargoes Autumn 2020

Autumn 2020

Autumn 2020

Newsletter of Guildford & Reading, Newsletter of Kent & & East Sussex Guildford Reading & Oxfordshire Branches Kent & East Sussex

and Oxfordshire Branches

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Index Basingstoke Canal Society

Chobham Social Meetings John Pinkerton Focus on Accessible Boating Association

Page: 6 Page 14 Page 15

Byfleet Boat Club

Page: 15

Guildford & Reading Branch

Page: 5

Kent & Sussex Branch – IWAKES

Page: 30

Future Events

Northfleet Harbour River Medway Royal Military Canal Thames & Medway Canal Association Eastern Rother Kentish Stour River Adur River Thames Future Events

Page: 6

Page: 35

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

Page: 16

London (Paddington)

Page: 44

Maidenhead

Page: 21

Mikron Theatre Group

Page: 46

Oxfordshire Branch Banbury Canal Partnership

Page: 38 Page: 39

Region Chair Report

Page: 3

River Thames

Page: 29

Newbury Reading Crofton Beam Engines

River Wey & Godalming Navigations National Trust Future Events

Salisbury Group

Future Events

Page: 20 Page: 4

Page: 5

Southampton Canal Society

Page: 20

South London

Page: 44

Towpath Walks

Page: 45

Future Events

Wey & Arun Canal Trust

Future Events

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Future Events

Page: 26

Page: 27

Page: 40

Page: 43

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Obituary Tim Fry We are sorry to learn that Tim Fry has died. He was joint editor of Cargoes for many years with Ray Carnell. Tim was also a great help to Verna Smith when Ray passed away suddenly and to Chris Jones when he handed the reins over to her.

Our condolences go t0 his wife Cheryl and family. We are sure he will be greatly missed.

Editorial I am very pleased to learn that the waterways are slowly opening for all users.

Although I haven’t yet ventured out, due to family commitments, my husband has managed to take our boat on several occasions and has reported back to me that in most cases people are being careful what they do – apart from some swimmers, canoeists and paddleboarders who don’t seem to know which side of the river they should be on! It is also a shame that so much rubbish is being left behind after picnics etc!

This edition of Cargoes includes some articles on individual canals, I hope you enjoy them. Please let me know if you would like more articles in this vein.

Take care and please do all you can to prevent COVID 19 forcing local lockdowns.

Chris Jones – Editor

N.B All events mentioned in this copy of Cargoes are subject to cancellation at short notice – please check before you go!

From the Region Chair The Seventy Fifth anniversary of the meeting of Tom Rolt and Robert Aickman at Tardebigge was celebrated on August 11th. The results are well known.

From a meeting in 1945 the IWA was set up in 1946 and from a network in dereliction we now enjoy over 4,000 miles of functioning waterways.

Cover Photo:

Courtesy: Kennet & Avon Canal Trust – Reading Branch

4 The founding of the IWA and the Waterways Recovery Group has led and coordinated the restoration movement. I am in awe of the energy and foresight of those volunteers who were determined that our heritage should not be lost. We have a lot to live up to.

So, what will the waterways look like in 2095? Will we still be using fossil fuels for propulsion, will the channels be clogged with non-powered craft, how will waterways be funded, will the Milton Keynes to Bedford link be open, will locks be removed to allow for natural water courses maintained by beavers to the detriment of navigation, will towpaths be so popular that a booking system has to be implemented? What do we want?

As an organisation dedicated to protecting the waterways, we need to have these conversations. Our predecessors wanted a functioning and connected system, which, for the most part, was achieved. We need vision, energy and determination to protect and enhance our heritage. Will future generations be proud of our legacy?

Caen Hill flight Photos courtesy of IWA Website

Verna Smith

Salisbury Group Our Salisbury Correspondent, Myra Glover writes: Not a lot has been happening in the last few months. We had to cancel both the March meeting and the annual boules & BBQ. The October meeting has also been cancelled, but if we are allowed to meet by then, it will be the Irish waterways talk that was cancelled in March.

When we do eventually get back to normal, I will contact everyone on my list.

If anyone wants any information before then please phone or email me.

Myra Glover

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Future Events All future meetings will be subject to the Lockdown guidelines at that time. Please check with Myra Glover There will be no meeting in September.

Thur 15th Oct: To be confirmed Thur 19th Nov: The Royal Military Canal in Kent is 28 miles long and was built in 1804, constructed as a defence against the possible invasion of England during the Napoleonic Wars. Local historian George Fleming will tell us about the history, construction and purpose of this canal.

Thur 3rd Dec: Cancelled Waterways quiz organised by Southampton Canal Society at Chilworth Village Hall.

Thur 10th Dec: Christmas Dinner at The Green Dragon Alderbury, 7.00pm Unless otherwise stated, meetings are at The Green Dragon, Old Road, Alderbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 3AR starting at 7.30pm when visitors will be warmly welcomed. Further information can be obtained from Ron & Myra Glover on 01722 710322 or 07768 622966, email glover.3@btinternet.com, myra.glover@waterways.org.uk or Jon Van de Geer on 01722 412841.

Guildford & Reading Branch Branch Chairman While the last few months have been quiet, our branch meetings have gone ahead via Zoom, which has kept things going.

Although we are looking forward to being able to meet again in person – even at a distance – we realise this might not be possible for some time so are looking at other ways we can encourage more members to join either the committee or to volunteer for roles which would be helpful for the branch. These could include entering information onto the Branch’s website area, arranging towpath walks or Balsam Bashing!

Our next Zoom meeting is scheduled for September and we would like your views on whether you would like to join it. It is normally on a Monday evening and lasts about an hour. Please contact me or Chris Jones for further information

6 Now the waterways are opening up it is good to see more people out and about and volunteer work parties being able to get on with all the tasks that stopped during the lockdown.

Please remember to still take care and abide by the government regulations for the area you are in – COVID 19 is still with us. As someone recently said: “we have been in lockdown and so has the virus, now we are coming out of lockdown so is the virus”. It is even more important that we keep our distance from those outside our own “bubble”.

Stay safe and well.

Photo: River Wey - Courtesy Tim Lewis Verna Smith (acting Chair)

Sales & Publicity Stand The Sales Team was on standby for what was to be the final event for this year! But as you are all well aware COVID 19 has stopped all our events.

While we did not need volunteers this year, we are very much hoping next year will be better! The events list for next year should be available next March. If you think you will be able to help please contact Ben Scott, on 07484 223691, or Cargoes editor, Chris Jones. We will welcome you with open arms! Our email address is chris.jones@waterways.org.uk The Sales Team

For Sale:

Waterways World: 9 years of bound copies 1994 - 2002 Proceeds to: IWA Guildford and Reading branch.

FREE delivery within 20 miles of Guildford.

Best offer over £18 to Cargoes Editorial within 3 weeks of Issue date confirms the Lucky Buyer.

Future Events Event subject to COVID 19 restrictions Sat 19th Sep: Wey River Festival, Dapdune Wharf, Guildford - Cancelled

Basingstoke Canal Society Chairman’s Report Following the relaxation of the lockdown, the canal has become accessible to visiting boats. However, we now face the perennial problem of water shortages and the BCA has recently introduced some navigation restrictions. The hire boat business at Odiham has re-started operations and the Canal Society is hoping to begin limited trip boat operations in August.

7 A recent direction by Natural England banning the cull of crayfish will have a significant and negative impact on the control of this invasive and damaging species.

The next Joint Management Committee meeting (to which the public are invited) is currently scheduled for 18th November 2020 at the Canal Centre, Mytchett. The Society’s new website is expected to go live at the end of July.

Philip Riley Outgoing Chair

This notice announcing the forthcoming opening of the Basingstoke Canal listed the ten wharves where goods could be loaded and unloaded. One might imagine that they would be equipped with cranes to assist the process, but in fact old photos show little signs of any.

8 The map of the terminal basin at Basingstoke in 1872 has a letter C next to the canal, which might stand for crane, but the photo of the wharf dated from about 1860, shows no sign of one: We have no photos of the wharf at Old Basing, but we do have some of the two wharves at Colt Hill, Odiham from around the turn of the 19th/20th century and neither of them appears to have had a crane.

This is the Little Wharf at Colt Hill on the west side of the bridge in 1914.

While this is the main wharf to the east of the bridge in 1904.

The building in the centre was then the pub, called the Cricketers.

9 Even Spanton’s massive timber wharf and warehouse in Woking seems to have managed without one as this photo from 1967 shows: In fact the only working crane that we know of was a very late arrival.

According to Tony Harmsworth, whose grandfather owned the canal at the time, in the early 1930’s a contract was secured to deliver coils of wire by barge to a company near Monument Bridge that was producing wire nails. It was a subsidiary of Guest Keen & Nettlefold whose main headquarters were in Birmingham but were looking for a manufacturing facility in the south. To unload the coils of wire from the barges required a crane and a suitable crane was standing disused alongside the military railway sidings at Ash Lock. The crane was dismantled at Ash Lock and taken down to Monument Bridge where it was re-erected and used for a short while to unload coils of wire onto small electric trucks which then ran up the road and into the industrial estate to the factory. Unfortunately, shortly before the Second World War, GKN decided to centralise all nail manufacture in Birmingham and the trade ceased. Only the base and the winding gear of the crane remains as the jib which was wooden rotted away some years ago.

Above left in 1967 and right a few years ago after an inappropriate but not unattractive bit of spray painting.

10 But what about the crane at Ash Lock? That was salvaged from Lower Heyford on the Oxford Canal and installed by the Canal Society in 1984. It is missing bits, has had no safety testing and the BCA is not keen that it should, so it will remain solely as a decorative feature.

Courtesy Martin Leech

Perseverance – The Dredger that Helped Restore the Canal If you leave the canal towpath and walk over the old road bridge at Fleet’s Pondtail you will come across a large plaque mounted on the bridge’s railing which is dedicated to the steam dredger ‘Perseverance’ and its volunteer crews who completed the dredging of the canal at the bridge in 1993. So, what was Perseverance, who were the volunteers and what did the craft do to deserve commemoration?

The Craft’s Story Steam Dredger Perseverance was built by Grafton Cranes Ltd of Bedford, who subcontracted the construction of the hull and pontoons to James Pollock & Son based on the River Thames at Millwall, having been commissioned by the Grand Union Canal Company in 1934. Registered as No. 14 in the GUCC, she was believed to have worked on the modernisation of the Grand Union during the 1930s. With the nationalisation of the canal network in 1948, ownership passed to the British Transport Commission then to the British Waterways board; she had a major overhaul in the 1950s when the boiler was replaced with one from a Luton laundry company, before being bought by the Kennet and Avon Canal trust in 1967.

The dredger was then purchased by the Surrey and Hants Canal Society (now the Basingstoke Canal Society) for £225 in 1973, but was in need of an extensive overhaul, including renewing the boiler tubes. Lying near County Lock in Reading, Perseverance was completely overhauled by the SHCS volunteers, not forgetting

11 the Army who gave a great deal of assistance. After a successful boiler examination and certification, the dredger was dismantled – with her now working crane used to help move some of the heavy parts – and the whole caboodle was moved to Odiham by road courtesy of Watney’s brewery. Reassembled and recommissioned, Dredger No 14 was named Perseverance after a competition held by the SHCS, in recognition of the society members who had devoted so much of their time to the restoration.

Perseverance then commenced the next stage of her life, dredging the silted-up end of the Basingstoke canal. The stretch she dredged ran for some 10 miles from King John’s Castle to Pondtail in Fleet, and this operation resulted in the final stretch of the canal being declared fully navigable in 1993.

Perseverance is now registered as part of the National Historic Fleet and is currently stored in a dismantled state at the Ellesmere Port facility of the Canal and River Trust.

Perseverance Herself and the Basingstoke Canal So what on earth was this leviathan? Basically she was a 70 ft long by 7 ft beam rectangular hull, which was fitted with a pair of pontoons which increased the beam to 13 ft 9 ins. Weight was around 70 tons and there was a steam driven crane mounted forward, supplied from a boiler mounted down in the hull in an enclosed boiler room. Steam operated engines to raise and lower the jib, slew the crane and operate the formidable steam grab.

12 The crane was, in typical 1930s style, an ergonomic disaster with a myriad of unmarked levers and pedals and exposed gears, rods, cranks, wheels and cables whizzing around which would probably have a modern health and safety inspector running for the hills but certainly added to the dredger’s character!

The operation of the crane was also magnificent, with clouds of steam enveloping the dredger and anyone close as the grab was plunged into the canal, closed, then lifted with its huge load of sediment which was swung round with water pouring out and into the canal and dumped into the mud barge tied alongside, all the time emitting clouds of steam and accompanied by a soundtrack of hisses, creaks, groans, whirring and clanking.

Truly the operation of the dredge was spectacular and would attract spectators to the towpath like a magnet. Perseverance’s steam engine did not stretch to powering the vessel; she had to be towed to where she was going to work, and then a pair of steel cables was set up linking convenient canal-side trees to a pair of hand cranked winches on the dredger. All this activity was in stark contrast to the usually quiet and tranquil environs of the towpath!

Loaded barges would be pushed to the nearest dump site using little diesel powered ‘Bantam’ work boats built in the 1950s, where the spoil was offloaded by an ancient tracked dragline crane on the towpath. Perseverance was well named, as dredging started in May 1975, and as the operation was manned by volunteers the dredger was run at the weekend throughout the year, and the task eventually finished in 1993 after some 18 years. Once the dredger was up and running and everything set up, dredging could start. One grab would pick up about a ton of silt, and a shift would result in some 400 tons of silt being lifted. After an arc of silt had been lifted, the hand cranked winches were used to pull Perseverance forwards by the width of the grab so the next arc of silt could be removed.

It was calculated that Perseverance had extracted about 125,000 tons of silt between 1973 and 1983, and a quick estimate shows that in her 18 year stint, ending in 1993, Perseverance would have extracted about a quarter of a million tons of silt from the canal. Perseverance was manned entirely by volunteers and required a crew of at least two – a crane man to operate the grab, and a fireman to keep the boiler going. Many other volunteers were needed to support the operation of the dredger, operating the dragline winches, supplying coal and wood to feed the boiler, operating the Bantams that shifted the mud barges, running the dragline crane at the dump sites and generally assisting in keeping the operation running.

13 Perseverance’s legacy is of course the canal as we know it today, a marvellous resource for the community to enjoy, a sight of special scientific interest due to its rich and diverse flora and fauna and a haven of peace and tranquillity. All made possible by an ancient, obsolete, uneconomical, cantankerous old dredger and of course the volunteer crew who restored, maintained and operated her and made today’s canal a reality.

The Perseverance hull at Ellesmere Port today

Specification: Hull: Length: 70 ft (21.3 m) Overall beam: 13 ft 10 in (4.2 m) (This was made up of the central 7 ft wide hull and the two pontoons. Perseverance was never used without these for stability reasons, but they could be removed to allow it to pass through standard narrow locks.)

Dredging depth: 4 ft 6 ins (1.4 m) Draught: 3 ft 9 ins (1.1 m) Crane: Builder: Graftons of Bedford Identity: Crane no 2473 Capacity: 2 tons at 21 ft, 3 tons at 16 ft Dredging: 2/3 cubic yard steam grab (used for heavy work) Single Chain ring grab (used for speed) Steam Engine: Boiler: 12 NHP Loco Type built by Marshall. Works at 120 lb/sq in Fuel Consumption: Approx 5 cwt (560 lb / 255 kg) of coal per hour. Could also run on wood.

New Foot Bridge at Woking: The New Footbridge at Woking is due to open at the end of August. This is next to the A3046 and will mean pedestrians will not need to cross a very busy road to get from one side of the Basingstoke Canal to the other to follow the Saturn Trail. It will also benefit Schoolchildren who use this road to get to school. Unfortunately, the photo does not show the full extent of this turnover bridge.

Photo: Verna Smith

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Trips aboard the John Pinkerton II Boat Trips Now Available From 1st August, our John Pinkerton II boat trips have resumed.

The format is a little different, so we can accept bookings for a maximum 25 passengers.

Cruising in the peaceful surroundings of the Basingstoke Canal is a great way to relax.

You can charter the whole boat for exclusive use by family, friends or work colleagues. There is a limit of 5 tables socially spaced. Each table will be reserved for a single household or support bubble of 5 passengers.

The dry summer has reduced water levels in the canal, so cruises are taking about 3.5 hours. Our special “COVID 19 Secure Pub” charter cruise costs £150.

All other Public Trips aboard the John Pinkerton II are temporarily suspended. Please see are our website for up to date information: www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/jp/public-trips.

Theme Cruises – Theme Cruises may take place during the later part of 2020.

Please check our website for further details.

PLEASE NOTE: Advance payment is recommended for all John Pinkerton trips and is required for all theme cruises. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Trip durations may be longer than stated when the Canal water level is low, for example after periods of little rain.

Bookings and Enquiries The public and theme trips are popular, we suggest you make an advanced booking using our secure on line booking system. We are limited to 25 passengers for each trip (except where a lower limit is stated), so cannot guarantee to have space at the last moment. For more information, or to make a booking for any of our trips, contact the Booking Team on 01256 765889 (10am – 8pm), or via email at jpbookings@basingstoke-canal.org.uk.

Trips from Woking aboard the Society’s trip boat Kitty have not yet restarted. Public Trips are usually run on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays at various times throughout the summer, and Fridays during the School Holidays. Each trip lasting approximately 1¼ hours if no stops are made.

For details of the trip schedule, http://www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/jp/kitty/.

You can book as individuals or family groups on public trips, up to a maximum of 12 people, and you will be sharing the boat with others.

Trips from Mytchett: Boat trips on board our friendly 12-seater boat Rosebud usually run at weekends and on public holidays from Easter to September. Please contact us for up to date information. Tel 01252 370073, email info@basingstoke-canal.co.uk or check on Facebook or Twitter.

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Focus on Accessible Boating Association The Accessible Boating Association, (Accessible Boating or ABA), is a registered charity initiated in 1985 by Mildred Stocks, then Chairman of Hart District Council, who wanted to enable people who couldn’t use existing canal boats to enjoy cruises on the Basingstoke Canal.

Two boats are available: Madam Butterfly is a comfortable 7-berth cruising boat and Dawn is a 12-person day boat Both boats are based in Odiham at Galleon Marine’s boatyard with trips operating from Colt Hill Wharf from April to October.

For more details see the website www.accessibleboating.org.uk. New volunteers are always welcome; speak to one of our volunteers or contact our Chairman, John Ranson at chairman@accessibleboating.org.uk

Byfleet Boat Club

Our COVID 19 Story When we set off for California in February, Covid 19 was just something that was going on in China.

However, on the 5th March we were told our cruise was being cut short and we were heading back to San Francisco 2 days early because a passenger who travelled on the previous voyage had been taken ill. A flurry of helicopter activity delivering test kits to the sick bay was only the start of the drama that unfolded over the next week. Confined to our cabin

for the next 5 days we frantically emailed our Member of Parliament, got relatives to cancel hospital appointments and phone the Foreign Office and watched helplessly as Donald Trump held news conferences saying he would rather we stayed at sea than add to the number of cases on US soil. We were well treated on board with meals brought to our cabin, thankfully with a balcony, entertainment on tv and unlimited internet.

16 Finally arriving in San Francisco, we bypassed the city, mooring at the commercial port of Oakland where a forest of tents had been erected to process disembarkation. It took 3 days to get everyone off the ship, many to isolation in Military camps in the USA which were not pleasant. Thankfully we were evacuated by cargo plane along with 140 other Brits, arriving home by taxi from Birmingham on 11th March with instructions from PHE to self-isolate for 14 days after which we were tested for the virus; not surprisingly it was negative! We then joined many others ‘shielding’ until mid-June when we finally saw Paper Moon again.

Michael Chamberlain

Kennet & Avon Canal News Newbury Branch COVID 19 Following the relaxation of restrictions on opening of visitor attractions, we are now working to restore our activities where it is safe to do so.

Crofton Beam Engines will reopen to the public on Saturday 18 July at 10.30am and will then be open from Friday to Sunday each week, from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

We are now also taking bookings for holiday hire of Bruce Boats. Please visit the Bruce Boats website or contact bookings@katrust.org.uk for more information.

We will make further announcements about restarting public trips on our other boats. Full details will be published on the individual websites for each boat.

Our cafés have all reopened, apart from Crofton, but with some changes in opening times. Up to date information can be found on social media.

The Museum at Devizes remains closed for the time being. The Trust office is also closed, and staff are working from home. Please see our Contact Us page for a full list of email addresses.

The Newbury Waterways Festival which was due to take place on Sunday 5th July is now scheduled for Sunday 4th July 2021 (next year!)

Sarah Foley

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Reading Branch Chairman’s Report

Hello again, I hope you are all keeping well.

Life is still somewhat strange. With the minimal interaction and slow cautious return to activity.

Over the last few months, we have chatted and thought about what we could or expect to do. Little physical activity is possible under current restrictions.

The K&A Reading Branch staged some online meetings. This included a quiz, which went down well. A talk and a presentation from one of the Bradford on Avon based K&A members. Allison's topic was "Victorian Boating Holidays on the K&A". The discussion after the presentation was very well received.

We have been thinking about Matilda and how she might be used with regard to social distancing, cleaning etc.

With possible thoughts of "family bubble" cruises, with a cream tea seems like a viable possibility. We then looked at the training and preparation needed to keep both passengers and crew safe.

At a previous meeting before COVID 19, we had canal laureate Nancy Campbell running a workshop at one of our branch meetings. A recent communication from her pointed to a commission at “The Secret Garden” alongside Newbury Lock. The Secret Garden is a project to restore and enhance the garden area of John Gould MBE (1913-1999). John was born and bred in Newbury and was instrumental in the restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal. After the many Swallows on the lines! years tirelessly working to restore the canal to the beautiful waterway we know and love today he is buried, along with his wife in his garden by Newbury Lock.

18 This once beautiful and much loved garden, which some of you may have visited and explored in the past, has been locked up for many years, overgrown and falling slowly into disrepair. The plan by Sukey and Geoff Russell-Hayward and volunteers from the Community Matters group is to develop and enhance the area. This includes the garden itself, the access pathway via the “Lock Stock and barrel public house and the green space on the towpath side. If you want to know more you can contact the project on secretgardennewbury@yahoo.com or find them on Facebook as The Secret Garden Project

Living next to the canal has the advantage of being able to sit and contemplate the wildlife.

Since spring and the aerial antics of the Mayfly and Grey Wagtail, we have seen the return of the swifts and their developing broods. We have seen Geese shielding and marshalling their chicks and many blue /great tits and goldfinches. The star of the period has been the numbers and variations of butterflies. We have seen many: Comma, Peacock, Painted Lady, Tortoiseshell, and others. My favourite has been the many Red Admirals, which I remember from my childhood, being a rarely seen butterfly which seems to be very easy to see around here today.

In the next few weeks, we are hoping to restart the working party acting in concert with CRT. We hope to re-enthuse volunteers with the revamped arrangements. We are looking to provide some trip boat / charter activity. all subject to safe working etc.

The regular winter meetings will be hopefully be restarting in September. You can keep up to date on the branch’s Facebook page (Kennet and Avon Canal Trust (Reading Branch)), or the trust’s web page https://katrust.org.uk/reading-branch/.

Stay Safe, Keep Well Photos: Matt Girling and Graham.

Graham Puddephatt graham@southcotemill.co.uk 07802 154504

19 The Eastern End K&A Volunteers (an independent Community Waterway Adoption group) is authorised by CRT to carry out maintenance work on certain parts of the K&A on the 2nd Wednesday and last Saturday of each month. If you would like to join a Working Party, email Mick Savill for dates and details and to check the next one will be taking place. (micksavill@icloud.com) Branch contact is: John Swift who can be reached on 0118 941 5540 or 07533 886 917 and by email: swift.john21@gmail.com. Entry donation, including K&A members, £2.50 (to help with expenses). Further details can be found on the Website at www.katrust.org.uk

Crofton Beam Engines Future Events Crofton Opening Times – Staying Covid-19 Secure in 2020 From 18th July, we will be open from Friday to Sunday each week, and on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August. To ensure your safety, opening times will be shortened to give time for additional cleaning of facilities, including the visitor toilets. We will be open from 10.30am-3.30pm.

We are following Government guidance for visitor attractions and ask visitors to use the hand sanitiser which is provided around the site and to maintain social distancing.

Numbers entering the Boiler and Engine Houses need to be limited, and you may be asked to wait in the grounds. In exceptional circumstances, we may need to restrict entry to the whole site.

There is no charge to enter the site.

For more information, please see the Trust’s website www.katrust.org.uk. If you are a Crofton / KA Trust volunteer, please also see the following message to volunteers https://katrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Message-toVolunteers-on-17-March-2020.pdf

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River Wey & Godalming Navigations The Challenge of New River Users The glorious summer weather as the country begins to take its first tentative steps out of the Covid-19 lockdown has brought out many new river users, both along our towpaths and on the waterway itself. It is wonderful to introduce a whole new group of visitors to the glory of the historic Wey & Godalming Navigation, packed with delights of both industrial heritage and nature. Some of these folks have lived for many years within metres of our waterway, but were unaware of its existence, until the one hour of exercise allowed by the government helped them to discover the pleasures on their doorstep.

As the rules changed, some began to travel from further afield, and with online retailers and discount supermarkets offering deals on inflatables there has been a corresponding leap in river users. The ever-growing popularity of paddleboarding and wild swimming brings even more traffic to our river and I see increasingly the frustration of those long-term boaters at the sometimes-risky actions of the newbies. Quite a deluge of complaints in my inbox about how we intend to control this issue.

Of course, these regular boaters are important stakeholders in the navigation.

The bigger your vessel the more you will be paying towards the care of the navigation, and he who pays the piper calls the tune. But in fairness the push back from the paddlers will be that these large craft are also likely to be the most harmful to the river with engines running on fossil fuels and causing more wash and displacement than other traffic. It’s the long running dispute about ownership of the river and contradictory priorities between the different and diverse communities who use the navigations.

The one area of agreement seems to be that we need to make sure the river is safe for everyone. Increasingly I am asked to get our lengthsmen to remove casual users from the waterway by hook or by crook. My argument is that these newcomers are the river users of the future. Back in the 1970’s when playing out all day was the norm and paedophiles made popular children’s programmes, my brother and I would blow up an inflatable dinghy in the recreation ground by the A404 in Marlow and go out to play chicken with the passing boats on the Thames.

No grasp of Health & Safety, and the odd close drowning incident was my childhood, and it informed my love of rivers that has lasted to this day. Now I am responsible for H&S across the navigation, I certainly do not advocate my younger self’s lack of responsibility. However, in the same way it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a waterway to create responsible river users, and we all have a responsibility to nurture and educate our fellow users whenever possible. The younger me didn’t need a lecture in H&S and our blow up confiscated. We needed to be encouraged to learn more about the possible dangers and river etiquette, and those lessons came as my passion grew and my family joined clubs and friends hired cruisers, eventually affording to own private vessels. I was welcomed and

21 cultivated by those with the wisdom and knowledge, and they passed some of it to me, for which I am forever grateful.

I don’t want to be an enforcer, although I know it is sometimes my responsibility. I want to be an enabler and encourage everyone else on the navigation to be the same. Be kind to each other and patient with other users. After all the wild swimmers of today will be the narrow boat owners of the future if we can grow that passion for water within them. To make our waterways sustainable we must nurture the river users of the future, so our legacy is a well-used and muchloved resource for human physical and mental health, and for nature itself. For Everyone for Ever, as we say in the National Trust.

Robert Miles – Wey Navigations General Manager

Future Events Please contact Dapdune Wharf for information on boat trips Sat 19th Sept: Wey River Festival: Dapdune Wharf, Guildford Cancelled

Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group Like community groups everywhere, Maidenhead Waterways (MW) closed down most planned activities during the lockdown and has adapted to using more ‘virtual’ working. It is not the same but, is still surprisingly effective.

While activity on and around the restored waterway has been comparatively quiet, nature has been busy.

With water levels stable and fully lifted by the Green Lane weir, the banks and new landscaping along the 1.1 k long York Stream arm of the waterway have established nicely and the weir area in particular is becoming a real beauty spot. With the fish pass working well, and shoals of small fish up and downstream, the cascade in the weir crest has become a favourite perch for our resident grey heron (pictured) – time for lunch..?

22 The warm summer weather predictably accelerated weed growth in the channels and we are now focused on putting in place a long-term sustainable maintenance plan for the restored waterway, ensuring it remains attractive for people and wildlife alike. Learning how to operate the various penstocks in the new weir structures has been another rewarding experience.

We ran a trial this summer adding non-toxic blue dye to the channel, to see if it could help reduce excessive surface weed in the waterway, such as Blanket Weed which is unpleasant and very difficult to remove by hand. Blue dye has been successfully used for many years in lakes, where it slows growth by blocking the red light needed for photosynthesis. How effective it can be in a (slow) moving water body we will see, but the slight blue ‘tinge’ to the water looks great anyway and the water quality, wildlife and fish don’t appear to have been impacted. If anything the increased light reaching the submerged Water Starwort (a natural oxygenator) is helping it to thrive.

With the new water depth of 1.3m being too deep for waders, and with still limited boat launching facilities, we have invested in some impressive 4m long extendable rakes for weed and debris clearance (pictured). They allow unpleasant excessive floating weed to be dragged onto the banks and spread, to allow invertebrates to escape and then dry out and rot down. MW is partnering for this work with the local branch of a national group GoodGym, which combines running with volunteering on community projects. They are now regularly turning out to help weed and channel clearance, as well as litter picking along the waterside paths.

Richard Davenport, Chair of the Trustees MWRG

Southampton Canal Society As you are well aware things are not as they used to be, at the moment we are unable to meet regularly. Due to hall restrictions the decision has been made not to start meeting until at least January, which means all planned meetings including the Quiz have been cancelled. It is planned that the AGM will go ahead in a different format.

It would be nice to think that we could restart in January 2021 with a social evening and maybe some photographs etc. We shall see.

Alan Rose

23 Itchen Navigation:

The Itchen Navigation towpath allows rare public access to a chalk stream in a valley of outstanding natural heritage value. If you want to walk all or part of this path, an illustrated description of the route from Winchester to Northam can be found on our website. There are two maps covering the waterway and also a table of distances along the Navigation.

The Itchen Navigation has a long and complex history, having a claim to being one of the oldest waterways in the country. As a commercial enterprise, however, the Navigation has been defunct for 150 years, the last cargo carrying barge reached Blackbridge Wharf, Winchester in June 1869.

The Navigation at Winchester Despite the last 150 years being a period of neglect and dereliction, the waterway is remarkably intact with little positively destroyed; rather it has been allowed to moulder away half-forgotten.

Given modern society’s ability to create rubbish and to deposit it in any half hidden corner, it is surprising there is almost no refuse in or by the Navigation. It suffers few intrusions from development.

Ranunculus fluitans (Water Crowfoot) From around the 17th century until the 1930s, large sections of the Itchen Valley were farmed as water meadows. Water was taken from the river and the Navigation and then channelled across the meadows by a series of carriers running along the top of ridges. The water flow and levels were carefully controlled by a system of hatches and sluices, the workers managing the meadow being called “drowners”. To flood parts of the meadow, they would place turf sods into the carrier channel to overflow that section of the ridge. This caused the water to trickle down the banks and at the bottom of each ridge a drainage channel took the water back to a main drain and eventually back to the river itself. This process was known as “floating” and would start each year in late winter. It encouraged the early and

24 rapid spring growth of the grass (by raising the temperature of the soil insulating the grass from frost), whilst spreading useful silt and nutrients across the meadow.

This very labour intensive form of land management made it possible to produce two hay crops a year in addition to periodic grazing by cattle and sheep.

For those interested in the way that the water meadows used to be drowned (or flooded) in late winter, there is a paper entitled “Bishopstoke Water Meadows” written by Mr R G Morris who was one of the last drowners in the Bishopstoke area.

This may be found on the website of Eastleigh & District Local History Society.

There is also a page on the Twyford Parish Council’s website about Twyford Meads and the partially restored water meadows there.

European Otter

It is quite noticeable that since the 1980’s trees and bushes have been allowed to grow almost unchecked along much of the Navigation. In places this growth has come to seriously threaten the fabric of the waterway: several breaches of the banks have occurred in the last few years.

However, some of this neglect was tackled by the Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project between 2007 and 2012. But since the completion of this project, there is little evidence that serious efforts are continuing to actively maintain the work achieved and areas that were worked on are in danger of deteriorating again and disappearing from view.

Southern Damselfly

During the remedial works carried out by the Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project, it was deemed necessary to erect a fence along much of the Navigation between the path and the water. This would allow vegetation to grow untrampled and this would help bind and stabilise the bank. It would also prevent the erosion of the bank caused by dogs scrambling out of the waterway after a swim.

Bullhead At various places along the Navigation, “Dog Dips” were built to help dogs enter and leave the water. However, these together with the fence between the path and the water have not entirely cured the erosion problem. In places where there is no fence, it seems that bank erosion has increased as dog swimming has become concentrated on shorter lengths of the waterway.

25 White-clawed Crayfish

In addition, fences have increasingly been erected between the path and adjacent meadows for several reasons. Often, it has been deemed necessary to prevent disturbance of the wildlife and/or vegetation in a nature reserve that was set up to protect them. In other cases, it has been necessary to keep livestock from escaping through gates left open by walkers and also gates need maintenance - the traditional use of stiles is no longer considered permissible as they ‘inhibit’ access. Landowners are also concerned about people or their dogs worrying their animals. Fencing in livestock also allays walkers’ fears of farm animals such as cattle.

Brook Lampreys One downside to the fencing installed along the Navigation is the sense of being hemmed in.

Unfortunately, it also means that trees and bushes can grow unhindered and it seems quite possible that eventually a screen of trees will mask lengths of the waterway and meadows from the walker. In the past and in the absence of fencing, grazing animals had access to the path and could eat the young trees and bushes whilst still small. Thirty or more years ago considerable lengths of the waterway were unfenced and this was a distinctive feature of the Itchen Navigation.

Water Vole and Kingfisher

It seems that, since the 1980s, changes to water management within the Itchen Valley have occurred and sections of the Navigation that used to have significant flows have had these much diminished and to the south of St Catherine Lock to have ceased altogether for much of the year. On other sections, water levels have often been allowed to rise and overflow the banks potentially risking breaches and floods.

26 Atlantic Salmon

The Itchen Navigation and River Itchen hold a thriving population of fish, particularly brown trout, grayling, pike, eels and minnows.

The waterways are of international importance for several species of aquatic Ranunculus (water crowfoot), Southern Damselfly and Bullhead populations. They are also important as a home to White-clawed (or Atlantic stream) Crayfish, Brook Lamprey, Atlantic Salmon and Otters. Most of the Navigation falls within areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The River and much of the Navigation are also designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the European Habitats Directive.

The Navigation upstream of Bishopstoke The Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail (which is part of the Itchen Way and was formerly called the Itchen Navigation Footpath) follows the towing path for much of the waterway from Winchester to Southampton. Parts of it are probably as heavily used as any public footpath in Hampshire.

Public rights of navigation between Winchester and Wood Mill were conferred

by Act of Parliament in 1802. These rights have not been extinguished legally although, in practice, they are not easy to exercise. Parts of the Navigation have no water supply but where water does flow, fishing interests and riparian landowners actively discourage the use of any boats.

Fishing on the River Itchen and the Navigation, where it is in water, is an important pastime. Indeed, the Itchen is considered one of the best streams in the world for trout fishing and rights are carefully protected. The River Itchen and the adjoining River Test are famous chalk streams which were the birthplace of dry fly fishing.

This river is an important part of our national heritage. It deserves and needs to be cherished for our own and future generations’ enjoyment.

With thanks to the Southampton Canal Society

Future Events All meeting and events are in abeyance due to COVID 19 restrictions. Please visit our website for up to date information. Meetings, unless specifically stated otherwise, are held at Chilworth Parish Hall, Chilworth Southampton SO16 7JZ. Start 7.45pm, Visitors welcome. For monthly Newsletter visit www.sotoncs.org.uk or ring 02380 675312.

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Wey and Arun Canal Trust WACT News Boat trips on the Wey & Arun Canal were back for August The Wey & Arun Canal Trust is pleased to report its boat trips were back on for the summer.

Volunteers welcomed passengers back to Loxwood from the 2nd August as boat trips from the wharf in West Sussex resumed after a four-month break.

The Trust's large electric boat Wiggonholt has been adapted to take a maximum of 14 passengers instead of 48 to allow for 2m social distancing, and crew follow strict safety procedures to allow passengers to cruise in confidence.

Trips ran on Sundays and Wednesdays at 11.30am and 2pm throughout August, with each trip lasting either 35 or 50 minutes and passing through one lock and under a bridge before returning back to the wharf. Bookings could be made online at the Trust’s website.

The 60ft Wiggonholt has double-sliding windows and an access lift to accommodate wheelchairs and passengers with mobility issues.

The postponement of boat trips and cancellation of fundraising events due to coronavirus has meant a big loss in revenue for the Trust and chairman Sally Schupke said she was pleased the boat trip season had begun.

"We've been working hard to ensure the safety of passengers and crew and can't wait to see Wiggonholt back in action after many months. We hope the public will take the opportunity to cruise the stunning Wey & Arun Canal and support us in our efforts to continue restoring this historic canal."

Tickets started at £6 for adults and £3 for children. Please check the Trust’s website for further information on boat trips going forward.

Trip boat makes a spectacular return The Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s trip boat Zachariah Keppel made a spectacular return to its home at Loxwood, West Sussex, last week after spending several months away for repairs.

The boat was floated along the Thames from All 4 Marine yard in Chertsey to Penton Hook Marina, where it was transported by lorry to the wharf at Loxwood, and lifted by a 76-tonne crane over the towpath and into the canal.

28 The unusual sight of a 50ft long, eighttonne narrowboat flying through the air created quite a stir, and was filmed by a BBC South team for a piece on that evening's programme.

Zachariah Keppel was taken to the boatyard in January as it had developed rusty steelwork and the decision was made to appoint professional boat repairers to carry out the work required to allow Zachariah Keppel to be deemed passenger-worthy again.

With the rusty internal fittings replaced and the hull buffed off internally and externally, primed and painted with black bitumastic paint, the 45-year-old vessel should have another 10-15 years of life.

The boat was named after Zachariah Keppel, a builder from Alfold, who was the contractor responsible for building the Wey & Arun canal. He went bankrupt and had to give up the job before it was completed.

Now that Zachariah Keppel is back home, volunteers will replace her ballast and flooring, making her ready to take passengers when government restrictions allow.

Gill Davies Wey & Arun Canal Trust volunteers rise to the challenge to complete bridge build The last brick was laid this week at the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s latest restoration project, a bridge at Harsfold in West Sussex.

Volunteers worked flat out to complete the bridge building project after floods, winter storms and then coronavirus lockdown put construction behind schedule.

Small teams of six volunteers worked five days a week to get the job finished and allow the landowner access to his fields ahead of harvest.

Work on the 7m clear span steel and concrete bridge began in September but was set back by the deluge of rain and storms seen over December, January and February, making work “hard going”, according to project manager Dennis Gillen.

The compound, which is close to the River Arun, just escaped being flooded, but the mix of clay and rain meant the construction site was a mud bath and delivery trucks and lorries struggled to reach the site. Just as the team managed to get the steel beams in, construction was halted due to coronavirus lockdown.

29 When work resumed following easing of government restrictions, volunteers had to operate in very different conditions and strict social distancing, but the team carried on undaunted.

Dennis paid tribute to the dedication of the volunteers: “They are an amazing team,” he said. “Everyone comes and gets on with it. They are all very skilled and great volunteers. They’ve worked so hard to get the job done.”

The area will now be reprofiled and the temporary bridleway diversion removed.

Gill Davies

Future Events Please check our website for up to date details of all our events and boat trips.

Further details and booking from the Trust Office on 01403 752403. office@weyandarun.co.uk www.weyandarun.co.uk Northern Office Phone: 01483 505566 (Mondays-Thursdays, 8.30am-12.30pm) For general information on the work of the Trust, please telephone our Northern Office on 01483 505566, or visit www.weyandarun.co.uk

River Thames News With the sunny weather during the school holidays, the public is being warned to stay safe around water. Youngsters are risking their lives by jumping in rivers.

The EA wants people to be aware of the hidden dangers in the water.

Drowning can occur very quickly, even in shallow water, and the key to keeping safe is to take all necessary precautions to avoid getting into difficulty in the first place.

Experience shows it is often young people who get into trouble whilst swimming in open water, which can contain hazards, particularly in and around locks, weirs and bridges. Unexpectedly cold waters or strong currents can also catch bathers off-guard.

EA Website

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Kent & East Sussex Branch IWAKES Chairman’s Piece It is very good news that the inland waterways were able to “fully” reopen on 4 July when overnight stays for leisure boaters were finally permitted. It is even better news to hear that hire boats immediately achieved excellent booking levels. The waterways businesses were very badly hit by the lockdown and many were not eligible for the government support schemes. It is to be hoped that the high level of bookings will help the financial fortunes of hire boat companies and also provide opportunities for other waterways businesses and charities. IWA made the case very strongly at Westminster for waterways businesses to be supported and it is pleasing that they have been able to capitalise on at least some of their main business period.

Many people discovered the waterways during lockdown and the benefits of our waterways were appreciated and understood by a new audience. Whilst this unfortunately caused tension and anxiety in some areas it importantly helped spread the long standing IWA message “Waterways for ALL”. Hopefully, this increased use will help convince the government of the need to properly fund waterways. Only a relatively small number of users make a direct financial contribution to the waterways and the wider benefits need proper government funding. Enjoy the waterways and when you can please support the waterways businesses and charities that help make the waterways available to all.

Les Etheridge

Northfleet Harbour

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is consulting on plans for a residential-led mixed-use development of Grove Road, Ebbsfleet ahead of submitting a planning application later this year.

The development proposal includes a waterfront park which will create the setting for the Harbour area. It preserves and makes a feature of the Aspdin Portland Cement Kiln; but leaving it in splendid isolation.

The consultation ends on 18th September and can be accessed at…. https://ebbsfleetdc.org.uk/groveroad-consultation

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Obituary - David Hodgkinson Following the sudden death of its Chairman at the start of the Millennium, the IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch was unable to provide a successor. Dave Moore (of IWA Chelmsford Branch) was “parachuted in” for two years but he retired in early 2003 and the Branch would have again been left leaderless had not David Hodgkinson volunteered to become Chairman. David and Fran owned a narrowboat, painted a distinctive orange, called Whychway (from Alice in Wonderland). They joined IWA in 1994. David was a Chartered Civil Engineer, former Vice-President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and was editor of the ‘Municipal Engineer’, a section of the “Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers”. David was also a member of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation. He had been Director of Engineering and Leisure for Sevenoaks District Council. He was semi-retired when he became IWAKES’ Chairman, but still ran a management consultancy, Griphon, part-time. He chaired an ICE Working Party on procurement and edited a book, “Public Authority Procurement Strategy”, based on their work and published by Thomas Telford (for the ICE).

David was elected IWAKES’ Chairman at the March 2003 AGM. In that year the first physical restoration work was carried out at Isfield Lock on the Sussex Ouse and the National Chairman, John Fletcher, visited the Branch. In 2004 David undertook the London Marathon, with his sponsorship income of £850 going to Branch funds. In 2004 and 2005 David (with his background in planning) became deeply involved in the proposed restoration, by developers and SEEDA, of the section of the Dartford and Crayford Navigation above Dartford Lock. A marina was proposed, to give a waterway outlook from blocks of residential properties. A detailed feasibility report was prepared (funded by SEEDA and Dartford Council).

Alas, it came to nought after the property crash of 2008 caused the developers to change plans to minimise their investment cost whilst maximising the number of properties within the site.

Throughout the period of his Chairmanship David developed the principle of having an IWAKES Representative for each of the waterways within the Branch.

David and Fran emigrated to Sarasota in Florida at the end of 2005, when David was succeeded as IWAKES Chairman by Gillian Robertson. After a long battle against leukaemia David died on 5th July 2020.

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River Medway report from Mike Marsh The Environment Agency has a ÂŁ3.4 m Capital Programme for the Upper Medway in 2020 which includes a complete refurbishment of Allington Lock, Allington Boat facilities and moorings both up and downstream of the lock as well as the downstream floating pontoon and staithe. EA are reskinning five of the manual lock gates, replacing all the Rotorks (regulator and flow control valves) wires and paddles. They are also commissioning scoping studies for Allington, Anchor and Teston Sluices with the plan to refurbish them as they have reached the end of their useful life.

A ÂŁ500k dredging programme is planned for the autumn to remove silt from Sluice weir reach, Maidstone area and Allington. A repair has been carried out on East Farleigh breakwater and there is large programme of tree work planned for the winter. New metal signs will be erected at locations less prone to vandalism.

EA has seen unprecedented numbers of people using the river during the pandemic, particularly unpowered craft, angling and recreational use.

This has come with its own challenges, including anti-social behaviour and litter. Up to 7-8 sacks of litter were collected from a single site. Currently 69% of boats are licensed compared with 81% last year. All craft used on the Non-Tidal Medway have to be registered and all powered craft have to be licensed. This is easily done via the EA website or at Allington Lock.

Peel Ports have appointed a contractor, Briggs, to manage the Medway estuary. They are currently recruiting new staff and purchasing a vessel to carry out debris clearance below Allington Lock. This will be welcome news for boaters leaving Allington Lock on the tidal section who have, for several years, had to navigate through hazardous floating obstacles that accumulate outside the lock.

The tide brings debris in but it does not always wash back out.

CCTV at Hempstead Lock has picked up four incidents and is very good at it. There still seems to be some reluctance amongst a few boaters to report incidents of anti-social behaviour. Reporting to the police is vital in the campaign to address this issue.

33 Tonbridge River Trips has been a total loss this year and has not been able to operate as reduced numbers will make it too expensive to run the business. They are hoping for a better year in 2021. However, this year they are assisting with a survey on water vole numbers.

The Kentish Lady trip boat based in Maidstone is now operating 1-hour trips from Maidstone to Allington over the weekends and also on Wednesdays. Do support this business if you can during these challenging times. Self-drive boats for hire are also available. https://www.kentishlady.co.uk/ Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP) has tackled giant hogweed on three occasions in several places and has worked throughout the lockdown. MVCP also continue to tackle the other invasive species, knotweed and floating pennywort.

Royal Military Canal Last Autumn I wrote a piece about proposals to develop Princes Parade on a former landfill site which is owned by the District Council at the extreme Eastern end of the RMC at Seabrook, Hythe. There have been discussions over many years as to the management of this land. The large number of objections to these plans can be summarised as…

• • •

The site is designated as public open space and should remain so As it is a coastal site the flood risk should preclude development The proposed development would have a detrimental effect on the setting of the RMC

Despite these objections planning permission was granted in July 2019, by a small majority. The planning consent is in two parts: Full permission granted for a leisure centre and Outline permission for mixed development on the rest of the site.

In response to this decision an application for judicial review was made on behalf of the objectors. This was heard by video link before Mr Justice Dove on 24th March. The arguments put to the court were that the Planning Committee had been misled by the Officers in their report which recommended consent be given. It was suggested that because of this the Committee decision should be declared to be unlawful. This argument was on two grounds.

• That since the proposals were contrary to the development plan the report did not properly assess whether or not there would be an unacceptable loss of environmental quality due to the reduction in open space and the impact on the setting of the RMC. • That the flood risk had not been properly addressed.

The resulting judgement was published 22nd June. The application for judicial review was dismissed on both counts. More detail can be found at www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk and www.saveprincesparade.org. Peter Wilkinson

34

Thames & Medway Canal Association When our Work Party is busy along the banks it is really great to see so many more people are using and obviously enjoying the Canal and surrounding area. The many compliments we receive from passers-by confirms to us that the work we do is appreciated. So, a new ‘rustic’ bench and a couple of information boards have been added. The large increase in numbers can only be due to Lockdown encouraging people to take exercise. The towpath is ideal for that and it is plainly continuing even though things are slowly reverting to pre-covid levels. The only downside is that we have far more litter and have to keep emptying the, often overflowing, rubbish bins as visitors still do not take it all home with them. However, we are thankful that our bins are used.

The TMCA facebook profile has increased substantially as we now have over 400 members, it is a shame that the annual paying TMCA membership of around 70 has increased by only two over the same period. We keep trying so maybe continued postings may one day prove worthwhile.

I must give our thanks to Gravesham Council for clearing up a large heap of fly tip which was on a piece of land which may have been regarded as not a GBC problem. The rubbish which was in the culvert just beyond the Met. Police training building had been added to over a year or so to create a complete eyesore. Thank you, GBC. The TMCA empties the bins and tries to clear the rubbish as it accumulates but this heap was just too big for us to remove.

Those who travelled along Canal Road at Higham in the early spring may have noticed some lorry tyres dumped just by the obelisk. When the reeds grew, they were obscured and, down the canal bank, they did not pose a hindrance. However, they were a complete eyesore in winter months. The dumped tyres are now up on the verge. The photo shows Neil Anderson and Brian Rapley getting very muddy whilst exerting huge amounts of energy.

Some of our small band of workers used to adjourn to the Ship & Lobster for lunch, however between the time we could keep a social distance for outside working and the re-opening of pubs we started having a BBQ hosted by Les, our Work Party organiser and arm-twisted cook. It turned out to be such a success that we might continue until the weather turns cold in the autumn.

Dave Parnell

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Eastern Rother report by Malcolm Jones Activity is now increasing following the lifting of most restrictions. Boating has been in evidence at the Iden end of the non-tidal river. Bodiam Boating Station is open for most things, and doing a good trade in hiring small boats and canoes; the campsite has been quite busy. But there are no trips in Danny Lee as social distancing is not possible.

Kentish Stour news from Roy Newing The bottom end of the River has become heavily obstructed with trees connecting right across. We have made the Environment Agency aware of this and they have sent riparian owners the booklet ‘Living on the Edge’ that sets out their responsibilities, especially regarding planting of trees.

Since the end of ‘lockdown’ there has been a welcome surge in use of the River by paddleboarders and canoeists. The barge that was causing an obstruction in Sandwich Harbour has now been removed.

River Adur news from Brendan Whelan As would be expected, with the Covid 19 virus still active, there has been little activity regarding, boating on the River Adur. A former Secretary of the Shoreham Slipways Group had a letter published in the Shoreham Herald chastising Adur District Council (ADC) for their lack of action in supporting public slipways. His key points were: 1. All official development plans, created during the past forty years, have emphasised the importance of providing access to the water. The reports considered both from both an economic and a social viewpoint.

2. Each and every developer has ignored the recommendations and guidelines claiming that providing inlets from the river, slipways, etc., would be too expensive.

3. It is time that a more proactive approach was adopted by ADC. Quite reasonably, any new slipway would require Compensatory Habitat to be provided and a new possibility of obtaining suitable land for this purpose has come to light. The intention is to explore this possibility during the next few months.

36

River Thames At Clifton Slipways, Gravesend (the site of the former Gravesend West Station) a developer has submitted a planning application (Number 20191122) proposing the erection of two buildings providing a total of 227 dwellings. One building is a 23-storey tower on the north side of West Street. The proposal includes the restoration and adaptation of the existing pier structure to provide public and private amenity space to include the erection of 16 Business (B1) units. IWA commented on the application welcoming the proposed restoration of the pier structure to good condition with public access, cafe and small businesses set up to make it commercially viable.

However, we expressed disappointment that this proposal contains no plan to provide a long walkway and pontoon (or other mooring facility) parallel to and north of the pier head. Such provision would surely improve the viability of the restored pier. We noted that the Port of London Authority Consultee Response strongly supports the concept of river-related uses, such as mooring, at this pier.

IWA urged that, as a minimum, nothing should be done during the construction and restoration works that would prevent subsequent installation of a floating mooring/landing pontoon and long walkway north of and parallel to the pier head.

IWA also urged that the existing stairways to the lower platforms remain accessible and open to allow occasional access to the foreshore, where boat maintenance is possible. The application is still being considered by Gravesham Borough Council.

The statutory consultation in regard to London Resort Company Holdings’ application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise the construction and operation of the London Resort on the Swanscombe Peninsula has been launched. It runs until Monday 21 September 2020. All consultation materials and details are on the London Resort website - https://consultation.londonresort.info This proposal impacts on Broadness Cruising Club, Bells Wharf and Whites Jetty.

The picture shows an aerial view of Broadness Cruising club. It is hoped this can survive and perhaps even modernise with the help of London Resort investment.

It has a slipway that could, with improved access, become available for wider public use.

37 IWA's National Response (Number 268623294) to the Environment Agency 'Thames Estuary 2100 Consultation' is at.... https://consult.environmentagency.gov.uk/london/thames-estuary-2100-updating-the-plan . The ‘Thames Estuary 2100 Plan’ is centred around tidal flood defence. IWA’s national response was mostly prepared by IWAKES with a very substantial contribution from the IWA Inland Waterways Freight Group.

Future IWAKES and Other Events The following events depend on future Government Regulations.

Please check the IWAKES page on the IWA website https://www.waterways.org.uk/kent/kent_east_sussex for the latest situation. If you are considering attending then please drop a line to Roy Sutton (01342 317569 : RoyDavidSutton@yahoo.co.uk : address inside back cover).

Knowing the number of people to expect will allow us to organise social distancing (if needed) without disappointing anyone.

Thursday 15th October 2020: 7.30 for 8.00pm Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood, Kent. ME2 2AH ‘Crossing the Wash’ by Simon Judge Simon returns to describe another intrepid journey.

Thursday 19th November 2020: 7.00 for 7.30pm Upper Room, Perrymount Methodist Church, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath.

RH16 3DM ‘River Ouse Water Supply’ by Lee Dance, Head of Water Resources at South East Water. Lee will describe Ardingley Reservoir, Barcombe Reservoirs and Treatment Works and the River Ouse transfer between them.

Joint meeting with Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust.

Wednesday 16th December 2020: 7.30 for 8.00pm Gravesend Sailing Club, East Promenade, Gravesend. DA12 2BS ‘Puffing a’Wey’ by Mark Rudall, a stalwart of the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain.

Get-together with Thames & Medway Canal Association.

Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES evening meetings.

Entry is free with a raffle to cover costs.

Venue maps are at www.waterways.org.uk/kent/kent_east_sussex All IWAKES events are open to non-members and you are encouraged to bring friends (but please tell us to expect them). Similarly, if you know a local club or society that might be interested then please do let them know (and, again, tell us).

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Oxfordshire Branch Branch Chairman Since the branch report in the Summer edition of Cargoes COVID 19 restrictions have started to be lifted but life is still a long way from normal.

Whilst many boaters have been enjoying the waterways, joined by many new users, whether as one of the record number of people hiring a boat this year or the new purchaser and user of an inflatable kayak or paddle board, the impact of COVID 19 is still being felt with the cancellation of events. This includes the Oxford Canal Festival which has had to be postponed to 16th, 17th and 18th September 2021.

The branch looks forward to supporting the event next year.

Mentioning the many new users of the waterways has started to make me think about how we can convert that new interest into participation in Oxfordshire in the new national IWA focus “Back to activism to fight for and to protect the waterways”. Part of the secret to engaging with new users will be to be seen to be doing things that are important to people. The branch would therefore very much like to recruit one or more volunteers to act as planning officers to monitor planning applications that may affect the waterways within our region so that suitable responses can be made to those applications.

The branch is also keen to make everyone more aware of that work when it has been done and recruiting volunteer help to keep the branch pages of the IWA website up to date is key to this. Please see the IWA website for how you could volunteer to help out. I hope we can all enjoy a long Autumn of boating to make up for the time lost in the spring.

Photo: Oxford Canal – No Copyright infringement intended Ian Lindsay

Banbury Canal Partnership The last quarter was nearly another washout when we were suddenly allowed to commence work as long as we stuck rigidly to the guidelines laid down by the Government and the Canal and River Trust. This really only meant us keeping the 2m (unless you are a couple) distance apart. We had not been allowed to work before the last few weeks of July when we could work outside to help reduce the massive backlog that had built up during the 5 months of lock down.

So mid July we were asked to rebuild a piece of fence that had been rotting slowly away before being wrecked by vandals, leaving only the dreaded orange plastic so beloved as a temporary stopgap.

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Dreaded plastic stopgap fence On the first day, we met at Twyford Wharf and walked up the canal past Grants Lock, the vandalised lock cottage, and under the M40 to the site. Whilst 2 of us collected the CRT work boat from its mooring a little way up the canal and containing, on board, the necessary new fence materials and tools, the rest of us unclipped and rolled up the plastic fencing and removed the residual half rotten posts and rails to clear the site. Then we spaced the new posts along the length and side return, not forgetting to leave an access for the weir mechanism. Post holes were dug, then posts installed and levelled, holes back filled, and rails cut, levelled and fitted.

End of first day

40 On the second day the team walked up to site again this time equipped with saw, paint and brushes etc. Sawed off the fence posts to level up and form rainwater run offs, then 2 coat painted in the standard CRT black and white colours. It had taken 6 people 4 ½ hours to complete on the 2nd day.

All complete with the wet paint tape being applied If you want a day out in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside come and join us.

You might just enjoy it so much you become a regular Please contact myself or Chairman Colin Garnham-Edge if you would like to be put on our emailing list. Remember we have an email contact address : bcpontheoxford@gmail.com We also have a Facebook page

Brian Saunders BCP Cargoes representative

Future Events Thur 17th to Sat 19th Sept: Oxford Canal Festival. Cancelled. Now planned for 16th, 17th and 18th September 2021. Further details www.oxfordcanalheritage.org

Wilts & Berks Canal The last missive from WBCT was at the beginning of lockdown – since then the Trust has adapted remarkably well, holding videoconference meetings on Google Meet, so much of the behind-the-scenes work that goes on has continued.

One result of this is that we now have the support of all the MPs whose constituencies the canal line crosses. One of these, Robert Buckland QC MP and Justice Secretary has kindly agreed to become a Vice-President of the Trust, thus cementing the long-standing support he has always given us.

This missive is written as lockdown has been eased a bit, and we’ve been able to resume work on repainting our trip boat Dragonfly, including hull blacking, new anodes, and removal of the bent prop to have it straightened, which (slightly heart in mouth) has worked and it’s now back in place. We hope shortly to get her back in the water where she belongs – as for running trips, we have thoughts of

41 offering “COVID 19 bubble cruises” for small groups who can meet within current guidelines. The greater problem is the crew, many of whom are in a vulnerable group. We are currently grappling with this issue; hopefully we can find a way to offer COVID – safe trips before long.

As mentioned before, our greatest challenge has always been crossing the M4, and the prospect of Highways England enabling this to happen has had us on tenterhooks. Our submission was delayed by COVID; it is now being considered and an answer is expected within a few weeks – fingers crossed!

On the ground, our Work Parties have resumed their various activities, just in time to get the spring vegetation back under control. Our bid to the IWA for £14,000 to improve the canal by Shrivenham has finally been successful, so work will be starting there before too long. Our Canalside pub near Royal Wootton Bassett, the Peterborough Arms, has reopened, as has the Hall & Woodhouse pub at Wichelstowe, Swindon – two welcome pieces of good news. Let’s hope they’ll be able to remain open while staying COVID-safe.

Some of our background work has been on the website, which has now had numerous updates and is easier to navigate, especially for anyone wishing to join the Trust! Do have a look – www.wbct.org.uk – amongst other things we’ve just started a photo competition there; two of the three rotating images on the front page are the two joint winners for July. Our Facebook page is going from strength to strength, with some spectacular drone videos of parts of the canal route, with more to come!

Next time I hope to have some good news on the M4 crossing, plus a probable new acquisition!

Chris Barry, Comms Secretary, Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Reed Removal

Thanks and congratulations to the 20-odd people who turned out on 12th July to clear the reeds that have been building up at East Wichel, Swindon. They worked under the supervision of our Work Party Organiser, following the Trust's ecology & Covid-19 guidelines.

Thanks to Andy for organising it, to the Counciil's Canalside team for giving permission, and to Andy & Anna for the photos.

42 We have a target to recruit 2,020 new members.

Why 2,020? Because it is a memorable number! The Trust is now recruiting to expand its firm foundation of subscribing members. Many new members will simply take pleasure in knowing that they are part of a fascinating project for the public benefit. Some will want to join our volunteers, but nobody is ever pressured to go in that direction.

For those who choose to volunteer we have opportunities in many roles, from wildlife nurture to bricklaying and lock gate repairing via media communications and accounting. We still have much to tackle to restore all 72 miles of our canal and reconnect it to the Kennet and Avon canal and to the Thames at Abingdon and Cricklade.

Please join us. Our members are a happy band of brothers and sisters who enjoy participating in this hugely rewarding project. They can already see the public’s pleasure in using those stretches of our line where their efforts have built tranquil waterside parks for walking, cycling, angling and boating. We need all the help we can get; you will enjoy giving it.

Gordon Olson Chief Executive Wildlife in, on & around the canal Most canal users are not in boats, but on the towpath – walking, cycling, fishing, or just out there enjoying the tranquility. In wooded areas, the Japanese call it shinrin-yoku – forest bathing – but just being by water engenders feelings of relaxation. Part of this is being in the presence of wildlife, and canals, as blue-green corridors, have wildlife aplenty!

Everyone knows about ducks, geese & swans of course; moorhens and, less commonly, coots are also around. Away from the water, there are smaller birds too we find in our gardens, even the occasional cuckoo in spring. But the real waterside stars are herons & kingfishers.

There is a heron where Dragonfly runs, who has learnt that if it stays while the boat passes, there’s a better chance of catching a fish.

Then it takes off, flies over the boat, and lands ahead to do the same again! Kingfishers are to be seen on the Templars Firs section at Royal Wootton Bassett.

43 This writer knows nothing about fish or plants – that’s for another time - but he does know that occasionally on Dragonfly he hears a mighty big splash nearby, and sometimes a big flurry of disturbed small fish – could there be a pike or two around?

It’s always the rare encounters that are the most exciting; the iconic one is, of course, the water vole, and we were able to obtain a prolonged video of one recently; it was posted on the Trust’s Facebook page and attracted a lot of interest, with a reach of almost 11,000 and over 500 engagements.

Dragonfly crew have several times seen a grass snake swimming in the canal, and there’s a small family of Terrapin – presumably abandoned pets – near Skew Bridge in Swindon.

Foxes, Roe and Muntjac deer are commonly seen, but never yet seen is the Otter, though they have left clues of their presence in the form of freshwater mussel shells, nibbled at the edges in characteristic manner.

And yes, freshwater mussels abound too – a live one has been found at the bottom of one of the gardens coming down to the canal; they’re huge!

Future Events Dragonfly is currently out of the water and is receiving maintenance to make her ready for another ten years giving pleasure.

For this reason, and because of the COVID-19 precautions, we cannot currently take bookings for any trips until further notice. Although we are hoping to restart trips soon.

Please visit our website for up to date information. The Boating season for Dragonfly normally starts at Easter and finishes in September. Trips may extend through October depending on the weather.

The boat can be chartered and is popular for birthday and anniversary parties, Plenty of notice is good to make it easier to find crew. Charter fees are £60 for one hour, £90 for two hours.

Trip vouchers are available at £18 for a family of 2 adults & 2 children. To obtain one, please email cheryll.yeowell@wbct.org.uk. For information, call the boat team on 07401 220076 or preferably email boat.bookings@wbct.org.uk

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South London Branch Future Events South London Branch Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 for 8:00 pm in The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP. Admission to talks and presentations is free to members and non-members, but we do ask that you donate a minimum of £2 per person to offset room hire charges and speakers’

expenses, thank you.

For more information please contact the Social Secretary: Shea Richardson.

Tel: 07803 904803 or email: shea.richardson@waterways.org.uk Photo: Croydon Canal

Courtesy: Flikr

London (Paddington) Branch Future Events Future webinars and meetings: At present we still have no idea when we can return to Paddington but, regardless of that, we have now decided to run three webinars on the 4th Monday of the month: September 28th, October 26th and November 23rd.

Mon 28th Sept: “Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) and the Grand Union Canal - the future!” “OPDC has been created to plan and manage the future development of a large swathe of West London. The Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal runs through the development area for a distance of 4 km. and the setting of the canal will dramatically change over the next 10-20 years. This presentation is being given by OPDC’s Planning Director and key members of the planning team and will give an insight into their plans for the area and the impact the development will have on the waterway corridor.” The link to register for the September webinar is: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KiWqFshDSX2msxDC_ZnfxA

45 The link to all IWA webinars and the calendar is https://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/online_talks. The link to recorded previous webinars is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ROBJ6rpm_41BSmu-Glf2Q Please visit our website or contact Libby Bradshaw for up to date information Details of each talk will be sent out in advance by email and also can be found following the link https://www.waterways.org.uk/branches_regions/london/london_region Photo Courtesy: OPDC

Towpath Walks Group All walks subject to current Government guidelines. Please contact for up to date information Sun 20th Sep 2.30pm: Limehouse, Thames to Docklands, meet Westferry (DLR)

by Cycle Hire Point Sun 4th Oct 2.30pm: Grand Surrey Canal, Royal Navy Victualling Yard to Greenland Dock, meet Surrey Quays Sat 17th Oct 10.45am: Regents Canal: Kings Cross –Granary Square – Pancras Meet : Kings Cross by Taxi queue

46 Sun 1st Nov 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: River Tyburn to Little Venice, meet Baker St (Baker St north/Lords exit) Towpath Walks Group is looking for volunteers to guide small parties of walkers on short walks along the towpath of the Regent’s Canal (and elsewhere).

This introduces newcomers to the pleasant world of waterways – which most outsiders don’t realise is here! It is also a good way of recruiting new members to IWA. No experience? No problem, we’ll brief you.

For more information about Walks (Normal charge: £15.00, Concessions & Student rate: £10.00) please contact London Walks, telephone: 020 7624 3978.

Booking Essential

Mikron Theatre Group THANK YOU ALL! A huge thank you from us all at Mikron HQ. We are so happy to announce we have not only met, but smashed, our target of £48,337.49.

We cannot thank you enough. We are absolutely humbled by the support we have received. It is testament to the friendship and support of the Mikron family that has grown and flourished over almost five decades of touring anywhere for everyone.

We’ve had letters and emails from friends all over the world: Texas, Catalonia and the Netherlands and of course every corner of the UK from Cornwall to Cromarty, each one saying how much Mikron means to you all and how keen you are to help to ensure the success of our 50th year of touring next year.

Every penny raised over the minimum amount we needed to simply survive will, of course, be used wisely and carefully. We have Tyseley, our narrowboat, to keep shipshape, and we will be able to continue our aims of developing new writers, directors and creatives for the future of Mikron and the industry as a whole.

The Mikron Theatre Group had planned two new shows for 2020.

Unfortunately, due to COVID 19 this year’s season has been cancelled. Please check our website for further details. www.mikron.org.uk

The Inland Waterways Association Chesham Staff Sarah O’Grady Interim Chief Executive

extn 609

Tracy Higgin Administration Manager Day-to-day running of the Head Office at Chesham.

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Rachel Bryant Membership

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The Inland Waterways Association IWA South East Region Chair: Verna Smith 63 Avondale, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5NE Tel: 07986 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com

IWA Guildford & Reading Branch Committee Acting Chair: Verna Smith 63 Avondale, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5NE Tel: 07986 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com Secretary: Chris Jones Tel: 07711 784374 Acting Treasurer & R. Wey: Mike Lewis Basingstoke & R. Thames: Vacant

Email: chris.jones@waterways.org.uk K & A, WACT & Planning:-Verna Smith

IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch Committee Tel: 07768 132703

Chair: Les Etheridge

Email: les.etheridge@waterways.org.uk

Secretary, Sussex Ouse & Cargoes Contact: Roy Sutton 79, St Leonards Park, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1EG Tel: 01342 317569 Email: RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk Treasurer & Royal Military Canal: Peter Wilkinson Membership Secretary: Les Etheridge Social Secretary: Sue Schwieso Waterways Representatives R. Medway: Michael Marsh R. Stour: Roy Newing Thames & Medway: Bernard Snell Dartford & Crayford: Brian Franklin

R. Adur: Brendan Whelan Northfleet Harbour: Vacant R. Rother: Malcolm Jones Faversham & Swale: Vacant

IWA Oxfordshire Branch Committee Chair: Ian Lindsay Tel: 07889 070623 Email: ian.lindsay@waterways.org.uk Secretary: Robin Williams Tel: 07490 454260 Email: robin.williams@waterways.org.uk Acting Treasurer: Jules Lindsay Webmaster: Robin Williams

Cargoes co-ordinator & Jericho: tba

Non Committee Responsibilities Thames RUG 3: Sue & David Cooper Next issue: Winter Copy date: 27th October 2020 Opinions expressed in Cargoes are not necessarily those of IWA. IWA, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1WA. Tel: 01494 783453 Company No: 612245. Charity No: 212342 www.waterways.org.uk Cargoes Editor: Chris Jones chris.jones@waterways.org.uk Printed by www.imprintcolour.co.uk

waterway

Webinars As part of our IWA at 75 series, we are exploring key campaigns that have seen whole stretches of waterway brought back to life.

Visit the IWA website and reserve your space

waterways.org.uk/webinars The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Company registration number 612245. Charity registration number 212342.

Registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Photo Š Angela Rolt