Wey and Arun Canal Trust

WACT News

Major Damage at Loxwood

During the night of Saturday/ Sunday 1st /2nd April electrical control equipment for pumps was destroyed and water was released from the canal causing major damage which is likely to cost more than £50,000 to repair. The sudden loss of water has implications for fish and other wildlife in the canal as well as boat trips.

Multiple pumping control locations were attacked and padlocks on canal locks removed to release water down the canal. The Canal Trust reported the crime to the police and is working to assess the extent of d amage and the repairs required. Some limited temporary repairs have been made to refill the sections of canal used for boat trips.

The Trust has launched a fundraising campaign to help meet the costs of repair and lost income from cancelled boat trips. The damage is a major blow to our volunteers who have put in so much work to restore and improve the canal through Loxwood in the last few years. The local community use the canal for recreation whether walking, cycling, horse-riding in addition to those who get on the water to Kayak, Paddleboard or enjoy a boat trip with the Trust.

So far our Loxwood Appeal has raised £33,000 towards the repairs to pump control equipment. The response from our members, supporters and the local community has been fantastic and the Trust would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has generously donated to the appeal. Replacing the control equipment is complicated and will involve some upgrades to electrical cabling to enable modern control and monitoring equipment to be installed. Discussions with multiple suppliers are taking place to finalise the design and assess the up-front civil and electrical works required.

Boat trips scheduled for May are all expected to be run as planned with some temporary pumping solutions in place.

The appeal is still open for anyone who would still like to make a donation.

5km Guided Canal Walk - Shalford to Bramley and back

When: Tuesday 11th July. Time: 2pm – 4pm.

From: WACT Information centre, east side of A281

Enjoy a 5km, 2 hour, guided walk introducing participants to the route of the Wey and Arun Canal from its junction with the River Wey to Bramley, Surrey. This out-and-back, mostly segregated from motor traffic, walk explores part of the original route of the Wey & Arun Canal in Shalford, including an original canal bridge and an aqueduct. It also includes the Hunt Nature Park which is being developed by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust.

As the walk is largely on footpaths, walking boots or stout walking shoes are advised. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.

To Book visit the Wey and Arun Canal Trust website: www.weyandarun.org.uk. The walk commences at 2pm and will be of a 2 hour duration. Please be there at least 15 minutes before the walk begins.

Birtley lifting bridge abutments completed - Order placed for superstructure

Our volunteers have finished the work on the foundation abutments of the second Birtley lifting bridge. These are now ready for the bridge superstructure and an order has now been placed with fabrication work underway.

A temporary deck was installed on the first bridge which opened up a new circular walk along the towpath and the Downs Link. Given the popularity of this walk, a temporary scaffold bridge will be installed to maintain access while the first bridge is fitted out as a lifting bridge. Further work is taking place to grade and bring up the levels of the bridleway on both sides of the second bridge.

Installation work is planned for August and an opening ceremony later in the year.

The £150,000 order for the design, building and installation of the bridge s’ superstructures and hydraulic mechanisms is the biggest capital outlay for the Trust for over two years. The successful tenderer is Beaver Bridges Ltd of Shewsbury. The bridge location is accessible for pedestrians from the main A281 Guildford–Horsham Road just south of Singh Concrete, whose concrete was pumped directly to the work site.

Bonfire Hanger - See Front Cover

Thanks to a gift from a generous supporter, we are now the freehold owners of the 800m Bonfire Hanger section of the canal. This attractive section immediately north of the Surrey/Sussex border, near Alfold, extends our existing ownership in the Gennets Bridge Lock area and includes the sites of four locks (912).

The locks were at intervals of 200-300 yards/metres and each had a rise of about 8 feet (2.44m). They were built with bricks and dismantled in the 1920s. So, will we immediately be developing plans to rebuild Locks 9-12 and planning to run boat trips to within sight of Rosemary Lane? Sadly the immediate answer must be “ no ” . There are still a number of obstacles to overcome south of Gennets Bridge and there is no reliable water supply, although in the winter there is some overflow from the fishing lakes. Complete restoration would have an estimated cost of at least £2m. With all the other calls on our resources, we have to move one step at a time. For Bonfire Hanger in the short term this means relatively modest work to make it a part of our “green corridor” that we can show off with pride.

Tickners Heath Crossing Project completion delayed

A new footbridge was completed last year alongside the Dunsfold Road near Alfold, but planned work on a new roadbridge has been delayed. Before a temporary road can be installed to allow construction of the road bridge, detailed approvals from the highway authority and the water utility company are required.

The trust is sorry that it has not been able to progress this project as fast as we would like. Work will restart as soon as we have the detailed approvals.

In the meantime we are doing our best to keep the area looking tidy and walkers can use the new section of footpath and the footbridge

Boat Trips. A private boat trip on the Loxwood section of the canal can be a great way to celebrate a special occasion, or a fun outing for your group or society. We provide the boat and the crew and we can also help with refreshments. If you are a Wey & Arun member and book a private trip then you will receive a member’s discount on the standard price. We are also offering a discount for all 2023 private trips booked by 28th February. The best way to book is to use the online enquiry form on our website or you can contact support@weyandarun.co.uk.

Our next Cream Tea Trip is on Friday June 30th at 2pm. Tickets are £19.00 and are going fast. Why not celebrate National Cream Tea Day on this popular 1.5 hour boat trip while you cruise along the lovely Sussex countryside. Please book online.

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

River Thames report

We recently received a letter from boat hire client pointing out some of the problems with water taps and locating official mooring sites that they had encountered on their travels. The problems with water supplies at Thames lock sides are well rehearsed but it would appear that hirers are sometimes unaware of the complications of hose types and length. I understand the issues with backflow but fail to understand why it has taken so long for the Environment Agency to fit taps which meet its own legislation. The problem of locating moorings had already been raised last year and it could be that recent changes in vegetation height and availability of deep water next to moorings may reflect financial cutbacks and their effect on maintenance. Whatever the reasons the issues had a negative effect on their holiday which were offset by the excellent service they noted at the locks. The Thames will be busy with international and local events throughout the summer. The ‘River Thames Conditions’ page on www.gov.uk website is an excellent source of information for these and current river levels

Verna Smith

British Canoeing

Environment Agency infrastructure for Paddlesport

The Agency has several projects near completion and soon to commence to improve canoe portages at locks on the River Kennet and River Thames.

Blakes Lock, River Kennet, Reading: The project has two portage points on the lock island. Both landings are suitable for longer kayaks such as a K2. In the lock cut a pontoon with an overall length of 6.5m has been installed. Although in service, it will be fitted with ballast to correct a list. The existing landing was a short length of bank. In July a 7.5m and longer replacement fixed landing stage is scheduled to be constructed on the opposite downstream side of the lock island to complete the project. Piling work has been delayed taking account of the fish spawning season.

Abingdon Lock: The downstream portage point by the lock gates is awkward to access and short in length. The new structure is behind the lock lay-by and provides easy access to launch and land. The EA propose to mobilise contractors in June and complete the work in July/August. The project was scheduled for construction in 2021 and delayed by unsuitable river conditions since.

Bray lock: The downstream landing is being extended from approximately 3.5m to 7m that is more suitable for longer canoes or more than one shorter in length. Additionally, the disposition of the handrails that are an issue will be changed to aid the safe handling of canoes to and from the landing. This is another project delayed by unsuitable river conditions. The Agency proposes to commence work in September.

Ray Mill Island, Boulters Weir: a reopening of a portage facility. The temporary fencing panels that blocked off the steps down to the portage point by the weir pool were removed in April after representations to the Agency. The fencing had closed off the worksite to install an eel pass on the weir that was completed earlier last year and left in situ. The short portage route across the top end of the island was reinstated in time for the Devizes/Westminster Canoe Race.

Environment Agency Thames Lock Campsites: the Agency giving only 8 days’ notice on 4th May that all their campsites will close from 12th May came as a surprise. This is an unwelcome development at the start of the camping season. Not only a blow for paddlers planning to canoe camp, but cyclists, and walkers who are also lightweight campers. The campsites are at Rushey, Shifford, Pinkhill, Eynsham, Days, and Hurley. There are also campsites with permanent tents at Shiplake and Hurley.

Water companies apologise for the discharge of contaminated water into rivers and seas: The apology comes from public anger and coverage by the media over the practice. Suppliers in England have also said they will spend £10bn on tackling sewage spills. Paddling and swimming in water where untreated sewage is discharged can lead to serious illnesses including stomach bugs.

The Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty has said raw sewage entering our rivers was becoming a “growing health problem”. In 2022, records showed raw sewage was discharged into UK Rivers and seas 301,091 times.

British Canoeing has commented “the sewage apology is welcome as is the investment of £10 billion, but action needs to be swift.”

Clear Access, Clear Waters Charter: access is a key issue for British Canoeing with less than 4% of waterways in England having a public right of navigation. An updated version of the charter first issued in 2018 is due to be published on 7th June.

Kevin East Voluntary Waterways & Environment Project Officer