IWAKES NEWS
Spring 2008
Issue No 26
Kent & East Sussex Branch
At the opening of the new Allington Slipway (l to r) Phil Munslow (EA Region Waterway Engineer), Peter Midgley (EA Area Manager), Cllr Denise Joy (Mayor of Maidstone), Jonathan Shaw, MP (Waterways Minister), Graham Ingram (IWA Medway Representative), John Morgan (EA Region Waterway Manager) (Photo Roy Sutton)
Bull and ox-bow in the Sussex Ouse watermeadows above Fletching Mill that are threatened by Environment Agency (Photo Bernard Snell)
Forthcoming Events Thur 15th January 2009: ‘Prescott Lock and Bow Back Rivers’ Mark Stephens, British Waterways’ Project Manager 7:30 for 8pm: Strood Yacht Club, Knights Road, Strood Wed 11th February 2009: To the Monty and Beyond with Angela Acott (a TMCA event) 7:30 for 8pm: Gravesend Sailing Club, Promenade, Gravesend Thur 12th February 2009: IWA South East Region AGM 7:30 for 8pm: Moulsham Mill, Chelmsford. (Lift-Roy Sutton) Thur 26th February 2009: IWAKES AGM 7:30 for 8pm: St Nicholas’Church Hall,Poplar Grove,Maidstone. Followed by Roy Sutton’s slides of ‘30 years of KESCRG’ (Kent & East Sussex Canal Restoration Group) Wed 11th March 2009: IWA South Central Region AGM Kiddlington Sports Centre, near Oxford. (Lift-Roy Sutton) Sun 15th March 2009: Canal bank Clean Up Meet 9:30am at Mark Lane. Bring own drink, lunch and rubbish bag. Wear gloves and warm/waterproof clothing: Nearest loos at the Promenade (1mile). Some tools will be provided; but please bring your own if possible. (IWAKES & TMCA joint event) Tue 24th March 2009: ‘Southern Water Planning’ Meyrick Gough, Southern Water Planning Strategy Manager 7:30 for 8pm: St Mildred’s Church Hall, Tenterden
Gravesend
Fri 1st May to Mon 4th May: Wilderness Boat Club Get-together Visiting trailboats will be at the new Allington Lock slipway on Saturday mid-morning, leaving later for Tonbridge. Graham Ingram and Bernard Snell will have full details near the time Sat 9th May 2009: One way walk along the Royal Military Canal Meet at Appledore Car Park at 12:30. Ferry by car to start of walk at Ruckinge. Café stop en route. Return to the pub/café in Appledore around 5pm Wed 10th June 2009: Sailing Barge Cambria: Basil Brambleby Restoration, preservation and use of the last British registered vessel to carry cargo under sail alone. (TMCA event) 7:30 for 8pm:Gravesend Sailing Club, Promenade, Gravesend Wed 17th June 2009: Trip on the Allington Belle From Maidstone to East Farleigh. Self-catering (please bring some nibbles to share). The “ship's bar” is reasonably-priced. Depart 7:15 prompt. Return around 9:15. Tickets £4 (children £2) available at meetings from Graham Ingram, Sue Schweiso and Julia Hones. Sat 25th July 2009 : Maidstone River Festival Now supported by Maidstone Council.
Appledore
Maidstone
Past Events Guy Peto, of Peel Holdings, Medway Ports came to speak about his working day. A lot of time is taken up in maintaining the buoys in the river. Most of the buoys are metal, but a few are now made of plastic, being a lot lighter and longer lasting than the old ones. The "Medway Rhino", used for getting in the buoys, is over 100 years old but still giving good service on the River. The cost of having a new vessel built today would probably be prohibitive. Guy had some marvellous pictures, which he admitted were not taken by himself. The aerial shots, in particular were outstanding; the docks and the river winding it's way to the sea. After this show many questions were asked, and then we retired to the table laden with mostly homemade Christmas goodies. It was nice to see old Friends, and to wish them all a very good Christmas, and Happy New Year. Angela Acott
Tenterden
St Nicholas Church Hall, Maidstone
Chairman’s Piece The coming of a new year is an ideal time to look closely at our activities with a view to making improvements where we can. You will see that our programme of forthcoming events is varied and I hope you will find something that will encourage you to attend. After much internal debate, the IWA Region structure has changed and IWAKES joins the branches of the former South Central Region to form a new ‘South East Region’. This will bring us into close contact and cooperation with neighbouring branches in West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Do please come along to our AGM in February, we need your input! Roy Sutton, our indefatigable Secretary, has been editing our Newsletter for the past seven years and is seeking a change. The Committee have agreed that we shall include our events and articles in CARGOES. This is currently the newsletter for South Central Region, which (finance permitting) will expand to cover the whole of our new Region. Thank you for your support, we wish you all a very happy New Year. Mike Hannan
Treasurer’s Report At the end of November 2008 our bank accounts held a total of £3930.93. Included in this total is £1083.39 which is ring fenced for the TMCA. Income since January is £1009.82 and expenditure £851.75 an excess of £158.07. Bernard & Joyce Snell
Isfield Lock on the Sussex Ouse in August
(Photo Ted Lintott)
Thames & Medway Canal The Thames and Medway Canal maintenance workparties carry on apace. Most Tuesday mornings and Sundays once a month a work party group gather somewhere near Higham or Gravesend, don wellies and thick gloves and get stuck into clearing the banks, litter-picking or removing trees in the line of the canal to generally make the place look loved. When at Higham we are asked at least once every session about the reason for the obelisk dividing the waters of the Thames and the Medway. We take great delight in giving each enquirer a TMCA leaflet. Also now we seem to have two or three bonfire lovers, and the long winter months are warmed by their efforts of rubbing two boy scouts together. At the last session an enchanting Robin kept popping along to see what we were doing and to warm himself from the embers. We seem to have a nucleus of around 8/12 workers but more would always be welcome. A little light litter picking or scrub bashing always warms up a winter day. For times and enquires, contact Brian Angela Acott Macknish on 01732 823725 or David Rouse on 01474 362861.
Work on the 21km long 900mm diameter gas pipeline from the Isle of Grain to Shorne, which crosses the canal, finished before the end of the year with all land fully re-instated. As part of Corporate Community Investment, National Grid, AMEC and AB Rhead have supported a number of local organisations that have been in close proximity to the works. This included Thames & Medway Canal Association who were supplied with two galvanized steel benches for them to install alongside the canal. (Photo of the team by Bernard Snell)
We understand that a large grant to Gravesham Borough Council is very close to approval for rewatering the section from Mark Lane to the Swing Bridge, with some work beyond to the Urelite Works. An article in a local paper suggests that the development proposals around the basin are on hold, giving us further time to promote a navigable route.
TMCA Tuesday work-party
(Photo Angela Acott)
Dartford and Crayford Navigation Having returned from Scotland there was a lot to do, catch up with and sort out. Scotland: managed to go boating on Loch Ken, which is a holiday complex of tents, caravans and static park homes. Bring your own boat or hire one of theirs. Inflatables, motor boats, speed boats or even sail. My daughter owns Lochview motel, which sits beside Loch Auchenreoch (I can’t pronounce it either), to which she has the rights of use. Sadly this Loch is a haven for jet-skis. I tried them out, exhilarating for the first 10 minutes then, for me, boring; but good luck to those who enjoy these waterborne motor bikes. I also sailed on the Solway Firth, courtesy of Solway Yacht Club, but that is very much ''watch the tide boating". I now own a 19ft motor cruiser berthed at the Medway wharf marina at Wateringbury. Since being back down south, I have viewed the rivers Darent and Cray. The only change seems to be a better quality of supermarket trolley in the Cray. The Darent is a little high after all the recent rain and possible causing some concern to those Ken Bishop living at the rivers edge in Darenth.
River Medway The Environment Agency are busy going ahead with their winter works, in particular the works on Hampstead lock appear to be well advanced!! (Lets hope a severe winter doesn’t delay it into the season!!) The EA expect to spend £2.6 million on the river 2009/2010. When the work is being carried out at Oak-Weir Lock they are hoping to (or will) install some overnight mooring!! An IWA-supported get-together of Wilderness Boat Club trailboaters is planned for the early May bank-holiday (see ‘Events’). Details are still being worked on; but it is expected there will be at least ten boats and they will be launched from the new slipway at Allington Lock before proceeding to (probably) East Farleigh, Yalding and Tonbridge over the weekend. The new slipway and other fine facilities at Allington (including new offices for navigation staff in the converted Lock House) were formally opened by the Waterways Minister, Jonathan Shaw, MP on 19th September (see cover photo). It was a beautiful day and the Minister confided to the audience that his brother-inlaw’s stag-party had been at the Malta Inn (visible opposite). HM Customs & Revenue have approved a 60% / 40% split on the red diesel we boaters use!! ( I wonder if those of us who are wholly non-tidal and use even less on propulsion but probably considerably more for domestic purposes would be able to self-certify accordingly!!) Speeding on our inland navigations in general is being more detected and speeders are being fined even greater amounts!! For example a fellow on a stretch of water that carries a 6 knot restriction was doing 10 when he passed a vessel on which the crew were trying to do an emergency first-aid repair. He was fined £460 and ordered to pay £2000 (yes £2000) costs. Whoops!! On that note for those who go tidal/offshore & beyond don’t forget the TSS, a skipper from Brighton ( RYA qualified ) delivering a 36ft cruiser to the River Crouch travelled for 15 miles (about 50 mins ) after entering the south west shipping lane and despite several calls from Dover they were unable to contact him!! However after a coastguard aircraft intervened into the activity he did answer!! Was it these delays on his behalf that caused the court decide to impose a £6,000 fine plus costs of £2,084.45!! The Medway River Festival is planned for 24th & 25th July. This will be its thirtieth anniversary. Do join us on the branch trip on the Medway from Maidstone to East Farleigh in the ‘Allington Belle’. It should be a very pleasant evening. (See ‘Events’ for times and ticket details). Graham Ingram
Sussex Ouse
Snell
Bernard
It seems that the biggest challenge for Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust in 2009 will be an ongoing battle with the Environment Agency over its plans for the demise of Fletching Mill Weir. In the early part of 2008 SORT were contacted as part of a consultation into what the EA could do to alleviate problems at Fletching, mainly deterioration of the weir and consequent damage to river bank etc. Roy Sutton prepared a response on our behalf, giving our own options for what might be done together with some reserved but broad support of their apparent main proposal to introduce riffles below the (repaired) weir. However, at a public meeting in September EA disclosed their main proposal was now to completely destroy the weir, an idea that SORT cannot support in any way. SORT made its feelings plain in a response to EA, who have now responded in turn. Much detail (including SORT’s submission to EA and their response) is available at www.sxouse.org.uk – click on the “Fletching Mill Weir” link. Removing the weir at Fletching would permanently lower a 2km long pound, which SORT believe will completely destroy the ancient water-meadow ecology of the area, impacting bio-diversity and increasing the flood risk in the lower reaches of the river down to Lewes. EA’s proposal even appears contrary to its own Catchment Flood Management Plan.
SORT is therefore urgently appealing for an ecologist (or person with some ecological background and sufficient relevant knowledge) to advise them on the ecological aspects of the situation at Fletching Mill. If water levels are permanently lowered, then not only would hope of restoration of navigation be lost, but SORT firmly believe that environmental damage would ensue. If you can help SORT to deal with the muddled thinking of the EA, then please get in touch with Bob Draper, SORT Chairman, on 01825 763857. Alternatively, Hazel Lintott, SORT Secretary on 01444 414413 will pass on your details.
Useful Contacts Inland Waterways Association (Head Office: IWA & wrg) www.waterways.org.uk 01494 783453 Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rivermedway www.environment-agency.gov.uk/harbourofrye Emergencies 0800 807060 Floodline 0845 9881188 Medway Licensing 01732 223222 Medway River Team 01732 838868 Allington Lock 01622 752864 General Enquiries 08708 506506 ‘General Enquiries’ for Kent Area Office (Rivers Rother, Stour and Royal Military Canal) and Worthing Office (Pevensey Levels & Sussex Ouse). British Waterways www.britishwaterways.co.uk Emergencies Head Office
0800 4799947 0845 671 5530
Organisations in Kent & East Sussex Embankment Marina: Gravesend Canal Basin www.theembankmentmarina.net 01474 535700 Kent & East Sussex Canal Restoration Group www.kescrg.org.uk 0845 2268589 Lower Thames Harbourmaster (including Dartford & Crayford Navigation) www.pla.co.uk 01474 562200 Maidstone River Festival www.maidstoneriverfestival.co.uk Medway Ports (Peel Holdings) www.medwayports.com 01795 596596 Medway River Users Association www.mrua.co.uk Newhaven Port Authority www.newhavenferryport.co.uk 0844 5768836 Rye Harbour Boat Owners Association (Charles Bronsdon) 01797 223560 Sandwich Port & Haven Commissioners 01304 612162 Shepway District Council (for Royal Military Canal east of West Hythe) www.shepway.gov.uk 01303 850388
Organisations in Kent & East Sussex (continued) Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust www.sxouse.org.uk (Bob Draper) 01825 763857 Thames & Medway Canal Association www.thamesmedway.co.uk (Brian Macknish) 01732 823725 Other organisations Association of Boat Safety Examiners www.abse.org.uk 01923 201278 Association of Pleasure Craft Operators www.apco.org.uk 0844 8009575 Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs www.awcc.ruralnet.co.uk Boat Safety Scheme www.boatsafetyscheme.com 01293 201278 Canal Boatbuilders Association www.c-b-a.org.uk 0844 8009575 National Community Boats Association www.national-cba.co.uk 0845 0510649 Inland WaterwaysAdvisory Council www.iwac.org.uk 0207 253 1745 National Association of Boat Owners www.nabo.org.uk Residential Boat Owners Association www.rboa.org.uk Royal Yachting Association www.rya.org.uk 023 8060 4100 The Waterways Trust www.the waterways trust.co.uk 01452 318220 Please advise Roy Sutton of errors or omissions.
IWAKES@waterways.org.uk IWAKES@waterways.org.uk has been affected by spam protection technical problems over the past six months and some emails have been lost. This email address should no longer be used. Instead please phone, write or email the relevant Committee Member listed on the back page.