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Issue 30 www.waterways.org.uk/lichfield
Winter 2020
Lichfield Lines
An enjoyable Christmas Lunch (see Page 10)
The newsletter of IWA Lichfield Branch
The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and navigable rivers. The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or as an official pronouncement, unless specifically identified as such. The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk
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Branch Chairman’s Report - January 2020 Following the brief note in our last newsletter, a full tribute to our much-missed friend Pat Barton is included in this issue, which some of you may have seen earlier on the website. The full text has also been published in the January edition of Towpath Talk, along with part of the evocative photo of a young Pat on Quercus which we include here. Pat’s former roles in organising social events and in finding speakers for our public meetings have been kindly taken on by Lynn Evans, who ensured that the Christmas Lunch was a most enjoyable occasion and has an entertaining quiz planned for us to follow the AGM. Lynn has also arranged our April talk and is well on the way to completing the public meetings programme for our 2020-21 season. We have not been organised so far ahead since the days when we produced an annual printed Programme Card; long since superseded by this newsletter which includes walks, work parties and other events that cannot be arranged quite so far in advance. Clive manages to arrange walks for us several months ahead and continues to find attractive canal-based routes; the two reported on in this issue were no exception, although the weather conditions could not have been more different. Organising work parties has been more problematic of late, but now that the long-winded internal reorganisation of CRT has finally been completed, Margaret has re-established contacts with their volunteer support staff so work on our adopted length at Rugeley can continue. Meanwhile, the focus has been on the weekly Offside Vegetation control work, which thanks to Neil’s organisational work with CRT and some hardworking regular volunteers has been making steady progress down the Coventry Canal from Fradley, although it is likely to take two winter seasons to reach Fazeley.
One activity that we have arranged well ahead is a boat trip on the River Weaver in late June, and full details are included elsewhere. We have initially booked 20 places although more may be available if we ask early enough, so please reserve your tickets with a deposit as soon as you can, for what should be a fascinating view of this scenic river and historic navigation from a unique steam powered heritage vessel, combined with a visit to the iconic Anderton Lift. If there is a theme to this report, it is planning ahead, and with our Branch AGM coming round in March it is timely to invite all of you with a passion for the waterways
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to consider joining our committee to help plan other future activities. Some younger members would be particularly welcome to enable us to take more advantage of the many opportunities to support, promote and encourage the use of our local canals. Activities with which help would be appreciated include, in no particular order: taking the sales and information stand to local events; contacting MPs in our Branch area to encourage their interest in waterways; taking minutes at our committee meetings; helping with planning responses in particular council areas; writing articles for our website or this newsletter; organising volunteer work parties in different locations; taking individual CRT staff on boat trips; helping to recruit new members; etc. Not all of these need be committee posts or need regular attendance at committee meetings, so if you could assist in any of these or other ways please speak to me or any other committee member. I look forward to seeing many of you at our public meetings and other activities. Phil Sharpe Forthcoming Events Tuesday 4th February 2010 – Volunteer Work Party at Brindley Bank, Rugeley. Start 9.30 am and finish about 2 pm. Meet at the bottom of the steps by the aqueduct on the Trent and Mersey Canal, accessed along the footpath between Albany Drive and the pumping station, off A460 Wolseley Road, Rugeley, WS15 2HP. Car parking at the pumping station. The work planned includes cutting back and clearing vegetation along the paths and towpath, clearing the steps, litter picking, and using grappling irons to remove obstructions in the canal. No experience needed but please wear stout shoes and old clothes. Canal and River Trust will provide welfare facilities and equipment including protective gloves. IWA will provide hot drinks, lunch and cake. In the event of bad weather on the day please check with Margaret to make sure the work party is going ahead. For more information, contact: Margaret Beardsmore, Volunteer Coordinator at: margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk or mobile: 07581 794111.
Wednesday 19th February 2020 – “The Ribble Link and Lancaster Canal”. An illustrated talk by our member Neil Barnett, who recently ventured down the tidal River Douglas and up the Ribble estuary to the calmer waters of the Lancaster Canal and back. His photos and recollections show how different this is to a normal narrowboat voyage and the challenges it poses. 7.15 for 7.30 pm at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield, WS13 8AY.
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Thursday 12th March 2020 – Milford, the Two Saints Way and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Walk. This is a 6½ mile walk with 8 stiles on public footpaths, suburban roads and the tow path. Meet 09:45 for a 10:00 am start in the car park of The Barley Mow Pub & Grill, 28 Main Road, Milford, Staffs. ST17 0UW. Facing Cannock Chase, we turn left out of the car park, cross the railway line and the river Sow to pick up the Two Saints Way just north of Tixall Bridge. We follow this trail westward over farmland with extensive views southwards of Cannock Chase. All the stiles are on this section. We reach the outskirts of Stafford by the remains of St Thomas Priory. Crossing the rivers Sow and Penk on the new Two Rivers metal footbridge, we reach the Staffs. & Worcs. Canal at St.Thomas Bridge 101. From here we will make a slight detour westward to visit the Stafford Riverway Link restoration site at Baswich. After a brief guided tour, we return eastwards along the towpath, which we leave at Walton Bridge. We follow a track leading us to the A513 at Berkswich, from where we return to our starting point. Contact Clive Walker on 07866 201873 or clive.walker@waterways.org.uk Please note the earlier meeting time of 09:45. This is necessary due to the length of the walk, the number of stiles, and the guided tour of the Riverway Link. Wednesday 18th March 2020 – Annual General Meeting and Social Evening. The short formal business of the AGM will be followed by a review of our year in photos, a refreshment break, then a waterways and general knowledge quiz. Members can form small teams on the night and a contribution of £1 a head will fund a prize for the winning team. 7.15 for 7.30 pm at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield, WS13 8AY. (See AGM Agenda on Page 13) Wednesday 15th April 2020 – “The Purton Hulks and Gloucester & Sharpness Canal”. An illustrated talk by David Moore. The Purton Hulks are the remains of historic sailing barges, trows and other vessels of the Severn Estuary lying alongside the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. This talk explores their history, archaeology and the photographic appeal of their fading craftsmanship. 7.15 for 7.30 pm at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield, WS13 8AY. Saturday and Sunday 2nd & 3rd May—IWA Canalway Cavalcade Calling all volunteers who want to have fun at London's biggest, brightest and best waterways festival!
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Canalway Cavalcade is going to be held on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2020, and we need your help to ensure we can pack all the fun of the usual three day event into those two days. Celebrate 200 Years of the Regent's Canal with hundreds of members of the waterways community and thousands of visiting public from all over the world. The event is held at Little Venice, a unique and beautiful canal basin, just a short walk from Paddington station. There are loads of different volunteer roles with something to appeal to everyone. We need you to help set up children's activities including the teddy bears picnic, giving out programmes, leaflets and friendly advice, collecting donations, helping the traders and entertainers set up, and directing boats with the Waterspace team. There is still the opportunity to bring your boat. Join over 100 beautifully and humorously decorated narrowboats in the hubbub of the pool or the quieter moorings along the arm. If you interested in volunteering a form can be downloaded from waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/canalway_cavalcade/ And returned to cavalcade.volunteer@waterways.org.uk Saturday and Sunday 16th & 17th May 2020—Moira Canal Festival Ashby Canal Trust is holding the 20th Moira Canal Festival at the historic Moira Furnace, on the banks of the Ashby Canal at the heart of the National Forest. Geoff Pursglove has been helping to organise the event since it began. “This year,” he said, “we are pleased to welcome the D-Day Darlings, Britain's Got Talent Finalists in 2018, who will recreate all the old wartime songs. This will be to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the festival, and also our contribution to May’s VE day events”. A Battle of Britain Flypast will help the atmosphere, and there will be boats, Morris dancing, falconry displays, children's entertainment, historic vehicles, a wide range of stalls and exhibits, entertainment marquee, bar and refreshments. There will also be the annual Moira Canal Festival Duck Race! Further information www.moiracanalfestival.co.uk It is a trailboat festival, on the isolated length of the Ashby Canal at Moira, so if any members have a trailable boat (there are 2 good slipways), they would be very welcome. Sunday 28th June 2020 – River Weaver cruise & Anderton Boat Lift visit. A relaxing 4 hour cruise along the scenic River Weaver in Cheshire, from Sutton
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Weaver to Anderton Boat Lift passing through 2 locks and 2 swing bridges. Our vessel is the historic Daniel Adamson, a 1903 steam ship with fabulous Art Deco interiors, affectionately known as “The Danny” (see: www.thedanny.co.uk/ ). You can combine this with a visit to the Anderton Boat Lift to make an interesting day of it. The cruise is from 12 noon to 4 pm so the plan is to drive to Anderton (opening time 9.30 am to 5.30 pm), park at the Boat Lift car park (postcode CW9 6FW - £3 all day), with time to visit the lift and the free visitor centre either before or after the cruise. For further details see: canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/anderton-boat-lift-visitor-centre A coach will collect us from the car park at 11.20 am and take us to the ship. For catering, there is a coffee shop/café at the lift, and a restaurant nearby. There is a bar on-board The Danny with hot and cold drinks but only a limited supply of cakes and sandwiches, so passengers are welcome to bring picnics. Anyone with limited mobility should be aware that access between decks on the ship is by steps, and there are also steps on the coach and the gangway. The only dogs permitted are assistance dogs. The cost for the cruise is £40 per head, and we have provisionally booked 20 spaces, although this can be increased if we know early enough. To reserve places please give/send a deposit of £5 each to our Treasurer, Pete Gurney at one of our public meetings or by post. Travel to Anderton will be by private car, but for a friendly journey and to save fuel please consider car-sharing. If you are likely to have spare space or would like a lift, then tell Pete where you will be starting from and we will try to suggest a convenient pick-up. Contact Pete Gurney at: pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk or 01785 255101. A tribute to PAT BARTON (PATRICIA PERRY BARTON) 1938-2019 It is with great sadness that we record the death of our member and friend Pat Barton, who passed away peacefully on 21st October at Katharine House Hospice in Stafford in the presence of her family, just after her 81st Birthday. Pat had enjoyed generally good health until a few months earlier, when diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. With typical bravery, she turned down chemotherapy that would have only prolonged the illness, and calmly explained to her friends why she would not be able to continue doing all the things we had come to appreciate her for.
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Pat joined Lichfield Branch committee in 1997 as Meetings Secretary, taking a break as an active Social Secretary from 2001 to 2003, and returned to the Meetings role until 2006. In the position of Speaker Liaison, Pat continued to look after the speakers at our public meetings until 2015, also serving as Deputy Chairman from 2011 to 2017. Pat resumed recruiting our speakers in 2016 and, despite standing down from the committee briefly in 2017, continued to arrange many interesting talks for us until a few weeks before her terminal illness. But this summary only hints at the voluntary work that Pat has done for the Branch over two decades; not only finding and making arrangements with speakers, and for years producing the Branch Programme Card, but in so many other ways. Over the years Pat has organised various social events, visits, barbecues and many Christmas meals. She has helped with Pat on Quercus in 1990 catering at numerous meetings and socials, and provided home-made cakes for many work parties and committee meetings. She has helped on Branch stands at countless events and with recruitment and publicity, walking many miles around Penkridge distributing flyers in the days when we held annual jumble sales there. Her cheerful, energetic and thoughtful presence has enlivened so many occasions, and greatly enhanced the reputation of Lichfield Branch as a friendly and efficient group. Pat’s wider involvement with IWA has been truly notable; being a key member of the organisation of National Rallies, Canalway Cavalcade and Festivals of Water for more than 30 years. Her good humour and efficiency in managing the Water Space office dealing with volunteers and with boaters’ and campers’ bookings and questions at IWA’s showpiece annual events was legendary, and took a great deal of organisation behind the scenes. Festivals should be fun and Pat always made sure that children were well provided for with her WoW trails and activities. Always generous with offers of accommodation and catering, several VIP events were catered from her boat. Pat’s forte was catering and for some years she ran the café at Norbury Junction and provided the catering for the trip boat there, and her professional skills were put to good use at many festivals. Pat’s many and major contributions to IWA were recognised by the award of a Richard Bird medal in 2012. Pat’s early life was in Kent and Sussex where she went to school and then had a
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variety of different secretarial and managerial occupations. She started volunteering with the Wey & Arun Canal Trust in the 1970s and found a passion for waterways, buying her narrowboat Quercus in 1982. Pat also joined IWA in 1982 and became a committee member of Guildford & Reading Branch, where she handled boat entries for the Guildford Boat Festival for many years. She was much involved with the Basingstoke Canal restoration, as Secretary to the Canal Director and Manager of the Canal Centre. In the summer of 1990 she undertook a 2,600 mile sponsored cruise round most of the connected inland waterways system, raising nearly £6,000 for the Boats for the Handicapped charity. After moving to Gnosall in 1997, Pat’s involvement with waterways restoration continued with social and financial support for Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. She was also a great supporter of the BCN, and when the organisers of the BCN 24 Hour Challenge retired she volunteered to organise a BCN Treasure Hunt which she successfully did for 2 years from 2003. Pat’s knowledge and understanding of the waterways came from a lifetime’s experience of boating, and she travelled the system far and wide to attend festivals. One of Pat’s little quirks was that she would never moor under trees overnight; not surprising as her husband was tragically killed in his car by a falling tree in the Great Storm of 1987. She had several favourite mooring spots with open views along the Southern Oxford and Grand Union canals, which she often travelled to Cavalcade and other southern events. Pat preferred working the locks to steering, but coped well with the many challenges that boating throws up and was always on for an adventure. In 1995 she took her boat Quercus to Belgium as part of a sponsored flotilla of narrowboats at the Ghent Festival, typically sharing the experience with the highest number of crew members and also taking visitors on trips between the places visited. In 2012 Pat applied to take part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames and Quercus was one of the narrowboats selected to be on show to the world that day. For many years Pat has lived at Gnosall with Terry Robertson, well known in his own right as a much respected trainer of boaters through TR Boat Handling, for which Pat
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provided the administration. They made a good team whilst still keeping their own interests, and their own boats. Terry with his training boat Shropshire Lass and Pat with Quercus would often travel in convoy to Festivals, with crew drawn from a wide circle of friends and family. Our thoughts go out to Terry and to all Pat’s family and close friends. Pat loved organising things, was hard-working, persuasive, inspiring, fun to be with and above all generous, with her time and her support. She will be sorely missed by so many of us in the waterways community. The funeral on 18th November at Stafford Crematorium was very well attended, and Pat had requested donations to IWA instead of flowers. (Compiled by Phil Sharpe with contributions from her family and many waterways friends) Canal & River Trust “Boating Buddies” Scheme CRT are currently asking boaters to sign up for it’s “Boating Buddies” scheme see canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/boating-blogs-and-features/boatingteam/boating-buddies We feel that it is essential that new (and old) CRT employees are introduced to the delights and difficulties of boating and are able to view the waterways from the perspective of a boater. Therefore, we encourage as many experienced boater owners/leasers as possible sign up for this scheme. It is difficult for non-boaters to grasp the main premise of boating that one cannot get anywhere very fast and that anything that impedes one’s progress (lack of dredging or poor maintenance), extends the length of a journey (summer stoppages) or inconveniences boaters (closure of boaters facilities) can have quite a serious effect on one’s enjoyment of the waterways. If one can give a CRT employee an enjoyable few hours/day on a boat and also drop in a few important facts along the way (these will differ according to the employee’s position or potential within CRT), so much the better! Just re-think all those things which we take for granted but that someone who has never boated before will find difficulty in understanding. Cast you mind back to any scrape you got into when you first started boating! Suggestions for things to include in discussions besides the normal ones include difficulties of finding a safe overnight mooring if having to make an unscheduled detour in an urban area and difficulties in finding a place to empty the loo if a sanitary station is out of action even if only temporarily! So please do sign up to CRT’s scheme and help educate the employees of the future. Any queries, contact me! Helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk
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Recent Activities Curdworth and the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal Walk - Thursday 14th November 2019 The eleven intrepid souls who gathered in the car park of The White Horse at Curdworth had come prepared for the forecasted heavy rain that morning. We were given a foretaste of just how persistent the rain would be when the signing in sheet dissolved away after just three people had put down their names. After a brief discussion, it was decided that having driven this far, we might as well make a go of it. Moreover, several non-members had turned up for the first time, and we didn't want to disappoint them. Walking along the towpath in a south-westerly direction was not a problem. But it was when we left the canal at Broad Balk Bridge and headed up a slight incline towards Wiggins Hill Farm that the full force Ten very soggy walkers (plus photographer) of the gale hit us. The fields here have no hedges and we tramped up an exposed ridge between two ploughed fields. The rain lashed at the right side of our faces and small streams started to form in the furrows. We soon turned left, and with the wind behind us, we were offered brief respite from the soaking. We then followed the road in the direction of Wishaw. Everyone looked unhappy, even our two accompanying dogs had their tails down. Shortly before The Cock Inn at Wishaw, the point of no return, we took a quick vote and decided to abort the walk. After taking the most direct route back to our starting point along Wishaw Lane, we scurried along the towpath to Curdworth tunnel for a bedraggled photo, where Phil narrated a brief history of the tunnel. We quickly returned to The White Horse for refreshment, where we all sat down still wearing our wet weather clothes and leaking footwear. I am reliably informed, that it took two days to dry out a pair of walking boots. This walk will be re-run in its entirety in May 2020, when hopefully, the skylarks will be singing and we will be able to soak up the scenery rather than the other way round! (Report and photo by Clive Walker)
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Meeting Wednesday 20th November—South Staffs Railways and Canals Our November meeting was a fascinating talk on The South Staffs Railway and its connections to the canal network. It was an eye-opener to most people there that there was quite so many coal mines, branch railways and branch canals in the Cannock coalfield. The talk was very well illustrated with numerous pictures and maps both old and more recent. A really good evening! Lichfield Canal cheque presentation - 20th November 2019 At our November meeting the Branch donated a further £500 towards the restoration of the Lichfield Canal. Branch Treasurer, Pete Gurney presented the cheque to John Bryan, Commercial Director of Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. On this occasion we have asked that it go towards supporting the Trust's marvellous work party volunteers for materials or machinery expenses. Following our contribution of a £1000 legacy in July and an earlier donation, this brings to £1,600 our support in 2019 for this transformational local restoration project. (Photo by Phil Sharpe) Branch Christmas Meal—Sunday 8th December Thirty two members and friends enjoyed an excellent Christmas lunch at “Chapters” restaurant in the Cathedral Close Lichfield. The event was organised for the first time by Lynn Evans our new Social Secretary—a great job she did too! We had a room to ourselves which was good and the service and food were both excellent. The event coincided with the Lichfield Christmas Food Festival which meant parking was a bit of a problem but several people arrived early and strolled round the market although with Christmas lunch imminent it was not the time to sample any of the wares on the many stalls.
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Alrewas and the Trent & Mersey Canal Walk - Wednesday 1st January 2020 After weeks of rain we were blessed with a dry start to the new year for our traditional New Year’s Day walk. The car park was busy as 26 walkers, some who had come from as far as Derby and Malvern, donned their boots for a four-and-a-half-mile ramble to Fradley and back. Leaving the quiet village of Alrewas we crossed the busy A513 to pick up Daisy Lane. After a few hundred yards we passed through a metal gate and entered a large field, which is set up permanently for the Alrewas Show that celebrates the local agricultural heritage for one day every July. Passing through a field of harvested sprouts, we crossed a brook and soon entered the outskirts of Fradley on a bumpy track. Ignoring a footpath to our left that traversed a field by means of a stile, we eventually turned left and carried on into the village. Close to Fradley Old Hall we entered an area of common land, known as The Sale. The unusual name may be Saxon in origin and relate to a salh or sallow tree, or it may be a reference to the major pack horse route for carrying salt which passed between Alrewas and Fradley on route from the mines of Cheshire to London and East Anglia. The Sale is flat and prone to flooding, nonetheless a number of exploratory trenches in the ground indicate that this land has now been designated for housing. This was the muddy section of the walk and we made our own ways round the watery deposits. Eventually we found ourselves back on tarmac and we continued in a northerly direction along Hay End Road to Keeper's Lock. After a group photo and a brief detour to use the CRT facilities at Fradley Junction, we joined the towpath that would take us back to Alrewas. The towpath here is generously wide, which helped us pass a number of oncoming walkers with ease. A new marina is being built just below Common Lock, and it was pleasant to see a number of boats underway on the Trent & Mersey Canal. We admired the mural on the side of a house by bridge 48. The mural depicts a well-known quote by Ratty when "simply messing about in boats". We left the towpath just before Alrewas lock and returned to The Crown Inn, where we enjoyed hearty refreshments. (Report by Clive Walker, photo by Phil Sharpe)
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Meeting Wednesday 15th February—Raymond & Nutfield Our January meeting gave us a detailed insight into the career of the last wooden narrowboat to be built in England from her build in 1958 through until the present day. She started carrying with Samuel Barlow Company and then became part of the fleet of Blue Line Carriers and was paired with motor Nutfield. Raymond lay at Braunston for some years after carrying ceased and was then transferred to the Wooden Canal Boat Society and later to the newly formed Friends of Raymond who set about restoring her. In 2003 the Friends acquired Nutfield and after restoration the two boats were paired again. The pair are now based at Braunston where Raymond was built although she now needs further expensive restoration to secure her future. Fridays since October—Offside Vegetation Clearance Group Our volunteer offside vegetation cutting party are making steady progress heading south on the Coventry Canal, and have now reached Huddlesford. They have to cease working at the beginning of March when the bird nesting begins and then the busy boating season, so whatever doesn't get done this time will have to wait until October. However, having managed to recruit a couple of new volunteers recently, they will now be able to split the group and do an extra day most weeks, so with those extra days we will be able to progress a little further south this winter. Ideally, they could do with at least 4 more volunteers so if anybody is interested please contact Neil (neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk). Why not just pop along and see what they do before deciding whether or not to get involved? Not all the work is particularly physical and everybody can work at their own pace, doing as little or as much as they wish.
A bit of a problem with the chipper but we solved it eventually
Report by Neil Barnett photo by Derek Beardsmore
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IWA LICHFIELD BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WEDNESDAY 18th MARCH 2020, at 7.30 PM To be held at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield, WS13 8AY
AGENDA Apologies for absence Approval of the minutes of the 2019 AGM and any matters arising from these minutes Report from the Branch Chairman Financial Report from the Treasurer Elections to the Committee Members completing 3 years in post and eligible for re-election. (none) Members co-opted since last AGM and willing to stand for election. (none) Any other candidates Any resolutions requested by members of the Branch (provided the Branch Chairman was notified in writing of the item at least 6 weeks prior to the AGM*) Any Other Business Notes: Candidates for election to the committee must be current members of the Lichfield Branch and should indicate their willingness to stand. The Branch committee officers (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) are elected by the committee from its members at their first meeting after the AGM. Current members of the Committee are: Phil Sharpe (Chairman and Acting Secretary), Pete Gurney (Treasurer), Margaret Beardsmore, Derek Beardsmore, Neil Barnett, John Stockland, Lynn Evans. *Item 6: Please put any resolutions in writing and address them to the Chairman at 34 Old Eaton Road, Rugeley, Staffs, WS15 2EZ or by email to lichfield@waterways.org.uk by 5th February 2020.
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Planning Matters This report covers the main highlights of almost 50 planning matters dealt with from mid-October 2019 to mid-January 2020. They are all summarised in monthly notes on the Planning page of the website. The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal may be affected by future housing site allocations arising from decisions taken on South Staffordshire District Council’s Spatial Housing Strategy. This considers seven options for broad locations of future housing, although it is not site-specific at this stage. We suggested that all Conservation Areas should be ‘scoped-out’ of the assessment areas, and that there should be a buffer zone to protect the setting of Canal Conservation Areas. Near the Coventry Canal at Huddlesford, the controversial housing development off Broad Lane that was refused by Lichfield District Council has been allowed on Appeal by the Planning Inspectorate, although conditional on holiday use only. At Polesworth, the extended housing site off Grendon Road that we had objected to will now be partly screened from the canal by tree and shrub planting. Above the top lock at Atherstone, the long-proposed redevelopment of the derelict Britannia Works as apartments has again been approved, to amended plans. Further south, at Nuneaton, we have responded to concept plans for three canalside strategic site allocations. We supported the Tuttle Hill housing site which includes woodland planting, an upgraded towpath and a replacement canal bridge, subject to clearing up the canal cutting sides of quarry and other waste. The Gipsy Lane housing site includes landscaping and towpath links, but we have said that it should also require canalside housing to be limited to 2 storeys, set further back and with a wider landscaped corridor. The Faultlands employment site includes a canalside landscaped buffer corridor and an improved footpath link to the Griff Arm, but buildings near the canal should be smaller ‘starter’ units and not large warehouses. On the Birmingham & Fazeley section of the Coventry Canal at Tamworth, detailed plans for the canalside housing site at Dunstall Farm show traditional twostorey designs generally set back behind gardens and driveways, but with one building too close and with insufficient space for landscape planting to partly screen the housing as previously promised.
Alongside the Daw End Branch of the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Aldridge, we have objected to the proximity of a proposed concrete batching plant which would be visually intrusive, noisy, and could result in cement dust blowing across the canal. The Lichfield Canal restoration at Tamworth Road includes a re-watered pound between Locks 25 and 26 which was originally wider and extended right up to the
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former lockkeeper’s cottage. Although extended at the rear, the cottage remains part of the canal heritage and we objected to plans to demolish and replace it with a very large 6bedroom house which would be out of character with the area due Lichfield Canal pound 26 to its size, height and design. It would also extend onto potentially unstable infill material, and the road access could prevent visitor and maintenance vehicle access to Lock 25. On the Ashby Canal restoration route at Measham, we have supported the Reserved Matters plans for the Measham Waterside housing site, which include reinstatement of 1.1 km of the canal. The canal works would be done as part of the first phase, but the site is of course still blighted by the plans for HS2 to cut through it, pending a decision on an alternative route. The HS2 High Speed Rail review that was due to report in the autumn with a Government decision in December was delayed by the general election and is not now expected before February. Meanwhile, the Review Group deputy chairman Lord Berkeley’s ‘Dissenting Report’ was released in early January. He is highly critical of the unrealistic design specification, over-engineering and poor financial management of the project. He accuses HS2 Ltd. and DfT of misleading parliament and overstating the benefits, and he estimates that costs have increased to at least £108bn with a negative benefit/cost ratio. The report also suggests a range of improvements to the existing network in the midlands and the north that would provide wider benefits at half the cost. At the time of writing, apart from various preliminary works, the whole project is on hold and its future remains uncertain. Phil Sharpe, Planning Officer
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Editorial Notice Lichfield Lines is the newsletter of IWA Lichfield Branch, it is produced 4 times a year to keep members informed about our forthcoming public meetings, walks, work parties and other activities, to provide reports on recent meetings and events, and to include articles of general interest to our members.
The editor, Peter Gurney, welcomes articles, letters or photographs of waterway activities in our Branch area which can be emailed to pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk (Please note there is a 10MB limit for emails with attachments sent via this address). The copy date for the next newsletter will be 15th April 2020, for publication in May. Advertising Lichfield Lines is posted or emailed to about 400 Branch members. It can also be read and downloaded by anyone from the Branch website pages. If you would like to publicise your waterway related business to our members, and others that read the newsletter online, we can offer advertising space at the following rates: Full Page - £20 per issue
Half Page - £10 per issue
Please contact the editor to discuss artwork and layout. By advertising you will help to sponsor IWA's charitable activities and reach potential customers who are all committed to the waterways. The IWA has a range of corporate members some of whom offer discounts to members. The discount details can be found on the IWA website at www.waterways.org.uk/support_us/corporates. Corporate members in our area are— Lichfield Cruising Club Stafford Boat Club Ltd Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust Ashby Canal Trust Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Canal Transport Services Ltd Waterways World Ltd Fingerpost pub Pelsall Clifford Arms Great Haywood Hargreaves Narrowboat Trust
Longwood Boat Club Ashby Canal Association Tamworth Cruising Club Ash Tree Boat Club Countywide Cruisers (Brewood) Ltd Elite Furnishings Birmingham and Midland Marine Services River Canal Rescue Ltd Midland Chandlers Glascote Basin Boatyard (Norton Canes Boatbuilders)
Please mention the IWA when contacting any of these Corporate Members.
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Sunday June 28th Boat Trip on The Danny Contact Pete Gurney to book your place See pages 4/5 for details
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Your Committee Chairman and Acting Secretary Tel: 01889 583330 Email: phil.sharpe@waterways.org.uk
Philip Sharpe
Treasurer Tel: 01785 255101 Email: pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk
Pete Gurney
Planning & Website Tel: 01889 583330 Email: phil.sharpe@waterways.org.uk
Philip Sharpe
Newsletter Editor Tel: 01785 255101 Email: pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk
Pete Gurney
Volunteer Coordinator Tel: 07581 794111 Email: margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk
Margaret Beardsmore
Social Secretary Tel: 07933 236785 Email: lynn.evans@waterways.org.uk
Lynn Evans
Navigation Officer Tel: 07847 470112 Email: derek.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk
Derek Beardsmore
Membership Secretary Tel: 0121 308 0293 Email: John.stockland@waterways.org.uk
John Stockland
Publicity—Press & Magazines Tel: 07808 846434 Email: neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk
Neil Barnett
Minutes Secretary Tel: 07933 236785 Email: lynn.evans@waterways.org.uk
Lynn Evans
Ex Officio: Region Chairman Branch Sales and External Talks (non-committee posts) Email: helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk
Helen Whitehouse
Walks Coordinator (non-committee post) Tel: 07866 201873 Email: clive.walker@waterways.org.uk
Clive Walker
Branch Contact Address Email: lichfield@waterways.org.uk
IWA Lichfield Branch 34 Old Eaton Road Rugeley, Staffs WS15 2EZ
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