CONTENTS 3 5 6 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 13 14 16 16 17 18 22 26 29 34 36 37 38
Chairman’s Introduction NEWS New Hire Boat Company in London Grand Union Canal Race Quietways Update Hanwell Flight awarded a Green Flag Boat Owner Satisfaction Survey Unlocking the Potential of London’s Canals and Rivers Heathrow Third Runway Consultation Crossrail News Canal Health Trail in Southall Slough Arm Reeds Bridge Reconstruction EVENTS Canal Events Branch Social Evenings Events Planner VOLUNTEER London Waterway Recovery Group Friends of Slough Canal - Mini Clean Ups LONDON REGION Region Chairman ENVIRONMENT New development along West London’s Canals Planning and Development - recent applications Thames21 Habitat Project on the Grand Union HERITAGE Brentford Basin and the Overhanging Warehouses Slough Arm Tunnel INFORMATION AND COMMENT Editorial Comment Branch Committee and Contacts Social Evenings - How to get there
Cover photograph (by Roger Still) A view of Brentford Basin in July 2018 showing the iconic overhanging warehouses. In February the Hounslow planning committee granted permission for the third phase of the Brentford Lock West development that will see the demolition of the warehouses. Under the developer’s proposals a skeleton ‘replica’ steel frame without any roof or wall cladding will replace the northern warehouse. On page 29 we report on the planning history of the development and our opposition to the destruction of the warehouses. 2
CONTENTS
A contrasting photograph of the Brentford Basin warehouses in 1965 when the British Waterways depot was still active as a trans-shipment facility
Chairman’s Introduction
Having become Chairman of IWA Middlesex Branch just one month ago, I’m delighted to write this introduction. My predecessor, Michael Phillips, recently moved away from the area to be closer to family. I’d like to wish him well and thank him for the unstinting support he provided our Branch in recent years. Michael recruited my wife and I into the IWA four years ago. At that time we were neighbours on the moorings at Horsenden Farm, Perivale. I joined the Branch Committee and became involved in planning matters related to the Grand Union Canal. At the beginning, looking at individual planning applications, I had little idea of the scale and pace of new development and the impact this will have. After a while it began to dawn on me that the canal is undergoing massive change - not only physical change from development but change in the way it is perceived and the benefits it offers. It’s a long way from the attitudes that prevailed in the post-war period when much of the canal system was in terminal decline. The founders of the IWA were pioneer spirits who recognized the value of waterways and sought - against all odds – to restore them. I’m pleased to say the process of recovery and restoration continues today and in this and future newsletters we’ll highlight some of the fantastic work being done by the IWA Restoration Group.
In London we’ve already seen huge changes to the settings of rivers and canals, including development areas such as Docklands and the Olympic Park. Looking ahead over the next 10-20 years, we anticipate nowhere will experience greater change than West London, and in particular along the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union. In this edition of the newsletter we include an article on the developments that will shape the future of the canal, including what we see as the threats and opportunities that new development brings. As a voluntary organisation, we put considerable effort into monitoring planning applications and, where appropriate, making representations to planning authorities, navigation authorities and others. In doing this we are guided by two central aims: firstly, the need to preserve and protect the canal as an important heritage asset and secondly, to secure improvements to the canal to ensure it best serves the community. We seek to represent the interests of all those who use and enjoy the canal, including boaters, pedestrians, cyclists and anglers. The strength of the IWA is the collective knowledge, experience and enthusiasm of its members. We – the Branch Committee would like to start a conversation with you our Members - to get to know each other better. We would like to know what your interests are and how you would like to see the IWA evolve both nationally and locally. To this end we will shortly be sending out a INTRODUCTION
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questionnaire which will help us learn about our members and how they value their membership. We would very much appreciate if you would take the time to complete and return it to help make our efforts more relevant to you. We would also like to encourage you to become more involved in Branch activities, contributing to the conversation and perhaps getting directly involved as a volunteer? There are many ways you can help and over the next few months we’ll let you know of a range of opportunities you might like to consider. Over the next few months we expect to become more active and more visible, including a stronger presence on social media. We are launching a Facebook Page (for open use) and a Facebook Group (for Branch Members) and hope you will be active in contributing to these. The success of Canal Cavalcade at Little Venice demonstrates how much the public enjoy events on the canal. As part of the Open House London weekend on 21 & 22 September Branch members will be leading guided tours of the Hanwell flight. Further details are included on Page 12. We look forward to seeing you there! There will be a Branch Extraordinary General Meeting and Members Evening on Tuesday 8th October and we’ll also take this opportunity to present our new Branch Plan. Details of the time and venue are given on Page 13 and we very much hope you will come along on this important occasion; meet the Committee and learn of our plans for the future. With best wishes,
Roger Still Roger Still Chairman IWA Middlesex Branch 4
INTRODUCTION
NEWS
NEW HIRE BOAT COMPANY IN LONDON A new hire boat company has opened for business in London. Bert and the Whale is based in Limehouse Dock and offers a widebeam 7 berth boat with suggested routes on the Regents’s Canal, the Lee and Stort and the Grand Union Canal. The tidal Thames is possible with a qualified skipper and the company will also provide a ‘door to door’ skipper service (the pilot leaves overnight).
Bert and the Whale in Limehouse Dock
The last company to offer canal holidays in London was Black Prince Holidays who were based in Willowtree Marina. In 2015 Black Prince ceased their operation in London because of the ongoing
challenges with mooring and congestion across the waterways of London and the restrictions imposed by the Port of London Authority for navigation of the lower tidal Thames. It is good to see a new holiday business that will allow people to explore the London area by boat but it remains to be seen how all this will work for Bert and the Whale hirers venturing towards the Grand Union. The company does seem well set up to help hirers to plan their route and overnight stops. However moorings in central London may prove difficult to find with a widebeam boat.
NEWS
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GRAND UNION CANAL RACE
Quietway contract underway between Perivale and Alperton
The race start at Gas Street Basin
The Grand Union Canal Race, organised by Canal Race CIC, took place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. This towpath run is the UK’s toughest long distance continuous race. The race from Birmingham to London, a distance of 145 miles, is the equivalent of doing over five back to back marathons. Competitors are able to refuel at regular points every 10 to 15 miles but there is no resting or sleep! Runners have to retire during the race if it is clear that they will be unable to finish within a time limit of 45 hours. 97 runners started the run from Gas Street Basin at 6am on Saturday 25th May. The winner, Alex Whearity crossed the line in Little
Venice at 8:37am on Sunday in an incredible time of 25 hours and 8 minutes. Ali Young was the first female to finish in a time of 28 hours and 35 minutes. One unfortunate runner retired in the middle of the night having discovered he had taken a wrong turn up the Northampton Arm. 52 competitors finished the race. If all this was not enough some runners go on to compete in two other annual towpath events, the Kennet & Avon Canal Race and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Race to complete the ‘Canalslam’. An interesting comparison may be made between the runner’s times and the time needed for a non-stop journey by boat from Birmingham to London. When steam propulsion was introduced on the Grand Junction in 1864 a loaded pair, with four crew working shifts on the steamer and a family on the butty working the locks, could apparently achieve the non-stop trip in 52 hours. For more information about the race go to: www.canalrace.org.uk
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NEWS
QUIETWAYS UPDATE
Completed Quietway at Bulls Bridge
HANWELL FLIGHT AWARDED A GREEN FLAG Across the country sixteen sections of the canal system have been awarded a 2019 Green Flag and one of these is a one-mile section of the Grand Union Canal at the Hanwell Flight.
In 2016 CRT agreed a programme to upgrade 16 miles of towpath between Paddington and West Drayton to provide better surfacing and a wider path, mainly for cycling, as part of the Transport for London Quietways programme. We welcome the improvements but the Quietway does raise broader concerns about the safe functioning of London’s towpaths when trends arising from active travel and greater population density are considered. On page 18 we report on the impact of development on west London’s canals including greater use of the towpath by commuting cyclists. The upgraded towpath has improved accessibility for walkers but the improved surfacing allows cyclists to travel must faster. Some sections of the media have even gone so far as to suggest that commuter cyclists should be banned. The Canal & River Trust’s ‘Share the Space’ campaign is a valid attempt to address the problem but in the long term design measures may have to be incorporated to allow segregated routes for cyclists and walkers on busy sections of towpath. This will require more space but new developments along the canal including those within the Old Oak and Park Royal area may present the opportunity to achieve this.
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. Keep Britain Tidy manages the award scheme under the direction of the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. The picturesque Hanwell Flight is a wonderful place to explore - canal architecture and engineering in a setting abundant with wildlife. The Branch is once again organising tours of the lock flight as part of the Open House London weekend in September-see page 12 for details.
Six sections of towpath improvements have now been completed between Yiewsley and Bulls Bridge; and five sections have been finished along the Paddington Arm. Originally the Canal & River Trust intended to complete the Quietway works by 2018 but funding of the programme by Transport for London has been delayed so the remaining works will be completed this autumn with some works in Hayes and West Drayton scheduled for completion in 2020 and 2021.
NEWS
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A QUESTION OF SATISFACTION The Canal & River Trust has published the headline results of the 2019 Boat Owners’ Views Survey. Overall the Trust says that it is disappointed that there is a drop in boater satisfaction from the record high in 2017 with only 61% of boaters satisfied with their experience of cruising the nations waterways (70% in 2018). The results of the full survey are yet to be published by the Trust but if the 2018 survey is anything to go by satisfaction levels in London are likely to be much lower than the national average (29% dissatisfaction in London against average dissatisfaction of 18% nationally). Interestingly CRT announced recently that they will be ‘slimming down the annual Boat Owners’ Views Survey’ to send out
shorter monthly ‘Perceptions’ surveys that will enable the Trust to get a much clearer picture of what’s affecting boaters as it happens. The Trust hope that this will allow them to be more responsive and target their maintenance and repair work on the areas that really need it throughout the year. We welcome any additional information, which throws light on the current situation and facilities which would allow timely intervention by CRT. However, we suspect the need for a broader, annual review remains. There is strong anecdotal evidence of dissatisfaction amongst boaters in London and this fact, whilst unpalatable to CRT, needs to be recognised and understood so that dialogue can take place and solutions found.
Sanitary Station at Cowley Lock - clean and tidy but no refuse disposal point and none available between Norwood Top and Copper Mill Lock - a distance of 12 miles 8
NEWS
Unlocking the potential of London’s canals and rivers Our Prospectus to support good growth, prosperity and wellbeing
!
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF LONDON’S CANALS In July 2019 the Canal & River Trust published a Prospectus intended to give a brief introduction to how the Trust’s waterways, the Trust’s work and the work of their partners on and near canals and rivers support wellbeing in London. It supports the Mayor of London’s aspirations for ‘Good Growth’, London as a National Park City and Healthy Streets, among others. The Prospectus contains many aspirations for London’s waterways that we should support and it has some synergy with the excellent IWA ‘Waterways in Progress’ report launched earlier this year to demonstrate the boost that canal restoration can bring to the wider community.
HEATHROW THIRD RUNWAY CONSULTATION Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) is planning to expand the airport by constructing a new third runway to the north of the existing northern runway. Under the proposed plan the M25 will be diverted beneath the new runway. The area of the expansion is equivalent to the existing size of Gatwick. Following feedback from two previous consultations the current plans are the subject of public consultation from 18 June to 13 September 2019. The nearest point on the canal to the proposed new runway is at Stockley Park: a distance of some 2.5km. Consequently, although there will be no direct physical impact on the Grand Union, the third runway proposals will result in major changes to the southern area of the Colne Valley Regional Park. To accommodate the new runway and ancillary airport areas the Park will lose 900 acres of land. The new runway will extend over four rivers and one river will have to be diverted alongside the M25.
The prospectus identifies a handful of key opportunity areas where there are significant opportunities to maximise the wellbeing benefits of the waterways. One of these is the Old Oak and Park Royal area, which is within our Branch. On page 20 we describe the emergence of the Local Plan by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation that will bring unprecedented change to the Paddington Arm between the North Circular viaduct and Kensal Green.
A major concern of the Colne Valley Regional Park is that the ‘narrowing’ of the southern part of the Park will destroy wildlife connectivity between the Thames Basin and the Chilterns. A section of the Slough Arm between Cowley Peachy Junction and the St Mary’s Road bridge is within the Park and a seven-mile stretch of the Grand Union Canal passes through the Park between the Swan and Bottle Bridge in Uxbridge and Batchworth lock so the ecological impact of the airport expansion is likely to also impact on the natural environment of the canal. Of greater concern is the noise and pollution that will be generated by changes to the arrivals and departures flight paths from the new third runway and the existing central runway. The peace and tranquility of the Slough Arm and the Grand Union north of Uxbridge could well be lost.
The full Prospectus can be read or downloaded from the Canal & River Trust website – go to: https:// canalrivertrust.org.uk/ media/original/40343unlocking-the-potential-oflondons-canals-andrivers.pdf
NEWS
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CROSSRAIL NEWS
Crossrail, or the Elizabeth Line as it is now known, will have a major impact on the west London canal system in the next few years. Faster services from Slough, Langley, Iver, West Drayton and Hayes into central London are likely to encourage some live aboard boaters to move west, away from the central area. The new railway was originally due to be opened in December 2018 but the immensely complex construction project has suffered significant delays and a new Crossrail team has recently completed a new plan for the completion of the Elizabeth Line. This revised programme envisages that services through central London will now start in a six-month delivery window between October 2020 and March 2021. Trains between Liverpool Street and Shenfield started to run in the autumn of 2017 and marked an important step forward in the introduction of the new rolling stock. In May 2018 TfL Rail took over the Heathrow Connect Paddington to Heathrow service as a precursor to the full opening of the Elizabeth Line. The new longer trains required
platform extensions at all the stations between Paddington and Heathrow including at Hayes and Harlington Station close to the canal in Hayes town centre. In May this year Hochtief was awarded the contract for the new ticket hall at Hayes and Harlington. Hayes might well prove a more popular place for visiting boaters to moor once the rapid service to central London is operational. Although it will be 2021 before the Elizabeth Line will run services to Maidenhead and Reading, major changes are already underway at West Drayton Station. New overhead power lines have been installed over the tracks and GWR started to run an electric service in June 2017. The track serving platform 5 has been moved nearer to the canal and work will follow to improve the station itself and the immediate area around the station. Currently West Drayton Station is cut off from the canal but public realm works propose a new canal-side pocket park with tree planting, public seating and steps down to the waters edge. A footbridge over the canal proposed in 2014 is unfortunately no longer in consideration but the new offside towpath walkway will extend east as far as Horton Bridge (193) to improve access from Yiewsley. The IWA will pursue the provision of offside visitor moorings along the new walkway. The local authority is leading the canal-side improvement project and final detail design work is still to be completed.
Proposed public realm at Hayes and Harlington Station
2014 West Drayton Station proposal
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NEWS
CANAL HEALTH TRAIL IN SOUTHALL !
New signage at Bridge 203
Research shows that being next to water is good for your wellbeing and with the creation of a canalside walk, doctors in a Southall GP practice now have a new way of improving the health of their patients. Simply asking patients to do more exercise does not always work so the towpath walk is an excellent way to help local people to improve fitness and help with a range of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The health trail is 1km in length between Norwood top lock and Bridge 203. Markers have been placed approximately every 250 metres along the walk allowing health practitioners to ‘prescribe’ the distance that patients should cover. The scheme has been brought together by the Canal & River Trust, Ealing Council and Catalyst Housing Association with funding from Tesco’s Bags of Help.
Trail marker post
SLOUGH ARM REEDS BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION The canal was last closed at Reeds Bridge (Bridge 2) in the summer of 2013 when a Bailey bridge was removed following the partial collapse of the brick abutments. An early version of the CRT Winter Stoppage list included a five week closure of the Arm in early 2020 to allow the reconstruction of the bridge. According to CRT the construction methodology has been changed to avoid a long stoppage but the canal will still need a couple of days closure to lift the new bridge into place. To allow for a lengthy design and planning consent process construction work is likely to start in July/August 2020.
The brick abutment of Reeds Bridge just visible in the offside vegetation
NEWS
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CANAL EVENTS Do come along and visit our branch stand at these three events in September
Saturday and Sunday 7/8 September Slough Canal Festival Bloom Park, Middlegreen Road, Langley, Slough Free entry and parking-11am to 5pm Lots of fun for the whole family including boat trips (small fee), birds of prey displays, arena acts, children’s steam train rides, mobile farm, craft zone, refreshments and bar and lots more.
Sunday 15 September Hayes Canal Festival High Point Village, Station Road, Hayes UB3 4FN Free entry-12pm to 4pm
Boat trips (free but arrive early for tickets), paddleboard and canoe sessions and a chance to try fishing. By the waterside there will be community and craft stands, great food, music and entertainment on the stage.
Saturday and Sunday 21/22 September Open House London Weekend Hanwell Flight Guided Tours by members of the IWA Middlesex Branch Tours (free) are hourly starting at 12 noon Last tour 3pm Meeting place for tours: pub forecourt-The Fox, Green Lane, London, W7 2PJ The branch stand will be set up at Lock 93 The flight of locks at Hanwell is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Three Bridges is a stacked intersection of road, canal and rail and Brunel’s last major railway project.
If you have a few hours to spare we would always welcome your help. If you would like to help or require further information about volunteering please contact Keith Clayton by e-mail: keith.clayton@waterways.org.uk or phone 0750 408 7667. 12
EVENTS
BRANCH SOCIAL EVENINGS Members and Guests are welcome. Free entry 7:30 pm (when the doors and bar open) for an 8:00pm start
10 September
Preparing Your Boat for Winter Tony Brooks (TB Training) Have a boat maintenance question? Tony Brooks will know the answer Tony Brooks-‘What he doesn’t know about canal boats just isn’t worth knowing’-Canal Boat Magazine
8 October Extraordinary General Meeting and Members Evening Give your views on our proposed Branch Plan for the future
Branch Handbook
Come along and tell us about your favourite canal trip or your summer escapades
12 November The Restoration of Narrow Boat Raymond Robin Bishop of Friends of Raymond
10 December Mulled Wine and Mince Pies and a Christmas Quiz
All Social Evenings are held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge UB8 2QX see page 38 for details of how to get there For more information contact the Branch Social Secretary Roger Hazelgrove email: middlesex.social@waterways.org.uk EVENTS
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EVENTS PLANNER
E
Exhibition
W Walk B Boat Trip T
Talk
F
Festival
S
Branch Social Meeting
V Volunteer
E E W
15 April to 31 October Underground London Exhibition Monday to Thursday Lost rivers to underground railways, deep shelters to sewers, the sprawling Some Saturdays network of tunnels and spaces under London London Metropolitan Archives 24 May to 27 October Secret Rivers Daily Museum of London Docklands-Discover the secrets of London’s historic waterways Free exhibition 10am to 6pm 1 September London Walks-Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to Camden Meet at 2:30pm Warwick Avenue Tube Station
B
5 September
London Canal Museum-Tunnel Boat Trip From the museum through Islington Tunnel
T
5 September
London Canal Museum Illustrated talk: The Grantham Canal by David Lyneham-Brown
F
7-8 September
B
8 September
Slough Canal Festival Bloom Park, Middle Green Road, Langley, Slough Free entry and parking-11am to 5pm London Canal Museum-Tunnel Boat Trip From the museum through Islington Tunnel
S
10 September
Preparing Your Boat for Winter- Tony Brooks Middlesex Branch Social Evening at Hillingdon Canal Club-7:30pm
B
12 September
London Canal Museum-Tunnel Boat Trip From the museum through Islington Tunnel
F
15 September
W
15 September
Hayes Canal Festival Highpoint Village, Station Road, Hayes UB3 4FN Free entry-11am to 4pm London Walks-Limehouse, Thames, Docklands Meet 2:30pm at Westferry DLR (by Cycle Hire Point)
B
19 September
London Canal Museum-Tunnel Boat Trip From the museum through Islington Tunnel
W
21/22 September
V
21/22 September
Open House London Weekend Hanwell Flight Guided Tours by members of the IWA Middlesex Branch Meeting Place: pub forecourt-The Fox, Green Lane, London, W7 2PJ Tours are hourly starting at 12 noon-Last tour 3pm For more information: www.openhouselondon.org.uk London Waterway Recovery Group Weekend dig-Location Cotswolds canal (Inglesham) See page 16
B
22 September
London Canal Museum-Tunnel Boat Trip From the museum through Islington Tunnel
B
26 September
London Canal Museum-Tunnel Boat Trip From the museum through Islington Tunnel
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EVENTS
F
27/28 September
T
3 October
W
5 October
W S
6 October
V
12/13 October
London Waterway Recovery Group Weekend dig- Location Shrewsbury and Newport Canals (See page 16)
B W
13 October
London Canal Museum-Tunnel Boat Trip From the museum through Islington Tunnel London Walks-Secrets of the Northern Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Meet 2:30pm Stratford Tube Station (by ‘Newham London’ sign)
B
23 October
B W T
27 October
S V T S
12 November
8 October
20 October
3 November 7 November
16/17 November 5 December 10 December
London Canal Museum-Emerge Festival A London-wide festival of evening activities in museums and cultural venues. The London Canal Museum will be open until late in the evening and there will be a unique immersive cultural experience! London Canal Museum Illustrated talk: Brindley and the Reading and Isleworth Canal by Victoria Owens London Walks-Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross, Granary Square and Camden Meet 10:45am at Kings Cross (Taxi Rank) London Walks-Grand Surrey Canal: Royal Navy Victualling Yard, Greenland Dock Meet 2:30pm Surrey Quays Tube Station Branch Extraordinary General Meeting and Members Evening Middlesex Branch Social Evening at Hillingdon Canal Club-7:30pm
London Canal Museum-Watery Wednesday Theme: Autumn Wonders Activities for children to be announced, including a short boat trip. London Canal Museum-Tunnel Boat Trip From the museum through Islington Tunnel London Walks-Regent’s Canal: Mile End-Limehouse Meet 2:30pm at Mile End Tube Station London Canal Museum Illustrated talk: The Chelmer and Other Essex Waterways by John Pomfret (of the IWA) The Restoration of Narrow Boat Raymond Middlesex Branch Social Evening at Hillingdon Canal Club-7:30pm London Waterway Recovery Group Weekend dig-Location TBC (See page 16) London Canal Museum Illustrated talk: Boston's Waterways by Simon Judge Quiz Evening with mulled wine and mince pies Middlesex Branch Social Evening at Hillingdon Canal Club-7:30pm
London Walks To go on a towpath walk, simply turn up. No advance booking is needed. Regular charge is £10; concessionary rate is £8 For further details, look on the IWA website: www.waterways.org.uk Or contact Roger Wilkinson: 020 3612 9624 London Canal Museum For details and times of Tunnel Boat Trips go to www.canalmuseum.org.uk/whatson/ London Metropolitan Archives (Under Ground London Exhibition) 40 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell EC1R 0HB Check the Archive website for opening times: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitanarchives Museum of London Docklands (Secret Rivers Exhibition) No 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL Museum website for further information: www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands EVENTS
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VOLUNTEER
London Waterway Recovery Group Weekend Digs London WRG helps restoration in a practical way by running regular volunteer opportunities called weekend 'digs', usually every 3 weeks, on the canals mainly in the South of England, but also further afield to the Midlands. The work they do is very varied - including brick laying, scrub bashing, demolition and use of plant. No experience is necessary - you just need to be willing to get involved and have fun! See pages 14 and 15 for dates and locations of Weekend Digs. For further details go to www.waterways.org.uk/wrg/regional_groups/london_wrg/about_us Or contact Tim Lewis: 07802 518 094
Friends of Slough Canal (FoSC) Mini Clean Ups
Pre-Slough Canal Festival litter pick Friday 6 September at 10:30am Meet at Station Road, Langley, Bridge 7 for safety briefing and to pick up tools and equipment. Finish no later than 2pm.
Clean ups along the Slough Canal are held in the mornings (meet 9:50am) generally on the first Sunday of each month. The mini clean up is from 10am to midday.
Check any last minutes changes on Friends of Slough Canal Facebook page
All are welcome - you do not need to be a member of Friends of Slough Canal Wear old clothes suitable for the weather. Tools and equipment provided Check the Friends of Slough Canal group Facebook page for details of meeting points Post a message on the FoSC Facebook page if you plan to attend a clean up 16
VOLUNTEER
July mini clean up - 15 bags picked up in 2 hours!
Region Chairman
I am very pleased to once again be writing for your Branch magazine. I hope you find my ramblings about the goings on in the London Region and the wider association interesting. Next year I will have been a trustee of the Association for over twelve years and will have to step down from the board. I believe London should have strong representation on the trustee’s board and would ask you to consider voting for Dave Chapman at this year’s Trustees election. He has been a member of IWA for 46 years, the supplies Director for the IWA National Festivals, and chairman of Chiltern Branch since 2013. Full details, of all the candidates and how to vote, are in the summer edition of Waterways. As you may be aware, in order for the country to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, the Government has moved the early May Day Bank Holiday 2020 from Monday 4th May to Friday 8th May 2020. This move has a significant impact on Cavalcade, as it was due to be held on the weekend of the bank holiday of the 4th May. The Cavalcade committee, with the agreement of trustees, has decided to hold a two day event next year on, Saturday and Sunday, the 2nd and 3rd of May. Please make a note of this change in your diary, if you would like to help run the event or just visit. This year London Region has lost two branch chairmen, Craig Haslam from the Lee & Stort Branch and Michael Phillips from your Branch. Under Michael’s
leadership the Middlesex branch has done a lot of work with local authorities on planning applications in Brentford and the Park Royal area. Under Craig, the Lee & Stort Branch has achieved much, perhaps most notably the restoration to public use of Ware Town Wharf after it had been taken over by squatters. Both branches have new Chairman, Roger Still has taken on the leadership of your Branch and Mike Newman the Lee and Stort Branch. Finally, your region receives a donation, each year, from the efforts of our members who take the London Walks around the canals. Each year we like to donate this to a deserving waterways charity. This year we selected the Susan Trust who are restoring Susan the only surviving timber-built Chelmer barge. She was built by Prior's of Burnham-on-Crouch for Brown's Timber Yard in Chelmsford, and closely resembles the traditional horsedrawn Chelmer Lighters, which worked the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation from its opening in 1797. Brown's, founded by canal engineer Richard Coates, was both the first and the last firm to use the Navigation, running barges up from Heybridge laden with timber until 1972. The restoration work on Susan, is being carried out at St Osyth Boatyard in Essex. This boatyard has an excellent reputation for its work on the restoration of Thames Sailing Barges. On completion of the restoration, The Susan Trust intend to apply for a public passenger licence, to enable Susan to give trips on the Navigation and thus provide funds for her future maintenance. Paul Strudwick London Region Chair Person Deputy National Chairman LONDON REGION
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THE IMPACT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT ALONG WEST LONDON’S CANALS In recent years we’ve seen a burst of planning and development activity along the Grand Union Canal in West London. Projects range from the repurposing and replacement of old industrial premises up to large scale urban renewal. West London is also the scene of major changes to transport infrastructure – the arrival of Crossrail; the planned high speed rail link to Birmingham and the North (HS2) and the future expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Despite this, the future of the Grand Union Canal seems assured, largely due to the growing appreciation of the value of our waterway system. This is particularly true in urban areas, where the waterways offer a refuge from the pressures of daily life. Access to these natural environments coupled with lower exposure to air pollution and noise – are associated with increased physical activity, decreased levels of stress and improved mental health.
The main planning document for the Capital, which sets out the background to planning matters and provides forecasts of growth, is the Mayor’s ‘London Plan’. The population of London is forecast to grow from 8.9 to 10.8 million by 2041, with at least 66,000 new homes needed each year to meet expected demand, along with space for tens of thousand of new jobs. This will place increasing pressure on land, housing, infrastructure and the environment.
Old Oak Common - a green refuge in an urban area
THE LONDON PLAN
THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR LONDON CONSOLIDATED WITH ALTERATIONS SINCE 2011 MARCH 2016
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ENVIRONMENT
The London Plan recognises waterways as valuable assets providing transport and recreational corridors; green infrastructure and diverse habitats. They also form an historic part of the urban landscape and support drainage, flood and water management and urban cooling.
REDEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS
Various major residential developments (some of which are described on pages 22 to 25) are currently under construction along the canal:
The original purpose of the canal was to provide a transport route for bulk materials such as timber and coal. What we are now seeing is a new generation of residential development at disused and under-utilised industrial and commercial buildings. Many of these sites were household names such as Heinz, Nestles, Walls, Lyons and Glaxo, which located to west London at a time when the canal was seen as a mode of transport on a par with road and rail. The density and scale of new residential development is often pre-determined by Local Plan ‘Site Allocations’ which set out the quantum of development. Local planning authorities use these allocations in an attempt to comply with central government housing targets.
• The former Glaxo Laboratories
There are also examples of buildings being recovered and re-purposed. An example of this is the old Walls’ headquarters, located in Old Oak Common. This semi-derelict 1960’s office building has been converted into ‘The Collective Old Oak’, an innovative and popular ‘co-living’ venture comprising 550 micro-apartments, with common areas and restaurant fronting onto and giving welcome life to the canal.
headquarters in Greenford where the US rental housing developer, Greystar has purchased both the Glaxo site and the old Sunblest Bakery site on the opposite side of the canal.
• Oaklands, located close to the canal and
the railway marshalling yards at Old Oak Common. Formerly the site of a British Railways Hostel construction is visibly progressing (see photo on page 23), with the entrance to the adjacent OPDC area (see below) marked by two residential towers of 17 and 26 storeys.
• Brentford Lock West, Brentford – an important trans-shipment point connecting the Thames to the Grand Union Canal, now being redeveloped by Waterside Places (a joint venture set up by the Canal & River Trust), which will comprise 520 homes. (See cover photo and article on page 29)
• Southall Waterside – a 45 ha. site adjacent
to the Great Western Railway and canal, formerly the site of Southall Gasworks. Currently under development by the Berkeley Group with 3,750 new homes.
• Hayes Village & Segro Park - demolition of
the former Nestle factory is currently underway on this 12 ha. site. The site has extensive canal frontage and the master plan shows this being opened up as public realm.
Planned developments on or close to the canal include:
• Former Honey Monster site, Southall –
the plan is for a mixed use development with both residential and space for creative industries. (See page 22).
The Collective at Old Oak ENVIRONMENT
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• Alperton House, Ealing Road, Alperton –
demolition of existing office building and replacement with residential development including 474 new homes and new canalside pub. Building heights range up to 23 storeys. Plans indicate an inaccessible canalside area would be opened up as public realm.
• Northfields Industrial Estate, Alperton –
located close to the aqueduct over the North Circular, this site has extensive frontage onto the canal. The present planning application by the Berkeley Group includes 2,900 new homes plus commercial space and a community centre, with building heights up to 14 storeys. An area of public realm is planned along the canal edge.
URBAN REGENERATION The UK’s largest regeneration project since the London 2012 Olympic Games is the 650 ha. site under the planning control of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (‘OPDC’). OPDC was launched in 2015 by the Mayor of London as the planning authority and
Old Oak and Park Royal Development Area 20
ENVIRONMENT
regeneration agency for Park Royal and Old Oak. The OPDC area spreads across three local authorities, i.e. Brent, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham. OPDC is responsible for plan making and the determination of planning applications within its boundary, and will become lead landowner. Over the next 20-30 years the OPDC development is expected to make a major contribution to strengthening London’s role as a global city. The site marks the only place where the planned HS2 meets Crossrail and the central objective of OPDC is to use this key location to create a thriving new area in the city. The present position is that strategic planning is currently underway. The essential planning document is the new Local Plan, which is slowly progressing through the planning system. In addition to substantial new infrastructure (including a number of new bridges over the canal), the plan is to create over 24,000 new homes in the Old Oak area, with new town centre and high street that will provide opportunities in employment and in education, culture, sport and leisure. It is anticipated 65,000 new jobs will be created across the entire OPDC area.
Immediately to the East of the OPDC area is a further area of urban regeneration, the Kensal Rise Opportunity Area. Presently the location of Kensal Gas Works and the North Pole railway depot, this 15 ha. area is thought to be the last brownfield site of any size within the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. The intention is to develop 3,500 new homes; 10,000 sq.m. of office space and a replacement for the existing Sainsbury’s supermarket.
waterways together with the trend towards ‘active travel’ means the demand placed on towpaths and river paths by cyclists and pedestrians is likely to increase significantly.
IMPACT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT Despite the scale of development described above there will be areas of the canal in West London which will remain relatively untouched for the foreseeable future. However, other areas are going to witness great change as new infrastructure is installed; new buildings rise and the demands of an increasing population are felt. At the same time, recognition of the need to protect and enhance blue-green spaces is increasing and it is essential that the character and charm of our waterways are preserved.!
Gasholders at the Kensal Rise Opportunity Area site
TRANSPORT The Mayor’s transport strategy aims to reduce dependency on cars in favour of active, efficient and sustainable modes of transport. The move away from cars is encouraged by various planning and monetary tools, including congestion charges and low emission zones. The London waterway network provides a transport route both for commuting and recreational purposes. The combined effect of increasing population density clustered around the ENVIRONMENT
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PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT We continue to monitor planning applications across the ten local authorities within our Middlesex Branch area. This is an interesting but demanding task, as the planning applications for the larger developments require numerous drawings and supporting documents. A recent application for a large development in Ealing was supported by nearly 500 documents! We actively engage in the planning consultation process involved in the preparation of local authority Development Plans and with comment or objections to individual planning applications.
One of the largest recent applications is for the Honey Monster site (Ealing Ref: 191022FUL) in Southall. The site is the former Quaker Oats factory, a prominent building in the locality. The proposed redevelopment is for 1,997 flats and a creative hub (film and media production) of 3 to 7 storeys. The residential units are arranged in eight blocks with heights ranging from 10 to 29 storeys. Although the site is set back from the canal we objected to the application due to the negative impact that the tower blocks will have on the setting of the canal (a Conservation Area), Norwood top lock (Listed Grade II) and Three Bridges (Scheduled Ancient Monument). The site has poor access from the east and we are concerned that the scheme will greatly increase traffic along Havelock Road, which passes close to the canal above Norwood top lock. The development will also completely change the character of the residential moorings in Maypole Dock.
Honey Monster factory at the northern end of Maypole Dock
Just to the east of Hayes is the canalside site for a proposed gas-powered electricity generating station-Land north of North Hyde Electricity Substation (Hillingdon Ref: 73785/APP/ 2018/3115). This plant will have a 25-year life and is designed to provide resilience for data centres in the event of grid power failure. Every major conurbation needs buildings of this type and its location away from existing residential areas is appropriate. Historically our urban canals have always been the setting for factories and manufacturing and the proposed plant could well be a twenty first century example of a new industrial typology. 22
ENVIRONMENT
The waterway in west London has become the location for a number of data centres. A further example is at the Prologis Park, Horton Road, Yiewsley (Hillingdon Ref: 37977/APP/ 2019/1453). The proposal is to adapt Unit 4, a large distribution warehouse currently under construction, for use as a data centre. The service yard to the east of the building will be the proposed location of multi level gantries to accommodate standby generating and cooling plant. The gantries will be screened from the canal by a ‘green wall’. At 41-67 High Street Yiewsley (Hillingdon Ref: 2370/APP/2018/2793) Harbourside Investments and WM Morrison Supermarkets have applied for permission to construct an 8storey building to provide a replacement Morrison supermarket together with 144 residential units. We objected to this application as we considered the scale of the building would be detrimental to the character and setting of the canal. Most of the surrounding buildings in Yiewsley, both proposed and existing, are five or six storeys in height. The Abbey Manufacturing Estate (Brent Ref: 18/4919) located on the Paddington Arm in Alperton is the site of a proposed mixed-use development comprising of 581 flats, commercial floorspace and a canalside café. We took what is known as a neutral stance as we felt the massing of the scheme is in line with the design principle of other nearby development sites in Alperton and we welcome the proposed public access to the canal from the north - the towpath is on the south side of the canal. We did however comment on the design of the café, which we considered could restrict public access along the new waterfront.
Meanwhile a number of large developments along the canal are at various stages of construction:
On the Paddington Arm, Oaklands (OPDC Ref: 15/0091/FUL) was one of the first planning applications submitted to the newly formed Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation in 2016. The site was a former British Rail hostel and is located at the western end of the new Crossrail depot – currently the home of a fleet of unused Elizabeth Line trains! The Oaklands scheme next to Bridge 7 is now on site and the lift core of the highest block is up to the 26th storey level. The scheme by Notting Hill Genesis and Galliford Try is a mixed-use development with 605 affordable, private rent and shared equity flats.
Oaklands development under construction at Old Oak Lane
ENVIRONMENT
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Major enabling infrastructure works have been completed at the huge Southall Waterside development (former Southall Gas Works-Ealing Ref: PP/2015/4682). This work includes a new bridge over the Paddington Arm to provide a western link from the site to the Hayes bypass (A312 The Parkway). The canalside development of the 88-acre site by the Berkeley Group will eventually provide a maximum of 3,750 residential units as well as two new canal footbridges. New bridge over the Paddington Arm at the Southall waterside site
The first two blocks of the Greenford Quay build-for-rent development by Greystar (Ealing Ref: 164694FUL) are almost completed and a new pedestrian/ cycle footbridge over the canal has been constructed. The scheme, approved in 2017, has proceeded quickly and will provide 1,965 residential units for rent, a primary school, a nursery and mixed community/commercial space. At the moment the site still has a very ‘open’ character but this will change as further residential blocks are completed.
Greenford Quay-New footbridge and first two blocks of flats 24
ENVIRONMENT
In Hayes demolition work is proceeding for the redevelopment of the former Nestles factory (Hillingdon Ref: 1331/APP/ 2017/1883). The eastern half of the site has been cleared for the SEGRO Park Hayes development of four large storage and distribution units that could include data centre use. Most of the Nestles factory has been demolished with some of the 1930s art deco facades retained to form part of the Barratt Hayes Village development of 1,381 new residential units. The canalside will be opened up to public access and communal gardens are intended to retain the original inter-war ‘factory in a garden’ character of the site.
Demolition work at the former Nestles factory in Hayes
The Ballymore development at Brentford High Street and Waterside Brentford (Hounslow Ref: 00607/BA/P2) was approved in 2015. Since then many of the properties on the south side of the High Street have been vacated and boarded up – a form of planning blight, but an inevitable consequence of the land assembly needed for a town centre site of this size and complexity. Now there are signs that this period of seeming inactivity are coming to an end. Planning Conditions are being discharged by the submission of further details and a rather The Brentford Project - canal super graphics on the High Street gruesome multi storey car park is near to completion on the High Street. Ballymore has set up the Brentford Project (www.thebrentfordproject.com) - described as a ‘cultural initiative’ but in reality a promotional device for the new town centre and waterfront site. Residential marketing will be launched in early September. Read more: The developments we have listed include the planning reference number. To learn more about the schemes go to the Local Authority website and find the planning search page. Enter the planning reference and click on the application summary where a button to open the documents will be found. For general information about the scheme the quickest document to review is the Design and Access Statement, sometimes listed as DAS.!
ENVIRONMENT
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Thames21 answers call for greater habitat diversity on West London’s Canals Billy Coburn, Development Officer at Thames 21, reports on an innovative habitat project on the Grand Union at Harefield. Thames21 connects people with waterways by putting healthy rivers back at the heart of everyday life. We improve and restore rivers, educate and empower the community and campaign for positive change for the good of people and the environment. We improve rivers by monitoring water quality, restoring habitats and championing catchment partnerships. We educate through outdoor learning sessions and help schools become more sustainable. We also empower people through river stewardship, collecting data on plastic pollution, events, training and campaigns. The Grand Union Canal is an expansive busy water system. A long uniform linear environment leads to few areas of refuge for many species from boats and natural predators. Thames21 were approached by local angling clubs wishing us to diversify the habitat present for fish conservation. Our site location is around Maple Lodge, Harefield, near junction 17 of the M25. Thames21 approached the site area, wishing to emulate side water channels similar to those you would find on a healthy river system, to help young fish and aquatic invertebrates survive to maturity.
The southern Grand Union - few areas of refuge from boats and natural predators 26
ENVIRONMENT
We worked with the local angling clubs, local volunteers, Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust (CRT) to design the side water channel in these photographs. 57 metres of coir rolls were installed with our volunteers and CRT, planted with a variety of sedges, rushes and other aquatic species. The placement of the coir rolls was key. The area where Thames21 installed them had a gravel bottom, and a gradual marginal shelf from the far bank. The coir rolls were installed approximately 1 metre away from far-side bank away from the towpath. The water was 10cm deep immediately by the far bank, however deepened to 40cm deep by the coir rolls. The impact of the design lent itself to many different species and age of fish being able to use the area as habitat. As the ‘back water’ area between the coir rolls and far bank had a variety of gravel sizes present, this area also generates much needed spawning habitat for a variety of fish species such as chub, carp and roach, currently present on the local canal system, but with low populations which need every habitat advantage possible for population growth
ENVIRONMENT
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Another impact includes aquatic plant’s ability to reduce nitrate and phosphate in water, of which the local Grand Union Canal suffers from high levels of phosphate. Natural solutions to environmental problems designed to solve the primary issue normally have many positive secondary impacts. This is a holistic approach Thames21 use throughout our projects; our Natural Flood Management Programme across London is another good example. Thames21 are scouting more areas on the canal in and around London Boroughs of Hillingdon and Ealing where we can implement other habitat refuge areas for 2020, working with the IWA, Hillingdon Canals Partnership, Environment Agency and local volunteer groups. If you have a location in mind, please do email billy.coburn@thames21.org.uk. If the environmental benefits of this project have inspired yourself to join our family of volunteers conserving London’s waterways, have a look on our conservation events page on our website, https://www.thames21.org.uk/events/, and hope to see you by a riverbank or canal towpath soon.!
Thames21 volunteers with the Canal & River Trust boat at the new habitat site 28
ENVIRONMENT
BRENTFORD BASIN AND THE OVERHANGING WAREHOUSES The Middlesex Branch has long maintained that the overhanging warehouses at Brentford Basin should be conserved as an important, though recent, piece of canal heritage. In February the Hounslow Planning Committee granted permission for the third phase of the Brentford Lock West development that will see the demolition of the iconic overhanging warehouses. The destruction of the warehouses will remove the last visible evidence of the historic use of Brentford Basin for freight transport by water-a disaster for an important canal setting.
BRENTFORD BASIN NOW
The map shows the extent of Brentford Basin and the various development sites that now surround the canal. The basin is not to be confused with Brentford Dock, which was engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1855 to provide direct trans-shipment between the Great Western Railway and barges on the River Thames. The South West Trains Hounslow loop railway bridge marks the northern end of the basin. ‘The Island’ is a residential development on the eastern side of the basin constructed in 2001. Prior to redevelopment the island site was a British Waterways wharf to allow freight to be transferred between narrow boats in the canal basin and Thames barges moored in the river Brent. The western side of the basin is the site of the Brentford Lock West development the first two phases of which are now complete. The overhanging warehouses are at the northern end of this site. HERITAGE
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HISTORY OF THE BASIN In 1794 the Grand Junction Canal was opened as far as Uxbridge, and Brentford developed as a small inland port. In 1805 the canal was completed to Braunston and direct access to the Midlands canal network accelerated Brentford’s prosperity. A mixture of cargoes were imported through Brentford and much of this material was trans-shipped from Thames Barges and lighters into narrow boats at wharves on the east side of the basin above the Gauging Locks. Canal traffic declined after the Second World War but an official report in 1954 identified good use of the canal south of Berkhamsted and a package of up-grading measures was recommended. This included duplication and enlargement of Thames Lock, which was carried out in 1961, to enable larger vessels to gain access to the unloading wharves in Brentford Basin. The prospect of a potential increase in barge traffic must have led to a consequent need for enhanced covered storage adjacent to the basin. The eastern side of the basin was already covered with wharves so the previously unoccupied northwest corner of the basin was the best available site for a new trans-shipment facility. This 30
HERITAGE
PLANNING PROTECTION? facility consisted of a pair of adjacent warehouses with projecting roof canopies enabling boats to be unloaded under cover by means of electric hoists. The warehouses were constructed in the 1960s so they are a relatively recent piece of canal heritage. They are however unique in being constructed on the towpath side of the canal with the path being routed through the dock shed. Use of the trans-shipment facility gradually declined in the 1970s but as late as 1981 barrels of lime pulp used to be unloaded from Thames lighters for storage in the warehouse prior to delivery by narrowboat to Rose’s factory at Boxmoor. The warehouses were finally vacated in April 2006.
Brentford Basin including the towpath is within the Grand Union and Boston Manor Conservation Area (designated 2001). The warehouses are not listed and do not have locally listed status but the overhanging portion of the warehouses are within the Conservation Area. This meant that the section of the warehouses overhanging the canal could not be demolished without planning permission for relevant demolition in a conservation area.
The Island development on the east side of the basin Late 1930s advert showing the construction of a similar steel framed overhanging warehouse on the Island site.
Planning History
the developer to submit further proposals for the site with a different replacement approach. Furthermore the inspector concluded that ‘the overhanging warehouses should not retained at all costs on the basis of their architectural or historic/heritage significance or their rarity on the canal system’.
Brentford Lock West development - completed Phase 1 and 2 housing blocks on the west side of the basin
PLANNING HISTORY In 2004 British Waterways in partnership with ISIS Waterside Regeneration submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the western side of the basin between Commerce Road and the canal. The Branch opposed this application for a number of reasons including the proposed demolition of the overhanging warehouses. The application was refused permission and the applicant appealed against the decision of the Council. A public enquiry was held in 2006/7 and the late John Ashley, our Branch Planning
Officer, submitted detailed evidence in support of the conservation of the overhanging warehouses as one of the few surviving covered docks on the inland waterways of London. The planning inspector and the Secretary of State dismissed the appeal. However the inspector stated in his report that Conservation Area Consent for demolition was refused as ‘he considered the loss of the warehouses would be undesirable in the absence of any acceptable replacement scheme for the site’. This ruling unfortunately left it open for
ISIS Waterside Regeneration submitted a new planning application in October 2010. This was a hybrid application; an outline application for the whole site and a detailed application for the first phase of housing under a development called Brentford Lock West. The outline application proposed the retention of the shed structures overhanging the water as part of a ‘commercial hub’. Activities proposed in the commercial hub included light industrial space, the possibility of boat repair, a café/bar or restaurant and use of the covered waterspace as a base for a canoe club. Hounslow Council approved the scheme in March 2012.
HERITAGE
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LONG NEGLECT
After taking possession of the site in 2012 the developer failed to provide any form of protection to the steelwork structure despite very clear evidence of corrosion in the structural frame. In 2014 some elevations of the overhanging warehouses were re-clad by the London Borough of Hounslow using money from the GLA Outer London Fund. The scheme using open timber slats successfully demonstrated that the covered waterspace could be transformed into a light and airy environment. A condition of the planning permission for the new cladding was protection of the steelwork immediately behind the slats with specialist paint. However while this cladding work was undertaken Hounslow Council raised doubts about the poor condition of the roofs and ISIS quickly decided, for Health and Safety reasons, to completely remove the roof sheets fully exposing all the steelwork to the elements. When the Branch complained to CRT that this would damage the integrity of the structure and that urgent steps should be taken to re-roof the structure ISIS responded by saying ‘it is certainly not our intention to let them (the warehouses) to deteriorate unnecessarily’. 32
HERITAGE
Successful re-cladding of the warehouse walls in 2014 - but the roof sheeting was removed shortly afterwards
THE PLANNING APPLICATION TO DEMOLISH THE WAREHOUSES
In June 2018 Waterside Places (ISIS Waterside Regeneration had been renamed) submitted an outline application for the third and final phase of the Brentford Lock West development. This was a very different scheme from the approved 2010 application. The commercial floor space had been substantially reduced and Corrosion of the steel frame
the overhanging warehouses were to be demolished with the northern warehouse being replaced by a skeleton ‘replica’ steel frame without any roof or wall cladding. Unsurprisingly the developer cited the poor condition of the warehouse frame as a justification for the demolition. The Middlesex Branch forcefully objected to this application but the Hounslow Planning Committee granted approval in February this year. A Section 106 Agreement is still to be completed but once this is in place a planning Decision Notice will be issued and we expect the warehouses will be swiftly taken down.
HERITAGE LESSONS
The Branch believes that the Brentford development could have provided an opportunity to create a viable and imaginative scheme. A dynamic mix of community, commercial and leisure uses would have allowed the retention of the warehouses and preserved the visual character of the canal basin. Waterside Places (and its previous incarnation as ISIS Waterside Regeneration) is a partnership between the Canal & River Trust and Muse Developments who are a subsidiary of the Morgan Sindall Group plc. Under the partnership arrangement 50% of the development profits are passed back to the Canal & River Trust in exchange for the transfer of CRT owned land to Muse Developments. It is not clear if the Trust clarifies their expectations concerning heritage assets before transferring ownership to the joint venture partner. Once assets are transferred to the developer partner it seems that CRT effectively stand back from the development process.
objectives of each charity. One of CRT’s charity objectives is the protection and conservation ‘for public benefit sites, objects and buildings of archaeological, architectural, engineering or historic interest on, in the vicinity of, or otherwise associated with inland waterways’. In the case of the Brentford development we question if CRT is doing all it can to meet its objectives as a charity. !
CRT is registered by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Charity Commission’s register provides a summary of the activities and HERITAGE
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SLOUGH ARM TUNNEL In 2015 a tunnel was discovered to the east of the M25 Bridge. The Branch has investigated its history and original purpose THE 2015 DISCOVERY The tunnel is located in an embankment on the south side of the towpath and runs under Court Lane. The Court Lane Industrial Estate was once the site of Iver Court Farm, a gravel pit and Iver Court Brick Works. The find also uncovered some metal rails leading from the towpath towards the mouth of the tunnel. When the discovery was made in 2015 the Friends of Slough Canal called in the Canal & River Trust London area heritage adviser to see if evidence could be found to reveal the history of the tunnel.
Old maps of the area suggested that the tunnel under the embankment provided a tramway to the Iver Court Brickworks to allow bricks to be loaded on to boats for transport into central London. Although CRT consider the tunnel to be a significant heritage asset nothing more has happened since 2015 that would allow towpath users to have better legibility or interpretation of the structure. The tunnel is now largely concealed by vegetation along the embankment and illegal tipping from Court Lane has covered the rails. Recently the Friends of Slough Canal requested the Branch to carry out further investigation, as there remains an opportunity to clear the site and erect some signage to explain the history.
ARCHAEOLOGY Local archaeologist Scott McCracken agreed to help the Branch with an exercise to uncover more about the history of the tunnel. A site visit was made and this revealed that the tunnel walls and roof are constructed in rather crude reinforced concrete suggesting that it is of a much later date than originally thought in 2015. Our archaeologist considered that if the tunnel was built to serve the brick works at the end of the nineteenth century it would have been constructed in brick.
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HERITAGE
MAP REGRESSION Scott McCracken has subsequently carried out a map regression exercise to determine the most likely date for the construction of the tunnel. Map regression is the study of a sequence of maps to reveal changes in individual features and landscapes. The first appearance of the tunnel on a 6-inch map was revised in 1934 and published in 1939. On this map the tunnel is shown as a narrow rectangle running north-south with the north end actually in the canal and the south end stopping short of a gravel pit to the east of Iver Court Farm. The Iver Court Farm brickworks are located to the south of the gravel pit with the brickworks being served by a tramway leading to the canal near to the Colne Brook aqueduct. No railway tracks are shown associated with the tunnel. A study was then made of any existing larger scale maps and the tunnel was apparently first recorded on the 1:2500 scale map revised in 1932 and published in 1934. This map (shown below) indicates the tunnel extending to the edge of the canal where there is apparently a small staithe in the canal itself. This accounts for the later 6-inch edition showing the tunnel ending in the canal. This map also shows the gravel pit to the south with a track leading into it.
No obvious links from the brick works to the tunnel or the gravel pit are shown. The OS 6-inch map edition immediately preceding that of 1934 is revised 1932, published 1935 but here the tunnel is not shown. This would suggest that the tunnel was constructed sometime around 1931 or 1932. It seems likely therefore that the tunnel is associated with the gravel pit, either to facilitate the transport of the gravel to the canal; or to allow landfill material to be brought to the pit from the canal; or perhaps both. Although the tunnel does not appear to have a connection to the brickworks of the area it is still an historic feature that deserves protection and signage to demonstrate the use of canal transport in the extraction of river valley gravel and the subsequent movement of landfill material to allow restoration of the landscape.
Ordnance Survey map. Buckinghamshire LVII.1 (Iver; Uxbridge; Yiewsley and West Drayton) Revised: 1932 Published: 1934 1:2500.
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The increase of boat numbers on London’s waterways in recent years has caused much comment and concern. The Canal & River Trust (‘CRT’) are predicting that by 2022 there will be a further increase in boat numbers in London of between 35-50%. With high property prices in London many see boat ownership as a cheap option – sometimes exacerbated by glowing and often inaccurate media coverage.
Editorial Comment
In 2018 CRT published its ‘London Mooring Strategy’, which sets out to balance the competing demands and needs of different groups and involves some changes to existing mooring arrangements in busy areas, particularly in central London. The report also encourages development of longterm moorings from a range of providers. IWA’s recent ‘Vision for London’ report proposes several measures to control boat numbers, including the possibility of a charge for the use of waste disposal facilities or a charging zone for stays longer than 14 days. In the next issue of this Newsletter we will be reporting more fully on this issue. In the meantime, we would love to hear your views. Does overcrowding concern you? What measures do you think should be taken to improve the situation? Have you found it difficult to find moorings in London? If so, what type of mooring and which areas have you found most congested? Please write to me, the Editor, at: ray.gill@waterways.org.uk
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COMMENT
BRANCH COMMITTEE Chairman
Roger Still
roger.still@waterways.org.uk 07557 095 108
Secretary
Robin Bishop
robinebishop@tiscali.co.uk 07899 816 998
Treasurer
Keith Clayton
keith.clayton@waterways.org.uk 07504 087 667
Planning Grand Union
Ray Gill
ray.gill@waterways.org.uk 07785 255 886
Planning Paddington Arm
Roger Still
roger.still@waterways.org.uk 07557 095 108
Social Meetings Secretary
Roger Hazelgrove
rogerandjudy@googlemail.com 07777 605 613
Newsletter Editor
Ray Gill
ray.gill@waterways.org.uk 07785 255 886
Sales Officer
Robin Bishop
robinebishop@tiscali.co.uk 07899 816 998
Ex-Officio as Region Chairman
Paul Strudwick
paul.strudwick@waterways.org.uk 07885 240 291
Join us! We are currently expanding our activities and would like to strengthen the Branch Committee. The roles we have in mind are as follows:
• • • •
Publicity Officer Website and Social Media Administrator Navigation and Environment Officer Volunteer Organiser
If you feel that you could help with any of these roles we would be delighted to hear from youplease do contact Roger Still by phone or email. We are always interested to hear from any members with particular skills or interests who could assist the Branch. The views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the London Region or its Branches. They are however published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter within this publication. Published by the Inland Waterways Association, Middlesex Branch at: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA. We very much welcome members to contribute articles, letters or photographs on waterways matters in the west London area. Editor: Ray Gill Email: ray.gill@waterways.org.uk INFORMATION
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SOCIAL EVENINGS Our Social Evenings are held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge UB8 2QX The Club is right next to the canal in Uxbridge - always something interesting to see in the boatyard and on the canal! We meet in their club room, which has an excellent bar. Access from the northern end of Waterloo Road is via a narrow roadway between two blocks of flats opposite Waterloo Free Church. The roadway is signed to Uxbridge Boat Centre.
How to get there: By Tube Uxbridge Tube Station (Piccadilly Line and Metropolitan Line) is approximately 12 minutes walk from Hillingdon Canal Club By Bus The nearest Bus Stops P, Q and R (Crown walk) are located in Oxford Road, which is approximately 5 minutes walk along Rockingham Road. Bus routes from these stops are: 222, 427, U1, U3, U4, U5 and U7 By Car Space next to the Club is limited so best to park in Waterloo Road Put UB8 2QX in your Sat Nav By Canal The Club is opposite the General Elliot pub close to Dolphin Bridge 186 Hillingdon Canal Club
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INFORMATION
INFORMATION
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