January 2014 West Riding Branch
Chairman’s Thoughts I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year break. It doesn't seem that long since we were welcoming 2013; with plans for the new year and writing the Agenda for the AGM on 11th April, and here the annual cycle begins again with a review of 2013. Many of the things we set out to do were achieved (*) and I will be covering these in my AGM report, as well as most of them having appeared in previous editions of Milepost. This year, before the AGM, we have a presentation by Denise Spence from the South Pennine Boat Club telling the story of the transformation of the site to its present state. It’s well worth seeing! The IWA, as a membership organisation, relies on members for volunteering ideas as well as our personal energies, so please let us have some ideas for the AGM (page 12), and hopefully some voluntary time as well. My to-do-list from the last issue (*) is for some of those good-ideas which need some of that voluntary time to achieve. There are ideas for Working Parties (page 5) and other help needed on page 22. The things-to-do are fun, and the only hard bit is to do the first bit of depriving that other keen volunteer of them being able to do it: and that’s kept the inbox free of volunteering offers, so far. Worry not, I will sort it out: all I need is that first step … elaine@waterways.org.uk or 0114 2301870 The picture on the cover is just outside our Branch boundary – moored in Rotherham at the end of a trip on which Peter and I were invited to see something of commercial carrying in the Region; there is a report on page 16 and a national summary of commercial carrying on page 21. In our article about commercial traffic in the Sept2013 issue (p8) we understated the length of FusedaleH, which is 175ft long rather than 147ft as we wrote; so this time we have measured HumberPrincess in units of a football pitch. In Leeds, we have the Flood Alleviation scheme (page 3), and the Destination Leeds project (page 9) as well as Leeds-Bradford Towpath Improvements (page 11). There is news of Mirfield Promenade on page 14 and a summary of meetings on pages 18-20 Elaine Scott, Branch Chairman
Closing date for contributions for the next issue 15 May 2014 Contributions can be hand written, typed or in electronic format. Pictures can be prints or digital.
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Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme The picture (left) is of soil investigation works on the weir at Crown Point in Leeds, in preparation for the Leeds Flood Alleviation scheme which will allow the weir height to be lowered during flood conditions and allow floodwaters to flow through to be stored further downstream, by the removal of Knostrop Cut, and the combining of the canal and the river.. Planning permissions for Leeds Centre have been granted, and as part of the detailed design, we have been discussing the positioning of flood walls on the river, and maintaining access to mooring rings.
Knostrop Cut towingpath .
The leaflet that was issued as part of the 2013 public consultation included a visualisation of the completion of the works
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ADVERTISEMENT
Audlem Mill, 6 April to 4 May Every year, Audlem Mill in Cheshire hosts an exhibition of what is probably now the largest number of canal paintings assembled anywhere. The 2014 Canal Art Exhibition from 6 April to 4 May, organised in conjunction with the Guild of Waterway Artists, will include paintings, and some photographs, by many of the best canal artists in the country. The 2013 exhibition featured at least 160 works. Most of the Guild members were represented, including painters Sarah Pressland, Dusty Miller, Helen Harding, Sylvia Hankin, Lesley Pearson, Penny Taylor-Beardow and Louise Moore (also photographs), linoprint arist Eric Gaskell, and photographer Chris Nugent, as well as paintings by others such as Tony Lewery (perhaps better known for being an expert on Rose & Castles painting), Dave Holloway, and Malcom Davies and local artists including Sheila M Webster. The exhibition always attracts many hundreds of visitors from all across the country. Most come by car, but some make it by boat! Quite a few visitors have said that they now plan their season’s boating to make sure that they are on the Shroppie at the right time, and of course they can also then enjoy the other delights of Audlem, which is a quintessential canalside village. The Canal Art Exhibition is just one of many events at Audlem Mill during 2014 which will be of interest to boaters. There will be exhibitions of needlework and canal related items, and there is also the gathering of about 40 historic narrow boats on 26/27 July, organised by Audlem Mill as part of the village’s Festival of Transport, which also has around 300 old vehicles on the second day – completely free days out! Audlem Mill, one of the oldest and best known canal shops, is at Audlem Wharf, close to bridge 78 on the Shropshire Union Canal. For visitors by boat, there are moorings right outside the Mill. Further details of Audlem Mill events will be posted at www.audlemmill.co.uk, or phone 01270 811059.
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“With all this enthusiasm in the Region,…
Why Do We Need All These People in Milton Keynes” “Peter's is a really brilliant question. … The challenge to The Centre is to be relevant. .. There's a real role for strong delivery. We need to have capable engineering, quality teams, heritage teams … that are really supporting the many people out there on the ground making things happen … It's about a new way of working ...” I asked the question at the East Midland's CRT Partnership Public Annual Meeting aboard Nottingham Princess in late November and the answer was from Richard Parry, the new CRT Chief Executive, and of course Head of CRT HQ in Milton Keynes. Here's an example and a challenge: can you write a specification for the maintenance of your front garden? And if something-comes-up in the five years of your gardening contract, they'll not be charging you extra because you didn't think of it when you first wrote it down. And now generalise all this for all your family and friends around the country. BW found it a good idea to contract out all its vegetation management; the accountants could draw a box around it for a fixed(-ish) lump of money, be glad of all the staff now working for a contractor, and leave it to Operational Management to actually get some useful work from local subcontractors. The same idea works well-enough with rubbish collection, best done by national experts. Because domestic rubbish isn't a core part of CRT's business. But canal vegetation is a core part of the job, It was a bad idea to contract-out, and a bad idea to re-contract now it's CRT's decision. We are told that towpathedge trees are now better-specified in the new contract and no longer will they be allowed to establish themselves. Good, but not good enough. Because vegetation management, clearing weirs, opening fallen-tree canal-blockages, fixing paddles, and that host of other maintanance tasks are all essential parts of keeping the canals navigable. We need a flexible workforce with range and volume of tasks to which they can turn, and be productively and effectively occupied all the time. And with those excellent engineering, quality and heritage teams in support, the people on the ground really can make those new ways of workings better value for the customers. Richard has the enthusiasm, to create a newer, more responsive CRT. Go To It, Richard, with out best wishes for the power to your elbow. That’s it for PeterScott’s Regional Thoughts this month. 5
Work parties Following the success of the work parties held by West Riding Branch over the summer of 2013, both at Salterhebble and in Leeds, your branch now needs volunteers to help organise this type of event in order for them to continue into another year. As West Riding Branch covers a large area, we could have work parties in different geographic areas, each led by someone who lives locally to that specific stretch of waterway. Alison Smedley, Branch Campaign Officer from Head Office has written this useful “step by step” guide to build on last year’s work, and aiming to inspire some more people to get involved. 1. Where – Decide on a good location for a work party. Perhaps there is somewhere quite close to where you live that would benefit from a bit of care and attention. Discuss this with someone on the branch committee (you don’t need to be on the committee) so it can be an IWA West Riding Branch Work Party, and not overlap any others. 2. What – decide what type of work you wish to carry out. It could be painting (railings, bollards, balance beams, fences, mileposts), vegetation clearance, controlling invasive plants, pulling rubbish out of the waterway or litter picking 3 Then you will need to contact the navigation authority (Canal & River Trust for West Riding Branch canals) for their permission to carry out the work, as they are our landlords. Help is on hand in the form of their Volunteer Co-ordinator and Leaders. For CRT North East the volunteering team is Claire MacDonald and Lucy Dockray, and in the North West it is Matt Taylor and Alice Kay. 4. When - Agree a date or dates. Nationally we have found that a regular monthly work party works well, as people become accustomed to it happening and they attend regularly. It’s a good idea to plan a couple of months ahead to allow time for local publicity. 5. How – HEALTH AND SAFETY – issues such as supervision, health & safety and risk assessments will need to be discussed with the CRT’s volunteering teams who are able to do much of this, but if you want to get more involved, or if you want to work on another authority’s waterway, there are various documents 6
and risk assessments available for anyone to use on IWA’s website. 6. How – PUBLICITY - Publicise your event to attract most people, both members and non-members. Make sure it’s on the IWA website and events listings sent out by IWA’s HO Branch Campaign Team, put up posters in the locality, tell your local press, and invite local groups or canal societies to join in. Poster templates are also available on the website. 7. On the day – as work party organiser you may find you spend all day making sure everyone is made to feel welcome, knows what they are doing and is happy. Refreshments for the volunteers always go down well - tea, coffee and biscuits are fine, or perhaps you have another volunteer who would like to contribute by making cakes! Take some photos of the work being carried out. 8. Afterwards – thank the volunteers who attended, and send a write up and photos to IWA’s HO Branch Campaign Team so that we can include it in various summaries of work parties around the country. As an aspiring Work Party Organiser that first step is to call Elaine Scott, or if you prefer to have an informal chat with me about it first, do phone 01538 385388 or email alison.smedley@waterways.org.uk There is also more information available on the volunteering pages of the website: NE Claire.McDonald@canalrivertrust.org.uk NW Matthew.Taylor@canalrivertrust.org.uk Alison Smedley
Do we want to do it again?
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Elizabeth Jane Howard
Elizabeth Jane Howard, the novelist, died on 2nd January aged 90. During IWA’s formative years, she was a significant figure, first working in Robert Aickman's home/office, accompanying him on his six-week tour of the northern waterways, (on the boat Ailsa Craig, including the famous passage of Standedge Tunnel) and later serving on the Association’s Council; as a key player at the 1950 Market Harborough Rally of Boats, she directed one of the plays which were part of the event. Jane's autobiography Slipstream documents this turbulent time of her life, interweaving her marriage to my Illustrious Namesake Peter Scott, her affair with Robert, and her friendship with Ray Aickman, who was married to Robert. In The River Runs Uphill, Robert wrote that “Jane Howard was so beautiful that continuous problems arose ... Little in the way of completely normal business was possible or sensible, when she was in the room. ... Jane's presence had the effect of making everything else in life seem worthless and absurd beside her radiant identity. By merely existing, she promoted loves and hates which, through no fault of hers, left some who felt them, fevered and wasted.” Their 1948 Ailsa Craig trip along the Huddersfield Narrow passed from Stalybridge through the short Scout Tunnel, probably the last private boat to do so before restoration: and on the opening day, in the middle of the foot&mouth crisis on 9 April 2001, we were the first private boat to do the same journey on Copperkins. Hence the story for the local journalist of a Mrs-Peter-Scott on both trips … which he didn't use in his story. Sigh. Who would be a press officer? PeterScott 8
Destination Leeds This is a project which was initiated by Aire Action Leeds but now has the support of a sub group of the Canal & River Trust’s North East Partnership which has representation from IWA West Riding, NABO and non-powered interests. The object is to encourage greater visitor numbers to the Leeds waterfront – whether by boat or otherwise. It’s felt that a key to this is to increase boat movements and activity on the river, and as a first priority members of the group have been examining the feasibility of increasing the number of visitor moorings both on the river and in Clarence (now New) Dock and on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal from above Office Lock down to River Lock. It has been confirmed by CRT that no charge applies for boats mooring on Granary Wharf, on the main line, north side, below Office Lock and that the small charge for mooring in the arms is being reviewed. There is currently a 14 day mooring on the south side opposite Granary Wharf, along with rubbish disposal, and Kirkstall Flyboat can supply water on that side also. Boater facilities at Office lock are the subject of on-going discussions with CRT. Additional moorings have been signed already at Fearns Wharf, and on part of the downstream lock landing at Leeds Lock and on part of the water point and pump out facility below Leeds Lock (the former Esso berth). The group is planning and costing additional pontoon berths in New Dock and is in discussion regarding moorings in the ‘commercial arm’ of the Dock which are controlled by a third party. The group is also working to improve facilities for canoes and non-powered craft. The new southern entrance to Leeds City station will provide an opportunity for a revived waterbus service between there and New Dock calling at intermediate stops, and there are hopes that a third party may provide support to enable this to happen. David Lowe Can you think of anything else required? Let David or Elaine know. 9
New Advice on Towpath Cycling IWA nationally have issued new advice on towpath cycling, including wider benefits of encouraging people to cycle for recreation and transport. IWA supports cycling on towpaths when properly managed. However, not all towpaths or sections of towpath are suitable for cycling on as they may be too narrow, have restricted views ahead, have surfaces that are susceptible to deterioration or feature a large number of hazards. Neither should towpaths be used for cycling competitions. However, there is no reason why individuals, families and small groups should not enjoy a leisurely commute or recreational bike ride along a suitable towpath as long as they are considerate in their use of the resource. In particular cycling is a long-established aid to lockwheeling for boaters; the other main benefits of towpath-cycling are: transport and meeting the need for cycle routes away from road traffic, (required by the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997),and recreation in attracting more visitors and helping their healthy exercise. IWA also welcomes the benefits of funding from other sources for navigation authorities to improve towpaths for cycling; that funding would usually not be available for general towpath improvements. This can then benefit all users and should be carefully monitored for adverse side-effects such as faster cycling and increased risk to other users. We need positive management of this, and the towpaths can be for everyone to enjoy. Those who cycle on the towpath, instead of using the road, believe the towpath to be the safer for themselves, and they should be aware of risks to others. In our Cycling Code we list and promote good practice for the mutual benefit of all users, including: slowing down when approaching anglers, towpath walkers and other towpath users; dismounting when local signs or common sense require it; avoiding specific towpath-hazards (such as ropes from boats, mooring stakes, bollards, anglers' tackle); warning of approach with a bell or horn fitted for the purpose; and above all being friendly to other waterways users. The full IWA Cycling Code is http://tinyurl.com/Milepost2014c and additional advice for cyclists is at http://tinyurl.com/Milepost201401d
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Leeds-Bradford Towpath Improvements December 2013
West Yorkshire Metro has secured £18.1m for a large scale project from the Department for Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Grant fund. The primary objective is to create a safe, sustainable transport corridor for walkers and cyclists between the main conurbations of Leeds & Bradford, but there are many smaller elements of the project, one of which is the upgrading of the canal towpath and accesses between Shipley (Bradford) and Kirkstall (Leeds). The scheme is for work between Br207D Gallows Footbridge (Shipley) and Br.221a Kirkstall New Road Bridge (Kirkstall). Total investment for the canal corridor, which is a designated National Cycle Network Route (NCN66) is expected to be about £1.6m.The towpath works should be completed by 30th June in time for the Tour de France commencing in Yorkshire on 5th July in order to provide an alternative route into to Leeds for those who may wish to see the cycling event, work starting on site in early 2014. The works will deliver; - 16km of towpath improvements, which will ensure the towpath can be used on a year round basis in most weathers - Towpath widening, with an optimum width of 2m where possible - The retention of 500mm grass verge either side of the towpath - Improved accesses and Disabled Discrimination Act compliant barriers where appropriate - Towpath stabilisation works (where required) - Improved signage and waymarking The canal towpath is a multi-user route for walkers, cyclists, and anglers. Details of the scheme are available on the Canal & River Trust website http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/see-and-do/enterprise. 11
West Riding Branch AGM 2014 Will be held at the clubhouse of the South Pennine Boat Club, Wood Lane, Mirfield WF14 0ED. on Friday 11th April 7.30pm to 8pm Tea / Coffee / Conversation all available 8pm to 9pm Presentation about development of the Boat Club 9pm to 9.45pm The West Riding Branch Annual General Meeting AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of minutes of the 2013 AGM and any matters arising from these minutes. See p10 of the May 2013 Milepost (available on the website) 3. Report from Branch Chairman (Elaine Scott.) 4. Financial Report (William Jowitt) 5. Election of members of the Branch committee 6. Nominations to North East Region committee. 7. Report from Region Chairman and National Trustee (Peter Scott) 8. Resolutions (notified to the Chairman before 28th February 2014) 9. Discussion of the future of the Branch Elaine Scott t: 0114 2301870 e: elaine@homescott.free-online.co.uk
Project Funding The Branch raises money locally from meetings and events: this is all separate and additional to members’ annual subscriptions which primarily fund the national organisation, including the dedicated people we employ at Head Office. Over the years we have been doing this money-raising relatively successfully, and we can continue to support local events such as the Skipton Waterways Festival (£200 to £300 per year) and, for example, buy materials for some of the workparties which we ran in 2013. We are seeking nominations of local waterway projects which we could support 12
with donations perhaps similar to those above. So if you are part of a group doing work related to the canals and navigable waterways in the Branch area, or if you know of any groups doing that sort of waterways project, or if you like to do something for your local waterway but have no money or knowledge as to where to start, DON’T PANIC. The West Riding Branch of the IWA may be able to use some of the money we have raised locally, and our knowledge (or sources of knowledge) to help. Contact Elaine or any other member of the committee with your suggestions.
‘Tour’ Events There will be lots of things going on in Yorkshire connected with the Tour de France next year, some of which you will be best able to attend by boat. It’s a good chance to try our northern waterways. Skipton Water Festival 4 -5 May 2014 Before the TDF, but a good stop on the way. We will have the Branch stand at the event . IWA Thwaite Mills Boat Gathering 29-30 June 2014 As part of the Leeds Waterfront Festival. One week before Le Grand Depart Extended mooring may be available Rochdale Boat Gathering 28th June to 13th July 2014 Managed moorings on the Rochdale Canal The race passes close to the canal
Questions from last issue : Did you know where this is? It’s a Mile post on the towing path adjacent to the Armories near the sanitary station And the Quiz answers were that (1/2): Robin Evans and Richard Parry are CRT’s old and new Chief executives while (3) the strapline is Keeping People, Nature and History Connected (4/5) Clive Henderson and Les Etheridge are IWA’s old and new national chairmen and (4) the strapline is Campaigning for the use, maintenance, and restoration of Britain’s inland waterways - (could you come up with something more snappy?) 13
Mirfield Promenade
Mirfield Promenade is four mile stretch of land from Greenwood Lock to Cooper Bridge in Mirfield. A group of enthusiastic individuals are working to develop the Promenade, to make it an accessible route through the town of Mirfield which can link to existing recreational paths and facilities, and hopefully support and encourage new developments. This could result in social, economic and environmental benefits. People living in Mirfield and Dewsbury are being encouraged to help blitz litter and tackle overgrowing weeds and greenery along the Calder and Hebble Navigation at Shepley Bridge in Mirfield. There is a five year programme which will be broken down into a number of bitesize chunks - as and when money, land, good will and the opportunity arises! The first area to be tackled is Battyeford Island. Money has been allocated by the Canal and RiversTrust for improvements and this will match with other funds to create walks, seating, traditional fruit orchards, wildflower planting and heritage interpretation. Groundwork is assisting in the planning for this work.
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As part of NE CRT Conference in Wakefield last year, the poet Ian McMillan penned the wonderful piece of poetry Changing Lives Together. This extract relates to the Promenade. Changing lives together In gorgeous Wakefield weather Come and have a stroll On the Mirfield Promenade; It’s all about the people, As a concept it’s not hard It’s all about the people It’s not rocket science Working together In a waterborne alliance If you walk down to the water intersections You can walk on the water Thanks to The Community of the Resurrection. Oystercatchers on the Mirfield Canal? It’s just a bloke catching oysters and his name is Al !
Ian McMillan
More details including the full poem from http://mirfieldpromenade.blogspot.co.uk
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Our Ride on Humber Princess Humber Princess is currently the only commercial traffic on our Region's inland waterways and it was wonderful to have a trip aboard from Doncaster Lock (meet at 0630!) to Rotherham part of the full HullRotherham tanker traffic. Here are a few more pictures http://tinyurl.com/Milepost201401a Like all waterways, it's a different experience to see it all from the middle of the canal. And on this trip this middle is mostly from the wheelhouse which is hydraulically lowered to pass under bridges – and the raising-andlowering feels the natural-thing to do from inside – relying on the experience of the steerer to know how much to lower it for each bridge; the process is even more impressive from the deck. http://tinyurl.com/Milepost201401b Important to the steerer is the issue of canal-intruding trees. Just think of yourself steering a football pitch (penalty-spot to penalty-spot on a shortish pitch and width a bit less than a goalmouth, or 60m x 6m if you can translate that better). Your pitch has to be lined-up with bridge supports to get through without mishap to barge or bridge. And having passed safely, your ability to affect where that farpenalty-spot ends up, depends on how much wriggle room you have with the width-between-bridge-supports and how sharp is that bend ahead. Having done it a few dozen times you start to get the hang of it, with minimum contact with trees. But when you say a tree needs cutting back, that's what it needs. I'm Reliably Informed that ImportantPeople have taken a trip similar to ours and have been convinced of the need to have trees cut. For example the trees here: Let's speculate what actually happens to this tree-chopping-enthusiasm. Maybe someone looks at the offending tree(s) from the towingpath, from the bridge, or from a maintenance boat, and can find no greater intrusion by that tree than by any of a hundred others. Maybe the national vegetation-cutting contract doesn't take account of the need to navigate football pitches around the canal 16
system, and makes it vastly-expensive to insert a ‘small’ tree-cutting job where one wasn't predicted fifteen months ago when the annual schedule was agreed and paid for. Then to the job itself: a tree, when it grows, thickens its trunk and boughs, at the same time as extending its outer leaves and twigs over a larger area. When it extends over a canal, the whole thing creates a gentle buffer to progress: a gentle contact marks the boat's paintwork and parts the hair of unsuspecting crew. Harder contact might gouge-out the paintwork, squash the crew or throw them in the water, and push the boat somewhere unintended - but the outer twigs give some warning of impending nastiness. Just chopping away the outer layers isn't necessarily helpful: it can change a large mass of tree, with soft buffering outside, into a lethal obstacle that can javelin the heart (or window or pipework) of the unsuspecting. So chopping-back means chopping-back to the edge of the navigation to be safe, and that becomes a BigJob if it hasn't been done as part of normal ongoing maintenance. We were hoping that RichardParry (CRT's new Chief Executive) might follow in the track of those previous ImportantPeople and promise that those difficult trees would be cut? I wonder what will happen, ... :-) PeterScott
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My First IWA Meeting This meeting featured the National Chairman Les Etheridge, who had ventured north from tranquil Kent with his wife and aide memoir Ann, and appeared slightly nervous of the reception he might expect from his northern audience. Would we assault him, OddJob-like, with unerringly aimed cloth caps? Elaine Scott as Branch Chairman has a wide-ranging portfolio of roles including visiting-speaker's-warm-up-act, so the room was soon brought to order and Les, who is a quietly-spoken chap, was sound-checked for reception at the back. The theme was “IWA – Past, Present, Future” and Les wrapped this up in an interesting autobiography, taking us from his first unenthusiastic and fearful steps on the Norfolk Broads in the early seventies, via a nervous locking through Somerton Deep Lock on the Oxford to the present day and the quandaries of working alongside CRT. Are they ally, co-worker, rival or enemy? Les said we need to differentiate IWA from CRT, but I'm not sure we have a clear plan yet about how this is to be achieved. Continuous Cruisers were discussed and the room seemed at one with Les that the problem is not so much continuous cruisers as continuous moorers. Les identified that the problem has been exacerbated by BW's historic failures to enforce its own mooring rules, and a recent influx of even more liveaboard boaters, some of whom are naïve and/or ill-informed about the realities of living on a boat which is supposed to keep moving around the system; the daily demands of work, school, water and sanitation exert an inexorable pressure to stay put. There is a newly-formed Association of Continuous Cruisers and Les felt it’s a shame that yet another single interest group has been added to the already crowded numbers of waterways groups, the proliferation of which makes it difficult for the general public, and perhaps even the general boater, to keep track of who they are and what they're all about. Being involved with working boats, I was interested to learn that IWA continues to apply pressure to ensure CRT's dredging programme does not slow up. HS2 was discussed, and Les had some good news that IWA has developed an alternative plan for the Fradley Junction area that reduces the proposed four crossings of the canal there to just one. Apparently it makes sense for both the canal and the railway, although being logical and good for all involved by no means guarantees it a sympathetic hearing. However, Les was positive about CRT feeling impelled to add its weight to promoting IWA's plan for fear of losing their credibility. Les had less positive news about this year's National Waterways Festival at Watford, where extremely low visitor numbers left the IWA with a loss of £40,000. The decision has been made to cancel the festival in 2014, and it is unlikely it will 18
be reinstated in its recent shape in the future, although he hopes that IWA will have a presence at other events, such as Crick and the Stratford River Festival. Waterways Recovery Group, were mentioned as a beacon of success and hope within the IWA's activities, although there wasn't time for any great detail. (see https://www.waterways.org.uk/wrg/ for more details Ed.) I had a brief chat to Les after his talk and explained that after several years boating I had joined the IWA out of a sense of obligation and guilt. I was interested when Les said that he had joined for similar reasons! As a new member of IWA attending his first ever meeting I was left with the clear message that IWA is a membership organisation that stands or falls solely by the enthusiasm of its members and their preparedness to volunteer. Elaine explained that the age range of the West Riding branch's active members goes from six to eighty-eight, so no-one really has any excuse! It is said that a volunteer is worth ten pressed men so I'm ashamed to say I did not volunteer to write this short review. Elaine asked me at the end of the evening and, fixed by those friendly but steely eyes, how could I possibly refuse? I am glad I made the short trip from Leeds to attend the meeting and left feeling that had the shade of Robert Aickman chosen to observe the evening from the back of the room, he would have been urging Les and Elaine on, and soundlessly applauding their commitment and effort. Colin Wilks
In case you missed it Friday 13th September “Water Management within the Canal & River Trust� by Adam Comerford In September Adam Comerford, Group Hydrology Manager of the Canal & River Trust, and colleagues spoke about Water Management within the Trust. He covered the methods his department uses to monitor water levels and usage in the CRT reservoirs, canals and rivers, and how this data is then used, along with historical records, to try to predict, and hopefully mitigate, any problems caused by low water levels later in the year. He also talked about how the they use flood modelling software to predict the risk of damage caused by potential canal embankment breeches, which allows the Trust to concentrate its limited resources more cost effectively. Overall it was a very informative and interesting evening. Iain Scott 19
Friday 11th October
“Confessions of an ex-IWA Magazine Editor" by John Greenway
Our October meeting covered the tribulations and enjoyments of a waterway magazine editor: John Greenway shared his experiences over the years of development of IWA: his reminiscences were, as always, most entertaining, with extracts from his unique collection of historic newsletters. John gave several suggestions as to how a good magazine can be produced Friday 8th November Friday 6th December
See article page18 Christmas Social and Members’ entertainments
Note change of date it said. Well either the message didn’t get through very well, or it was inconvenient date, so a rather smaller gathering than usual had an enjoyable evening. We had the usual wonderful food brought by members followed by a quiz based on the picture rounds of the quiz held at the Thwaite Mllls Boat Gathering. The Branch has varying knowledge of locks joining canals to rivers in the North East! Here’s one for you to try – it is a challenge !.
Can you name the lock and say which canal it connects to which river? Clue: It is unlikely you will have boated through it ! 20
Inland Waterway Freight in 2013 There was, in 2013, a remarkable increase in UK internal (i.e. non-sea-going ship) inland waterway freight tonnage – to about 4.5 million tonnes – mainly due to increased activity on the Thames in connection with Crossrail, and the Thames Tunnel in particular. Container and grain traffics have also increased on the Manchester Ship Canal. On the Commercial waterways of the Canal & River Trust, tonnage declined to about 500,000 tonnes - this is mainly aggregate on the River Severn, oil from Hull to Rotherham, and ship movements to Howdendyke (ships to Caldaire, Goole, not counted). At Howdendyke cement tonnage has returned to previous levels after a slump due to the ship operator going out of business. Recently Helm Fertilizer have built a bagging plant at this port and this means an extra 40,000 tonnes pa of river traffic. 2014 has started with a series of what is expected to be six movements of power station components from Hull to Drax carried on ‘Inland Navigator’ (Robert Wynn & Sons). 2013 regrettably saw a major decline in tonnage on the CRT portion of the tidal Trent and the Aire & Calder Navigation. With the merger of Lafarge and Tarmac and re-structuring of the business into regions, the Whitwood wharf and readymix plant became part of one region and the Besthorpe quarry another. The northern region gained a Tarmac quarry near Ripon and there was no longer the need to barge sand and gravel from Besthorpe and this ceased in late July. The Canal & River Trust’s Freight Advisory Group completed its work late last year and the Trust is expected to be launching a pro-freight strategy, working in conjunction with Port operators. Obvious potential includes inland terminals to facilitate import and export cargoes (general and containerised) between North, West and South Yorkshire and the Humber / Trent ports, plus there is a growing interest in movement of biomass, marine aggregate, and waste plus construction materials for waterside developments such as the Castleford Energy Park and Southmoor (Kellingley) Energy Centre. Narrowboats continue to load and deliver coal and fuels, mainly around the Midlands and SouthEast – tonnage isn’t formally recorded but estimated at about 2750 tonnes pa. David Lowe 21
People who help run the Branch 2013 / 2014 Chairman (CM) Secretary (CM) Elaine Scott Ian Moore 3 Moorbank Drive 2 Eric Street, Sheffield S10 5TH Bramley 0114 230 1870 Leeds LS13 1ET 07980 953880 07989 112581 elaine.scott@ westriding@ waterways.org.uk waterways.org.uk
Treasurer (CM) William Jowitt 35, Lowfield Crescent Silsden BD20 0QE 01535 657256
Membership Secretary (CM) Chris Pinder 152 High Street Yeadon Leeds LS19 7AB 01132 509371
NE&Yorks Region (CM) Peter Scott 3 Moorbank Drive Sheffield S10 5TH 0114 230 1870 peter.scott@ waterways.org.uk
Minutes Secretary (CM) Liz Pinder 152 High Street Yeadon Leeds LS19 7AB 01132 509371
Committee Member Mike Tucknott 4 Royds Avenue Birkenshaw Bradford BD11 2LD 07885 951099 Badges, Stamps & Raffle Ellen & Ailsa Sayles
Speaker Finders
Telephone Contact
Volunteer needed
Volunteer needed
Website David Mack
We need the following to continue doing what we have been doing Telephone Contact – Job description • Answer telephone enquiries (usually single figures in the year) • Pass on messages All you need is a telephone (land line or mobile) and knowing who can do what in the Branch Speaker Finder – Job description • Arrange speaker for 6 meetings per year. Check the week before that all is well Requirements • Telephone (land line or mobile) • Selecting suitable subjects and speakers from the IWA’s central list or from elsewhere. The committee will help with ideas. We already have speakers for 2014 and some ideas for 2015. 22
Directions to South Pennine Boat Club – information from the web site http://www.southpennineboatclub.co.uk/
By Road: Follow the A644 from Junction 25 of the M62 towards Dewsbury and Wakefield. Just before the Pear Tree Inn, turn right over the bridge labelled Battyford Toll bridge. The SPBC is on the left, through the gates before the second Bridge Buses: The 278 from Wakefield, Dewsbury and Mirfield for Brighouse & Halifax, stops outside the Pear Tree Inn. The 278 Bus from Halifax and Brighouse for Mirfield, Dewsbury & Wakefield stops across the road from the Pear Tree Inn. Buses to Leeds & Huddersfield (203) or Bradford (253) run from Mirfield town centre. Trains: Mirfield Station is about 1 mile from the club on the Huddersfield Line. It provides direct connections to Manchester, Huddersfield, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge, Leeds, Dewsbury and Wakefield. By Water: The SPBC is on the Calder & Hebble navigation by Battyeford Lock Taxi: Station Cars Tel 01924 490 444 Mirfield Cars Tel 01924 490 999 Central Cars Tel 01924 490 000 23
Programme of Open Meetings for 2014 All meetings take place at 8pm on the second Friday of the month in the clubhouse of the South Pennine Boat Club, Wood Lane, Mirfield WF14 0ED.
Friday 14 February
“Seesaws, slopes, slides and structures” - the principles behind canal science and engineering by Geoff Auty
Friday 14 March
“The Work of the RNLI” by Colin Senior
Friday 11 April
Annual General Meeting and talk by Denise Spence from the South Pennine Boat Club about the transformation of the site.
Friday 12 September
Historic Narrow Boat Club by David Lowe
Friday 10 October
River waterways of north-east England By John Pomfret
Friday 14 November
Community Boats
Friday 12 December
Christmas Social
All the meetings organised by the West Riding Branch are Open and everyone is invited. We are delighted to welcome any member of the general public and members are encouraged to bring their friends. To find out more about the waterways or the IWA come and join us at one of our meetings or visit the website http://www.waterways.org.uk
Front cover picture: Humber Princess at Rotherham Peter Scott
The views expressed in this publication are published as being of interest to our members and readers and are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of its West Riding Branch. The Inland Waterways Association Registered in England no 612245 Registered as a Charity No 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA 24 Tel: 01494 783453