IWA Milton Keynes Branch - Towpath Telegraph January 2025
Journal of the Inland Waterways Association’ s Milton Keynes Branch
EAST WEST RAIL CONSULTATION ONGOING GRAND UNION WATER TRANSFER SCHEME
EAST WEST RAIL CONSULTATION ONGOING GRAND UNION WATER TRANSFER SCHEME
NEWS FROM BCS, B&MKWT AND WCT ACTION ON SEWAGE DISCHARGES
NEWS FROM BCS, B&MKWT AND WCT ACTION ON SEWAGE DISCHARGES
NEW MK CANALS CHARITY
NEW MK CANALS CHARITY
Storm Bert breezed in at the end of November, and gave the Wyvern fleet and boatyard a seasonal dusting. More serious weather in September led to the flooding of the A421 and pointed to the role that the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway could play in flood management see Page 14. Photo: James Griffin.
A non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no.212342.
f Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/iwamiltonkeynesbranch/
Welcome to January 2025 Towpath Telegraph
As we were preparing this edition, Storm Bert brought an early look and feel of Christmas hereabouts at the end of November (see front cover), followed by Storms Conall and Darragh, all three with severe effects in some parts. This edition carries news of the consultations upon two projects affecting our local waterways, and much more. It may or may not be with you in time for Christmas, but in either case it comes with very best seasonal wishes from theBranchCommittee.
Chairman’s Column
Chris Howes
Grand Union Water Transfer Scheme
East West Rail consultation ongoing
Diary
IWA webinars and recorded talks
Corporate volunteering for BCS at all-time high
IWA Milton Keynes Branch Annual General Meeting
MP welcomes action on sewage discharges into watercourses
Congratulations to Northampton Branch
MK Canals charity builds on work of Canalside Forum
Wobbly!
WCT negotiates terms for restoration to re-start
WCT Calendar
Parks Trust to receive Sycamore Gap sapling
A421 closure boosts the case for B&MK Waterway
Electra is ready for Christmas
Look, no hands!
Rodney misses his birthday bash!
The Editor’s Page
with MK Branch
Chairman’s Column
This seems strange: drafting my column for this edition of TPT, with Christmas still three weeks away and not a thought given thereto in any serious manner!
Now, here is an analogy: for many years I was a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and had a particular interest in birds of prey and the many and varied breeds that inhabit our wetlands - the Broads, lakes, estuaries, marshland etc. I even enjoyed an RSPB holiday on a chartered retired Swedish grain carrier under sail on the East Coast creeks and rivers, visiting Halvergate Island, Minsmere etc (it sank the following year!). Gradually the RSPB's magazine changed in content and became much more diverse if not seemingly irrelevant to me in its search for increased membership, covering all manner of topics, with some reference to birds, if not directly about them. All important but not my specific interest, so I ceased my membership. But is this an example of possible dilution of effort? It has the worrying potential to reduce the input to lip service with nothing to show for it. I hope not.
IWA is very aware of the need to remain focused on its main objectives, but to remain effective it also is aware that it needs to attract and retain the support of the general publicable to demonstrate that the canals and rivers are not just a linear pleasure park for boat-
Can IWA retain its core purpose of protecting the waterways, and boost its appeal? . Photo: IWA.
owners but play a vital role in the local social infrastructure. We are all conscious that the canals need much extensive work just to keep standing still or better still reverse the decline that lack of funding has caused. A broadening of scope of its activities is maybe the path that IWA needs to follow - it is giving it much thoughtso as to appeal to a wider audience and become a stronger voice in protecting and promoting our inland waterways.
Chairman’s Column continued.
You will read on Page 12, and elsewhere, that the Milton Keynes Canalside Forum has ceased to operate, A pity in so many ways, but another indicator of the times in which we live. A new body, MK Canals, is being established as a charity, which will carry several advantages, and I wish it every success.
It is a year ago that I sold my boat. I cannot deny that on a balmy summer's day, and with all at peace around, it was hard to find fault with the concept, even if some hard graft to operate creaking canal hardware was needed on occasion. But I do not regret the decision taken at the time, and even on reflection consider that it was taken a year later than ideal. C'est la vie! For me, it is not the end of enjoyment of our waterways, more a step-change in how I enjoy them. Another reason to give thought as to how best to provide ongoing support and encouragement to the custodians of our waterways.
I hope you enjoy the festive season and that 2025 will be peaceful and prosperous for us all. Tim Armstrong, Branch Chairman.
Tim points to a dilemma that must face many organisations with declining membership. With access to the internet, many people especially young adults readily take up informal ties such as social media groups, but it’s less easy to persuade them to turn out to a meeting or commit to formal voluntary roles. Can IWA find a magic bullet for this? As for the RSPB, its magazine seems to have reversed its editorial policy somewhat a change that presumably reflects a change in campaigning strategy. Of the 82 pages in the Autumn/Winter edition, 59 carry editorial material. Of these, less than four deal with animals, insects, plants and fungi. Ed.
Beautiful pub with beer garden, located right by the canal in Fenny Stratford, Milton Keynes.
Food served daily (except Tuesday), lunchtimes and evenings. Real ale available.
Check out our social media pages for more information.
Web site: https://redlionfenny.co.uk Facebook: TheRedLionFennyLock
Chris Howes
IWA is deeply saddened at the death of IWA member and long-standing volunteer Chris Howes. A former Deputy National Chairman, Chris also served as Eastern Region Chair-
man and Peterborough Branch Chairman.
Chris spent much of his life living on or near the River Great Ouse and was a knowledgeable enthusiast for the area, having written the Imray guide to The River Great Ouse and its Tributaries. He also wrote the new Imray guide to the Fenland Waterways which covers the Middle Levels and both the Old and New Bedford rivers. His navigation notes are enriched with narrative and photographs to inspire more boaters to explore these fascinating navigations.
IWA Bulletin, December 2024.
Grand Union Water Transfer Scheme
In the last edition we reported that Richard Parry, CRT Chief Executive, addressing the Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Partnership Conference, had mentioned the water transfer scheme being promoted by CRT and two water utility companies, Severn Trent and Affinity Water. The scheme aims to bring water from the Midlands to the south-east, easing demands upon other sources such as environmentally sensitive chalk streams, and was the subject of a consultation during September and October, with exhibitions and pop-up events along the route.
B
P
H
Slapton Map from the gutransfer.co.uk web site, showing the shortlisted sites for water abstraction and treatment.
The scheme proposes to take water from a waste-water treatment works at Minworth, which normally discharges into the River Tame. Instead, it would be treated to a high standard, then pumped via a pipeline to the Coventry Canal at Atherstone. The water would then pass via the North Oxford and Grand Union Canals to an abstraction point and treatment plant at either Bletchley or Leighton Buzzard. From the chosen site, a pipeline would take water to an existing underground reservoir at Chaul End, Luton. Twenty-three sites for this facility have been whittled down to three, referred to as Sites B, H and P:
Site B: A site near Bletchley, partly fronting the canal opposite Willowbridge Marina, beside the A4146, for water treatment works and water storage. This site enables water to be taken out of the canal earlier than options south of Leighton Buzzard (see below), so avoids some of the work necessary to the canal further south, but would require a longer pipeline to the existing reservoir near Luton.
Site H: A site west of Slapton, partly fronting Horton Road, for water treatment works and water storage. This site would need a shorter pipeline to the existing reservoir near Luton,
Willowbridge Marina
LEIGHTON BUZZARD
Slapton Lock
Stoke Hammond Lock
Three Locks
Leighton Lock
Grand Union Water Transfer Scheme continued. but would require three additional pumping stations at Stoke Hammond, Three Locks and Leighton Lock.
Site P: A site southeast of Leighton Buzzard and west of Stanbridge, partly fronting Leighton Road, for a water treatment works only, combined with Site H as the water storage site only. This combination was considered to be a suitable option to take forward to consultation as an alternative to locating both the water storage and treatment works at Site H.
The balance of a longer pipeline versus additional pumping stations, as well as environmental and land issues, will influence the final choice for the abstraction site.
On 4 October, Sheila and I went along to the exhibition held at Astral Park, Leighton Buzzard. There we spoke to Graeme, a CRT Engineer from somewhere upcountry. He explained that between 80 and 115 million litres of water per day would be transferred through the system. This, if my arithmetic is correct, equates to between 422 and 608 broad lock-fuls per day.
The route entails getting the water past both ascending and descending locks or flights of locks. At ascent locations (Hillmorton, Braunston and Three Locks among others), pumping stations will be upgraded, with external appearance in sympathy with their locations. At the descents (Buckby, Stoke Bruerne and Cosgrove for example), new gravity bypasses, mostly concealed underground, would be built.
Visitors studying the proposals at the Astral Park exhibition on 4 October. Photo: Les Franklin.
Canal & River Trust views the scheme as bringing welcome investment to the canal system, safeguarding the interests of canal users. The consultation material was light on some details; for example it was not clear what would be the visual impact of the abstraction and treatment plant and other facilities upon the canal scene.
Graeme said that the flow would produce a current of no more that 0.3 metres per secondcomparable with that on the Llangollen Canal (which carries water from the Dee headwaters to a drinking-water reservoir at Hurleston Locks, Nantwich).
Graeme explained that this flow rate would give rise to a surface gradient, as is a natural river. On long pounds, this may entail raising towpath and offside banks by up to 400mm, especially at the points where water flows into the pounds. This in turn may mean raising some bridges to maintain navigation headroom. Studies are ongoing to assess these needs.
This first consultations closed on 25 October. A community update is expected in December, and a report upon how responses have influenced the scheme will be published early next year, with a further consultation during 2025. The scheme would be progressed under a Development Consent Order (DCO), followed by an “Examination in Public”. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2029, with completion by 2032. You can still view the consultation material at https://guctransfer.co.uk/ You can also see IWA’s response at: https://waterways.org.uk/about-us/news/engaging-with-the-grand-union-water-transfer-scheme
Les Franklin.
East West Rail consultation ongoing
Another non-statutory consultation is under way to inform residents and stakeholders of the developed proposals for East West Rail between Oxford and Cambridge via Bletchley. The section between Oxford and Bletchley is largely complete, and passenger services between Milton Keynes and Oxford via Bletchley, Winslow and Bicester are expected to begin next year.
The consultation nonetheless covers the whole route. Certain aspects remain to be settled for the Oxford-Bletchley section, but the emphasis for this consultation lies with the upgrade to the Marston Vale line (Bletchley to Bedford) section and the entirely new railway from Bedford to Cambridge. We have only considered the Marston Vale section here, where there are some aspects affecting local waterway interests.
The existing single track from Bletchley via Fenny Stratford to just east of the A5 will have double track re-instated. It is no longer proposed to close the level crossing at Simpson Road, which will remain as a through route. The crossing will be altered to take the double track, and the previously mooted footpath diversion via the canal offside at Fenny has been discarded. The existing railway bridge over the Grand Union will be retained, with some refurbishment.
At Ridgmont, options are being considered for either redeveloping the existing station or relocating it west of the M1. In each case, plans allow for the Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway route, which is relatively constrained here by the need to use the existing cattle creep under the motorway and development north of the station.
Other aspects of interest emerge from the consultation material. It is proposed to power the trains by “discontinuous electrification”. Much of the line will have overhead lines, but they will be interrupted where there are overhead obstructions such as bridges, and trains will use battery power to pass these gaps. One of the bridges over Saxon Street will be replaced, and an additional single-line bridge will be built beside the existing bridge over the A5.
There are 30 level crossings between Fenny Stratford and Bedford, many of which had been proposed for closure. Following community feedback. East West Rail now propose to retain 10 (plus 1 probable), and close 16 (plus 3 probable). Retention of some of the level crossings means that the maximum proposed line speed has been reduced from 100mph to 75mph.
Top: The cattle creep that constrains the B&MKW route near Ridgmont Station. Photo: Les Franklin. Above: If redeveloped, Ridgmont Station may be relocated to the west of the M1. Photo: Google Maps.
East West Rail consultation
ongoing continued. Some of the stations on the Marston Vale section have very low daily passenger numbers. Three options for the stations between Bletchley and Bedford are being considered:
Existing Stations option 1a – Retain all stations at their current locations and the current hourly train service. Two additional services per hour would operate between Oxford and Cambridge calling only at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington, Stewartby and Bedford St Johns. Stewartby would also have two additional services per hour to and from Cambridge.
Consolidated Stations option 2 - The stations at Fenny Stratford, Bow Brickhill, Aspley Guise, Millbrook and Kempston Hardwick would be closed, and four new (possibly relocated) stations with enhanced passenger facilities would be built at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington and Stewartby. Three services an hour in each direction would serve these stations, all of which would continue to Cambridge. Stewartby would also see one additional service per hour to and from Cambridge.
Hybrid Existing and Consolidated Stations Option 1b – This option is a hybrid of Options 1a and 2 which would provide new stations as Option 2 but also retain the existing slower, stopping service to call at the remaining existing stations. The service pattern would be the same as Option 1.
All consultation materials are at https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024
An online consultation event will be held on Thursday 9 January, 10am-12pm - see https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024#block-1851
Local in-person events are being held as follows: Wednesday 15 January, 2pm-7pm, Bletchley Masonic Centre, 263 Queensway, Bletchley, MK2 2BZ; Friday 17 January, 2pm-7pm, The Summerlin Centre, 138 Station Rd, Woburn Sands, MK17 8SG.
This consultation runs until 24 January 2025. A statutory consultation will be held at a later date. East West Rail will apply to the Secretary of State for Transport for a Development Consent Order (DCO), which would give consent to build and operate the new railway between Bedford and Cambridge and the upgrades to the existing line between Oxford and Bedford.
Excellent Boats on a Beautiful Canal
Our base at Linslade is within weekend reach of the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne, or the Chiltern Hills and Aylesbury. Choice of exciting one- or two-week cruises including the Thames. 35 luxury boats, 2 to 8 berth.
Members of IWA, APCO, BMF, B&MK Waterway Trust, Wendover Arm Trust, Buckingham Canal Society, Aylesbury Canal Society
Information from East West Rail web site, November 2024.
Our 2024-25 season of Branch meetings continues at Bletchley Conservative Club. Non-members are always welcome, including at the AGM in February, although they cannot vote. At each meeting we ask for a voluntary donation towards expenses, which buys you tickets for the raffle. Our own events are listed below in bold type. Selected events organised by others are in regular type.
From V7 Saxon Street, near Bletchley Station, at Princes Way Roundabout (near Lidl store), turn off into Princes Way.
After 50 yards, turn right into Albert Street, then bear left at miniroundabout.
Follow Albert Street to end, and turn left into Queensway.
Take 1st left into Oxford Street.
Take 1st right into CawkwellWay. Take 1st right into Bedford Street.
Way Roundabout
Bletchley Conservative Club 105 Queensway Bletchley MK2 2DN
Please note that Cawkwell Way, although two-way, is narrow in parts. The route given uses as little of it aspossible. On leaving the car park,Bedford Streetisone-way, so please turnleft and thenintoQueensway. Alsoshownisthepedestrianroute(10minutes)fromBletchleyStation.
Thursday 16 January 2025, 7.45pm.
Saturday 25 January 10am-4pm
Tuesday 11 February 2.30pm
Thursday 20 February, 7.45pm
Tuesday 11 March 1.30pm
IWA MK Branch Meeting: Wildlife talk by Lewis Dickinson, The Parks Trust.
Learn basic signwriting techniques with Colin Dundas. One-day workshop; go away with your very own painted sign. For all levels and abilities (ages 16+). £80 per person, includes unlimited tea and coffee, and all materials. Pre-booking essential at: https://canalrivertrust.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/61836?catID=59272 The Learning Centre, The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne, NN12 7SE
IWA Northampton Branch Meeting
Discovering the Newport Pagnell Canal, with Roger Butler, well-known waterway speaker.
Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne, NN12 7SB
IWA MK Branch Annual General Meeting (Agenda: see Page 11), and Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Update.
Our Ancient Woodlands: a Parks Trust Walk and Talk at Linford Wood. Ages 12+ (under 18s must be accompanied). £5, pre-book at: https://www.theparkstrust.com/events/walk-talk-our-ancient-woodlands/ Linford Wood car park, Enfield Chase, MK14 6PB
Princes
Brunel Roundabout
Bletchley
Lidl store
continued.
Thursday 20 March, 7.45pm
March / April, Date to be announced
Tuesday 8 April
2.30pm
IWA MK Branch Meeting: Speaker Kay Andrews, topic to be announced.
IWA MK Branch Canal Clean-up, subject to Canal & River Trust approval. Arrangements to be announced.
IWA Northampton Branch Meeting: "Songs from the Back Cabin", with Denise Dryburgh and Phil Underwood, performing folk/roots music and canal songs, taking us back to the historic canal heydays!
Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne, NN12 7SB
Thursday 17 April, 7.45pm
IWA MK Branch Meeting: Talk by Ros Daniels, Canal & River Trust.
Find all IWA events at: https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events
IWA webinars and recorded talks
Many IWA Branches are still offering their “in person” meetings as Zoom webinars. For up-to-date details of most IWA events, please visit the main IWA events page at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events
Please also check the following links, where additional events, and recordings of past talks and meetings are available, sometimes at quite short notice: https://www.waterways.org.uk/iwa-tv
IWA-TV: Most future live stream events are posted here, also on-demand videos recorded from recent meetings or webinars. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ROBJ6rpm_41BSmu-Glf2Q
IWA’s Youtube channel carries videos of past meetings - there is some overlap with IWA TV.
Joining a webinar “live” is easy, using a desktop computer, tablet or smart phone.
* Go to one of the links above. The webinars are listed in date order; each has a "Book now" link, which takes you to more details about the meeting. Click the“Register now” button.
* Fill in the online form that appears, and click the "Register" button. You can do this well in advance of the start time. You should receive an email with a simple“Click here to join” link.
* The webinar opens in your browser. For “live” webinars with audience participation, make sure that your camera and microphone are connected.
If you are unable to join a meeting “live”, you can see all previous webinars and video presentations at one of the addresses in this panel.
Six short videos are on offer to view via links on the Canal & River Trust web site. TV presenters Dan Snow and Mark Evans discover what it takes to look after the canal system.
1 Lock 74 Middlewich: Mark Evans watches work on lock gates, walls and bridges;
2 Tees Barrage: Mark Evans sees a midnight dive at this flood protection facility;
3 Fradley Junction: Mark Evans discovers what is involved in large-scale dredging works;
4 Stoke Bruerne: Dan Snow views lock gates being refurbished;
5 Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: Dan Snow visits the dewatered aqueduct;
6 Oxford Bridges: Mark Evans learns how hydraulic rams are being fitted to some of the Oxford Canal's lift bridges.
Buckingham Canal Society has received more offers of help this year than any time in the past from corporate groups wanting to join us for team building and ‘volunteering days. So far this year thirtyone groups, including seven from Santander, have joined us working at both our Cosgrove and Bourton Meadow sites.
At Bourton Meadow, work has been mainly keeping the canal bed clear of an excess of weeds and regrowth of reeds. Luckily the weather has been warm, so people were very happy to don waders and venture into the canal to remove the excess of reeds. Hedges have also been strimmed and the towpath cleared.
Nowadays we are able to offer a ‘Green Gym’ service to volunteers which is our new project and has proved to be very popular.
At Cosgrove the main focus has been at the land drain site where we are installing a water capture chamber. Some (possibly forty) years ago, the local farmer installed land drains to take away water which flowed into his field from springs by the road leading into Cosgrove village. The drains joined up into a single pipe which cut through the canal bed, destroying the clay lining. This will have to be reinstated to make the canal watertight once again. The pipe has degraded and broken and our repairs will include the construction of a chamber to capture the water which can then be pumped up into the canal as an extra water supply. The surplus water will cascade into a second chamber and will escape down the existing exit channel on its way to the brook.
Unfortunately there has been no progress in getting permission to work at our Hyde Lane Nature Reserve site. We still have no access to this site with tools and equipment and there have been complaints on Facebook and by email about the bad state of this site by members of the public walking along the Ouse Valley Way. We are still working to resolve this issue by talking to local parish councils and others who may be able to help. Athina Beckett.
Volunteers wading in at Bourton Meadow. Photo: BCS.
IWA Milton Keynes Branch Annual General Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Milton Keynes Branch of the Inland Waterways Association will take place on Thursday 20 February 2025, at 7.45pm at Bletchley Conservative Club, 105 Queensway, Bletchley, MK2 2DN.
Agenda (please have this Notice handy):
1: Apologies for absence;
2: Approval of minutes of AGM held on 15 February 2024;
3: Matters arising;
4: Chairman's report;
5: Secretary's report;
6: Treasurer's report, and accounts for
year ending 31 December 2024;
7: Members’ resolutions (any resolutions should be sent to the Chairman six weeks prior to the AGM, i.e. by 9 January 2025);
8: Election of Committee members.
After the formal business, there will be an opportunity for members' questions on IWA issues topics at the discretion of the Chairman.
Under the IWA Branch Byelaws, last amended 11 June 2011, there is no restriction on the maximum size of the Committee. David Tucker resigned from the Committee during the year. Pete Bickers and Wesley Harrison, elected 2022, retire by rotation and seek reelection. Any corrections to the above will be announced at the meeting. Candidates for election or re-election must be members of the Association. It is no longer necessary for those who wish to be elected to be nominated and seconded, but all who wish to stand must agree to do so.
(Signed:) Diane Witts, Branch Secretary.
MP welcomes action on sewage discharges into watercourses
Alex Mayer, Labour Member of Parliament for Dunstable & Leighton Buzzard, has joined with Feargal Sharkey, 1980s pop star turned clean water campaigner, in welcoming plans to force water companies to improve
Pixabay.
their performance regarding discharge of sewage into watercourses. Ms Mayer reports that 2023 saw a 96% increase in discharge incidents.
She states that in 2023, over 2,160 hours worth of untreated sewage were pumped into the Ouzel Brook from the Stanbridgeford Sewerage Treatment Works east of Leighton Buzzard. Downstream, a further 385 hours worth of sewage were discharged into the River Ouzel from the Leighton Buzzard Water Recycling Centre. Information from MP's flyer distributed in Leighton Buzzard, November 2024.
Congrats to Northampton Branch
Two awards came to IWA Northampton Branch at the Association’s AGM in September. The Branch Achievement Award was made for its exceptional work on the Northampton Arm, transforming it into a thriving space for boaters and walkers, while supporting local schools, artists, and community groups. Chairman Bernard Morton received a Richard Bird medal for his inspirational leadership of the Branch, bringing out the bestinhisteam.
IWA web site, October 2024.
Photo:
MK Canals charity builds on work of Canalside Forum
Building on the work of the former Milton Keynes Canalside Forum, MK Canals is a new charity that wants to promote use and development of the canals in Milton Keynes. It covers the Buckingham Canal, the Grand Union from Cosgrove to Soulbury, the disused Newport Pagnell Canal, and the planned Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway. It has these stated aims:
* To preserve and promote the canals in and near Milton Keynes, so securing the canals as a public amenity and a facility for recreation and other leisure-time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life for the public at large;
* To promote the education of the public in the history and use of canals and waterways, in particular those in and around Milton Keynes;
* To promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the canals in and near Milton Keynes by promoting biological diversity.
There are four founder Trustees who bring a wealth of waterway experience:
David Wolfson (chair), a canal boater who has run successful charities in Milton Keynes and nationally and was a founder member of the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust; John Best, a Director of the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust and Chair of Arts Gateway MK.;
Terry Cavender, a Trustee of Buckingham Canal Society; Jane Wolfson, moving spirit behind the Electra Community Boat.
The charity has inherited a wish-list from the Canalside Forum. This includes new electric bollards on accessible moorings at Wolverton, Fenny Stratford and Cosgrove, and good use of the Campbell Wharf moorings. It also wants to create a history of the local canals and their impact on Milton Keynes, for the use of schools and other interested groups.
It intends to co-ordinate and organise works with partners who also want to get things done. It expects to work with local councils, The Parks Trust, Crest Nicholson, Canal & River Trust, the IWA as well as many charities, businesses, organisations and individuals. All these groups want to see improvements, and the charity will seek to bring them together and to get projects started. Charitable status (registration number 1208322) will give MK Canals the advantage of being able to apply for grants from funders for its projects.
Visit the charity’s web site at https://www.mkcanals.org Email: trustees@mkcanals.org Wobbly!
Attractive roving trading boat Wobbly is a familiar sight on the Grand Union anywhere north of Watford, selling food and drink to passers-by. In the summer, Softserve ice cream, slushies and cold drinks are popular, but in the winter Alan and Tina sell tea, coffee, bacon sandwiches, and bacon, Brie and caramelised onion toasted bagels. At the moment they also have a variety of fudges, cheeses and chutneys in stock, as well as Christmas hampers.
At time of writing they're open for business at Bolbeck Park, north of Bridge 79D, but it's easy to find them wherever they are. Either go to their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/narrowboatwobbly or track narrowboat Wobbly at: https://trackme.nebo.global/?link=1RAV5XH1DB6UNZ15GZFA86TKLIZ
Wendover Canal Trust negotiates terms for restoration to re-start
Restoration work on the Wendover Arm is still paused, but Wendover Canal Trust is in the process of agreeing Heads of Terms with Canal & River Trust as a step towards re-starting work. At time of writing, Wendover Canal Trust was seeking a solicitor to look at the current draft and advise of any risks.
The next WCT newsletter was due for publication in December but, with a meeting with CRT expected to take place on 10 December, it will now be published in January.
On a sunny 16 September, as part of the Chiltern Society Heritage Festival, twenty Society members took part in a guided walk along the Wendover Canal, followed by tea at Halton Tennis Club. The event was a chance for members, including those using mobility aids, to explore the newly upgraded towpath between Halton and The Wides. It was also an opportunity for those attending to learn about the origins of RAF Halton. Copies of the Wendover Canal Trust's newsletter were distributed, with the aim of encouraging more people to join the Trust and support its restoration efforts.
A relatively new page on the WCT web site (i.e. your Editor had not spotted it before) describes the heritage features on the Wendover Arm. The page begins at Wendover with the Water Flow Gauge that measures inflow from the Wendover Springs, takes in the Wides, Rothschild Bridge, the restored Whitehouses installation, Bridge 4, Little Tring Bridge, Tringford Stop Lock and Pumping Station, and ends with the Flour Mill at Gammel Bridge and the site of Bushell's Boatyard. For each feature, the entry includes a location as text and what3words reference, some history, and links to further resources. Visit the page at: https://wendovercanal.org.uk/wendover-canal-home-page/key-benefits/heritage/
Information from WCT web site and email to WCT members, November 2025.
WCT Calendar
Wendover Canal Trust's patron Sir David Suchet has got his copy of the Trust's 2025 Calendar! You too can help the Trust's restoration work bybuyingit.
The Calendar brings you 14 full-colour seasonal views of features of the Wendover Arm or its rich wildlife and scenery. Layout is improved, with more space for appointments, anniversaries, etc. The A4 size Calendar comes in its own protectiveenvelope.
The price is £9.95 including 2nd class UK postage. Placeyourorderat: https://square.link/u/xXJr176E
Parks Trust to receive Sycamore Gap sapling
The National Trust has selected The Parks Trust as a recipient of one of the 49 “Tree of Hope” saplings propagated from the stump of the Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, that was felled by vandals in September 2023. The saplings are currently being cared for at The National Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre, and they should be ready to plant out in winter 2025/26.
The Parks Trust was among nearly 500 applicants for the saplings–one to represent each foot in height of the felled tree. The saplings will all be planted in publicly accessible spaces. The Parks Trust has identified a location in Stanton Low Park, which is bisected by the Grand Union Canal, and features ancient landmarks including the 12th Century remains of St Peter’s Church and underground remains of Stantonbury Manor house.
Information from the Parks Trust web site, November 2024.
A421 closure boosts the case for B&MK Waterway
On 22 September, a month's worth of rain fell on part of the A421 between Milton Keynes and Bedford in under 48 hours, closing it for three weeks. This forcefully made the case for the Waterway Park's role in flood and drought management, and water transfer.
Speaking to the BBC on 11 October, Simon Clewlow, chair of Bedford & Milton Keynes
Waterway Trust said that “the time for this project has come . . . water could be held where it is wanted, mitigating the impact of flooding and water shortages and providing a continuous thread for nature through the area . . . The Waterway Park is already in all relevant local authority plans, and the next stage is for a demonstration section of the waterway park to be built in the Wootton area of Bedford.”
Electra is ready for Christmas
Information and photo from B&MKWT email, October 2024.
From 19 November, Electra has been dressed for Christmas! Choose from a late morning Mince Pie & Mulled Wine cruise at £24, or a lunchtime Festive Fish & Bubbles (Prosecco) cruise at £31. Electra Gift Cards, valid for 12 months, are also a perfect Christmas online gift. Select the value of your choice and let the recipients choose their cruise.
For family birthdays or celebrations, the Electra team can hold a date for you until January when the 2025 programme is published. For groups of six people or more, on any date with no prior bookings you can charter Electra all to yourselves and add just the food you need. Email bookings.electra@bmkwaterway.org
During 2024, Electra worked with 7 schools and 1 Cubs’ group, on a total of 32 trips. Some trips were just for the experience, others were linked to the school curriculum. In 2025 the Electra team aims to double the number of schools/youth groups it works with. Trips run from Great Linford, Fenny Stratford, and Campbell Wharf. At Campbell Wharf, on-shore learning facilities can be made available.
Information and photo from B&MKWT email, October 2024.
Look, no hands!
David Johns, who produced a video about Milton Keynes Branch's 2023 Canal Clean-up (see https://youtu.be/Npw7q9PrTCY), has made another one for his Youtube channel. Entitled Click & Collect, it portrays a 60-foot diesel/electric hybrid narrowboat with remote control, commissioned from Braidbar Ltd by Jill Gregory. Jill is a solo boater and, although ablebodied, does not relish climbing lock ladders! She is seen using her hand-held remote to control the boat, piloting it into a lock to ascend, controlling it as the water rises, then moving it out of the lock. The tiller is tied centrally, and the boat is controlled entirely with its electric propulsion motor and bow thruster. After winding, the descent through the same lock is shown. See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCD83cHdZ_E&t=15s
Rodney misses his birthday bash!
Congratulations to former Branch Social Secretary and Publicity Office Rodney Evans, who celebrated his 90th birthday in September. The Branch had arranged a surprise trip for him on 26 September aboard the Community Boat Electra, followed by lunch at the Red Lion, but unfortunately Rodney was not well enough to join us.
There was nothing to be done but take the booked trip and eat the booked lunch in the absence of Rodney and Wendy! The ten of us aboard Electra were joined by more friends at the Red Lion, where Rodney’s health was toasted with all due solemnity. The Branch sends very best wishes to both Rodney and Wendy for the festive season and the New Year. Text and photo: Les Franklin.
The Editor’s Page
Two consultations affecting our local waterways, for the Grand Union Water Transfer Scheme (now closed) and for the East West Rail upgrade (ongoing as we go to press), have given much food for thought. Both of these are/were nonstatutory the statutory consultations come later.
As I remark on Page 5, the material presented for the Water Transfer Scheme seemed a little light on detail in some respects, but perhaps that is not surprising given that principles are still being explored at this stage. I imagine that many would share my misgivings when a proposal to tinker with the canal system is made: we are afraid that its 200-year-old character, which is so much part of its appeal, will be lost. The most worrying aspect is perhaps the need to cater for a gradient (which will be most evident on the longest pounds), entailing raising the banks where the transfer water enters them.
By comparison, the East West proposals (see Pages 6 - 7) are more advanced, with feedback already in from the previous consultation. There are still many options on the table, especially regarding which stations on the Marston Vale section will stay open and which might be re-sited, but the choices are made quite clear. Those who live in Fenny Stratford will be glad that the proposal to sever Simpson Road, along with the possibility of a long footpath diversion via the canal, has been discarded. The problem of running an express railway with over 30 level crossings in a few miles is obvious, and some of them will have to be closed or altered. However, the effect upon the B&MK Waterway Park seems to be local and minimal at this stage.
When it does come to the detail, there is a Golden Rule that should be followed by all (individuals or organisations) who comment upon developers’ proposals: know exactly what you want. Some years ago, when Aylesbury Vale District Council decided to transform Aylesbury Basin and re-locate the Aylesbury Canal Society at Circus Field, the Society's members commissioned their own detail plans for their new home but - if I remember correctly - they never, ever showed them to the developers. They very wisely used these plans purely to aid them in commenting in utmost detail upon the developers' own proposals!
With all good wishes for Christmas and the New Year, Les Franklin, Editor.
Getting in touch with MK Branch
We look forward to welcoming members and friends to our 2025 meetings. It’s not too late to put yourself forward for election at the AGM in February. We are still looking to fill the vacant posts shown here please talk to Tim Armstrong if you think you can help.
Chairman: TIM ARMSTRONG tim.armstrong@waterways.org.uk
Trade Representative: JAMES GRIFFIN james@canalholidays.co.uk
Social Secretary: MARIE DRAPER marie239@btinternet.com
Committee member: WESLEY HARRISON wesley.harrison@waterways.org.uk
Vice-Chairman VACANT
Volunteer Contact: VACANT
Clean-up Supervisor: VACANT
ADVERTISEMENTS are welcomed to assist Branch funds. Charges are as below and are subject to VAT. Payment must be made before copy date to ensure insertion. Please contact the Editorforfurtherdetails.
Whole page Half page Qutr page
Per edition
£32.50
£20.00
£12.50
3 editions
£65.00
£40.00
£25.00
Education Officer: VACANT
Webmaster and Social Media: EMMA CASWELL (non-Committee) emma.caswell@waterways.org.uk
Planning Officer: PETER CASWELL (non-Committee) peter.caswell@waterways.org.uk
Editor and Publicity: LES FRANKLIN (non-Committee) les.franklin@waterways.org.uk
Fenny Lock Adoption Scheme: MIKE HARPER (non-Committee) Contact via Diane Witts
NEW MEMBERS should receive a welcome contact from our Membership Secretary Pete Bickers. We very much hope to see you at our Branch meetings and other events please introduce yourselves to one of our Committee members (those wearing IWA badges).
Get the latest waterway news at these web sites. Addresses can change, but these were correct on 12 November 2024. IWA homepage:
MK Branch pages: MK Branch Facebook page: Canal and River Trust: Bedford-MK Waterway Trust: Buckingham Canal Society: Wendover Canal Trust: Friends of the Canal Museum:
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of the Milton Keynes Branch. They are however publishedas being of interest to members and readers.
