Essex Waterways Update Since my last report the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation has remained busy with people coming to canoe, paddleboard, take a trip on one of our trip boats or just visiting for a walk or experience. All this is in addition to our boating customers. Income from canoe and paddleboard licences continues to increase with much of this being captured by our River Warden on regular patrol. Trip boats Albert at Paper Mill and Blackwater Dawn at Heybridge Basin have been operating both charter trips and ticket trips on a daily basis. We are fortunate to have several really dedicated volunteer skippers and crew that make this possible. Victoria has also been operating charter trips again. Our trip boat operations have been expanded to operate a new service on the rivers in the centre of Chelmsford. This is a joint venture with One Chelmsford which represents nearly 500 businesses within the City centre to deliver projects and initiatives to ensure that Chelmsford remains the county’s premier destination to live, work and visit. Because of the several low bridges on both rivers a new open boat has been purchased for the venture. This can accommodate 10 -12 passengers and is usually crewed by our volunteer skippers. The aim is to run every day during the school summer holidays and then on weekends while there is a demand. When operating, tickets are sold from an ice cream tricycle in Backnang Square where the trips start. They run down the River Chelmer and then up the River Can through Central Park to the railway viaduct and returning taking about 45 to 50 minutes. The inaugural trip included both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford.
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