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Dunhamstead Tunnel Worcester & Birmingham Canal By John G Carlaw
Disclaimer: The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this Newsletter but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed herein may be construed as policy or official announcement unless stated otherwise. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the Newsletter The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor House, Chesham HP5 1WA 1
Content From The Editor Dennis Padfiled Can You Help From The Regional Chairman Autumn Break
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Chelmsford Canal & River Link Between The Storms Essex Waterways Update JustFor Fun Branch Committee
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From The Editor I hope you all had a good Christmas. The thank you notes have been gratefully sent and the turkey is now a memory of the table of festivities. Wrapping paper has been safely rolled away into the back of the wardrobe for another year. Work continued throughout 2020, along the Navigation, following the various operational guidelines appertaining Coronavirus, in preparation for all to maximise its use when weather and tiering are suitable. With 2020 ending with a sign of relief and 2021 starts it’s shaky journey under restrictions, people being requested to keep their distance and you can walk into a bank with a face mask on, I wish you all the very best for the New Year. We still need you to dig out those photographs, write that article, document those waterway memories as we would still like to increase our contributors to the next Newsletter. Last inputs for Spring Newsletter 21/03/2021. For those on e-mail please send your input to chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk Those without just give me a call. 07837 576464. Dennis Padfield We sadly report the sudden and unexpected death of Dennis Padfield. His death was not Covid19 related. Dennis was a Branch Committee member and our Publicity Officer and he spent much time promoting IWA and Essex Waterways work both along the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation and county wide. His narrowboat ‘Jayden’ was regularly seen at events on the waterway displaying numerous photographs of the Navigation with Dennis on hand to interact with passersby. He was an enthusiastic speaker on waterway topics and a friendly character who will be sadly missed. We offer our sincere condolences to his partner Jayne. Branch Secretary Can You Help The minute taker of the London Region Planning & Conservation Group (‘LRPCG’) has resigned for personal reasons and we are need someone to replace them. Generally meeting four times a year, under the leadership of Hugh Pearman, the LRPCG acts as a forum to allow branch planning and heritage officers to share information and experience, bringing planning and conservation issues together across the London Region. If you are interested in planning or conservation and want a gentle introduction to the work we do in the London Region this is the job for you. Please give me a call if you can help. Paul Strudwick London Region Chairperson 2
From The Regional Chairman To start with, I would like to wish you and your family all the best for the New Year. In the dark days of winter, in the middle of a lockdown caused by Covid 19, it is difficult to remember how much we enjoy the Inland Waterways. Hopefully this year things will get better and we will be able to get out and about enjoying the waterways, be it walking, boating or working with WRG restoring them. The day-to-day work of the Association continues through these strange times and covers a huge range of activity, and I thought you would be interested in two of the campaigns proposed as IWA’s national campaigning activity for 2021, and where we will need your help. The first campaign is to Get Waterways to Net Zero to support the Government’s target of zero net carbon emissions by 2050. This year we need to start lobbying central and local government and navigation authorities to invest in such things such as electric charging points so boaters can start having confidence that they can use electric powered boats. The second National campaign where we need your help is one to conserve and protect the waterways. Many of our waterways are coming under pressure from new developments and we need to try and mitigate the impact these have. One of our aspirations is to see Conservation Area status or other increased protection for all navigable waterways. Whilst your local branch is well supported in this work, we do need more help at regional and national level. If you are interested in helping us please contact either Molly or myself. Recently, I had to change my computer and whilst moving documents from the old one, I came across a document produced in 2008 on the history of IWA’s involvement on the Chelmer and Blackwater. I thought members might find it interesting: Bulletin 13 (1948) reported that Robert Aickman had written to the Proprietors; and had received the following reply: "Dear Sir, I am obliged by your letter of 16th inst., with enclosures. Mr.Roughton is a personal friend of mine and I think I may say that this company as well as its Secretaries appreciate the work you are doing but we are inclined to think that the matter is really one of Politics in which this Company cannot usefully join. Personally I consider that you are fighting for a cause which is really already lost and I feel that the Nationalisation of all main lines of transport renders your task still more difficult. This Company is not really able to sympathise with the attitude you take up with regard to the river Chelmer. There is no other available source of water for the Town of Chelmsford and we feel that the Town must be supplied with water. All we have asked for is that the additional expense to which this Company is put should be met by the Corporation. We are not for one minute suggesting that the Town should not have water it needs. Yours faithfully, (signed) FRANCIS F. STUNT."
What Robert had said to cause such a sharp response is not recorded but Bulletin 13 continues "In considering this reply, Members. will further recall that what in effect the Association offers to the Proprietors, as to others seeking a livelihood in the inland waterways industry, is advocacy of their cause with the general public and presentation of their case to the authorities, both things supported with all the prestige of a completely disinterested organization and offered virtually free of charge." Seventy years on we still continue promoting the case for the waterways to the general public and local and national government. The prestige and standing of the association that these pioneers built and which you support, still has important work to do if we are to handover a vibrant and flourishing network to our children and grandchildren. Paul Strudwick London Region Chair Person
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Autumn Break Having missed our pilgrimage to the south of France, Pam and I, booked a week away on a canal boat. So we packed our bags and drove to Worcester Marina to pick up a 66 foot long narrow boat. Six berth semi traditional narrowboat powered by a water cooled diesel engine. A full radiator central heating with radio / CD. There are also TV’s, not that we will be laying in bed to watch. We might need to use the central heating as it was the end of October.
Arriving at the Worcester Marina at one thirty we unloaded the car and had our welcome and canal / boat safety induction, then our stem to stern introduction to the running of the narrow boat. The photographs show our canal boat for the week being the second from the quay.
We cast off at 14:30, turning to port from the marina on to the Worcester and Birmingham canal. A bit of a tight manoeuvre as you had to reverse from the narrow turning hole to straighten the boat before being able to proceed along the canal in the direction of Birmingham. Mooring up in the twilight, at Tibberton, we secured the boat and ventured along the tow path to The Bridge Inn. A handsome traditional canal side local village pub serving real ale and good food. As the clocks had lost an hour and our body clocks still on summer time, we were up and on our way by 8am on the Sunday. We enjoyed a pleasant morning cruise though the Worcestershire country side. The sun did appear for a short period and the autumnal colours displayed a pleasing back drop as we passed though the cuttings.
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Autumn Break (cont)
Passing though Oddingley the guide book reminded us that the village only consisted of little more than an ancient manor house, a tiny church, and a level crossing. Murderous goings on occurred here in Andy Griffee’s authentically inland waterway based thriller ‘Canal Pushers’. Leaving Hanbury Wharf, with its inland waterways light house, we continue past the Droitwich Junction to the Ashwood Locks.
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Autumn Break (cont)
On leaving the six Ashwood Locks we passed the site of the old salt works. Abandoned in 1939, it has now been regenerated in to an housing estate
The intermittent rain did not spoil our spirits as we continued, Pam occasionally on foot, between the sets of Stoke Locks to our night mooring opposite The Queens Head.
Room enough, just, for half a dozen boats to moor so we where pleased that we stopped early and booked a table for our evening meal. Like many establishments we followed the track and trace and the restaurant had maximised the space to provide internal and external (heated) seating. Providing a selection of real ale and quality food, an enjoyable way to end the days journey. Leaving early on the Monday we set off to tackle the 30 Tardebigge Locks to climb 217 feet and on route offering views to the Malvern Hills. The guide mentions that Tardebigge holds a special place in the story of the Inland Waterways movement. It was here that Robert Aickman and his wife made their way from Bromsgrove railway station to meet Tom and Angela Rolt aboard their narrow boat Cressy which had been moored above the top lock throughout the Second World War. As a direct result of their meeting the Inland Waterways Association was formed.
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Autumn Break (cont)
The following morning we had no locks but two tunnel, Tardebigge and Short Wood. The first being 680 yds (530 m) and the second 613 yds (560 metres), heading to our turn around point of Alvechurch.
Along the route we were treated to some cuttings, and picturesque autumnal scenes.
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Autumn Break (cont) After a short stop for lunch we continued back to Tardebigge for the night so that the following day we would have an early start for our return trip down the 30 Tardebigge locks. Our journey back down the Tardebigge Locks took us 4 3/4 hours. Which the two of us agreed was a good days effort and allowed us to stop and book a table in The Queens Head for a well earned evening meal and a beer or two. We were now left with two days of leisurely boating. Starting off with the Stoke Locks, a set of four.
As we were leaving Stoke Prior there reference was made to the Harris Brushes whose pig bristle paint brushes are apparently much revered by the Royal Family. Along the canal past Stoke Wharf there is a selection of floating dry docks for the building and repair of canal boats. Just past the main workshop is a collection of alternative houses that are made from shipping containers. Looks a very nice community. The six at Ashwood past Hanbury Wharf and though the short Dunhapstead tunnel 236 yds (215 m) . Our over night stop was back at Tibberton and the Bridge Inn. Leaving Friday morning to complete the four hours back to the Worcester Marina
We arrived back at Worcester Marina on Friday afternoon and although it did rain we had a very rewarding and enjoyable time covering 20 miles, 53 bridges, 3 tunnels and 54 locks in each direction over six days of our autumn break. John G Carlaw 8
Chelmsford Canal and River Link Earlier in the year I reported that the Environment Agency no longer consider the automatic weir in Chelmsford to be necessary for flood defence purposes and they proposed to discontinue its maintenance. The function of the weir is to maintain the water levels in the city centre while opening automatically to release excess water downstream when levels increase. Without the weir the rivers in the city centre would become unsightly muddy ditches with the current canoe and boating uses impossible. Springfield Basin is fed from the rivers and without the current maintained river level, the water would disappear from the basin making the wharf walls vulnerable to collapse and navigation and use impossible. The setting and visual outlook from all the recently constructed apartments would also be lost. It is therefore vital that the current levels of the rivers are maintained. Chelmsford City Council commissioned reports on the IWA and Essex Waterways preferred scheme to link Springfield Basin with the rivers in the city centre via a new canal cut and the alternative of constructing a new lock alongside the automatic weir while also replacing the automatic gates. Subsequent to these the Council decided that the lock plan was the most affordable, realistic and practical solution. IWA and Essex Waterways have therefore fully supported this proposal as an alternative to the new canal cut as a new lock is preferable to no link at all. Finding a solution to retaining the water levels in the city centre rivers has been identified as an urgent priority by the Council. The replacement of the automatic gates and construction of a new lock is estimated to cost £6m. This would however be part of the wider regeneration of Chelmer Waterside which has been identified in the Chelmsford Local Plan as a strategic growth area with a capacity for a further 970 new homes. The Council has secured up to £10.7m from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund to tackle constraints in developing this site which has problems of access, land contamination and the presence of high pressure gas mains.
A new access road and bridge over the River Chelmer to replace the existing Bailey bridge is an essential part of the scheme and an initial consultation was received from the Council for the new bridge. Our consideration of this concluded that whilst it was thought that the design of the new bowstring bridge was appropriate, the actual position of this would prejudice the positioning of the proposed new lock. As a consequence the lock would be more expensive to construct, the existing weir structure could be weakened and entry to the lock would be difficult.
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Chelmsford Canal and River Link (cont) Working with CRACL (Chelmsford River and Canal Link group), a solution to this was suggested and subsequent meetings with the Council and their consultants have resulted in adjustments to the bridge design. The Council will now proceed with the submission of a planning application for the bridge. At their recent Cabinet Meeting the Council unanimously agreed to support the next stage of the project and approved the expenditure of £107k on further detailed investigation work for the automatic gate replacement and the new lock. This will involve survey work to find out the condition of the weir structure below the water level. We will continue to work with the Council’s Waterways Working Group to share our expertise and hopefully see this scheme and other waterway improvements to fruition. Meanwhile redevelopment of the Chelmer Waterside area is continuing with all the new residential blocks on the Taylor Wimpey site taking shape and landscaping along the Navigation underway. So, some thirty five years after IWA produced its “Springfield Basin ...and beyond” report that proposed redevelopment of Chelmer Waterside, restoring Springfield Basin and linking this to the rivers, we are seeing some potential progress.
The automatic weir and location for the new locks (below)
Roy Chandler 10
Between The Storms August 2020 Looking forward to another boating trip we headed to Brinklow Marina on Thursday 20th August, arriving with our tea from the Newbold Chippy. They have an excellent choice and we have had some lovely take outs from there before. Being only five minutes from our marina it is very handy and saves me cooking when we arrive at the boat, the dogs enjoy a bit of sausage as a treat on their tea too. The weather forecast was predicting Storm Ellen. At 02:45 I was woken by the very high winds, then at 03:15 John also woke when our aerial fell down. John had to go out and rescue it. We were both awake for a while but managed a bit of a lie in to catch up on our sleep. During Friday morning the wind blew and made waves in the main area of the marina and our boat was rocking well. John spent some time checking our engine bay after a recent service. Then he had to rescue me from our wet room, the door handle came off in my hand locking me in, fortunately it was only due to a loose bolt and was soon fixed. With the wind still gusting, intermittent heavy showers, and sunshine, we decided it was safer to stay in the marina for the day. It gave us the opportunity to play Scrabble, something we hadn't done for a long time. It was a very relaxing day, and we managed dog walks in the dry, sunny spells, it was just great to be on the boat. Saturday dawned with sun, cloud, wind, but dry, so we left for a cruise along the Oxford Canal, seeing lots of other boats out too, especially at the narrow part passing Rose Narrowboats Base. The staff kindly opened the swing bridge there. The hedgerows were full of sloes, conkers, crab apple, elderberry, red and orange haw berries, acorns, rosehips, blackberry, ash seeds and foxgloves. We passed under the M6 motorway, then through busy Ansty where we saw a green woodpecker hopping around the Rose & Castle Beer Garden. We also saw a moorhen with very tiny babies. At Hawkesbury stop lock there were boats going through in both directions, we continued onwards along the Coventry Canal now, before turning right onto the Ashby Canal at Marston Junction. We cruised passed the Lime Kilns Pub, Trinity Marina (recently taken over by Castle Marina's), Spinney Bank Farm Shop, Stoke Golding, before mooring near bridge 31. By evening the wind had increased again. On Sunday we headed off to Sutton Cheyney Wharf to use the services. The cafe there was busy and everyone was maintaining Covid restrictions and distancing. There were lots of boats about again. We also saw three shy Mandarin Ducks, and numerous Buzzards flying low before heading high into the thermals and out of sight. Passing Bosworth Marina we noticed they also had taken over some of the towpath moorings along the outside of the marina. So the few remaining visitor moorings were full. We carried on to Shackerstone and moored. After lunch we walked up to The Battlefield Line & Steam Trains, where there is a cafe, gift shop, museum, and we purchased Platform Tickets to enter and explore as we had just missed the train ride (diesel today). So we had a wander around the station, made some purchases in the shop, before heading off to continue cruising.
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Between The Storms August 2020 (cont)
Onwards again going through the one-way crooked Snarestone Tunnel to moor at the current limit of navigation near the Ashby Society Information Hut, Snarestone. Walking passed the swing bridge, and seeing the now privately owned and converted Snarestone Pumping Station, we continued up to bridge 62 where the canal watered length finishes just the other side. Work is still ongoing to progress further, but obviously Covid has had an effect on this currently. Returning to the Ashby Society Hut we treated ourselves to an ice-cream each and wandered back to our boat. Where our neighbouring boat crew had returned and we chatted for ages at a distance before purchasing a couple of small tyre fenders, which they sell as roving traders. Heading back through the tunnel and cruising along Gopsall Wood we saw a kingfisher catch a fish, they are so quick. We moored at Shenton Aqueduct for the night.
We noticed a lot of cruising boats again today. John also spotted a water vole at bridge 15A, lovely to know they are thriving in some areas. Soon we left the Ashby Canal turning back onto the Coventry Canal. We navigated Hawkesbury Junction passing the Engine House and the Old Toll House which is now a Community Police Station. Through the stop lock and moored for the night back on the Oxford Canal again. That evening we went to the Greyhound Pub, which only had 'walk in' tables in the beer garden (I had phoned earlier). We were lucky enough to get a table straight away, the menu was limited due to Covid, but we both enjoyed a plate of fish and chips.
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Between The Storms August 2020 (cont) On Tuesday we cruised back in intermittent rain, and wind, but did still help a narrowboat grounded in the bushes, apparently they had been there a while.
Once back in the marina John reversed onto the berth and got off with front rope. I followed with back rope but I slipped on the wet side of the boat and straddled on the wet wooden pontoon. Falling backwards into the water banging my head on the pontoon, ouch, I couldn't have got any wetter. Fortunately I was able to walk along the sloping area behind the boat to get out, feeling rather dazed, bruised and shocked. John tied the boat up quick as the wind had really picked up again, while I stripped off and went in for a shower. The wind continued to increase rapidly as Storm Francis took hold. Finishing our trip as it had started with a storm, all in a long weekend. I did end up in A & E the next morning with concussion, but I am recovered now, thankfully. Stephaine Mason & John Grieve Essex Waterways Update With the return of several of our volunteers, the trip boats Albert and Blackwater Dawn were able to continue to operate for family groups during the Autumn although Victoria was unable to do so because of the continuing restrictions on larger groups.
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Essex Waterways Update (cont) Chelmer Canal Trust volunteers were also able to resume their work parties removing floating pennywort from back streams around Sandford Mill and also in the Beeleigh and Langford area. This invasive weed had become prevalent again during the periods of Lockdown and the work parties were therefore assisted with the presence of an Essex Waterways weed-lifting boat. The increased number of visitors to the Navigation brought additional litter and Frangipani SUP arranged for their paddle boarders to carry out a floating litter pick from Heybridge Basin to Beeleigh.
With piling to the bank above Sandford lock complete, piling work continued below the lock on the visitor moorings on the tow path bank. Dredger and workboat Julie then moved down stream to Paper Mill lock to install the dams and replace the bottom lock gates and cill. With the Tea Rooms closed due to further Covid19 restrictions we were able to use their service yard for stationing the crane and delivery of the new gates. The existence of overhead electricity lines meant that power had to be turned off while craning operations took place over the top of these. Closure of the lock provided the opportunity for staff and volunteers to clean down and repaint the top gates which were in good condition having only been replaced in 2016.
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Essex Waterways Update (cont)
We took delivery of sheet piles while the crane was at Paper Mill as this enabled the piles to be lifted across to the lock island where they will be installed to replace the eroding bank protection. The centre of the lock island has been subject to settlement for many years and you may recall that we have in recent years jacked two of the buildings back to a level position. Re-piling the banks should help prevent under-washing of the island.
Also at Paper Mill Island the former Ironwork store building, which was subject to settlement, has been demolished and new screw pile foundations installed in preparation for the erection of new toilet facilities. The winter so far has seen snow and several flood events which have delayed or affected the maintenance work, the most recent flooding roads at the mooring sites and preventing normal access to them. As Essex Waterways has a busy programme of maintenance and improvement work planned, it is hoped that disruption will be kept to a minimum. Roy Chandler 15
Just For Fun SUDOKU Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3 x 3 block contains the numbers one to nine (1 - 9) 3
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Branch Committee If you have any topics or subject that you wish to bring to the committees attention please use the contact details below Molly Beard:
Chairman
molly.beard@waterways.org.uk
Rebecca Loader
Acting Vice Chair & Social Secretary rebecca.loader@waterways.org.uk
Philip Cervini
Treasurer.
philip.cervini@waterways.org.uk.
Paul Strudwick:
London Region Chairman.
paul.strudwick@waterways.org.uk
Chris Chandler:
Secretary.
chris.chandler@waterways.org.uk
Roy Chandler:
Planning and Conservation.
roy.chandler@waterways.org.uk
John Carlaw:
Newsletter and Membership.
chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk john.carlaw@waterways.org.uk
Dennis Padfield:
Publicity.
dennis.padfield@waterways.org.uk
Stephanie Mason: Refreshments.
None
Kirsten Smith:
Youth.
None
Adam Wyllie:
Branch Web Editor.
Adam.wyllie@waterways.org.uk
IWA Chelmsford Web Address
http://www.waterways.org.uk/chelmsford
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