The
N N N
Northern Navigation News
Newsletter of the North Riding Branch of the Inland Waterways Association
The York Arts Barge Festival, which took place from 15th-17th August in Tower Gardens, York
Issue 13 - Autumn 2014
The Inland Waterways Association Selby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina are proud sponsors of Northern Navigation News
NORTHERN NAVIGATION NEWS AUTUMN 2014 SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE YORK 50+ FESTIVAL DIARY OF EVENTS INFORMATION FAIR WEDNESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2014, THE GUILDHALL, YORK 10.00am York Older Peoples' Assembly holds an annual Information Fair in the Guildhall, York, starting at 10.00am. This has proved so popular with local charities, community groups, and statutory bodies, that it is now in the other central York venues: the Spurriergate Centre, All Saints, Pavement and St Sampson's Centre. The stalls are largely aimed at services and provision for the over fifties. However, there is plenty of interest for people of all ages! North Riding Branch (IWA) are having a stall in the Guildhall with information about the branch and its activities, as well as recruiting Lock Keepers for Castle Mills Lock, which provides access to the River Foss and is operated by the branch for private boaters and charities. If you are interested in helping with the stall, becoming a Lock Keeper, or joining the IWA , please e-mail northriding@waterways.org.uk or phone Tony Martin on: 07588-236-597.
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Photo: Sue Lister
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HISTORY WALK ALONG THE RIVER FOSS SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2014 Photo: Sue Lister On Saturday 27th September 2014 meeting at Monk Bar at 2.00pm, John Oxley, the City of York Archaeologist, is leading a history walk along the River Foss from the end of Foss Island Road to The Castle by Castle Museum, York. The walk covers the history of the River Foss from the Ice Age to the present day.
CRUISING ON MOONRIVER SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2014 On Saturday 27th September 2014 at Marygate Landing, York the broadbeam, 'Moonriver' is cruising along the River Ouse between the Scarborough Bridge and Millennium Bridge from 10.00am to 1.00pm (finishing at 1.00pm). Donations welcome. For Information on both, please e-mail: tonymartin451@yahoo.co.uk or phone 0742-806-4863
TALL SHIP SAILING - THE JUBILEE TRUST TUESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER 2014 On Tuesday 30th September 2014 at 7.00pm in St Olave's Church Hall, Marygate Lane, York (nearest car park St Mary's – pay at any time of day).
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Rowena Field and Adrian Lovett are leading an illustrated talk on the Jubilee Trust's tall ship cruising for both disabled and able-bodied people. They have been on cruises in British coastal waters, the Mediterranean and so on. A visually stunning presentation. £3.00 entry fee (including tea and coffee). For more information e-mail tonymartin451@yahoo.co.uk or 0742-806-4863.
LATEST NEWS IMPROVED SIGNAGE ON THE RIVER OUSE Since I edited NNN-12, there has been a small development in keeping visiting boaters up to date on what's happening on the waterways near York (The River Ouse, the River Foss, The Ure, Ripon Canal etc). There is no information points provided by the Canal and River Trust beyond the tidal locks at Naburn. Visiting boaters have requested that we look into this. I had a meeting with Sam Wheatley, the Manager of Starr in the City Inn by Lendal Bridge – the boaters' facilities saga is ongoing, and there will be a result in the near future – asking if they would be able to donate a stretch of wall for a lockable cabinet containing information. Sam consulted his Directors and they agreed to make a stretch of wall available next to the CRT waterpoint. The aluminium boxes are over £800.00 (including VAT) and we are now in the process of raising the money. There have been two donations offered so far. We are talking to the two statutory bodies that regulate the waterways through York, York City Council (CYC) and the Canal and River Trust (CRT) about finance and information. The North Riding Branch (IWA) will keep the box full of information and properly maintained. So, literally watch this space!
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THE AUTOMATIC SLUICE AT CASTLE MILLS LOCK As you can see from the photos, the new automatic sluice is working well. We are closely monitoring water levels in the River Foss, as the water level in the middle reaches is low. We have a reading of as little as 11 inches by Foss Island Road, but 14 feet in the lock pound itself.
North Riding IWA member Keith Chapman with the new sluice at Castle Mills Lock
Boats are mooring in the basin at the rear of the Mason's Arms, York. At Castle Mills in York there was a longstanding problem regulating the level of the River Foss, with the old guillotine sluice that was often jammed by debris. At high levels flooding could occur and at prolonged low levels there could be problems with building foundations and also for fish, as well as restricting access for boats. So in 2013 the Environment Agency installed a tilting design that monitors levels, adjusts accordingly and can't jam - well worth a visit just to marvel at the ingenuity! Levels are now being maintained much more constantly than previously. Having said that, there haven’t been any floods or
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The new weir seen from Castle Mills Bridge (Photo: Keith Chapman)
any need to close the Foss Barrier immediately downstream since the new structure went in. The real test will be when flooding occurs. There is provision for remotely-controlled manual override, for instance if a flood surge is anticipated but not yet arrived. If all else fails, you might still see a couple of people using muscle power! An unusual occasion for override was lowering the Foss level to assist a police search; it was restored within a day. The old weir is in its fully open (raised) position and now plays no part in regulating Foss levels. It will remain in place until the new structure has been fully tested under flood conditions and, if everything works as expected, it will be removed, probably in 2015.
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There is facility for an Eel pass in place, though not yet functioning. Watch this space. Mark Fuller - Environment Agency
NAVIGATION LIGHTS Boaters are advised to be vigilant when out at night there have been several instances of smaller craft seen on the Ouse in recent weeks without navigation lights after dark. Fortunately there were no larger boats on the river at the time. Keith Chapman
YORK ARTS BARGE FESTIVAL WEEKEND A lively festival was held between 15th and 17th August in Tower Gardens next to Skeldergate Bridge, as a fundraiser for the York Arts Barge project. The programme of events included a jazz band,
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Arts Barge organizer Steve Blakeman at the festival
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Festival-goers also enjoyed the craft stalls (photo: Keith Chapman) children’s face painting and craft stalls. The event was also able to offer a chance for some of York’s most talented young singer song-writers, as well as the Arts Barge Community Band, a ukelele playalong, a family singing workshop and a capoeira demonstration. The Arts barge itself is a community collective of artists, musicians and performers who want to create a new performance space in the city. The programme was organized by Steve Blakeman and an excellent weekend was had by all.
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River Foss Society formed in 1973 to protect and promote enjoyment of the river from Pond Head (Oulston) to Blue Bridge in York where it joins the River Ouse. Please contact the Secretary for the the current Newsletter with the updated Programme or see the website. At least one walk and one other event (talk, visit, litter pick, etc) are organised each month until October.
Annual subscriptions :- Individual £8.00, Concession £6.00, etc. Contacts :Secretary – Tel no 01904 760871, E mail m.burton599@btinternet.com Membership – Tel no 01904 768071, E mail chrisandpete@haxby147.fsnet.co.uk
www.riverfosssociety.co.uk Please note that all views expressed in “Northern Navigation News” are those of the authors and may not represent those of the Inland Waterways Association.
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LETTERS We want to hear from you - good or bad, it’s your newsletter and we want to hear from you. Whether written or e-mail we want to know what your feelings are on all sorts of issues. So please make our next newsletter interesting to others by being involved in its letters column. Your comments will make it more interesting to our friends to read. Keith Chapman Letters to the editor Address for letters: IWA North Riding Branch, 69 Clarence Street, York YO31 7EL E-mail: tonymartin451@yahoo.co.uk
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The crew of the Jubilee Trust’s “Tenacious” (see page 4) Photo: Adrian Lovett
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