The Packet Boat - Spring 2021

Chester & Merseyside IWA Branch

SPRING 2021

Under a dual carriageway bridge near Ikea, by Sankey Brook Editor’s Musings: This photo was taken while surveying new Sankey Canal walks, it took us past the old Winwick Quay in Warrington. We are hoping that covid restrictions will soon be lifted and we will be able to get out and do some more exploring around the local waterways. It will be lovely to be able to meet with groups of like minded walkers, little treats that we are missing at the moment. Meanwhile our walks are confined to the local bridle paths and road around our local area, but at least we are able to walk down to Caughall Bridge and watch the progress being made on improving the towpath from there to Ellesmere Port. We currently have 60 prospective walkers from the Chester ‘Nextdoor’ website waiting for government restrictions to permit some introductory walks. We just need a few from branch members now.

Chairman’s Report

Best Wishes for 2021

By Jim Forkin, Branch Chairman Firstly, I must wish you all a Happy New Year and, despite me writing this in Lockdown 3, hopefully it won’t be too long now before we get a grip on Covid-19, once the vaccine has been rolled out, and we can then get out and enjoy the waterways in our branch area and beyond.

Meanwhile Storm Christoph is currently wreaking havoc with flooding in Chester, Northwich & Warrington plus breaches & landslips on the Shropshire Union and Trent & Mersey canals within our area.

I won’t linger on 2020 as everyone knows what a trying year it was but we had no idea of how bad it was going to get after our last “face to face” get together at our March 2020 social at the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. That meeting was also our AGM and with that in mind we will be holding this year’s AGM via the Zoom conferencing platform. Please see last year’s minutes and this year’s Agenda within this copy of Packetboat.

To join the meeting on the evening of 9th March 2021 just copy the link below in your browser.

Head Office will also be sending invitations out electronically nearer the date.

Topic: IWA Chester & Merseyside AGM Time: Mar 9, 2021 07:30 PM London Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87269165481?pwd=SFd5aEp1bTNUYTNybWxMNWhnYUs4Zz09

Follow the AGM our National Chairman, Paul Rodgers will be giving a talk all about IWA moving forward beyond the pandemic and “Building Back Better” so please join in if you can.

The social programme will hopefully commence at the Boat Museum next September when we are back to normal.

The highlight for the branch for 2020 was the Campaign Cruise which was reported fully in the Autumn 2020 edition of Packetboat and we are still hopeful of organising a Waterways Restoration Showcase in July 2021 at the Anderton boat lift as long as current restrictions have been lifted by then.

Also reported in the last edition we are now working behind the scenes with Cheshire West & Chester Council for Chester to become an Inland Port. If this designation is achieved, Chester will be internationally recognised by the Maritime Heritage Trust, and become a destination to boost tourism and economic benefit to the city and surrounding area.

I’ve nothing else of significance to report but would again like to wish you all the best for 2021 and thank you for your continued support of the branch. I hope to see you at future events, so please keep in touch.

Best Wishes for 2021 Jim Forkin Branch Chairman

St Helens Borough announces its £1million Sankey Canal scheme Town councils right across the nation are realising the value of clean waterways to economic regeneration and citizen well being and none more so than St Helens Borough Council in Merseyside. A £1million government backed scheme has been agreed by the borough’s cabinet to demolish an unsightly and ageing car park on Chalon Way in the town centre thereby opening an area adjacent to the Sankey Canal for economic waterfront development.

The area already has the potential of good footfall being close to the popular attraction “World of Glass” which celebrates the international fame of the borough`s glass industry. Currently the canal is hidden from public view and not fully appreciated by the community but the council believe that the opening of the area will lay the foundation for more investment and economic development in the future.

Required by the government to complete the project by the end of the financial year in March 2021 which would then open the possibility of bidding for a further £25million out of the governments £3.6 billion cities fund to boost economic growth.

In sharp contrast to attitudes displayed by “officialdom” only a few decades ago when organisations only wanted to abandon and fill in waterways, St Helens Councillor for Regeneration and Planning Richard Mc Cauley told local press “The demolition will bring an important waterfront site into the town centre, creating a catalyst for commercial, leisure or housing development and is consistent with our heritage strategy and ambitions for the canal.”

Whilst sections of the canal, claimed to be the first canal of the Industrial Revolution when opened in 1757, have been filled in and bridges lowered much of the line remains in water there are still hopes that full restoration can take place.

“Lucky to have a canal” – Council Leader Supporting the scheme, David Baines, Council Leader, said “We are lucky in St Helens to have a canal, we are one of the few towns around that have got a canal in the heart of the town centre.“We’ve got the fantastic World of Glass, we’ve got the fantastic canal-side café, and that’s the closest you can get to it really in a nice environment. “We want to change that, so doing this will open up that whole area and kick-start the regeneration of that part of St Helens town centre.”

Jim Forkin, Chairman Inland Waterways Association (IWA -Chester and Merseyside) said “This is great news for the borough and I hope they can follow the example of towns like Stroud on the Cotswold Canal where cooperation between the various organisations involved with their waterway is bringing great benefits to the town.” Sankey valley has, over the past few decades, been transformed with many walking and cycling routes plus some preservation work on the remaining structures, evolving into a linear open green space running from St Helens, through Warrington and ending in Widnes. It is hoped that by the demolition of this car park that many more citizens from St Helens area will walk the canal banks.

St Helen’s canal in Sankey Park, Warrington

Rediscovering Winsford Flash`s Potential Navigation Society `s Ambitious Proposal to Boost Well Being and Tourism The River Weaver Navigation Society have been working with Winsford Town Council(WTC) to advice on plans to develop the towns waterside assets and now WTC along with Chehire West and Chester have put out a tender to external consultants to evaluate these proposals. Foremost in the proposals is the development of the 90 acre Winsford Flash, once, in the C19th century a popular beauty spot and boating lake for the Victorian working classes.

Submitted in November 2020 the proposals termed the “Winsford Waterside Regeneration Feasibility Study” aim to create jobs with new tourist attractions, provide leisure activities for local people and bring increasing numbers of canal boats to the river by developing a new and exciting cruising ring.

Still a yachting venue for Winsford Sailing Club and increasingly waters for the local carp anglers, this shallow lake was only formed between 1845 and 1872 as brine extraction below what was arable land caused this section of the River Weaver to subside.

The visitors may have caught trains to have days out elsewhere but the lake remains a major asset for Winsford and with the River Weaver flowing through, it is stunning countryside set in the heart of rural Cheshire and within sight of the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Worried about the general decline of the town and fearing that Winsford will continue as the “Cinderella of Cheshire “ the proposals, now being evaluated by a specialist consultant employed by Cheshire Council, have short, medium and long term objectives to maximise all future potential uses of the open green space.

In the short term, the existing lagoon moorings and slip way which are well used need to be dredged and updated with some minor remedial civil engineering work aimed at reduced debris carried down river. The existing service block needs updating and walkways better maintained. An estimated cost of about £7500 is put to this and local volunteer groups could be involved. A seasonal catering facility would bring in revenue.

Winsford Country Park In the medium term, estimated at 3-5 years , the proposals call for the creation of the “Winsford Country Park”, a 4mile cycle and walkway linking existing assets including the fishing areas and Rilshaw Meadows right back to the Weaver Valley Parkway developed some years ago by Sustrans. An estimated 75% of this already exists. This aspect of the proposal is aimed both at the visiting walkers and the leisure needs of a housing estate recently built close by.

River Weaver Facilities The performing arts are provided for in the plan with the possibility of an occasional use 200 seat open air stage situated on an island set against the backdrop of the stunning lake.

Water sport activity is thought to be readily expanded taking advantage of the large but shallow lake with the canoe hire and paddle boarding possibly based at a community centre on the lakeside. The Weaver has seen a steady increase in boats and the plan recognises that there is space also for an expanded commercial marina at this the head of navigation of the Weaver.

Noting the popularity of trip boats on other waterways, the plan recognises that a trip boat operating from a wharf at the Red Lion pub could move safely onto the flash and down river to the salt mine.

Longer Term Inspired by the Falkirk Wheel, the society see the possibility of developing a link to the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union bringing more canal traffic down on to the Weaver and developing a major tourist attraction particularly if a wheel or inclined plain is included in the engineering structures .

The link would also compliment the Anderton Boat lift and create another cruising ring for boaters to enjoy.

Allowing imaginations to flow, other ideas include opening Winsford Rock Salt Mine for the public to enjoy some of the 140miles of tunnels under the Cheshire Plain and a massive waterspout working like a geyser in the flash complete with futuristic lighting.

Jim Mole Chairman River Weaver Navigation Society said “The flash is a stunning area of countryside which with careful planning and investment can help rejuvenate the town bring jobs as well as open space for the well-being of the towns folk” Jim Forkin Chairman Inland Waterways Association (Chester and Merseyside) said “If a town has a waterway, the economic value of that waterway is an important factor in the thinking of town planners and Winsford is ideally placed to develop great assets with the flash, the river and nearby canal. The leisure and well being of the population will also be well served with such assets on their doorstep”

Runcorn Locks Project The engineering team have started work on this project by digging exploratory holes and taking soil samples beside the viaduct. It took some time for them to dig a pilot hole as it appears the old locks were filled with large chunks of hardcore but two samples were eventually extracted.

These have now been sent off for analysis to establish the underlying rock level and check for It

It should be noted that the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IWA. They are published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA is a registered charity No 212342

MINUTES OF THE 34th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE CHESTER AND MERSEYSIDE (PREVIOUSLY CHESTER & DISTRICT) BRANCH OF THE INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION HELD ON TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2020 AT THE ELLESMERE PORT BOAT MUSEUM

Present: Jim Forkin (in the chair), Jim Mole, Ian and Vera Short, Geoff Gittus, Jeanne Smith, Ann Farrell (committee members) and 19 additional branch members.

1. Apologies: Margaret Pitney, Joan and Ron Evans.

2. Minutes of the 33rd Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 12 March 2019 Acceptance proposed by Martin Buck and seconded by John Tackley. The minutes were accepted as an accurate report and unanimously approved.

3. Matters arising from the minutes None 4. Report of Branch Chairman 2019 started with a lot of optimism about our programme of events and campaigns for the forthcoming year, with a spring canal clean up in Chester, a lock wind at Middlewich in May and a Waterways Restoration Showcase booked in Liverpool aboard the Daniel Adamson in September.

The canal clean up, due to take place on the 27th April, was prompted by the reopening of the towpath below the City Walls which had been closed for a number of years due to the “Health & Safety” concerns of potential rock falls. Following continued pressure by the branch on CWAC & CRT the towpath was re-opened in March 2019. My particular thanks go to Ann Farrell and John Herson who have been instrumental in this achievement.

Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, which became a feature of 2019, the canal clean up had to be cancelled and another date was not possible.

Another frustration was that the lock wind in Middlewich, scheduled for 4th May, also had to be cancelled due to a lack of volunteers.

Summer was a quiet period for the branch as many people were out and about enjoying the small amount of sunshine that was on offer. Behind the scenes however the committee were pushing on with waterways issues including the installation of mileposts on the Sankey Canal, pressuring the Bridgewater Canal company for a workable reciprocal agreement between themselves and Canal & River Trust and gaining the addition of a correspondent in Liverpool.

The 2019/20 social programme is a rolling project with many contacts being made throughout the summer months and my thanks go once again to Jim Mole who consistently puts together this entertainment for the members. If anyone has any suggestions for future speakers and subjects please feel free to contact Jim. An integral part of the social evenings are the Sales & Raffle and my thanks also go to the support of Jeanne Smith, Gillian Bolt, Gary & Helen Rae. I would also like to thank many of the members who attend and donate the raffle prizes.

The other big planning event over the summer was for our Waterways Restoration Showcase that took place on the SS Daniel Adamson in Liverpool over the weekend of 21st/22nd September 2019.

This was a great success with approximately 600 people welcomed aboard across the two days. The Societies present included the Montgomery Canal, the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal, Runcorn Locks Restoration, Lancaster Canal, River Weaver and the Sankey Canal. Each of these societies brought display boards for the public to look at and volunteer staff were there to chat with them and answer questions. The IWA Chester & Merseyside stand was also present on the promenade deck and there was a welcoming IWA branded gazebo on the dockside. It was also nice to show Julie Sharman & Daniel Greenhalgh, Chief Operations Officer and Director Northwest respectively from CRT around the Danny and thank them for supporting the event. It must have been a success as the Danny management have asked us to repeat it again in 2020.

My thanks go to my wife Helen, Jeanne Smith, Ann Farrell, John Herson and Mike Sumner for their help and support over the weekend.

My thanks also go to Jeanne again and her husband Derek who continue to promote our monthly walks at the end of 2019 and despite disappointing numbers at first they are steadily growing.

On a personal note I attended the IWA AGM at the end of September and a Volunteer Day at the end of November, both of which were held “locally” in Stoke and both were very enlightening and informative.

Also at the Volunteer Day, I had a chance to meet and chat to our new National Chairman, Paul Rodgers.

Overall what started as a disappointing year for the branch ended with a number of successful conclusions to branch objectives and I must thank all the committee, for their time and effort to make the branch as successful as it is at present. We are yet again looking for new committee members to fill the ever growing gaps as the committee is not getting any younger so please, if you can spare a few hours a month to allow the branch to continue in the manner we have grown accustomed to, please make contact with the branch and we will be delighted to hear from you. If you feel that being on a committee is too onerous but feel that you could volunteer to help out at branch events we would also like to hear from you.

May I finish with wishing the branch continued success in 2020 and that we will make the waterways of the future sustainable for all to enjoy.

Thank you.

Jim Forkin (Branch Chairman)

1. Adoption of the accounts The Treasurer recommended the accounts to the Branch. Acceptance of the accounts was proposed

by Ian Short and seconded by Derek Smith and unanimously agreed by members.

2. Notice of committee size The committee should have up to fifteen members. Members standing down by rotation at this meeting were Jim Mole and Ann Farrell. Both had indicated their willingness to be re-elected.

The Chairman put out an urgent plea for members to offer themselves for the committee. Several posts on the committee remain unfilled and are carried out on an acting basis by existing committee members. The Chairman also suggested that members might volunteer to help with particular functions/activities.

3. Elections to the Committee The meeting approved the re-election of the members listed above under 7. One member present, Les Green, offered to be a member of the Committee.

4. Any other business The Chairman was asked about the current situation regarding access from the Shropshire Union Canal to the River Dee in Chester. He outlined the current difficulties – the ‘sink hole’ which was preventing access to and from the Dee Branch and the EA flood defence barrier which was currently in position.

Despite CRT having indicated that it would commence work to repair the sinkhole on 27th January 2020, nothing had happened to date. Access to the boaters’ facilities in Chester was now very difficult.

The ensuing discussion focussed on the difficulty of getting information from CRT. It was suggested that the Waterways Ombudman might be useful and the Chairman indicated that he would investigate this.

The meeting closed at 20.30 and moved on to the evening’s talk by Derek Arnold on the history of the Mersey Ferry boats, the Royal Iris and the Royal Daffodil.

Ann Farrell March 2020

The Inland Waterways Association Notice is hereby given that the thirty-fifth Annual General Meeting of the Chester & Merseyside Branch of the Inland Waterways Association Will be held on Tuesday 9th March 2021 At 7.30pm via the Zoom conferencing facility AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence 2. Approval of the minutes of the 34th AGM 3. Matters arising 4. Chairman’s report for the year 2020 5. Presentation of Accounts 6. Adoption of the Accounts 7. Notice of Committee size The committee size is 16.

7.1 Currently 6 of those are corresponding members, not active 7.2 Three members of the committee are up for re-election - Jim Forkin, Colin Greenall & John Herson and they have all indicated their willingness to continue.

8. Election to fill vacancies on the Committee - are there any volunteers who would like to join the committee

Following the AGM ~ an address by Paul Rogers If there are any issues that members need to raise, about anything relevant to the agenda, then the questions should sent to the Chairman by the 19th Feb.