IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch newsletter Autumn/Winter 2017

The Newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Autumn/Winter 2017

Shroppie Fly Paper

Cover photo : Hurleston Locks

The Branch Committee President

Michael Limbrey 01691 654081

michael.limbrey@waterways.org.uk

Chairman

Michael Haig 07801 415573

michael.haig@waterways.org.uk

Secretary & Membership Sec.

Dawn Aylwin 01691 830403

shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk

Newsletter Editor

Andrew Smith

andrew.smith@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer & Welsh Liaison Officer

Alan Platt

alan.platt@waterways.org.uk

Webmaster

Alan Wilding

alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

Committee Members

David Aylwin Susan Wilding

shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

NW Region Chairman

Sir Robert Atkins 01995 602225 07770 254444

robert.atkins@waterways.org.uk

Branch Web pages www.waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury www.facebook.com/pages/IWA-Shrewsbury-Branch/388651831206061 If you would prefer to communicate with the branch in the traditional way, please write to the Secretary at Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS

Shroppie Fly Paper

Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA). IWA is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers. For further information contact any committee member.

Copy for Shroppie Fly Paper is very welcome, preferably by email. Photographs may be in any common computer format or as prints. Please supply a stamped addressed envelope if you require photographs to be returned. ‘Letters to the Editor’ intended for publication are invited, as are comments for the Editor’s private guidance. Copy and letters submitted for publication may be edited.

The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this branch newsletter but encourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unless stated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproduction must be acknowledged.

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783 453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk

The Editor's cut...

It hardly seems any time since I was putting together my first issue of the Shroppie Fly Paper!

Now the clocks have gone back and the evenings are drawing in rapidly. Still, the season brings its own compensations with beautiful autumn colour and a good excuse to light the stove.

The range of articles in this issue show that it’s clearly been a busy summer for all the canal organisations in our area.

Canal restoration requires a long-term approach and a lot of stamina. The inclusion of a dedicated canal section in the latest draft of Powys County Council Local Development Plan results from sustained efforts by the Montgomery Canal Partnership supported by Canal & River Trust and the canal societies / IWA. Well done to all involved.

It’s not all been good news but it’s great to see other tangible progress such as the Pant Embankment removal and the Green Flag award.

For the Canal & River Trust Operations team, the winter looks like being even busier with an extensive schedule of winter works. The works scheduled for the Shropshire Union should be complete by Christmas but the Llangollen has works planned in various places right through to March. Overview and links to download the full list are on page 31.

There is a good range of activities available for our branch members to take part in over the winter season and into next Spring. Our branch covers a wide geographic area so these events are a good chance to meet other members.

Places for some of the events are limited so be sure to book your places as soon as possible. You can mark the dates on your Branch calendar (see p27)!

The next Shroppie Fly Paper will be the Spring 2018 issue. Please send your contributions to me at andrew.smith@waterways.org.uk.

Andrew Smith

Next copy date: Friday, March 16, 2018

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IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch - Diary 2017/18

All branch members are welcome to join us at our regular branch business meetings, which are preceded by an opportunity for supper and socialising. Meetings begin at 7.00pm, with supper from 6.00pm. To give our venues an idea of numbers please let the branch know if you would like to attend. shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk Nov 3-30, 2017

Montgomery Canal Exhibition, Newtown Library

Nov 13, 2017

Autumn Social Evening & Talk

Dec 11, 2017

Branch Business Meeting—Black Bear, Whitchurch

Jan 6, 2018

Winter Walk—Shrewsbury Canal (see details below)

Feb 5, 2018

Branch Quiz—Narrowboat Inn, Whittington

March 3, 2018

Branch AGM / Horse Boat Trip / Walk to restoration site Canal Centre (see pages 10 & 11)

April 21, 2018

Dudley Tunnel Trip (See pages 24 & 25)

May 5-7, 2018

Norbury Festival

May 19, 2018

Montgomery Triathlon (See back cover)

June 23-24, 2018

‘Music for the Monty’ as part of Welshpool Transport Festival

Winter walk Meeting place: Date & time: Distance: Terrain: Leader:

Car Park of the Coracle Inn, Sundorne Road, SY1 4RR 6th January 2018, 09.45 for 10.00 start About three and three quarter miles with option of a short finish Level ground with easy walking mostly along pathways.

Some sections cross level short grass.

Alistair Price (07980123444 for more information or contact on the day)

We will explore the Shrewsbury canal to the north of the town, joining the canal at Pimley Bridge. Following the route of the canal heading for the village of Uffington, we will leave it just before the village and walk down to the River Severn passing the old Forge in Uffington. After a circular walk around the village and understanding the canal’s relationship with the village we will return to Pimley Bridge. There is the option to return to the Coracle Inn at this point.

The full walk will explore the canal as far as Telford Way, before returning to the start where the Coracle public house will be able to offer refreshments to those of you who have prebooked a meal or indeed just want a drink.

We will have several short stops to allow the group to close up, and will try to stop at various points where to discuss interesting features.

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From the Steerer

Although 2017 isn’t quite over yet, its best days are probably now behind us, so it seems appropriate to look back on how our IWA branch got on. Does it see out the year with satisfaction (though not with complacency), or do we feel that we could (should?) have done more?

As is so often the case, I think this mid-term review is something of a mixed bag. We’ve had some hitches but also some splendid successes, and overall I think the branch is in good shape.

We’ve been out and about a good deal over the summer – spreading the word about why IWA matters, encouraging those we meet to love their waterways and raising funds to help support our local canals.

You may recall we got off to a disappointing start to the events season with the fairly last-minute cancellation of the Norbury Canal Festival, due to unexpected problems with the car parking arrangements. The Norbury festival is one of the best attended events in our branch calendar and is a great three-day opportunity to meet the public and let some of our enthusiasm for canals and boats rub off, hopefully onto the people we’re talking with! So it’s good to have received confirmation, shortly before this issue of Shroppie Fly Paper went to press, that the 2018 festival will take place as normal in early May. I hope we may meet some of you, dear readers, on the canal bank there.

At the other end of the summer, in early September, we have to acknowledge what the military would probably call overstretch: trying to have a presence at three different events on the same weekend, but without enough manpower.

For a second year, we opened the historic Rednal canal warehouse beside the Montgomery Canal near Queens Head, this time for two days rather than one, as part of Shropshire’s Heritage Open Days programme. On packing up there, banners, flags, membership leaflets and other vital event paraphernalia were rushed to Shrewsbury to occupy one end of SNCT’s very smart new gazebo at the Shrewsbury River Festival. The conflicting Autumn Boat Share Show and RNLI Festival at Audlem came off worst, with just not enough time or people to get our own big tent out of storage, set up at Overwater, manned for a day or two, cleaned off, packed up and returned to storage.

I already have a sticky note fixed to my computer monitor reminding me that we must try to do better next year. If any of our readers feel able to spare some time to help us with events – either manning the stand for a while or helping with the build-up or break-down – that would be great. Your committee, on whom most of this falls, has not got any bigger or younger during the year!

Perhaps it all boils down to not offering enough cake, as at our lock wind, when cake and biscuits are in plentiful supply, lots of lovely volunteers come cheerfully along the towpath to lend a hand. You can read about the 2017 lock

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wind elsewhere in this issue, so suffice to say here that once again it came into the splendid successes category, raising a useful amount of money from grateful boaters with the added bonus of being great fun as a social event.

Restorations have also encountered mixed fortunes. Restoring the Montgomery feels as though it has got a new lease of life with its Heritage Lottery Fund award and its substantial share of IWA’s Tony Harrison legacy fund, which the current Restore the Montgomery Canal appeal is working hard to boost. Sadly, our friends at the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust suffered the massive disappointment in the summer of learning that their HLF bid to bring the buildings at Wappenshall Junction back to life, hadn’t quite made the cut. However, it’s encouraging to know that HLF saw enough merit in the SNCT bid to invite it to refine and resubmit the proposal, although that means it will probably be 2019 before all hoops have been jumped through and hurdles cleared.

And how have our navigations fared? Superficially, very well, as we read of Green Flag status for the whole length from Middlewich to Audlem and international duck races gracing the Chirk aqueduct. Actually, without wishing to seem curmudgeonly, I confess to having some doubts about racing plastic toy ducks, but there’s no doubt at all that gaining the prestigious Green Flag is a tremendous achievement by all the volunteer groups who were and still are involved. I say “still are”, since the Green Flag folks at Keep Britain Tidy apparently are heavily into the continuous improvement concept and will be looking for even better (or bigger, or longer, or something) next year.

Counterweights on the scales are the continuing problems with the width of Lock 4 at Hurleston, where boats seem to be getting stuck with increasing frequency.

Further investigations are taking place during the autumn/winter stoppages, but an expensive rebuild of a lock wall appears increasingly likely in winter 2018-19.

It’s also very disappointing to note how long it takes for some much-needed repairs to be effected. We wrote to CRT after our August lock wind bemoaning the ongoing closure of the Hurleston sanitary facilities and pointing out that boats heading between Llangollen and the Trent & Mersey have no sanitation options between Grindley Brook and Anderton or Wheelock which, in our view, is unacceptable. And we’ve just marked the first anniversary of the loss of the water point at Barbridge Junction, though on the plus side the nice people at Venetian Marina are offering free water to boats at their wharf below Cholmondeston Lock.

Finally, I’m sad to record the passing of Paul Mills, a founder and leader of the Small Tasks Team Volunteers group. As regular readers will know, Paul had been ill for some time and had been devolving many of his STTV activities to other volunteers. But Paul’s personal contribution to the health of the Shropshire Union system was immense and his loss, coming in the same year as that of fellow volunteer stalwart Mike Carter, will leave a big void which others will have to work hard to fill.

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Region Chairman writes

The last meeting of the IWA Trustees focused most attention on the re-vamping and re-launching of the organisation - hardly surprising in the circumstances!

Some of the process was discussed at the IWA AGM last month but there has been a determination to avoid nit-picking over the new logo at the expense of appreciating the policy changes which have been proposed.

You may recall that I told you that I had raised this issue at my first meeting, namely what sort of organisation we should have for the new century. Other groups, similar to us, have realised the vital necessity of lobbying in a professional manner, in our case to protect and develop the waterways. And that lobbying is not just with the Government, MPs, local councils and CRT but with the public and the media as well.

That does not prevent us from looking after members’ interests at the most basic level but enhances the clout that we must have in a competitive leisure, tourism and environmental marketplace.

The cost has been minimal - of the order of £10,000 - and the reaction so far has been broadly favourable. And, don’t worry, your “old” IWA material is still entirely valid and usable, so don’t think that you have to buy a whole new set of clothing!

Two other issues need thinking about. Firstly, CRT has requested that we look at reducing the frequency and changing the format of the regular navigation liaison meetings held between our branches and our region’s CRT waterway managers. We are the only Region that has them and, though not perfect, from the one I attended recently in Wigan they seem to serve a useful purpose for IWA. However, I would be interested in hearing how you think our region should be conducting business with CRT. Secondly, I have asked the Chief Executive, Neil Edwards, to explore the practicality of Trustee and sub-committee meetings being held by way of conference call rather than the frequent commute from all over the UK to distant locations which I find to be both costly in time and money as well as environmentally unfriendly.

Time to move into the technology of the 21 st century!

Sir Robert Atkins Chairman, North West Region

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Membership News

We are delighted to welcome the following members who have joined the branch since the Summer edition and hope to meet you all at one of the events we have organised, or better still why not join us on the committee as it would be great to have more volunteers to help especially with new ideas. No specific experience or skills required, just an enthusiasm for the canals - there's no pressure to take on a specific role although we do have one or two vacancies.     

Mr & Mrs Cummings from Baddiley Mr & Mrs McClellan from Market Drayton Mr & Mrs Mahoney from Windsor Mr & Mrs Shaw from Old Colwyn, and Mr White from Ellesmere.

I hope you all had a great year either walking, fishing or cruising along the canals; Every year something different stands out and for me 2017 was the year of the mushroom and other fungus which proliferated along the towpaths; in fact they were quite spectacular in places. What was special for you? If you capture it on camera don't forget to send the photograph to the editor of this magazine to be used for the front cover.

Dawn Aylwin

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IWA rebranding

Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed the new IWA logo on the front page of this issue. Here is some explanation taken from the official IWA brand guidelines:

Our logo is comprised of three propeller blades and a central hub. Each blade represents a key aspect of IWA, and at the core, the hub symbolises the volunteers and members that are at the centre of IWA; the heart that drives everything.

Outdoor Environment Our leaf pattern celebrates the green corridor created by canals and rivers, which supports wellbeing and wildlife

Members and Volunteers

Preservation and Restoration Our brickwork pattern represents the industrial heritage of the waterways and the human effort that goes into maintaining and restoring them

Life and Leisure on the Waterways Our ripple pattern denotes the many activities that take place on and around the water – from the wake behind a boat to the bob of a fishing float.

The same logo will be used (with different text) by the Waterway Recovery Group and Essex Waterways.

The new logo went live on 1st November so readers will see it on all IWA publications and material from now on.

Andrew Smith

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HORSE BOATING ON THE MONTY

To my two legged friends,

You are invited to join me on Saturday 3rd March 2018 14:00 at Canal Central , Coed-y-Rae Lane, Maesbury Marsh, near Oswestry SY10 8JE. After a short talk and demonstration of me getting getting tacked up I will take you on a short trip down the glorious Montgomery Canal. I realise that two legs may not be able to withstand the mad March winds as well as four, so if the weather is inclement I will send my staff into the warmth of Canal Central to give you a talk - apparently they are very good.

My boat, the Countess, can only accommodate 12 passengers at a time so book early to avoid disappointment. For just ÂŁ6.50* per person I promise you a relaxing cruise.

Please send cheques to your secretary.

With kind regards Cracker

*

Prices will be increasing in the New Year but Cracker has agreed to the current concessionary rate

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And There’s More

For the more dedicated IWA members there’s icing on the cake. The branch annual general meeting will be held earlier in the day.

Canal Central will be open at 12.15 for fresh coffee (£2) and the AGM will start at 12.30 followed by lunch at 13.00 (soup and roll at £4.85) payable on the day.

The talk/demonstration and boat trip will start from 14.00. If that is not enough there will be an opportunity to walk the mile down to the restoration site where SUCS members Rich Hamp and David Carter will take a well earned rest from the physical work and explain what they are currently doing south of Pryce’s Bridge.

Please remember that you must prebook the boat trip (which will be on a first come basis) and send cheques for £6.50 per person payable to IWA to Wyndcliff, Pen-y- Garreg Lane, Pant SY10 8JS. I also need to know how many people plan to have lunch. So please get in touch with your contact details (email or phone number preferred) with details of which aspects of the day you want to take part in so that I can work out a rota.    

AGM Lunch Horse boating on the Monty Walk to the restoration site Dawn Aylwin shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk

IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Notice is hereby given for the 2018 Annual General Meeting of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of the Inland Waterways Association to be held at Canal Central, Coed-y-Rae Lane, Maesbury Marsh SY10 8JG Saturday 3rd March 2018 at 12.30 • • • • • •

AGENDA Apologies for absence Approval of the minutes of the 2017 AGM Matters arising from the minutes Chairman's Report Treasurer’s Report Election of Committee Members

Any resolutions requested by members of the branch should be notified to the branch chairman at least six weeks prior to the AGM.

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Boats down at Hurleston, but takings up

Our annual lock wind at Hurleston in early August took place against what appears to be our usual variety of mixed weather, ranging from warm sunshine to torrential downpours. Fifteen volunteers braved the elements for the sixth lock wind the branch has held at Hurleston, and were rewarded with one of our highest ever takings at the weekend despite a big drop in boat numbers.

In all, we helped 69 boats through the locks over the two-day event, raising over £500 in sales and donations from generous and grateful boaters and walkers.

Though we kept our focus, as usual, on Lock 4, the excellent turn-out of volunteers ensured that for most of the time we were able to add value by working boats through each of the bottom three locks on the flight, while the CRT lock keepers at Lock 1 kept a watchful eye on the water levels in the pounds.

The weekend began in the traditional way on Friday afternoon with the arrival and set-up of the branch gazebo (thanks as always to Dawn & David for ferrying it to and from its Whitchurch storage on nb Grapevine – I don’t know how we would manage without you). With our hard-won experience from previous years, we were making absolutely sure that our big tent was firmly anchored when the first boat arrived at Hurleston Junction to give us some locking practice before the weekend’s work began in earnest.

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Unfortunately – at any rate for the young men on board, who were hoping to head up the Llangollen towards Wrenbury – their GRP cruiser resisted all its crew’s attempts to insert it into the bottom lock, despite the enthusiastic advice of our volunteers as to the undesirability of dangling fenders! Concerns that this might set a pattern for the weekend, especially as the number of boats getting stuck in the narrow lock seems to be on the rise, thankfully were not realised.

The only other boat to encounter a temporary problem was a modern syndicate boat that lockie Chris assured us made frequent passages up and down the flight without incident.

During the weekend we were pleased to welcome IWA’s recently-appointed volunteer engagement officer, Judith Pope, who travelled from her home in the West Country for her first experience of an IWA branch lock wind.

Other notable visitors included two ladies who were completing their walk of the full length of the Llangollen Canal, and another intrepid walker, Sylvia Keris, who paused to spend a short time with us on her 11-day, 120-mile expedition around the Four Counties Ring raising funds for Rotary Club’s End Polio campaign.

In addition to our own energetic and happy volunteers who busied themselves with lock paddles in sunshine and rain, our thanks go to the backstage team who so kindly made and donated a splendid selection of jams, chutneys, cakes and other goodies. In previous years we have run out of these all too early, but this year had no such problem and so were able to substantially increase our sales.

Thanks as well to the friendly and helpful CRT lock keepers on duty over the weekend, Chris, Mike and Martyn. We hope we will see you all again next year.

Michael Haig

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Restoring the Montgomery Canal

That new propellor logo has three blades: water, leaves for wildlife and bricks for restoration. So what’s the recipe for a successful canal restoration?

Our branch has no less than three restoration projects: the Shrewsbury & Newport, the Whitchurch Arm and, longest-running, the Montgomery. We want to bring boats back to Shrewsbury, Newport, Whitchurch and mid-Wales: these are visions that excite canal enthusiasts.

We have to widen the vision to attract wider support, offering social, environmental and economic benefits: people will enjoy the canal, restoration will conserve and enhance the natural and built environment and bring opportunities for jobs and businesses.

The broader vision is then produced to local authorities, and on the Montgomery we have a continuing dialogue with Shropshire and Powys Councils, recently through the development of the Powys Local Development Plan and at the launch of Shropshire’s Economic Growth Strategy.

From the vision, we have to work out what to do. Some is easy: there is for example a well-tried system of relining a dry canal, so this is how the canal can be extended beyond Crickheath. [‘What about the leaks?’ you ask. Engineers have investigated – you can even tell where a leak is coming from by measuring its water temperature – and have worked out what to do. WRG are working out how and when to do it, leaving Shropshire Union Canal Society to carry on to Crickheath.]

The next obstruction is Schoolhouse Bridge. You have heard of IWA‘s grant from the Tony Harrison legacy. Now our IWA retired bridge engineer has designed a new bridge and a programme for the work. The first survey has taken place, and more will follow, paid for by the Restore the Montgomery Canal! Appeal. We hope that the bridge can be tackled in the next year or two.

Beyond Llanymynech, volunteer engineers are looking at the four bridges and the costs involved, planning for as much work as possible by volunteers.

Where might these volunteers come from? As well as the SUCS regulars, we expect WRG to return; other help could come from skills training, employee volunteer opportunities under company Corporate Social Responsibility programmes, and from offenders on Community Payback. Perhaps you know others who could help?

We need to pay for this. Elsewhere, the Pocklington recently raised £250,000 in a bicentenary appeal; the Lichfield & Hatherton want a million pounds by 2019 to tunnel under road and railway, and achieved £200,000 in two months; the Grantham and the Derby & Sandiacre both want to raise £100,000. Every other canal project in the country wants money too.

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A legacy from a branch member paid for the original Aston Reserve over twenty years ago, and SUCS ran its Barrow of Boulders appeal eight years ago, but most restoration has been achieved with grants and other public money. Now for the first time serious funds are being raised by the branch and our friends in SUCS and the Friends of the Montgomery Canal.

Restore the Montgomery Canal! is our appeal, promoted jointly by the branch, the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and SUCS. Donations to the Appeal can be doubled by our generous supporter, up to £12,000 a year. A gift eligible for Gift Aid is more than doubled: £2 grows to £5. Taking this one step further, since the cost of volunteer restoration is about one-third of contractors, that £2 can be worth £15 to the restoration.

Including the £70,000 IWA grant the Appeal has now reached over £150,000: Many thanks to all who have supported the Appeal so far, with cash, standing orders, or help. However, on latest estimates, it all adds up to only half of what we need. And without the other half, there is no Schoolhouse Bridge.

The other half? We have ideas: for example, we would like to take the Appeal to  Welshpool Transport Festival, 23/24 June 2018  Braunston Historic Narrow Boat Show, 23/24 June 2018  Oswestry Show, 4 August 2018  Your local fête, fair, show …

The offer of match funding is only for a limited period of five years. As a project like Schoolhouse Bridge has to work to a strict timetable, it is very important for the future of the Montgomery Canal that we keep up the effort.

If we do, we shall see boats back in Llanymynech. So, could you:  help at an event? – details of the events we shall go to will be on the Appeal website: www.RestoreTheMontgomeryCanal.uk  take the Appeal to a local event? We have display banners, appeal leaflets and collecting buckets for anyone to use.  join those making regular standing order payments?  help on the ground – at coming WRG visits (dates to be decided), SUCS monthly working parties (first weekend of each month), or the Thursday and Friday CRT adoption teams, or at Freestone Lock?

Could you even help from home? We need help online, or with social media, publicity, planning … If you have interests or skills, we can use them.

Please help us to Restore the Montgomery Canal!

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Michael Limbrey

Shroppie Fly Paper

Brain of Monty quiz 2018 Back by popular demand this quiz has used the tie-breaker questions from 2016.

Quiz sheets for this very popular biennial quiz are now available. Apart from the prestige of winning the coveted title of 'Brain of Monty 2018' you could also win the £25 prize. Every question has MONT in the answer somewhere, for example a 'Swashbuckling hero' is the Count of Monte Cristo. Easy? Why not give it a go? For just £1 you could have hours of fun working out the MONT answers. The proceeds will go towards the restoration of the two miles of the Montgomery Canal from Crickheath to Llanymynech as part of the RESTORE THE MONTGOMERY CANAL! appeal.

The winner will be announced on 30th June on www.restorethemontgomerycanal.uk

HELP NEEDED Are you willing to sell copies of the quiz? It would be fantastic if every member of the Branch could buy/sell just 5 copies. If you are willing please send: SAE (A5 16 x 23cm) plus £1 for a single copy or SAE (as above) plus £5 and sell the other copies to family and friends or SAE plus £1 and a donation to help the canal restoration From past experience £1 coins travel easily through the post, suitably wrapped.

However notes and cheques are far safer. Cheques should be made payable to: Restore the Montgomery Canal and sent to: Brain of Monty Quiz, Wyndcliff, Pen-y-Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS

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Montgomery Canal

Powys County Council latest draft Local Development Plan

Thanks to John Dodwell for providing extracts from the latest draft of the Powys County Council Local Development Plan. While the document is subject to final approval, it is significant that the document now has a whole separate section about the canal. John points out that this change is the outcome of sustained efforts by the Montgomery Canal Partnership supported by Canal & River Trust and the canal societies / IWA. Key sections include the following: Development proposals that support the restoration of the Montgomery Canal and preserve and enhance the role of the canal as a multifunctional resource, including off-line nature reserves and other appropriate canalrelated development, will be supported.

Proposals for development that would adversely affect the canal’s scientific and conservation designations or prejudice its sensitive restoration will be opposed.

Major works are required in order to re-link the canal to the Shropshire section and return it to a navigable condition over its entire length to Frankton Locks which would link it to the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire and so join the national waterways network. To realise the potential benefits from full restoration, the Council supports the aim of the Montgomery Canal Partnership to re-open the Canal.

Montgomery Canal Exhibition

3 -30 November Newtown Library

Newtown library will be hosting a special photographic exhibition in November. It is a unique chance to discover the many facets of the Montgomery canal as seen through the eyes of all the generations, andfrom all ages.

Opening hours: Mon/Thurs/Fri: 09:30-17:30, Tues: 09.30-19.00, closed Weds, Saturday: 09.30- 13:00.

This touring exhibition is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the restoration of the Montgomery canal.

Sylvia Edwards, (sylvia.edwards@canalrivertrust.org.uk) Montgomery Canal Community Development Officer with Canal and River Trust: “This exhibition combines photographs from workshops, from archives e.g. Freestone cottage “without the foliage”, and from community activities that went on during the year.”

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Whitchurch Boat Rally

A very successful event for The Whitchurch Waterway Trust was held on the first weekend of September. The annual boat rally made a handsome profit as well as raising the profile of the current Whitchurch Arm and the possibilities for the future.

Saturday was a glorious day and people came out in droves. The ice cream seller was very happy - not so much on Sunday though as it was overcast and drizzly. It saved the rain until the dog show started at 2.00pm and then to heap misery on top, the judge failed to appear. The day was saved by a brave local business man who happened to be wearing his logo on his jacket and was promptly volunteered by the master of ceremonies. Whew! The participants, human and canine, blithely carried on. The best in show pair were pretty in pink, both dog and owner.

The local VIP's gamely braved the day and came to judge the best decorated boat competition on Sunday morning. The theme was 'The Owl and the Pussycat' and the winning boat was The Briar Rose, superbly decorated by Geoff and Helen Lane.

We were well supported by boats and stall holders which was very gratifying. The trip boat supplied

by CRT and worked all weekend in sun and rain by the STTV was kept very busy. Live music played on both days and many thanks go to Jigsmith and the Shropshire Boatmen.

Thanks to Dawn & David Aylwin, Alan Platt andn Janet & Denis Farmer for staffing our branch stand at the event!

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As usual these events cannot take place without the many people who give freely (well, with some arm twisting) their time and their good humour for which I am eternally grateful. Thank you all.

Lindsay Green

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Structures at Risk

Were you in Ellesmere this summer? Every time I visit I wonder about the future of the old SU warehouse, since 1982 a Grade II listed building. Years ago we were able to use it for at least one rally, but it has been boarded up for a long time now.

Ellesmere was the heart of the SU system, with the historic – and, thankfully, surviving – workshops, Beech House at the junction, commercial premises around the Arm – the old dairy was the last – and of course the warehouse. If you want to know how significant warehouses were on the Shropshire Union, do read Shropshire Union Fly -Boats, The Jack Roberts Story from Audlem Mill.

I was drawn to the waterways not only by the pleasure of boating, not to mention discovery, but also by the living history of a network that had survived for nearly two centuries – more now. Our canals reflect a long and hard working life: the ‘cut’ created with little more than pick, shovel and barrow, the locks constructed with solid pieces of iron and timber. Things have changed over the years, our canals are tidier, cleaner and better maintained, but still I hope resist the temptation to look like a manicured municipal park.

I believe that the IWA should definitely be interested in the heritage of the waterways, built and natural, and I was delighted with the IWA Buildings at Risk initiative to look at the state of canalside buildings as an essential part of the canal environment and an important part of its story.

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Photo courtesy of Peter Brown

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The survey was not confined to CRT boundaries: only half of the structures we identified in the branch area could be identified as being (definitely or possibly) CRT responsibility.

Top of our list of course, was that warehouse at Ellesmere.

Among some three dozen structures, there were eight bridges and a selection of canalside warehouses along the Montgomery Canal.

It would be very good to develop more information, about the structures we have identified and by adding buildings you may know which we have not included.

Perhaps a member staring at long winter nights ahead, would like to help with some research?

Our branch contribution will be added to lists from other branches to create a national overview. IWA is making a very valuable contribution to the waterway environment, particularly because the survey looks beyond CRT’s responsibility; all part of Keeping Our Waterways Alive.

Do you know of buildings at risk in our area? Would you help with our list?

Michael Limbrey

Historic Structures Survey

As mentioned above, the branch recently completed a survey of historic structures in our area as part of a national survey. The spreadsheet that we returned can be seen using this link https://issuu.com/alanwilding/docs/iwa_historic_structures_survey_july

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Montgomery Canal Restoration Pant Railway Embankment

On July 12th, 2017, the Shropshire Union Canal Society and the North-West Waterway Recovery Group with the support of the Canal and River Trust took on the project to remove material of a former railway embankment crossing the Montgomery canal. The works were part of the project to reopen the dry section between the restored section at Maesbury and the Welsh border at Llanymynech.

Planning permission was granted on 20th March 2017 with the provision that the works shall be overseen by a suitably qualified and experienced ecologist, to ensure the protection of and enhancements for wildlife.

Two excavators (12T & 21T) & 3 x 6T dumpers, fuel bowser and welfare facilities arrived on site in preparation for the work to follow, along with members of the NWWRG and the Shropshire Union Canal Society, full site induction and planning meeting took place, with the works scheduled to take place over a 7day period.

Dumper trucks transported the waste to Bridge 90 where a compound was set up so the other excavator could load the awaiting lorries, with banksmen on hand to escort off and onto site. 308 tons was removed on the first full day.

Work begins to remove the waste from the embankment

As the work progressed the walls of the old railway bridge became visible Work was completed one day early with 1,114.5 tons of waste removed and over 352 hours of volunteer hours recorded

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Before...

and After!

A big thank you goes to all the volunteers involved and to Kev Walker, Stuart Moodie & Martin Carney from CRT for their assistance

Fred Barrett, Ju Davenport, Darren Shepherd, Adrian Sturgess, Bob Dewey, David Wild and Steve Morley just some of the volunteers involved with the project

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DUDLEY TUNNEL

2 Hour Trip Saturday 21st April 2018, 11.00am Join the Branch on a spectacular tour of the limestone mines and caverns exploring 428 million years of history along 2,888 metres of the mighty Dudley Tunnel, where you can have a go at the traditional art of 'legging' (or was it slave labour?).

You will also experience:    

an entertaining video show in the Little Tess Cavern explaining how the limestone was originally formed and emerged from the earth's crust fascinating details about how the fossilised remains of small creatures and plants which are now clearly visible in Castle Mill's coral reef once lay under the sea bed lifelike reconstructions in Hurst Cavern showing how miners worked in the tunnels in the 18th century an astonishing music and light show in the Singing Cavern

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Please make your own way to Dudley and meet at 10.45 in the visitor car park where a coach will take you to the boat. After the two-hour boat trip you will return to the visitor centre where there is the Gongoozler Restaurant for those who want refreshments or where you can buy a ticket to go round the Open Air museum.

The Centre is located at 501 Birmingham New Road, Dudley DY1 4SB. By car it's just ten minutes from junction 2 of the M5 where brown signs will direct you to 'Dudley Canal Tunnel and Limestone Mines'. The nearest train stations are Tipton or Dudley Port (both approximately 30 walk away).

Because of the size of the boat, numbers are limited so to book your place please write a cheque for ÂŁ12.50* per person to The Inland Waterways Association and send to: Wyndcliff, Pen-y-Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS

with your name and email address. * a special concessionary price

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The Llangollen Quick Passenger Boat (1852–3)

An advertisement in the Wolverhampton Chronicle (and no doubt in other papers) announced a remarkable service of quick passenger boats from Llangollen Road Station on the Shrewsbury & Chester Railway to Llangollen to be inaugurated on 14 June 1852, the same date as a similar service from Rednal to Welshpool and Newtown started.

Richard Skey, the General Manager of the Shropshire Union Canal, appears to have had the idea and developed it in co-operation with James Shipton’s Wolverhampton Swift Packet Company, which was operating such a service between Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Skey was authorised to purchase three boats, two of which would have worked to Newtown and one to Llangollen. They were to be specially adapted for the purpose, having fine lines and light weight. The contract for the Newtown service was to run for three months, and then to be terminable by either side on two months’ notice.

Presumably the Llangollen service was on similar terms, though possibly it ran only during the summer months, Llangollen already by then being an up-market holiday resort. Curiously, the minutes do not mention the Llangollen service; if it were not for the advertisements, one would not have known it ever had existed.

The boat made four journeys a day (except Sundays) each way, each one making a reasonable connection with trains in both directions. The fare was 9d (‘old’ pence) in the first class cabin and 6d in the second class cabin; parcels under 28lbs in weight were charged 6d, and those between 28lbs and 56lbs were charged 9d.

The short-lived (1848–1862) Llangollen Road Station was situated on the south side of Whitehouses Tunnel. The journey was timed to take just 40 minutes for the 61⁄4 miles, an average of 9.4 mph. The public trip boats now take two hours to go from Llangollen to Froncysyllte, which is 11⁄4 miles short of the site of the station.

How could such speeds have been managed? The answer lies in a strange property of water in confined channels. As the speed at which a boat is towed is increased, there comes a point at which the water cannot pass the boat quickly enough, so piles up ahead. Towing then becomes very difficult, but if the speed can be further increased, the boat moves into calm water, riding the wave, and towing then becomes much easier. The speed of this wave depends only on the depth of the water, and for a depth of three to four feet, the speed would be about 6 mph. (This technique does not work for powered boats, only for towed boats.)

However, although lock-free, the route not only includes the 191 yard long tunnel, it also includes Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (336 yards) and two narrow sections totalling about half a mile where two boats cannot pass. The canal was still quite busy with boats conveying limestone from Froncysyllte and Trevor Rocks and with traffic to and from Trevor Basin.

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This timing must have been found to be impractically fast, as at some point the number of return journeys were reduced to three, and the time allowed increased to a shortest of 54 and a longest of 60 minutes, giving an average speed of between 6.3 and 6.8 mph.The Newtown service ceased in about May 1853 but an advertisement in June that year shows that the Llangollen service continued through that summer.

Shipton applied to run the passenger service in the summer of 1854, presumably intending to use the canal company’s swift boat. This was approved, but the charge demanded of 10 shillings per return trip was thought

by Shipton to be excessive, so the service did not go ahead.

A rival omnibus service from Llangollen Road Station seems to have been more successful — that appears to have lasted until the Vale of Llangollen branch line opened from Ruabon.

Peter Brown

Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch 2018 Calendar

Our 2018 calendar is now available. See back cover of this issue for a preview of the pictures!

You can get copies: • At the events we attend (see page 4) • Shrewsbury Charity Card Shop till Dec 2nd • From our usual outlets • Aqueduct Marina • Overwater Marina • Audlem Mill • Kings Lock Chandlery • By mail order (£6.50 including p&p) from 7 Barnton Edge, Stone, ST15 8ZR Cheques payable to “The Inland Waterways Association”

Many thanks to our sponsors

Aqueduct Marina 01270 525041 — Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays 07867 790195 Kings Lock Chandlery 01606 737564 — M&L Canal Services and Mobile Engineer 07970 384047 — Mercia Marine Insurance 01684 564457 Midway Boats 01270 528482 — Moors Farm Bed & Breakfast 01938 553395 Morris Lubricants 07182 410391 — Overwater Marina 01270 812677 Swanley Bridge Marina 01270 524571 — Talbot Wharf 01630 652641 Venetian Marina 01270 528251

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‘Paddling the Pont’ I was first made aware of the issue here when, as a member of the CRT Partnership I was standing at Trevor on some mission one summer’s day watching Jones the Boat merrily jumping the queue for the aqueduct, while a family of happy holiday makers were loading lager on to a day boat, when a pack of canoeists came barrelling down the Llangollen arm, and added to the considerable confusion.

A little later I was boating between Trevor and Chirk and was one of a few narrowboats waiting for Whitehouse tunnel to clear when a couple of canoes hoved into sight, and exhibited a certain air of uncertainty. We pointed out the notice board and politely asked them whether they had lights; when the answer was negative, we resolved the problem by convoying them through carefully with a narrowboat fore and aft.

I was a little concerned therefore when CRT issued a pamphlet last year announcing the establishment of new canoe launching points on the Llangollen feeder and encouraging canoeists who found the white water of the Dee a little daunting for their taste to try the canal around Llangollen and Trevor instead.

This disquiet was not much lessened by the British Canoe Union issuing a series suggesting a ‘spooky canal trail’ on the same stretch, and this was not all down to my not sharing the general enthusiasm for the supernatural.

To make it clear, I think canoes and kayaks on the waterways are an excellent idea, they are a great way of young people, who we desperately need to engage with, enjoying and appreciating the canals. I do not think that waterways should be preserved for the exclusive use of motor boats and was happy to chat with a young lady we met paddle boarding along the Leeds and Liverpool last year, even if I declined to rush out and buy one myself ( a paddle board that is, not a young lady).

My worry is with when and where, especially as regards tunnels, doubly so round the Pontcysyllte/Chirk area, and trebly so in tunnels.

To list my concerns: The top end of the Llangollen is one of the busiest parts of the system, and we want to persuade all users to enjoy other less crowded parts of the system.

Many of the motor boats on that stretch are relatively inexperienced hirers or shared ownership, (and I fully approve their enjoying the canals.).To encourage novice canoeists to start on this stretch therefore is a bit like suggesting a learner motorist takes his first lesson driving lesson in the centre of London.

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There is a strong current on the Llangollen, which is enhanced when the canal become narrow in bridge holes and tunnels. Boats going upstream can take a long time to come through.

Narrowboaters can get fed up with waiting for the track to clear and may enter a tunnel as soon as they think it’s clear, and they’re looking for a boat coming the other way that fills the tunnel and has a bright tunnel light.

The very careful instruction by CRT for canoeists to have a light of ’80 lumens’ (whatever that is), may be ignored by a rash youngster, and anyway may not be easily seen near the water line by an oncoming steerer.

I am worried that an inexperienced or foolish boater may meet an inexperienced or foolish canoeist in a tunnel, and that the result would be very serious indeed. Two narrowboats meeting in a tunnel will result in scratched paintwork and a bit of bad language, one meeting a canoe will result in an ambulance or worse.

Alan Platt

CRT response

Our branch recently raised concerns about this matter with a question to the CRT User Forum. Ours was not the only question submitted on this topic.

CRT’s response was as follows:

“We are aware of a specific problem with a canoe group operating around Chirk Tunnel which we are dealing with through our boating business group.

We are also reviewing our processes to ensure that commercial canoe groups are managed more effectively. If there are any other problems please advise so that we can investigate” “We have worked with Canoe Wales and England to develop a code of conduct for canoeists and canoe maps which clearly state the Trust’s code of conduct”

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CRT Autumn 2017 User Forum

On Thurs 2nd Nov, Michael Haig and I attended the Canal & River Trust North Wales & Border Autumn 2017 User Forum. As a first-time attendee, it was very interesting to see the range of organisations represented and to get an overview of what CRT have been doing and their plans going forward.

In no particular order, here are notes of a few of the items discussed: CRT strategy CRT is now 5 years old and focus is now firmly on positioning the Trust for future discussions with government regarding funding. Key element of this is proving that the waterways are for everyone and showing how CRT are engaging with the public. Links below to some relevant documents.

CRT Annual Report https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/original/33176-annual-report-2016-17.pdf CRT page on “The values and benefits of waterways� https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/planning-and-design/planning-policy/thevalues-and-benefits-of-waterways Hurleston Services (currently out of action) After strategic review, CRT plan to move these to a new location between Hurleston & Grindley Brook. Current location is too close to other services at Nantwich and Calveley (CRT normally aim for 4 hours cruising between facilities) and has no main drains connection resulting in ongoing cost to empty septic tank. Works expected to commence in 2018.

Barbridge waterpoint (currently out of action) No news on this but a new water point is due to be installed above Cholmondeston Lock on the Middlewich Branch before next Easter.

Grindley Brook Lock Open Day (date to be confirmed) Open day planned to coincide with winter works Responses to pre-submitted questions CRT provided written responses to questions from various organisations including our branch (thanks to Michael Haig). Some such as canoeists on the Llangollen and width problems at Hurleston bottom lock are discussed elsewhere in this issue. Other matters included signage at Trevor Basin (ongoing as part of wider review of facilities there) and relocation of information boxes at Grindley Brook (currently removed and being stored in Ellesmere Yard. Future requirement to be assessed after installation of new signage).

Andrew Smith

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Winter stoppages

CRT have a full programme of winter stoppages planned. The first of these will have started by the time that you read this. Here are some highlights but boaters should visit the CRT website to get a full list and dates.

Before Christmas

Shropshire Union  Audlem Locks: Replace gates on locks 2 & 14. Repair bywash at Lock 9  Beeston Stone Lock 12: Replace buffer plate  Bunbury Lower Lock 14: Replace buffer plate  Culvert 55 near Hack Green: Open-cut excavate one side of culvert  Tyrley Locks: Replace gates on Locks 3 & 5

Llangollen Canal Hurleston Locks  Reline gates and extend lock ladders in Locks 2&3.  Survey of Lock 4 ready for work in Winter 2018/19 to widen chamber.

After Christmas

Llangollen Canal  Baddiley Lock 3: Replace stop plank grooves  Cornhill Sluice 4 adjacent to Bridge 47: Repairs  Dansons Bridge 30: Wet abutment repairs  Grindley Brook Bridge 28: Repairs  Grindley Brook Locks 4,5,6: Reline gates  Halls Lane Bridge 12: Repairs  Maestermyn House Bridge 4W: Wet abutment repairs  New Mills Lift Bridge: Repairs  New Marton Locks 1: Reline gates  Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: Repairs to parapet.  Poveys Lock: Leakage repairs and repair bottom offside quoin  Springhill Bridge 41: Repairs  Val Hill Bridges 65 & 66: Wet abutment repairs  Willeymoor Lock: Repairs A full list (A4 or A3 format) of the planned stoppages can be downloaded from: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/static_maps/North_Wales_Borders_A4.pdf https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/static_maps/North_Wales_Borders_A3.pdf Andrew Smith

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