Sou'Wester May to August 2023

South West and South Wales Region Committees

South West & South Wales Region Committee:

Chair: *Hannah Sterritt Members: *Ray Alexander

Hon. Secretary: *Andrew Strawson Baz Juniper

Sou’Wester Editor: *Joyce Potts *Tony Pugh

Navigation Committee

Representative: *Andrew Strawson

Avon & Wiltshire Branch Committee:

Chairman:

Hon. Secretary:

Hon. Treasurer:

Events Officer:

If you are interested in any of the vacant positions for this branch or the Gloucestershire & Herefordshire branch, please contact Hannah Sterritt

Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Committee:

Chairman:

Hon Secretary:

Acting Treasurer:

South Wales Branch Committee:

If you are interested in any of the vacant positions for this branch or the Avon & Wilts branch, please contact Hannah Sterritt

Chairman: *Tony Pugh Members: Mike Synan

Hon. Secretary: Vacant Chris JL Yewlett

Treasurer: Henry Brown

Minutes Secretary: Vacant

Membership Officer: *Tony Pugh

Publicity Officer: Vacant

Volunteer Co-ordinator Vacant

West Country Branch Committee:

Chairman: *Ray Alexander Members: Julian Gibson

Hon. Secretary: Vacant Maurice Pinner

Hon. Treasurer & Events: Mike Aldridge

Volunteer Co-ordinator: *Mike Slade

*Contact details for these appear inside the back cover.

Region Chair

members, Welcome to Sou’Wester No 193 and to the start of Spring! It’s wonderful to see the seasons change into what many of us consider the boating season even though our canals and rivers are open all year long. Many people, myself included, are on the water and using our towpaths every day. I’ve also had a busy start to the year since my last update, not least that I’ve just embarked on a grand tour of some of the English canals and rivers this year, after spending three years on the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal (Mon & Brec). My narrowboat along with two others have made the short trip by road over to the main network, to see what we might have been missing so I’m sure the next few updates will contain some mildly interesting insights into the nuances of the different canals!

Fellow

In IWA South West news specifically, I have made several trips this quarter around the region. It was great to spend a day hosted by the Cotswold Canals Trust visiting the current Phase 1B of the restoration, titled Cotswold Canals Connected. It was wonderful to see the passion and enthusiasm for the project from volunteers and staff, the restoration work completed to date by Waterways Recovery Group (WRG) and other parties, and see the impact the restoration is having on the local community and the potential still to be realised. Andrew Strawson, Region Secretary, and I also met in person with Mark Evans, Canal and River Trust (CRT) Regional Director for Wales and the West to make his acquaintance with the view of providing productive two-way communication in the future. Finally, my partner and I made a trip to the West Country for a tour of the region’s waterways, led by Ray Alexander, chair of the IWA West Country Branch. We had a fantastic day, beginning in Bridgwater, travelling as far as Exeter; Langport and cont on page 4/…

…/cont from page 3

many places in between, and the vibrancy and variation of the waterways in this region was brilliant to see. This was especially interesting as it brought the case studies and work shared at the West Country Waterways Forum held last October to life.

You may have seen the latest campaign entitled “Protect Our Waterways” led by IWA. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the threats to our waterways and petition to protect canals and rivers from funding cuts. After all, the waterways of today would not exist without the Inlands Waterways Association and the work of our dedicated members and volunteers who, over many years, ensured that canals and rivers were saved and enhanced. As part of this, IWA is on the lookout for photographs to highlight the threats facing our canals and rivers, for example, from lack of maintenance, climate change, plastic pollution and invasive species. “Before and after” photos showing how things have either got worse over time or been improved by volunteer action would be particularly impactful. If you have any such photos, please send them through to protect@waterways.org.uk

Although I won’t be boating this season in this region, I will certainly be continuing the work of IWA, so please do get in touch if there’s anything I can help you with. For now, I wish you all the best as we hopefully (!) have seen the last of the foul weather and can enjoy all that the region has to offer regardless of how you may be getting out and about. With very best wishes.

Hannah Sterritt

Cover Photo: Bridge 130, below Llangynidr on the Monmouthshire & Brecon canal ©IWA member Lewis Rigley

Notices

FORMAL NOTICE OF THE SOUTH WALES BRANCH AGM HYSBYSIAD O GYFARFOD CCB CANGEN DE CYMRU

To be held at 2pm on Saturday, 13th May, 2023

Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, Cwm Lane, Rogerstone, Newport, NP10 9GN

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence / Introduction

2. Minutes of AGMs and any matters arising from these Minutes

3. Report from the Branch Chairman

4. Treasurer’s Report and accounts

5. Election of Committee

6. Any resolutions requested by members of the branch previously notified in writing to the Chair prior to the AGM

The South Wales Branch covers the navigable waterways from the River Wye and across South Wales. We are a small group of Members in South Wales, just over 100, who financially support and monitor the wellbeing of all the UK waterways.

Those that attend the AGM in person will be invited to tour the Canal Centre and flight of locks. Food and drinks will be available at the Centre at cost.

Would you please put your name forward and become an (armchair) Branch Committee Member via ZOOM. Without your support, your Branch is not sustainable, it takes up little of your time.

Can’t make it to Fourteen Locks Canal Centre in person - register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/

tZAtf-isqzItEtPhtH1pNXTMG6clCh3ZhKZY

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting virtually.

CLYDACH LOCK SITE RESTORATION:

THE FIRST STEP

Martin Davies, Swansea Canal Society

On one of the coldest days in midJanuary 2023, our contractors began a new phase in the restoration of the Clydach Lock Site. The lock and canal were buried in the 1970s to make way for the Council Yard close to St. Benedict's Catholic Church. Now, work has begun in earnest to restore the lock and 120 meters of the original Swansea Canal route.

James Daley, our contractor, and his men and machines have been working hard on site in all weathers. Their heavy duty excavators have been digging deep along the canal route to the required depth. They will then lay a deep bed of shale on the bottom and a heavy butyl liner will be placed on top. The canal will then flow around the buried lock allowing work to begin in the lock chamber in dry conditions. The photos show how much has been fully excavated to the required depth. The funding for this first stage of the restoration work has come from "Brilliant Basics" and 'The Gower Society' and the SCS is very grateful for this funding. Once this

first phase of work on the canal has been carried out to the required standard, another tranche of money will be available. Phase One restoration work was completed on time.

Photos: James Daley

ADFER SAFLE LOC

CLYDACH: Y CAM CYNTAF

Ar un o’r diwrnodau oeraf yng nghanol mis Ionawr 2023, dechreuodd ein contractwyr ar gyfnod newydd yn y gwaith o adfer Safle Loc Clydach. Claddwyd y loc a’r gamlas yn y 1970au i wneud lle i Iard y Cyngor yn agos at Eglwys Gatholig San Benedict. Nawr, mae gwaith wedi dechrau o ddifrif i adfer y loc a 120 metr oGamlas Abertawe.

James Daley, ein contractwr, a'i ddynion a'i beiriannau wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed ar y safle ym mhob tywydd. Mae eu cloddwyr gwaith trwm wedi bod yn cloddio'n ddwfn ar hyd llwybr y gamlas i'r dyfnder gofynnol. Yna byddant yn gosod gwely dwfn o siâl ar y gwaelod a bydd leinin biwtyl trwm yn cael ei osod ar ei ben. Bydd y gamlas wedyn yn llifo o amgylch y loc claddedig gan ganiatáu i waith ddechrau yn y siambr loc mewn amodau sych.

Mae'r lluniau'n dangos faint sydd wedi'i gloddio'n llawn i'r dyfnder gofynnol. Mae'r cyllid ar gyfer y cam cyntaf hwn o'r gwaith adfer wedi dod o "Brilliant Basics" a 'The Gower Society' ac mae'r SCS yn ddiolchgar iawn am y cyllid hwn. Unwaith y bydd y cam cyntaf hwn o waith ar y gamlas wedi'i wneud i'r safon ofynnol, bydd cyfran arall o arian ar gael. Bydd gwaith adfer Cam Un yn cael ei gwblhau erbyn 31 Mawrth.

HELP!! NEW EDITOR REQUIRED

I have been the Editor of the Sou’wester since 2015 but currently I have so many other commitments that I am finding it very difficult to produce it even though there are only 3 issues per year. Is there someone reading this that can take on this task? I can help you get under way and give any advice that is needed. If you could fill this vacancy, please contact me, Hannah or Ray Alexander. Please see inside back cover f0r contact details.

Update from Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust

Ralph Barber, Chairman

Back in November 2021 we gained planning permission after submitting over 100 documents. Since then, the volunteers have been successful in completing a number of culverts so the canal can go over the top of these. We had the WRGs in for 3 weeks, well a bit shorter due to a bit of Covid hitting the camp. In parallel to this we took part in a land auction for the next bit, that also gave us the benefit of joining two bits of land that we own already. After 11 months we finally got the land (Jan 23) and we have already started the planning permission application. This will enable us to create a canal corridor of over 1km and have a circular walk once completed. See map on page 9.

The Leominster Canal

The Late Martin Hudson, Friends of Leominster Canal (FoLC)

Editor’s Note: This is the last article that Martin sent to me before his death in December 2021 and I haven’t had the space to include it before.

Aqueducts

In 1795, Rev John Price wrote of the Leominster Canal: Apart from the tunnels, it has aqueducts, the one over the River Teme is of the greatest magnitude and elevation…

The Leominster Canal is often regarded as a mere footnote of history and yet it had some of the grandest engineering spectacles of the canal age.

The Leominster Canal was surveyed by Thomas Dadford in the late 1780s and made no secret of the enormous undertaking involved. Precipitous terrain, record-breaking tunnels and very large aqueducts were just part of the challenge. Even the culverts were built on a grand scale. But, for a select few, the allure of coal sales and great profit were temptations too great to resist.

Although Dadford and Waring reported 7 aqueducts built by 1794, we can only identify 6. None are fully intact today.

A sketch map based on the seminal Woolhope Club article shows the location of the 6 aqueducts. Rea, Teme and Brimfield are accessible by footpaths.

The Teme

Perhaps the best known due to its accessibility, it was a popular Sunday afternoon destination until WWII. A footpath leads to the remains. The loss of the centre arch was by no means due to age and decay. It was demolished as part of WWII exercises. Well worth a visit to view the 35ft spans.

Bryan Heatley unveiling the Blue Plaque in 2019 and a view circa 1900

The scale of the embankments alone will impress. The remaining arches are Grade 2 Listed. Access using a footpath from Gosford Bridge.

Ledwyche Aqueduct

Tucked away behind Burford Mill, this one is on private land. Adapted for railway use in the 1860s, this was a substantial construction of over 20ft span with embankments. Although the arch has gone, the original wing walls and footings can be seen (Photos on page 12).

Cont on page 12/...

The lost centre arch and a sample of graffiti cut into the wing walls

The pink of the canal-age bricks is clear in the wing walls and footings

The Cock Aqueduct

Another aqueduct rebuilt as a railway bridge, the footings are all that remain.

The lofty railway bridge erected in place of the aqueduct is quite unlike the original. The familiar image on the Monmouth and Brecon Canal is a Dadford design and gives an impression of what the Cock Aqueduct original was like. Like all the Leominster aqueducts, it leaked. We found an 1841 advert for bids to repair it.

Brimfield

When John Rennie visited, he found a re-built aqueduct which he criticized as having too little clearance over the Brimfield Brook. The present structure is more culvert/siphon than aqueduct, and is shown below during repairs, with a modern tube being inserted as a temporary measure. A sketch by Robert Williams shows the arrangement of the

brick-built waterway. Members of FoLC view the same scene before drainage. Well worth a look, the site is on public footpaths.

Kingsland

Reported as near ruinous by John Rennie in 1795 after fierce flooding, a crossing was still standing by the time the 1841 tithe maps were made.

Cont on page 14/...

One of the pier footings (EA)

North bank retaining wall

…/cont

from page 13

On private land, we are grateful to the Environment Agency (EA) who recently surveyed and photographed the site. It is difficult to appreciate what Rennie saw. The aqueduct consisted of 3 arches of 20ft each, but again, with too little water-way.

The Rea

The Rea Aqueduct can still be visited by using the footpath from Broom Bank. That route will take you by the impressive Wharf House and lock remains. Don’t approach it from Newnham as that footpath has been closed.

Downstream in 2013

The collapse of 2013

The aqueduct has a 45ft span. Much criticized by John Rennie, it is a bold Dadford design who created a one of the largest aqueducts of its time. Rennie reported:

“…mostly built of brick, this aqueduct is unfortunately in a very bad situation, being split in the longitudinal direction of the arch … is not kept together by its own strength, but by iron bars which have been put across it…”

The iron crosses are very evident in the photograph above. Rennie went on to say that the aqueduct leaked profusely – a common theme of Dadford designs. We are grateful for a Worcestershire County Council report that revealed this aqueduct was also being prepared for demolition during WWII. The demolition didn’t take place, but the holes gouged into the brickwork further weakened the structure. In spite of clearance and efforts by FoLC to repair it, the up-stream face fell away in 2013. It now presents a sorry sight and is testament to the dubious value

of its Grade 2 listing.

OS Maps such as Landranger 149 or Explorer 203 are very useful when visiting. Also, try www.theleominstercanal.co.uk

Editor’s Note: The original name of the canal was The Kington, Leominster and Stourport Canal but is now more commonly known as the Leominster Canal. Martin sent me many articles about the Leominster Canal which have proved both entertaining and informative. He is very much missed.

FRIENDS OF THE LEOMINSTER CANAL Registered Charity 1113746

PROGRAMME OF WALKS FOR 2023

Saturday, 1st July Corn Brook Embankment near Tenbury Wells

An area of the canal not visited in a very long time, this impressive embankment is where the canal crosses the Corn Brook. Another wonder of the canal builders, this huge earthwork is well worth seeing.

Meeting point: TBA 10.30am

Directions: TBA

Saturday, 30th September: Field trip to the Putnal Tunnel

A field trip to the eastern portal of the Putnal Tunnel and southern edge of Wyson Common to survey feeder and pilot channels, culverts as well as having a poke around for clues to other structures.

Meeting point: TBA 10.30am

Directions: TBA

Thursday, 28th December: Christmas Walk. To be announced Hopefully the sun will shine and we can walk off the indulgences of the Christmas holiday, (please note that this is usually a social walk and not a guided canal walk).

Meeting point: TBA 10.30am

Directions: TBA

For more details of the walks, times and meeting points, please contact FoLC at: leominstercanal@gmail.com

SOMETHING NEW! A QUIZ ON CANAL TUNNELS!

By Mike Potts, IWA member

Only a few feature on the canals within the IWA South West & South Wales Region Answers on page 23.

Which canal or waterway has or had the following tunnel on it?

1.Standedge

7.Lapal

8.Butterley

9.Harecastle

10.Norwood

15.Newbold

16.Cookley

20.Hydebank

23.Hincaster

2. Sapperton

3. Oxenhall

4.Strood & Higham

5. Savernake

6.Fenny Compton

11. Crimson Hill

12. Fouldridge

13. Southnet

14. Greywell

17. Cowley

18. Chirk

19. Bruce

21. Ashford

22. Tardebigge

24. Froghall

25. Fallingroyd Putnal Field Tunnel, Leominster Canal

Dudley Tunnel, Black Country Museum

EDITORIAL

Joyce Potts

Welcome to this 193rd edition of Sou’wester. As you can see, I have been relegated to near the back of the newsletter.

You will have seen the updates from Swansea Canal Society which is in both English and Welsh on pages 6 - 7. Phase 1 was finished on time so there is a photo of Gordon in the maintenance boat on the new water. Unfortunately, Martin Davies missed it as it was in water for only one day and subsequently drained. Thanks go to their contractor, James Daley for taking all the photos on page 7.

Page 8 has an update from Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust on a new piece of land they have acquired with a map on page 9.

Page 8 also had my appeal for a new Editor. Unfortunately, I have not had any interest in the post. It is not an onerous task but, as I have said previously, I have so many other commitments, I don’t have the time to give Sou’wester the time it deserves.

Pages 13 - 15 has the last article on the Leominster Canal sent into me by the late Martin Hudson as well as details of their programme of walks. I have not had the space to use it until now.

Page 16 features a quiz on tunnels that could or can be found on the canals and waterways, only a few of which are within our region. Let me know if you would like to see a quiz or crossword in future.

On pages 18 - 21, the report from IWA West Country branch and details of IWA South Wales AGM to be held on 13th May, can be found. Both Gloucestershire & Herefordshire and Avon & Wilts branches are officially in Abeyance. Anyone interested in restarting these two branches, please contact the Region Chair Hannah Sterritt whose contact details can be found on page 23.

If you would like to see one of your photos of your local canal on the cover of a future Sou’wester, please email them to me.

Branch Reports

IWA South Wales Branch / Cangen de Cymru Report

Tony Pugh, Branch Chairman

There is no Branch report this time but please see page 5 for information about the Branch AGM to be held at 2pm on Saturday, 13th May

Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, Cwm Lane, Rogerstone, Newport, NP10 9GN

For up to date information on the local South Wales Canal activities - see: The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre

http://fourteenlocks.mbact.org.uk/

The Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust

http://www.mbact.org.uk for the boat trips, go to the website then click on “our boats”

The Neath & Tennant Canals Trust:

http://www.neath-tennant-canals.org.uk/

The Swansea Canal Society http://www.swanseacanalsociety.com

The Swansea Bay Inland Waterways Partnership

Swansea Marina http://www.swanseamarina.org.uk/

The Torfaen Canal Volunteers Contact: Hugh Woodford 01663

862481 heatherhugh@hotmail.com

The group hold regular meetings.

The Cardiff Bay Harbour Authority http://www.cardiffharbour.com

IWA West Country Branch

Ray Alexander, Branch Chairman

Annual General Meeting 2023

The AGM of the Branch took place on Thursday 30th March at which the minutes of the 2022 AGM, the Chairman’s Report and Treasurer’s Report were adopted unanimously. Chris Jewell stood down from the committee at the AGM, having joined in 1996 and contributed much to the Branch during this time. No other members of the committee needed to stand for re-election on this occasion.

The AGM was followed by an open forum for members, at which a variety of issues were raised, including the IWA’s falling membership, the need to attract the younger generations to join and to spread our net beyond boaters to include, for example, pollution, fishing and canoeing/paddle boarding, the rise in membership fees from 1st January, the financial deficit for 2021 which had been reported at the National AGM last September, the appointment of David Pearce as part-time CEO from January this year and the new IWA Campaign “Protect Our Waterways”. Branch Team Recruitment I took the decision to write a fairly full Chairman’s Report for the AGM and to circulate this to all our members, including those not on e-mail. Part of the reasoning behind this was to yet again appeal to members to join the branch team and become active volunteers. Regrettably, however, this has not led to anyone from our nearly 500 members volunteering to join the Branch Team and to get involved in the activities of the Branch.

Sedgemoor District Council Mike Slade and I attended an event in early March, hosted by Sedgemoor District Council for key volunteer groups, as a thank you for supporting Sedgemoor in the past. Some 20 volunteer organisations were each presented with a plaque and a cheque for £200, which was both pleasing and very welcome. This was a good opportunity for us and it was heartening to hear from others how much they value the work carried out by our volunteers on the Bridgwater & Taunton canal and at the Docks. Photo on page 20.

cont on page 20/…

Exeter Ship Canal The efforts of the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal are largely taken up at the moment on the three development proposals affecting the canal and canal basin. The current position is as follows:

 Haven retail development – a planning application has been made and comments on this have been submitted by the Friends to the City Council.

 Water Lane development – a follow-up exhibition by the developers took place in March which highlighted a number of revisions to the development proposals. The planning application is due to be submitted in June but will only cover the southern section of the site, as another developer will now be dealing with the northern section.

 Exe Water Sports Association development – a public meeting on the proposals for developing the site was held in mid-January.

Bridgwater & Taunton Canal Somerset West & Taunton Council continues to review the submissions on the proposed flood defence works from Firepool Lock to the Railway Bridge. We have been informed by the Project Manager that there will be a response to these in due course but

Photo: Councillor Janet Keen. Ray Alexander, Mike Slade and Councillor Alan Bradford (Chair of Sedgemoor District Council)

that in the meantime the proposals have been called in by the new Unitary Somerset Council for review. It will be interesting to see how they resolve the proposals to raise the height of Firepool Lock gates, which we understand have been rejected by CRT.

River Tone – former cattle market A planning application for the former Cattle Market alongside the River Tone was released in November, for public consultation. We submitted our comments within the consultation period and are aware that these are being considered along with all the other comments received. Our areas of interest include the following:

 Pedestrian and Cycle links from the canal towpath through to the new development

 Adequate segregation of pedestrians and cyclists, especially taking into account the likely growth of e-bikes

 Access to the waterside for all, with the cycleway away from the water

 Access for a crane to Firepool Lock

 Car Parking for visitors to the river and canal

 No shading of water by tall buildings

 Access to the water for leisure activities (canoeing, etc.)

 Lighting along the towpath/cycleway

 Flood prevention measures

IWA South West Inland Waterways Regeneration Fund (SWIWRF) Two applications for grants from SWIWRF were received prior to the latest deadline of 31st December and these were subsequently approved by the Panel.

 The first was an application by the Grand Western Management team (aka Devon County Council) for funds to purchase three new notice boards, which will take the number funded by the regeneration fund to 5 out of the total of 11 along the Devon section of the canal.

 The second application was from the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal for funding for a consultant’s report on Gabriel’s Wharf on the canal, which is under threat from the proposed Water Lane development alongside the canal.

Waterways in the IWA South West and South Wales Region

Avon & Wilts Branch

Rivers Avon & Severn: Tidal navigation that is the responsibility of the Bristol Haven Conservancy, downstream of the second Severn crossing

Avon Navigation: Hanham to Avonmouth, including River Avon & Bristol Docks

Kennet & Avon Canal: Hanham Lock to Froxfield Bridge

North Wilts Canal

Somersetshire Coal Canal

Wilts & Berks Canal: Kennet & Avon Canal to County Boundary 1m West of Shrivenham

Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch

Coombe Hill Canal Gloucester & Sharpness Canal

Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Leominster Canal

Lydney Canal

River Severn: from Mythe Bridge, Tewkesbury to a point on the tidal navigation which is the seaward extent of responsibility of the Gloucester Harbour Trustees, downstream of the Second Severn Crossing

Stroudwater Navigation Thames & Severn Canal

River Wye: Hay-on-Wye to Severn Estuary

South Wales Branch

Brecon & Abergavenny Canal Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals

Monmouthshire Canal Neath & Tennant Canals

Swansea Canal River Usk

River Wye - Hay-on-Wye to source

West Country Branch

Bridgwater & Taunton Canal Bude Canal

Chard Canal Exeter Ship Canal

Grand Western Canal Liskeard & Looe Canal

North Somerset Waterways River Parrett

Rolle Canal Stover Canal

Tavistock Canal River Tone

Ray Alexander

rayalexander01@gmail.com

Joyce Potts

joycemike06@gmail.com

Tony Pugh

tony.pugh@waterways.org.uk

Mike Slade

mdslade8@gmail.com

Hannah Sterritt

hannah.sterritt@waterways.org.uk

Andrew Strawson andrew.strawson@waterways. org.uk

CANAL TUNNEL QUIZ - ANSWERS

14. Basingstoke

15. Oxford

16. Staffordshire & Worcestershire

17. Shropshire Union

18. Llangollen

19. Kennet & Avon

20. Peak Forest

21. Monmouthshire & Brecon

22. Worcester & Birmingham

23. Lancaster

24. Caldon

Next Issue of Sou’Wester

The next issue of Sou’Wester is due out in September, 2023. Please send all copy to the Editor at joycemike06@gmail.com by Tuesday, 1st August, 2023

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of IWA. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee. Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1WA. Tel. 01494 783453