Disclaimer:
The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this Newsletter but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed herein may be construed as policy or official announcement unless stated otherwise. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the Newsletter
Content
From The Editor Page 2 Essex Waterways Update Page 10
Looking Back Page 2 Chelmer Waterside Page 12
From The Regional Chairman Page 3 Watermeadows Page 13
Major Damage Page 4 Just For Fun Page 14
Rugby to Wales Part 2 Page 5 Branch Committee Page 14
Social Dairy Page 8 Recruitment Page 15
AGM Page 9 Photos Page 16
From The Editor
5Select, on Freeview, have been showing a series of Building Britain’s Canals. An hours program that provides the building history of various canals. Presented by Dan Jones, the last two that I watched was about the Liverpool and Leeds and the Kennet and Avon. If you get the opportunity I can highly recommend the viewing pleasure.
We still need you to dig out those photographs, write that article, document those waterway memories as we would still like to increase our contributors to the next Newsletter.
Last inputs for Summer Newsletter 21/06/2023.
For those on e-mail please send your input to chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk Those without just give me a call. 07837 576464.
Looking Back
Another early IWA Chelmsford Branch work party on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation.
This time a ‘Sponsored Mow’ of the tow path prior to a Branch sponsored walk, probably at Barnes Lock.
Volunteers from left to right: Ron Martin, John Gale, Jeff Osler and Ken Woods
From The Regional Chairman
This time ten years ago in my contribution to your newsletter, I was welcoming the formation of Canal & River Trust (CRT)and looking forward to a summer without the weather stopping us enjoying our canals and causing too much disruption. Much has changed since then and the future of our beloved waterways looks less certain.
I am naturally an optimistic person, a glass half full rather than half empty is the way I look at events, but I am growing more and more concerned for the future of our waterways. This is occurring just as IWA is at its weakest for many decades. Our membership is falling and aging. We have not been recruiting new members fast enough to replace those who are unable to continue supporting our work, particularly since Covid struck. The waterways are faced by threats from all sorts of directions and unless we start preparing for the fights ahead, we could start losing the gains made over the last seventy years.
The CRT current funding, from government, is in the region of £50 million pounds. This will end in 2025. We are expecting an announcement soon on how much funding from government CRT will be getting after that. According to CRT they need to maintain the current 2,000 miles of waterways an extra £20-30 million per annum not the cut in grant aid expected. However, CRT are not the only navigation authority suffering from underfunding. The Environment Agency has suffered continuous cuts over the last decade and other waterways such as the Basingstoke canal, which is largely funded by the Surrey and Hampshire County Councils and Local District Councils, are also short of money.
As the only independent national charity campaigning for Britain’s Canals and Rivers, IWA will need to take the lead on a national campaign if we are to Protect Our Waterways for future generations. This will be a long-term campaign probably lasting years and the trustees and our head office will be putting together a campaign designed to lobby government and to bring the issues facing the waterways to the attention of the public. If we are to be successful we will need to provide the evidence of a deteriorating canal and river system and convince Government to invest the funds to protect and maintain the waterways. BUT, this will not succeed without your help and involvement.
A couple of years ago we ran the Gap Tracker campaign where we asked you and other people to look at boaters’ facilities and report back where there were problems with the provision. This was very successful and we were able to get a lot of data that allowed us to prove to CRT and other navigation authorities where there was a need for improvements. We will need to repeat this type of exercise again but on a much larger scale to enable us to find the evidence of the deterioration of the waterway network. I am working with a small group to look at how this can best be done. In the meantime, if you have any photos or other evidence showing the poor condition of any waterway, especially in the London area, I would love to see them so we can start building a dossier of problems that we can use when talking to CRT and the London politicians.
You can also help us by spreading the message to your friends and family of the message of the #ProtectOurWaterways campaign. If they are interested in the future of our waterways why not try and recruit them.
Get them to sign up on our website at https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-give/join
Paul Strudwick London Region Chair Person The Inland Waterways AssociationMajor Damage to Canal in Loxwood
On Sunday morning major damage to the restored Wey & Arun Canal in Loxwood was found. During the night of Saturday/ Sunday 1/2 April electrical control equipment for pumps was destroyed and water was released from the canal causing major damage which is likely to cost more than £50,000 to repair. In addition, with water released, planned Easter boat trips may need to be cancelled, disappointing all those who have booked a family trip and resulting in a loss of income for the Canal Trust. The sudden loss of water also has implications for fish and other wildlife in the canal.
Multiple pumping control locations were attacked and padlocks on canal locks removed to release water down the canal. The Canal Trust has reported the crime to the police and is working to assess the extent of damage and the repairs required. Some limited temporary repairs are being made today (Tuesday) to attempt to refill the sections of canal used for boat trips.
Canal trips scheduled for this Wednesday have already been cancelled and further trips are at risk.
The Trust will launch a fundraising campaign as soon as possible to help meet the costs of repair and lost income from cancelled boat trips.
The Canal Trust is a charity and a volunteer-led organisation. The Trust does not receive any regular support from public funds. Money to repair the damage will have to come from funds donated to restore and improve the canal.
The damage is a major blow to our volunteers who have put in so much work to restore and improve the canal through Loxwood in the last few years. The local community use the canal for recreation whether walking, cycling, horse-riding in addition to those who get on the water to Kayak, Paddleboard or enjoy a boat trip with the Trust.
Sally Schupke, the Chair of the Trust said “This is a major shock for the Canal Trust and our brilliant volunteers. Our Easter boat trips are in jeopardy and the financial hit to the Trust will impact other improvements planned to the canal”
Anyone with any information which might assist inquiries as to who might have been involved in causing this damage should contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting ‘0731 of 2/4/23’ or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Rugby to Wales Part 2
Resuming our month-long trip away, it had taken seven days to get to Wrenbury on the Llangollen Canal from our base at Brinklow Marina, Rugby. Having enjoyed an excellent meal at the Cotton Arms a few yards down from Wrenbury Lift Bridge, we looked forward to the rest of our journey to Llangollen.
Leaving early on the Saturday morning (not a commuter day) we passed Wrenbury Mill and the Narrowboat Hire Base to transit through the electric lift bridge, we had timed it well, as once through we met a convoy of hire boats pulling up for the lift bridge! Soon we headed up Marbury Lock, round a blind bend then Quoisley Lock, Willey Moor Lock, Povey's Lock, before arriving at the bottom of Grindley Brook Locks, ascending the bottom three locks, we then booked in with the lock keepers for the three staircase locks, the entry to the bottom of these is round a blind bend and under a bridge, it didn't take long to get to the top. There is a cafe alongside the staircase locks now, in the 1990's there had been a shop.
Cruising onwards through another lift bridge (there are quite a few on this canal), this one is operated by a windlass, once through, the Whitchurch Arm is a very sharp left turn, but we continued round to the right, and a long expanse of lock free cruising. Enjoying the scenery, passing by the junction on the left for the Prees Branch, along a straight cutting to Bettisfield, then passing Cole Mere and Blake Mere, before waiting for two narrowboats to come out of the short Ellesmere Tunnel, and then mooring in the shade before Ellesmere Marina and the town Arm, it had been a very hot day.
On Sunday we turned right down the short Arm to the basin at the end to wind, the old wharf warehouse looks derelict now. We found a mooring in the shade, and walked back to the wharf, where I took a photo through the cogs of a crane on the wharf, replicating a photo I had taken in 1995. We replenished our provisions at Tesco which is next to the Wharf.
Cruising again, and turning right out of the Arm, we continued up the Llangollen, meeting lots of cruising boats, soon we passed Frankton Junction on the left which leads onto the Montgomery Canal. We continued straight on, so we weren't expecting another Bridge 1, checking the map it showed Hurleston Junction Bridge 1 to Frankton Junction Bridge 69, then starting again after the junction with Bridge 1w.
We moored for a few hours in the shade at Hindford Bridge 11w, as it had become quite hot. Heading off again once cooler, we ascended the New Marton Locks (2), and the last locks until our return. Taking in the lovely views, we came to Chirk Aqueduct which has a Viaduct alongside, then straight into Chirk Tunnel, both are one way traffic, but with a small pound between for passing oncoming boats. Soon after we moored in the shade just before Chirk Marina.
Leaving on Monday through Whitehouse Tunnel (aka Whitehurst), then through the lift bridge 28w at Froncysyllte, looking up the steep hillside, with houses nestled in the greenery, and seeing the Aqueduct Inn still there, which we had walked up to it in 1995, we were much younger then! Next as we approached the phenomenal Pontycysyllte Aqueduct, I got off and walked across, to get photos, but avoiding looking down to the River Dee a long way below, not too keen on heights I focused in front, soon reaching Trevor Basin, where it was busy with tourists and moored boaters. Back on board we were clear to turn through Bridge 31w, and being a short boat managed easily, this route headed along a narrow channel due to overgrown bushes opposite the towpath side, there was a lovely smell of wild garlic for miles.
We had been following another narrowboat since Trevor and the crew got off to scout the one-way part from Bridge 41w. We enjoyed the spectacular views, and high rocky edges, before cruising along another one-way part, still following the other boat and scout, passing the linear moorings with a rock face one side and tree lined the other, then passing another narrow channel with a house on a bend on the left, and a high wall with a castle topped building behind it on the right.
Rugby to Wales Part 2 (cont)
Soon arriving at Llangollen Wharf with cafe, shop, and stables for the horse boats, we continued on to the winding hole, where the basin with pontoon moorings are available. We turned and headed back to the linear moorings and some shade, after another hot day.
After a late lunch we walked to the wharf and purchased a mooring ticket for two nights (payment is required for stays after 5pm), there is water and electric along the length of the linear moorings (electric has an additional cost). Heading to town to explore, we treated ourselves to a Kelly Ice-cream from the wharf, with so many fabulous flavours on offer we were spoilt for choice. With Cleo excited to be out walking, and oldie Ant happy in his trolley, we enjoyed our stroll. In the evening we had a delicious meal at The Dee Side Restaurant which looks down on the river, a lovely setting.
Tuesday, and a dull start, we all headed down to Llangollen Station and got tickets for a diesel hauled train ride (no steam that day), the dogs had their own tickets too! The trip took us up the Dee Valley, stopping at Berwyn Station where the view down was of the Chain Bridge and Hotel, you can also see a lovely multi arch stone bridge. At Glyndyfrdwy Station we saw a carriage display commemorating the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Arriving at Carrog we got off and had a coffee in the cafe, before walking up into the picturesque village, the houses were stunning, a mix of stone, brick, gables and bargeboards. The Grouse Inn which is high above the river was our lunch stop, we sat on the patio taking in the stunning views across the valley while we enjoyed an excellent lunch. Heading back, the weather had improved, and once back on the boat we watched the continual passing of narrowboats in and out of Llangollen. In the evening we ate at Fouzi's Pizzeria, the best seafood pizza we have had, and the puds were lovely too.
Rugby to Wales Part 2 (cont)
Working off our meals yesterday, we cycled with the dogs in bike baskets, along the towpath to the Horseshoe Falls at Llantisilio, where we watched two youth groups, each in an inflatable raft, navigate over the falls and down the River Dee, amazing to watch. It was quite a hot day and the water was so tempting, so I sat on a rock and paddled in the clear water - bliss, while watching the fish nearby, the sun soon dried my feet while we enjoyed this peaceful area. Heading back, we stopped at the Motor Museum, only to find it was closed, so instead we stopped at the Chain Bridge Hotel for a coffee and sat outside overlooking the rocky river below.
Returning, we popped back into town, got some shopping, passing the wharf we couldn't resist another Kelly Ice-cream, before getting back on the boat. It had been a lovely three days in Llangollen, relaxing, exploring, and remembering our previous trips in the 1990's.
More of our trip to come in Part 3 next time, when we journey back to our base.
Stephanie Mason & John GrieveSocial Diary
Thursday 11th May 2023
I am currently finalising arrangements with two speakers
Neil Frost and William Marriage - The work of the Chelmer Canal Trust – Work parties, volunteers, keeping pennywort under control etc.
And the second is Colin Trowles who is the owner of the Sir William Arnold Lifeboat which served at St Peter Port Guernsey. Now moored at Heybridge Basin Colin will tell us more about the lifeboat.
Rebecca Loader Social SecretaryIWA CHELMSFORD BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
9.15 pm Thursday 9th March 2023
The Galleywood Heritage Centre, The Common, Galleywood CM2 8TS Apologies. Molly Beard, Beryl Dimon, Roger & Sue Brown.
1. Approval of the 2022 Minutes. Approved.
2. Matters arising from the minutes. None.
3. Report from Rebecca Loader, Vice Chair.
Rebecca reported that Molly Beard was standing down from being Chair Person due to health problems and not wishing to drive after dark. She thanked Molly for her many years as a committee member and Branch Chair and added that if anyone lived close to Molly in South Benfleet perhaps they could offer her a lift to Socials. Rebecca said that she was happy to be Chair Person and that Kirsten Smith, a committee member, had volunteered to be Vice Chair.
Rebecca then asked the Committee Members present at the meeting if they were willing to continue as members. All members agreed that they would. Rebecca said she had been having interactions with Head Office and attended Zoom meetings with other Branches. There had been negative reactions over the increase in membership fees.
Rebecca continued by adding that the Chelmer & Blackwater was an isolated navigation and therefore our Chelmsford Branch was unlike other Branches on the inland waterways. Rebecca paid tribute to Paul Strudwick for all the support he gave to the London Region.
Lastly, Rebecca added that in the past the role of the Chelmsford Branch of IWA had mainly been campaigning for the restoration and use of the Navigation. Now it was more to support the maintenance required for the habitat, the social and recreation use of the Navigation.
Roy said that there needed to be continued support for linking the Navigation to the rivers in Chelmsford. The Council was still supportive of the scheme but favoured a new lock. The group CRACL was still campaigning for this though the cost would be an issue.
Paul reported that there were staff changes at Head Office and IWA had a new CO. ‘Waterways for Today’ had been published. He explained ‘Only IWA’ included the Restoration Hub, WRG, Heritage, Freight, Boating Groups and the Parliamentary Group as well as Canal Cavalcade.
He reported concern that the government would cut funding to CRT and EA. This was disturbing news to IWA.
A Branch member asked if there was any news about new moorings near Tescos. Roy replied that this scheme was still a possibility as was a scheme at the former waterworks at Sandford. Funding was naturally an issue.
4. Treasurers report.
Philip reported on the Income and Expenditure and Balance sheet for the year having circulated copies of these at the meeting. There had been a small surplus of £8 for the year.
Rebecca closed the meeting at around 10.00pm.
Chris Chandler, SecretaryEssex Waterways Update
At the end of January our new General Manager commenced employment. Dave Smart is a previous Navigation Manager with Essex Waterways and also a Director up until his re-employment. He therefore has an excellent knowledge of the Navigation and its operation. Welcome back Dave! A volunteer ‘get together’ was arranged during February to introduce Dave and where he gave a short presentation thanking our volunteers and illustrating the various roles where they assist us on the Navigation.
Winter on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation is a time for catching up with maintenance and preparing for the next busy period which usually starts around Easter. Over 600 willows have been planted with the help of volunteers. Many mooring stages have been re-decked, fences repaired, and overhanging branches removed along the waterway.
This tree work was assisted with weekend visits from both London Waterway Recovery Group and the Forestry Waterway Recovery Group. London WRG concentrated along the banks adjoining the factories in Heybridge with the aim of removing branches that reduced the width of the Navigation while still retaining the tree screen to the factories. Branches were taken upstream to where the wood chipper could be positioned. The Forestry group worked below Sandford Lock felling willows that needed to be removed for safety reasons.
The width of the landing area below Hoe Mill lock has been increased and an additional flight of steps formed to this following a request from our last Users Meeting.
Our trip boat Victoria has undergone a thorough overhaul with the whole floor and bar removed so that the inside of the hull could be checked, cleaned and painted. A redundant keel cooling system was removed during this process and the ballast weights reinstated. The toilet waste tank was thoroughly cleaned, not a pleasant job! Whilst on the slipway in Maldon the hull was cleaned and re-blacked, the propeller shaft replaced, rudder bearings and anodes renewed and a new exhaust silencer fitted. This was all followed by refreshing the paintwork both internally and externally and the boat made ready for her final MCA inspection before operation begins again.
The smaller trip boat Blackwater Dawn has also undergone maintenance work ashore at Heybridge Basin. One of our volunteer skippers has also been busy re-blacking the hull, painting internally and cleaning the boat cushions ready for the new season. Such work is much appreciated. Trip boat Albert is also being prepared for an Easter start.
Roy ChandlerChelmer Waterside
The former gas works site between Springfield Basin and the River Chelmer in Chelmsford is allocated for redevelopment and has been known as Chelmer Waterside in recent years. A large development by Taylor Wimpey has now been completed on part of this area and Chelmsford City Council is preparing the remaining sites for redevelopment. This will involve the relocation of the gas High Pressure Reduction Station which is currently adjacent to the Chelmsford Canoe Club premises. Work is already underway on the new site for this. A new road bridge will also be provided over the River Chelmer linking the site with Baddow Road.
This IWA Branch has for several decades been campaigning to link the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation with the rivers in Chelmsford City Centre. Instead of a New Cut as originally proposed, the Council favour constructing a new lock alongside the automatic weir beside the Essex Records Office.
The automatic weir is vital for retaining the river levels in the City Centre and in Springfield Basin. The Environment Agency however proposes handing responsibility for the weir to the City Council. The Council has therefore engaged consultants to establish the condition of the existing weir structure and a below water level survey was undertaken in February.
The results of this survey should confirm the potential life expectancy of the existing weir structure or whether it needs to be replaced. The results will obviously be relevant to the proposal to build a new lock alongside.
In order to carry out the weir survey arrangements were made to lower the water levels, firstly above the weir and then below. While the levels were low in the City Centre the Council carried out a clean-up operation of both the Chelmer and Can rivers which removed 140 shopping trolleys, 25 bikes, 4 pushchairs plus various debris and litter. The photograph of the drained Chelmer was taken by Chas Bowen. Doesn’t it look better full of water.
Roy ChandlerWatermeadows
Last month we heard your speaker tell us why rivers flood. He briefly mentioned flood plains and water meadows without telling us much about them. Last week there were dramatic floods at Flatford with large areas of land under knee-deep water. These floods happen regularly in the Stour Valley at various times of year, when water flows over the riverbanks onto the floodplains – the low lying land either side of the river which is deliberately allowed to flood to temporarily store this extra water until the river level drops and the water can drain back into the river. As this land is unsuitable for growing crops it is used for grazing animals.
These are floodplains, but river water was also allowed to flood the adjacent land for another purpose. Way back in the past the land beside rivers would have been just marshes and bogs, until the development of drains and ditches produced summer grazing for livestock. However, beside the Stour in Sudbury, ditches can still be seen which form a tangible reminder of an almost-forgotten part of England’s agricultural heritage, the traditional method of management of water and land called water meadows. From the 16th Century until the middle of the 20th Century many of the fields along lowland rivers were managed by farmers as water meadows by the construction of drains, sluices, weirs and bridges to enable controlled flooding of the meadows by a shallow layer of moving water for irrigation.
Water was diverted from the river along a leat called a main or top carrier and carried down the valley at a gentler slope than the river. The main fed smaller carriers which tapered down to a stop end, and were built roughly parallel to the river on the crests of ridges across the fields. The water would overflow slowly down the sides of the ridges to be collected in drains between the ridges, which joined into a bottom carrier to return it to the river.
The ridges and drains made an interlocking grid (like interlaced fingers) but did not connect directly. A by-carrier took any water not needed for irrigation straight from the main back to the river. Although it is difficult to see the complete pattern of drains, their positions can still be seen today as lines of dark green water plants across the meadows. The flow of water was controlled by a system of sluice gates called hatches, and small earth or wooden board dams called stops. Thus irrigation could be provided separately for different sections. Obviously waterway networks built on almost level fields required careful construction to ensure good operation.
The working and maintenance was done by a highly skilled craftsman called a ‘drowner’ or ‘waterman’, who was often employed by several adjacent farmers. The aim of this irrigation was not to flood the ground but to keep it continuously damp. In early spring the meadows were flooded overnight when there was danger of a frost. Later the water would all be drained off to allow air to get to the soil again. The river water did not freeze because it was kept moving so it kept the land and grass above freezing temperature, preventing frost damage to new growth and allowing the grass to grow several weeks earlier. During a dry summer the water irrigated the grass to keep it growing. The water flow across the meadows also helped to keep the soil fertile by depositing nutrient-rich river silt, at the same time helping to reduce river pollution.
Even though water meadows and their associated structures were costly for landowners to construct and maintain, they were widely used as they made the riverside fields much more productive and increased their value. The meadows were used to graze both sheep and cattle, as well as producing crops of hay. The system allowed a hugely increased number of animals (principally sheep) to be overwintered and contributed to a vast expansion of the wool trade, upon which East Anglia’s prosperity was based.
Sue BrownFill in the grid so that each row, column and 3 x 3 block contains the numbers one to nine (1 - 9)
Branch Committee
If you have any topics or subject that you wish to bring to the committees attention please use the contact details below
Rebecca Loader: Chairman & Social Secretary rebecca.loader@waterways.org.uk
Kristen Smith Vice Chair & Youth
None
Philip Cervini Treasurer. philip.cervini@waterways.org.uk.
Paul Strudwick: London Region Chairman. paul.strudwick@waterways.org.uk
Chris Chandler: Secretary. chris.chandler@waterways.org.uk
Roy Chandler: Planning and Conservation. roy.chandler@waterways.org.uk
John Carlaw: Newsletter and Membership. chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk john.carlaw@waterways.org.uk
Stephanie Mason: Refreshments.
None
Adam Wyllie: Branch Web Editor. Adam.wyllie@waterways.org.uk
IWA Chelmsford Web Address http://www.waterways.org.uk/chelmsford
