Towing Path Topics Newsletter of the Inland Waterways Association Lancashire & Cumbria Branch
January 2024
DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Towing Path Topics are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) or of its North West Region or of the Lancs and Cumbria Branch. They are, however published as being of interest to our members and readers. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. No reproduction is permitted without acknowledgment.
Cover: Brrr! Window of nb Scallywag
Photograph acknowledgements (All others by the editor) Pages 1, 3 John Hewerdine Page 7 Colin Wareing Pages 8-10 Andy R Annable Page 13 M,B&BCS website Page 26 Fylde Vintage Steam & Farm Show website Page 27 David Ashcroft Abbreviations LCT - The Lancaster Canal Trust CRT - The Canal and River Trust LCRP - Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership L&L - The Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Copy date for next edition 15th April 2024 The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication. Editor: David Faulkner 22 Moorland Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8EX Tel. 01254 249265 Email david.faulkner@waterways.org.uk
Inland Waterways Association
Registered office: 16B Chiltern Court, Asheridge Road, Chesham HP5 2PX Registered as a charity (No. 212342) 2
Contents 5
Branch chair's report
6
Region Chair’s report
8
Purchasing a narrowboat
11 Protect our Waterways
12 Northern Canals Ass’n report
15 Navigation problems
14 Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership
15 Lancaster Canal Trust
18 Branch social programme
20 Calling notice for 2024 branch AGM
21 Minutes of 2023 Branch AGM 26 Fylde Vintage Steam & Farm show 27 Ashcroft carriers, Tram Bridge, Wigan Flight
28 Branch committee
The venue for our monthly social meetings is now the Preston North Ibis Hotel. Close to junction 1 of the M55. See page 19 for directions. The forecast seems to be saying we won’t see sights like this just yet but curl up in the warm anyway and read this copy of Towing Path Topics. Please notify membership@waterways.org.uk or the editor if you would prefer to receive your copy of ‘Towing Path Topics’ by email rather than a printed copy, thus saving IWA money. 3
Editor’s comments
Welcome to the first branch newsletter of 2024 and a Happy New Year.
The January edition always has the calling notice for the branch AGM in February and the minutes of the previous year’s to meet our obligations. Why not join us on 21st February? On page 8 you will find the second part of Mike Moon’s tale about the purchase of their narrowboat ‘Calopteryx’ at the beginning of the pandemic. This describes the interior, illustrated by the photographer from Canal Boat magazine. On page 11 I have included an explanation from Sue O’Hare, one of the IWA trustees, about the difference between the ‘Protect our Waterways’ campaign and ‘Fund our Waterways’, on which we are now concentrating, following the reduction in government funding for CRT. Thank you to Nigel Hardacre for his description of the Northern Canals Association October meeting at Radcliffe on the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal. A very successful event by all accounts. Although it is just outside our branch area that is a canal in which we have always taken an interest. All being well we will have a branch outing there in May this year as a follow-up to Paul Hindle’s talk in October.
Nigel is keeping a close eye on the project for a new tramway bridge across the River Ribble at Avenham Park. Nothing much to report yet but designs should be revealed soon. If you have not already tried our new venue for the monthly social meetings at the Ibis Hotel please give us a try. It should be accessible for more of you, just off the motorway. But don’t come in January, we are meeting on Zoom instead., see page 18. We will be notifying you of the Zoom details by email so it is important that we have your current email address.
If you have any information about the canal near you, photographs or accounts of what you have been up to, please let me know. David 4
Branch chairman’s report There might be doom and gloom nationally over the state of our canals and the prospect of a bleak future with the funding cuts for CRT but at least locally we have had some good news. The Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership was successful in its bid for funding and now has about £1million to spend on towpath improvements and publicity/community engagement, see page 14 for details.
Less good news on the branch committee now that Maralyn and Jim Nott have moved away. (Happily settled in their bungalow in Faringdon, between Swindon and Oxford.) There are now 5 of us, including Janet Dunning who has agreed to stay on as membership secretary, although she is in Egremont without a car. At our Zoom committee meetings we are also joined by Ian Treanor representing the Lancaster Canal Trust. We could certainly use some help. The only commitment as a committee member is our bi-monthly 90 minute committee meetings on Zoom. Anything more than that is up to you. We need someone to look at planning applications affecting local canals (or just the canal near you). You would not need to be a committee member to do that. We have not been able to commit to much branch activity for 2024 but we will have a stand at the Fylde Vintage, Steam and Farm Show near Kirkham on the weekend of 29/30 June, see page 26 for more information. In May, we are planning a branch trip to the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal with Paul Hindle, the canal society chairman, as our guide. There will no doubt be a Balsam Bash (July?) and if the Burnley Canal Festival takes place on 25 August we plan to have a stand there. More details in our May edition and emails to branch members. Some more positive news – moving our branch social meetings to the Ibis Hotel has encouraged more members to attend. Our November meeting attracted members of LCT and the Preston Historical Society creating a squeeze to get us all into the room. See page 16 for reports on our meetings so far and page 18 for the forthcoming talks. Best wishes for 2024. David Faulkner 5
REPORT FROM THE NW REGIONAL CHAIRMAN We live in troubled times, both world-wide and in our own country. And, sadly, the IWA is no exception to these troubles, albeit in a much less frightening way. For those of you who were present at the AGM, either actually or virtually, you will have learnt that our Association is experiencing a number of administrative difficulties. You may also have noticed hints to that effect in the media. To put it all in context, we are not alone. Many organisations like us - and especially charities - are in a similar position. Indeed our Auditors, in a recent presentation to Trustees, told us that they were dealing with several other clients facing identical problems in almost every particular. To summarise. We are not in a financial crisis and our accounts have been properly presented to the Charity Commission. However we do need to reflect on the nature of our spending and the allocation of resources in a more specific and targeted manner. We have lost yet another CEO. Professor Niblock did not feel that the 3-day per week position, to which she had committed herself, would allow her to fulfil her role as she envisaged it and therefore, somewhat surprisingly, gave in her notice almost before she got her feet under the table. The Chairman, Les Etheridge, to whom the IWA owes a serious debt of gratitude, retired both as a Trustee and, therefore from the Chairmanship, at the AGM - and there was no candidate to take over. This provoked the Trustees, at a meeting just prior to the AGM, to consider the options as a matter of urgency. First and foremost, we need to review and reconsider our objectives, our administration, our membership requirements and a host of other issues. We have set up a Working Group of selected Trustees with the priority of reporting by the end of the year on all and every aspect of our activities. Consequent upon that, we will decide on the new Chairman and Officers as usual. To do this review properly we felt the need to survey Members, Branch & Regional Officers, Staff and other relevant organisations. This is being done carefully and effectively. Members should have received it by now. 6
As always, your contributions are very welcome. Things are difficult but it is not yet the end of the world so keep smiling and wish us luck. We will keep you informed of progress. All the best for 2024.
Congratulations to Sir Robert for having an article on waterway funding published in the December issue of the Local Government Association’s ‘First’ magazine. The magazine goes to all LGA members (which is almost all local authorities).
A cheerful picture of Carole Wareing’s knitted garments According to the wool boat’s newsletter. They have not been going so far due to the problems with the Wigan flight. Carole has been working on her Christmas orders, the traditional “Three Teddies cardigans” and a jumper from pure wool. She has done well selling garments through the summer and will still maintain a healthy level of stocks to be displayed when the weather is fit outside. Orders can be sent within the UK, go to www.thewoolboat.co.uk or ring 07931 356204 for anything you may need.
Colin and Carole Wareing, on our mooring at Crabtree Lane near Burscough
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The Trials and Tribulations of Narrowboat Purchase (Part 2) Mike Moon
In our previous edition Mike described the difficulties of designing and buying a new boat during the pandemic. The result was the beautiful ‘Calopteryx’ (named after a damselfly). There was not space in that article to describe the interior. We chose a simple internal design with bedroom at the stern, but also a hatch. Ample storage including cupboards over our feet, a fulllength wardrobe, followed by bathroom with shower and separator loo. Then the U-shaped galley with dinette for 4, next to another hatch and finally saloon at the front.
The bed is raised on a slatted base, so again plenty of storage underneath. We bought the 4ft purpose-built mattress and pillows from Sleepy Hollow in Chorley, and surprisingly do not find the bed too small, especially when it is not so warm outside!
8
The spacious bathroom is effectively walk-through, but 2 doors provide privacy when needed. There is a very attractive basin, vanity unit and mirror. Plus heated towel rail. We opted for a U shaped galley in the middle of the boat because it gives the cook more usable space, and also a passing place in the boat. There is an eye-level gas oven and grill, soft-close doors, 240 volt fridge, kettle, both electric and gas (on the stove), microwave and ample storage space including a wine rack and a nifty slide-out unit under the oven. The taps have a cold-water filter. A glasses cabinet raised over the four gas rings, provides both storage and a division between galley and saloon. 9
The laminated worktops look like speckled black marble which is reflected in the black bathroom floor. Between saloon and galley is a fixed 4-seater raised dinette, so more storage underneath. We have cabinets opposite the stove and a large, for two, Sofabarn convertible bed/sofa with the 34” smart TV opposite, held within its own slimline unit.
The soft furnishings came from a local firm in Brinscall. The whole boat is finished with ash and oak panelling with a solid oak floor. There is a workshop space in the engine bay area, which is fully insulated. An advantage of the Jonathan Wilson hull is the weed hatch is so deep and within its own compartment, that even if you were to forget to put the lid back, the boat will still not flood. We have double-glazed doors leading out to the cratch area at the front. The rear steel doors are locked from the inside, which not only looks neat but is better for security. We have a 680 litre plastic water tank which goes a long way without having to constantly flush the loo and a 182 litre fuel tank. Both have gauges. The boat has 12 volt LED lighting throughout, with a 3000 watt inverter charger and travel power feeding 4 leisure lead acid batteries and one starter. These supply various USB outlets and the 240V wall sockets. Solar was fitted later, because guess what, lockdown intervened. Sandra & Mike Noon nb Calopteryx 10
I don’t know about you but I was confused by IWA’s current campaigning, the following makes it clearer. Ed
Update on Protect Our Waterways
IWA launched the Protect Our Waterways campaign in March 2023 in response to a broad range of threats to the waterways. The initial focus was on funding for the waterways, in line with Trustees’ decision that campaigning for waterway funding should be the Association’s number one priority. The scale of the threat to our waterways from inadequate funding demands that we combine our voice and resources with those of other organisations. In May 2023 IWA joined with partner organisations in the Fund Britain’s Waterways action group, with the single purpose of “campaigning collectively for an increase in government funding of Britain’s inland waterways to avert their decline, and to promote awareness of the huge economic, environmental and social well-being value they provide”. To date more than 100 waterway and non-waterway organisations have joined Fund Britain’s Waterways and IWA is playing a leading role on the steering group. In this way the first strand of the Protect Our Waterways campaign is being delivered through Fund Britain’s Waterways. Trustees recently reiterated that Fund Britain’s Waterways is therefore IWA's number one priority at present.
Further strands of the Protect Our Waterways campaign will follow when either Fund Britain’s Waterways is concluded or additional resource becomes available. Trustees have therefore resolved that in order to avoid confusion between the two campaigns, IWA will cease to actively promote the phrase Protect Our Waterways in the meantime, and focus solely on Fund Britain’s Waterways. Sue O’Hare, 3 December 2023 Did you get the questionnaire about IWA from the Trustees? If not, we probably do not have your current email address. The Branch and Head Office are using emails more and more to communicate with you. Please make sure we have your best email. NB We only use one email address for joint memberships. 11
The Northern Canals Association’s Radcliffe meeting The Northern Canals Association’s Radcliffe meeting, on the 8th of October, 2023, always promised to be a high-class event. And, on the day, the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society pulled out all the stops to ensure that it was.
Presentations from (3) multi-million-pound-housing developers to the local community Litter Pickers and Primary School, all emphasised how important their local canal was to them. Not only that, from everyone’s enthusiasm, it was obvious they believed in what they were saying. Additionally, Richard Parry (head of CRT) was there to update everyone with expected, but un-welcome news, following the DEFRA funding announcements. Patrick Moss gave us a national restoration perspective, starting with the restoration of the Bradford Canal in 1830. (Still a way to go there.) The Accessible Waterways Association’s Tracey Clarke helped groups to understand better that the needs for “accessible” goes beyond that of wheelchair users. Other inputs including the Storymapping app, which can bring your canal “alive” to walkers and boaters alike; a fusion of videos of the MBBC; updates from the Leek Branch and as far as Wendover; a walk along the Canal using the Storymap app and a superb vegetarian lunch and venue. Having such a wide mix of presenters meant that networking was again an important aspect of the day – from introducing a developer to the concept of a slipway and the benefits that brings, to bending the ear of the CRT’s Chief Executive. A great day, with thanks to the very strong MBBCS team. Useful to go and to network with other people from similar canal restorations across the north and midlands and as far south as Wendover. Robin and Peter from the Lancaster Canal Trust also attended. 12
IWA Manchester branch were present. I did the walk at the end of the day which was my first walk on the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal. Worth it and look forward to going on another one next year. Nigel Hardacre The next meeting is in Lichfield on Sunday 17th March 2024 If you would like a more comprehensive report of the meeting from Sue Ball (too long to include here) see the NCA website or contact me, see page 2, Ed
There are 37 canal restoration groups in the NCA ranging from (in alphabetical order) the Ashby Canal Association to the Wendover Canal Trust. The Lancaster Canal Trust is the most northerly. All being well, we will be organising a branch outing to the M,B & B Canal in May 2024. The famous (infamous according to the society’s chairman) steam crane which is the M,B&BCS’s logo. It was used to transfer coal from the canal to the bleach works below
13
Lancaster
Canal & River Trust, IWA, Kendal Town Council, Lancs County Council, Lancaster Canal Trust, Lancaster City Council and Westmorland & Furness Council
Canal
Regeneration Partnership
With CRT, LCRP were successful in their joint bid to the Rural Shared Prosperity Fund. When added to other grants we now have about £1million to extend the improved towpath from Stainton to Holme on the Northern Reaches as part of the Kendal to Lancaster Towpath Trail. Also included is money to create a website, social media presence, community events and a mural. The LCRP project manager is increasing her hours to 5 days per week during term time, mainly paid from money included in the bid. Stainton Aqueduct Repairs: representing IWA, Audrey Smith and your editor attended a CRT ‘end-of-project’ gathering of the great and the good at Crooklands Hotel in October. Jon Horsfall, Director North West (Interim), Graham Ramsden, Senior Project Manager & Rebecca Mason, Enterprise Manager gave a presentation on the project to repair the damage caused by storm Desmond in December 2015. LCT provided ‘Waterwitch’ to take those of us who were interested up to the aqueduct for a presentation by Bill Froggatt, CRT heritage advisor and Graham the project manager. .
14
Thanks to Sir Robert Atkins for alerting us to the report of the parliamentary debate about the Northern Reaches on 9 th November initiated by David Morris, MP for Morecambe & Lunesdale.
If you would like a copy please contact the editor. *************************************
The Lancaster Canal Trust We are delighted to report that Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) have agreed to hold one of their summer work camps on our patch in February next year. Peter has tasked them with clearing the bed and the bottom half of the banks of F2an3 as far as Well Head Lane. The aim is to scrape down to expose the original clay, which will mean that we can then start leakage tests, informing what will be needed in terms of water-proofing. It’s worth noting that following the recent heavy rain the section held water to a depth of about 12inches, for over a week.
More news about the WRG camp in the monthly bulletin in the New Year. Richard Trevitt reports on a well-received talk he has just given to a Ramblers Club meeting and is booked for another talk early next year. Nigel Hardacre also gave a talk to Chorley Ramblers last week to round off, what has for him been a very busy and successful year of walks and talks. Well done both, your efforts play a vital role in publicising the Trust and its ambitions as well as spreading the word of the importance of the canal for the many leisure activities, its rich heritage and environmental value as a green corridor. Taken from Robin Yates’s December bulletin 15
Report of social meetings September Nigel Hardacre told us about the Lancaster Canal Tramway through Preston. Originally installed as a temporary measure because there was not enough money to extend the canal from Walton Summit to the North side of Preston, it was never replaced. It is alleged that the Lune aqueduct cost so much that there was not enough money for the Ribble aqueduct. The wagons were horse-drawn, assisted by steam powered chain hauls up 2 slopes. Much of the route of the tramway is still visible and Nigel leads walks along parts of it. The tramway bridge across the River Ribble is currently closed and we are still waiting for news about its replacement for which money has been allocated from the government’s levelling up fund. October Paul Hindle, Chair of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society gave us a description and history of the canal. The early photographs showed collieries right next to the canal which significantly reduced the cost of transporting the coal. The coal was loaded into tubs within the barges which simplified unloading, an early form of containerisation. NB An example of the system is at the boat museum in Ellesmere Port. In the second half of the evening, after our usual refreshment/comfort break, Paul brought us up to date on its restoration. A significant recent development is the proposal for the repair of the major 1936 breach as part of a new housing development. November This was our best attended meeting for a long time. We were joined by members of the Lancaster Canal Trust and Preston Historical Society. Daniel Crowther gave us the history of the Preston basin of the Lancaster Canal where goods (mainly coal) were transhipped from the wagons of the tramroad up from Walton Summit to canal 16
barges to be taken as far as Kendal. The basin is currently under the Aldi car park in the centre of Preston. After the break, Daniel, whose background is in urban planning, outlined his proposals for how the basin could be incorporated into Preston Council’s Station Quarter Project. Ideally in water but not necessarily so. We were shown examples of successful similar projects from Europe and America. It is very early days, but we wish him well in his campaign.
December We met for a ‘Jacob’s Join’ at the Ibis Hotel instead of the pub meal we usually have close to Christmas. There were only 7 of us so it may not be something we repeat, although to be fair several of our regular attenders had other commitments such as meeting planes. There was certainly plenty of food (plus mulled wine). Nigel showed videos of the Lancaster Canal from 60 years ago plus one depicting how the Northern Reaches would look in water with a narrowboat cruising along. Some of the select bunch who attended. Nigel is out of shot, operating the laptop.
Audrey and Ruth with the remains of the feast in the background. (Yes, I forgot to take a photograph earlier, too busy eying the spring rolls Ed) 17
Branch Social Programme Date
Speaker
Topic
Wednesday 17 January
Jonathan Mosse IWA lead in Scotland On Zoom we will email you the link, and on the website
“Scottish Canals—Yesterday and Today”. From Jonathan’s narrowboat moored on the Union Canal 22 miles West of Edinburgh, near Linlithgow
Wed 21 February
AGM followed by an illustrated talk about the £2.5M project to repair the Stainton aqueduct
David Faulkner LCRP Chair
Wed 20 March
Richard Akers
Wed 17 April
Bill Froggatt CRT Heritage Advisor
“The Bridges that made Preston” “The Lancaster Canal—they made it”. Some of the personnel who built the canal, many unsung heroes.
A new venue, see opposite, we hope that it is closer to more of our branch members and easy to find. The meetings are on the 3rd Wednesday of the month starting at 7.30pm but we will be there from 7.00pm for a chat. The usual format is that the talk is in two halves with a break in the middle for tea or coffee and a biscuit. There is a bar at the hotel if you would prefer to use that. We finish between 9.30 and 10.00. There is no charge but we hold a raffle to help pay the cost of the room and speaker. NB The car park is in front of the hotel, drive through the pub car park to reach it. 18
Venue for social meetings Ibis Hotel Preston North Garstang Road, Preston PR3 5JE It’s next to junction 1 of the M55. If using the M6, northbound or southbound, leave at junction 32 to join the M55 and immediately take the left lane signposted Preston/Garstang. At the lights at the roundabout turn left onto the A6 then after 50 yards turn left onto Eastway, B6241. Down the hill, cross over the roundabout into the car park of the Ibis Hotel and Phantom Winger pub. If travelling east on the M55 leave at junction 1; 3rd exit from the roundabout towards Preston then left onto Eastway as above. From Preston probably easiest to use the A6, Garstang Road, go round the M55 roundabout and join Eastway as above. The Garstang Road, A6 is a bus route. Get off at the fire station, cross the road and make your way down Eastway. When you enter the hotel reception please register your car number plate at the device so that you will not be charged for parking.
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IWA LANCASHIRE & CUMBRIA BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of the IWA Lancashire and Cumbria Branch is to be held at Ibis Hotel, Eastway, Preston PR3 5JE on Wednesday 21st February 2024 starting at 7:30 pm AGENDA 1: Apologies for absence 2: Present 3: Approval of minutes of the previous AGM held on 22/2/23 4: Matters Arising 5: Region Chair’s Report 6: Chair’s Report 7: Treasurer’s Report 8: Election/re-election to the Committee: Under the three year rule Janet Dunning is due for re-election Applications to join the committee are welcome ****************
Nomination Form – Lancashire & Cumbria Branch
Volunteer/Nominee…………………………………………………….. (Please print) Signed………………………………………………………. Date…………………… Address………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………
Telephone Numbers Home……………………….Mobile…………………….. Email…………………………………………………………………… Volunteers / Nominees must be an IWA member of this branch and be in good standing. Please return this form before Monday 12 th February 2024 to: David Faulkner 22 Moorland Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8EX or by email to david.faulkner@waterways.org.uk or present to the above at the start of the AGM Under the bylaws volunteering/nominations can be accepted from the floor at the AGM 20
Inland Waterways Association Lancashire and Cumbria Branch Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 22 nd February 2023 At Primrose Gardens, Fleet Street, Chorley PR7 2EE 1: Apologies: Janet Dunning, Tony Dunning, Terence Rowbotham, Sir Robert Atkins, 2: Present: Peter Simmonds, Mike and Sandra Moon, Ruth Symonds, Richard Smith, Gillian Smith, Nigel Hardacre, Malcolm Sterratt, David Faulkner, Audrey Smith, Jim Nott, Maralyn Nott. 3: Minutes of the AGM held on 23 rd February: The minutes were accepted as a true record. Proposed by Audrey Smith and seconded by Jim Nott. 4: Matters arising: There were no matters arising. 5: Region Chair’s Report: Sir Robert Atkins was unable to attend and his report was read to the meeting by David Faulkner. See attached report. 6: Chair’s Report: See attached report. 7: Treasurer’s Report: See attached report. David Faulkner had prepared the report for 2022 before handing over to Malcolm Sterratt. He thanked Malcolm for taking over as treasurer. There was a surplus of £270 for the year but £69 needs to be taken off that for room hire as the claim was late. L&L plaques sales were down due to navigation problems throughout the year. We had no new members recruited last year. At one time we got a per capita allowance from HO but that stopped and HO took over printing and distribution of TPT which was a big help. 8: Election/re-election to the committee: Under the three year rule, there were no members due for re-election. Nigel Hardacre had volunteered for election to the committee and was proposed by David Faulkner and seconded by Gillian Smith. Agreed without dissent. 9: AOB: Audrey Smith asked if anyone has any suggestions for a speaker or subject for a talk. If so, please contact Audrey. The meeting closed at 8.05 and was followed by a picture quiz compiled by Janet.
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REGIONAL CHAIRMAN’S REPORT First and foremost, I want to add my memories of Wendy Humphreys to those of every member of the Branch. She was simply a star activist, with helpful hands in every waterway operation. We need more people like her and she is sadly missed. As I have indicated in my Newsletter Reports, there has been much change in IWA over the last year. We now have a new Chairman in Les Etheridge except that he isn’t because he’s done it before! Our own Jonathan Smith ably filled the gap left by the departing Chief Executive and now we have a new man in Dave Pearce. Head Office is about to move to another part of Buckinghamshire and we are watching a worrying decline in membership and funds. The last will be the subject of a Special Trustees’ Meeting in April, when all the options will have to be considered. Meanwhile, the NW Region has ticked along, with regular and productive meetings to discuss administrative, social and, sometimes, technical issues. I am fortunate to have such a well-informed and effective set of Branch Chairmen to guide and advise. We also heard from representatives of CRT and have spoken our collective minds on problems and issues when necessary. Your Newsletter is really excellent and congratulations and thanks must go to the Editorial Team. I read it avidly whenever it appears. Keep up the good work! Thanks too for your commitment as Members. Without you, nothing happens and, on behalf of all users of the Cut, I register my appreciation. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a splendid boating season, more taxpayers’ funding for our waterways and yet more activity and awareness of the huge value of our canals and waterways. Sir Robert Atkins BRANCH CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Thank you for attending our AGM. 2022 was an interesting year for good and bad reasons. The most significant event was the unexpected death of our branch chair Wendy Humphreys in early October. Despite the shock, we kept things running, mainly through the heroic efforts of Audrey Smith. The committee rallied round, and we also had willing help from IWA head office. Gill and Rich Smith are storing the equipment previously held by Wendy and thanks to Rich for copying relevant files from her computer. I am now chairman and Malcolm Sterratt has taken my place as treasurer. Malcolm has also taken the lead on planning applications. Audrey has 22
agreed to take responsibility for our monthly social programme until April 2024. Maralyn Nott continues as secretary, assisted by husband Jim, and I remain as newsletter editor. Janet and Tony Dunning will have to reduce their involvement with the committee and the branch for health reasons. Janet continues as membership secretary but has handed over the website to Nigel Hardacre who has joined us. Ian Treanor is now the Lancaster Canal Trust representative. We continue to be supported by Sir Robert Atkins in his capacity as region chairman and also as a member of our branch. We have a committee meeting every 2 months, it was mostly on Zoom during 2022. My thanks to everyone on the committee for all that they do for the branch. We would welcome more committee members but if you cannot make that commitment, we hope that you can help with individual tasks or events. Ruth Symonds for instance has taken over the distribution of the brass plaques that we award to any boater navigating the full length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in a single year or navigates the Liverpool Link to Salthouse Dock. Our thanks to Audrey and before her to David Smith for managing that for the branch for over 20 years. 2022 was the year we emerged from the chrysalis of Covid lockdowns and were able to spread our wings. We were able to attend our full programme of monthly social meetings here at Primrose Gardens and had a wide range of interesting speakers. We had a branch trip to the Anderton boat lift, just before it closed for 6 months for repairs. We resumed our Balsam Bash at Haslam Park in Preston in conjunction with the Friends of the Park and joined by members of the Lancaster Canal Trust. Nigel Hardacre led a number of walks and is devising new ones. His historical research is impressive, it always makes the walks most interesting. One of the walks goes by the tramway bridge across the River Ribble and there is good news about that. Closed as unsafe a few years ago, Preston Council have now allocated money to rebuild it from their successful bid for levelling-up funds. Nigel can now turn his attention to restoring Summit Bridge on the filled-in southern section of the Lancaster Canal close to junction 9 of the M61. During the year, mainly due to Wendy’s efforts, we continued to attend meetings of the Lancaster Canal Trust, Canal and River Trust, IWA region and the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership. LCRP has recently become a Community Interest Company. Each of the 7 member organisations can appoint a director and I will take on that role for IWA. The future of LCRP is currently uncertain; the chairman has had to resign for family reasons and the Local Authority reorganisation of Cumbria due in April means Local Authority support may be reduced. 23
Looking ahead to 2023 I think our main priority will be to retain the members we already have. Many will be considering whether to remain following the recent increase in the annual subscription. After that we need to try to recruit more members. As a branch our numbers will shrink with the imminent formation of a Scotland Region and Branch. Currently people living in Scotland are allocated to this branch. Believe it or not, until a week ago your branch committee did not know where our members live. This came about years ago due to over-reaction to the data protection legislation and inadequate computer systems. We now have a Google map of where everyone lives and hope to have more detailed information soon. We can then consider the best place to hold our social events and other activities. We are booked to take the IWA gazebo to Country Fest at the Westmorland showground on the weekend of 3 & 4 June. There will be another Balsam Bash at Haslam Park on 1st July before the blighters start seeding. We are looking to work with CRT volunteers to organise a litter pick, maybe September. It would be good to have another branch outing, ideas please, and any suggestions for other activities. Our campaigning will need to be linked to the “Waterways for Today” report which outlines the 12 significant benefits derived from a healthy canal and navigable rivers system. Only the IWA campaigns for the whole system. Looking even further ahead, in 2024 it will be 250 years since the Leeds and Liverpool Canal opened at the Western end. We are hoping to work with The Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society to mark the occasion. I will conclude by thanking again everyone who helps the branch in whatever capacity. IWA is the only organisation that campaigns nationally for the canals and part of its strength and effectiveness is its network of branches. David Faulkner
Opposite → IWA Lancashire & Cumbria Branch Unaudited balance sheet at 31st December 2022 Footnotes 1 Still waiting for invoice for room hire for Sept, Oct & Nov meetings 2 LCT £14 and L&LCS £30 3 LCRP: No request for funding again this year
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2021 £3,823.92
General Accumulated Funds Balance at 1st January
2022 £3982.61
£158.69
Surplus (deficit)
£270.29
£3,982.61
st
£4252.90
Barclays community account
£4227.91
Balance at 31 December
Represented by: £3,906.81 £75.80 £3,982.61
Cash
£24.99
Total funds
£4,252.90
Income & expenditure account for year ended 31 st December Income £119.00 Raffles and sales at branch social meetings £135.49 0 £23.02 0 £120.00 £100.00
£362.02
Events & fund raising Donations Sale of IWA goods Sale of plaques From HO for membership recruitment Christmas meal Anderton Boat lift trip Total income
£94.10
Expenditure Social meeting expenses (speakers, room hire) 1
£44.00
Annual subscriptions to local canal societies
0 £107.99 £95.50 £88.00 0 £261.50 £234.00 £922.48
2
3
£59.50
£44.00
0 £7.92
Donations to LCRP Officers’ expenses (postage)
£9.40
2019 Trailboat Festival
0
£14.00
Engraving of regional trophies
0
0 0
0 £5.44
£261.50 £221.00
£33.91 0
Christmas meal Anderton Boat lift trip Sales costs: L&L plaques & postage IWA Christmas cards & calendars
£203.33
Total expenditure
£652.19
£158.69
Surplus or (loss) of income over expenditure
£270.29
25
£8.75 £52.00
29/30 June 2024 We will be having a stand. Come and help or just say hello, it’s a grand day out for all the family.
26
Ashcroft Carriers Ltd query Do you know of any photographs of Ashcroft coal barges? This poor copy is the best that David Ashcroft has. Ashcrofts Carriers Ltd carried the last load on the canal — coal from Preston to Kendal. The firm ceased trading in 1948 If you can help please contact the editor.
Tram Bridge news Well, there isn’t any real news as we go to press. An application has been made to remove trees at both ends of the existing bridge to facilitate access to the site and for the crane needed to construct the new bridge. Details of the proposed design are expected shortly. Daniel Crowther (see p16), has suggested to Preston Council that some of the original tram road blocks that are available (and more are expected to be found when work starts) could be used in a display with an information board at the southern end of the new bridge. It need not cost a lot and would help to inform the public of the importance of the tram road to Preston. Stretch of Wigan canal awarded prestigious Green Flag status Part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal through Wigan, including the flight of locks, has been awarded Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal, from Liverpool to Wigan top lock, is among the more than 600 miles of the Canal & River Trust charity's 2,000-mile network to hold the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. (From CRT press release)
← The Show Field, Salwick Road, Wharles, Nr Kirkham, Preston PR4 3SN 27
BRANCH COMMITTEE Chairman
Secretary
David Faulkner Langho Vacant
Treasurer
Malcolm Sterratt Barnoldswick
Membership secretary
Janet Dunning Egremont Malcolm Sterratt Barnoldswick
Environment & Planning Publicity & webmaster
07912 249265 01254 249265
01282 814397
01946 820875 01282 814397
Nigel Hardacre Much Hoole
07595 008123
Newsletter editor
David Faulkner Langho
07912 249265 01254 249265
Social secretary
Vacant
Sales
Vacant
Lancaster Canal Regeneration P’ship
David Faulkner Langho
Lancaster Canal Trust
Ian Treanor Darwen Audrey Smith Wheelton Sir Robert Atkins
Committee members Region Chairman (ex officio)
07912 249265 01254 249265
01257 274440
Email addresses are firstname.surname@waterways.org.uk You can write to us c/o the editor see page 2 Guided walks with Nigel Hardacre Go to the IWA website for details and to sign up https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events
February 3rd 10.00am Tram Bridge Heritage walk Feb 14th Tram bridge part 2; March 2nd Whittle-le-Woods 28