Towpath Telegraph September 2017

September 2017

TOWPATH TELEGRAPH IWA Milton Keynes Branch Journal

CanalFILE part 9 Ascot & Beverley Lock Help & Linslade BCS, BMKWT & WAT latest Swans Upping—On a busy August Sunday afternoon at Leighton Lock, two boats descended in succession, but those 50,000 gallons of water were not entirely wasted. A family of swans, two adults and four juveniles, swam into the lock as the first boat left, and waited for the water to rise for the second boat, while being menaced by its steerer’s small dog. When the gates opened, they swam calmly out into the upper pound. Photos: Sheila Franklin.

IWA (registered charity no. 212342) is the leading membership charity that works to resurrect and protect the waterways as a vital leisure facility for everyone to enjoy, and campaigns for their sensitive development consistent with safeguarding their historic and natural environment. If you are not a member and would like to find out more: * contact any of the Branch Committee listed on Page 16; * contact IWA Head Office on 01494 783453, or visit the web site: https://www.waterways.org.uk

Welcome to September 2017 Towpath Telegraph As this edition is being prepared (August), the weather is more like November, so let’s hope for an Indian summer!

This edition is a real mixed bag: reports on our activities and those of the local restoration schemes, some history, a report of what might have been a nasty accident and, of course, another CanalFILE. My thanks to all my contributors—Ed.

Chairman’s Column New Members A rewarding weekend at Three Locks A near miss!

Seen from the Tiller – Ascot and Beverley Wendover restoration passes the £1 million mark Diary Local angling clubs offer taster sessions CanalFILE—part 9 Grafton Street Aqueduct fendering scheduled for repair Linslade Festival keeps good weather reputation—just!

Buckingham Canal Society prepares to Bridge the Gap Chris Howes takes over Region Chair Waterway Park could link new villages Support IWA for free, or win a prize!

Getting in touch with MK Branch

2-3 3 4 5 6 7 8-9 9 10-11 11 12 13 13 14 15 16

Chairman’s Column The May edition of TPT was published online on 24 April, but a breakdown at the printers delayed the mailed edition until 9 May. Our apologies for this delay. If you receive TPT by post but would like to be sure of getting it promptly, please do consider receiving it online instead. You’ll save the Branch money too! Get in touch with Pete Bickers (Membership Secretary) who will then email you each time the next edition becomes available to view or download.

IWA is responding to the latest proposals for HS2 where they affect the waterways. The Phase 2A Bill, enshrining the route from the West Midlands to Crewe, now meets most of IWA's concerns. Secretary of State Chris Grayling has announced the start of consultations, closing on 30 September, on the Phase 2A Environmental Statement, to which IWA will respond. The preferred route for the outstanding sections of Phase 2B (Manchester and Leeds) has also been confirmed, and IWA has some serious concerns about many aspects, notably the likely effects on the Trent & Mersey Canal, uncertainty over how the Ashby Canal extension at Measham will be affected, and continued errors in proposals affecting the Chesterfield Canal restoration. More details at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/news_campaigns/campaigns/hs2_campaign/phase2a2bpositivesnegatives

As some of East Anglia’s waterways come under threat of closure, IWA is keeping up its campaign for the Environment Agency’s waterways to be transferred to CRT. See: https://www.waterways.org.uk/news_campaigns/campaigns/anglian_waterways/closure_threat_anglian_waterways

Stage 3 of CRT's boat licence consultation is likely to have been launched by the time you read this. All the Trust’s current boat licence holders will be contacted to take part in this final stage of the consultation. Boaters will be able to respond by email, post or telephone.

The Branch was out and about this summer, at Three Locks and the Linslade Festival (see reports on Pages 4 and 12). We had also intended to take our stall to the Cosgrove Festival on 22-23 July, but transport problems ruled it out. Several Committee and Branch members went along as individuals and, despite very mixed weather, enjoyed this friendly, low-key event, with stalls on boats, on the towpath, and in the Village Hall. See Athina Beckett’s report on Page 13.

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Chairman’s Column—continued.

As time permits, Sheila and I are continuing our walk up the Thames. In mid-July, we planned to walk from Marlow to Henley, and parked the car at Henley with the intention of taking the bus back to Marlow and walking back to the car.

It turned out a rather wet day, so instead we visited the Thames Traditional Boat Festival. We were treated to the sight of dozens of the most Gloriana under way. Photo: Les Franklin. beautifully turned out craft you could wish for—skiffs and punts, slipper launches, gentlemen’s steam launches, some of the Dunkirk “Little Ships”, and the chance to see at close quarters the splendid Royal Rowbarge Gloriana that featured in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant.

As mentioned in the last two editions, the Committee obtained permission from Canal & River Trust to install a memorial plaque to John and Olive Herrick at Leighton Lock, just a matter of yards from where they lived. This has now been installed. Our thanks to CRT, and I am especially grateful to Jonathan Brown for his practical help with this task.

We hope you will enjoy the coming season of meetings. The Diary page lists meetings as far as the AGM (the Agenda will appear in January's edition). In March, Tim Armstrong will recount his trip on the Caledonian Canal, and in April we will hold another joint meeting, this time with Milton Keynes Natural History Society. Our joint meeting with Leighton Buzzard Art Society is still being talked about, so there seems to be New Members something in the “joint meeting” idea that people like.

I am most grateful to Vernon and Marie Draper for having stored and transported our PA equipment to and from meetings for some time. Now David Tucker has kindly agreed to take charge of it. David's expertise will hopefully allow me and other Committee members to be a little more attentive to both the guest speaker and members, but I am sure David will welcome some help to carry the kit in and out before and after meetings.

We extend a warm welcome to the following members who have joined the Branch since the last edition, and hope to see you at our social meetings—please introduce yourselves to a Committee member.

All being well, our next Cleanup will take place on 13-14 October (we are still waiting for CRT’s official go-ahead as I write this). As last time, we hope to be joined by volunteers from Milton Keynes Parks Trust. As always, though, it’s IWA MK Branch’s Cleanup, so we will be asking for members’ help at September’s meeting. If you’re not going to be at that meeting but want to take part, please let me know.

Les Franklin, Branch Chairman.

Mr B Campbell-Barr & Mrs A Burkle, Caldecotte, MK Ms K Exner, Leighton Buzzard Mr A Ford, Oxley Park, MK Mr D & Mrs N Green, Willen Park, MK Mr D Newell, Dunstable Mr N & Mrs P Shaw, Old Stratford Mr D & Mrs R Talks, Newton Longville

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A rewarding weekend at Three Locks Volunteers spent a tiring but fulfilling time at Three Locks raising Branch funds at our Lock Help weekend on 26-29 May. The sun shone strongly on Friday and fitfully on Saturday; Sunday and Monday were cloudy, and it got wet on Monday afternoon. We must have clocked up over 360 hours of work over the weekend – that’s setting-up, teas and coffees, lock-wheeling itself, talking to boaters and the public, engaging with children, and clear-up. Maximum manpower was 18 (Saturday), minimum 6 (Monday afternoon).

As usual, Athina and Jonathan brought the Buckingham Canal Society sales stall, and did good trade despite a gust of wind that blew down their marquee.

There were no other incidents of any kind, due to volunteers’ vigilance. Two-way radios proved useful in coordinating the setting of locks, and lent us a very professional air! On the Monday, we telephoned the CRT emergency number to advise them of an apparent increase in leakage at the top lock, and of the increasing racket made by the Jules Fuels’ working pair Towcester and Bideford pass through Three Locks. Inset: Volunteers relax—it’s not all hard work! electric back-pump.

I had some rewarding talks with members of the public, and also with Wyvern hirers, including two Continental gentlemen who were very keen to discover all they could about the English waterways. Once again, the water-play set and the bridge-building activity were popular with the children present. A meal at the pub on Friday, a barbecue-cum-meal-in-abox on Saturday, plus some lovely cake to wash down with tea, coffee or squash, made for very sociable interludes.

The funds taken each day were: Friday £218.31; Saturday £303.82; Sunday £202.98; Monday £168.73. Total: £893.84 (plus the usual smattering of foreign currency), which was just £27.56 short of last year’s total of £921.40. This was an excellent result considering that we were asked not to seek donations inside the pub this time. James Griffin promised us a £30 donation to push us past last year's total - thank you James.

Thanks to all for working so hard at whatever tasks you performed. My special thanks must go to Tim Armstrong, who undertook a great deal of the pre-event organising with CRT, to Karen Holowka for organising teas, coffees and cakes, and to Michael Schwartz and his staff at the Three Locks pub for their support.

Text and pictures: Les Franklin.

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A near miss!

Vernon Draper writes: When we got back from the Cosgrove Canal Festival on Sunday 23 July, our son Michael and his family took our boat (nb Reflections) out for a week. On the 25th after the obligatory visit to Tesco Leighton Buzzard they moored up just beyond Bridge 115 south of the town.

The following morning they opened the front doors to find how close they had come to something really nasty happening to the boat during the night; they had all slept soundly and had no idea it had even been windy during the night, let alone anything more serious going on just a few feet away.

They eventually managed to find a way past the tree, but not before making the acquaintance of another family on the towpath who, coincidentally, they bumped into again at the Linslade Canal Festival the following Saturday.

[It looks like a willow, some species of which are vulnerable to damage even in moderate winds. A quick search of July’s weather records shows that winds during that night were no more than 10mph—Ed.] Photo: Michael Draper.

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Seen from the Tiller - Ascot and Beverley A pair of historic boats we often see moored in Milton Keynes are the working pair Ascot (motor) and Beverley (butty), carrying fuel for sale.

Both were built by Harland & Wolff, and were delivered to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Co in 1936, although Ascot was not registered until June 1937 for some reason. Originally Ascot was paired with butty Aston, and Beverley with motor Bexhill.

Top and above: Ascot and BeverGary has owned the pair ley, still lovely in old age. for 12 years. He has Left: Weighing record for Ascot copies of a few old docdated 19 October 1936. uments which allow him to understand some of the history of his boats. For example on 19th October 1936, Ascot was loaded with 5 cwt dunnage (material used to keep the cargo in position), 3 cwt of coals, and 130 gallons of oil. Just fancy - 80 years on and Ascot is still carrying fuel.

Perhaps the most famous era for Ascot was in 1943 when she was used to train the young women, known as the Idle Women (really Inland Waterways), who, in the absence of men due to World War II, delivered goods from Limehouse or Brentford to the factories of Birmingham, then proceeded to the coalfields around Coventry. The coal would have been taken to supply factories along the return route to London. This back-breaking work was of significance in the war effort. There is a well-known photograph of the women sitting on Ascot’s cabin roof.

In 1958 Ascot (paired with Taplow) was owned by British Transport Waterways; their steerer was T. James. From 1963-1970 both vessels were owned and worked by Willow Wren in their South Eastern Fleet. They would have carried loads as diverse as timber, cocoa waste and dried fruit.

Ascot and Beverley have been paired for about 30 years and have been used for selling fuel to other canal users for some time. After all the long years of hauling cargo, Ascot is on her second engine. The original was a National, and in the 1950s an Armstrong Siddeley was installed and is still going strong.

Slow down as you pass these old ladies in their 80th year and ponder about their illustrious past, their crews, their journeys and their cargoes.

Text and pictures: Libby Culshaw.

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Wendover Arm restoration passes the £1 million mark Wendover Arm Trust and Canal & River Trust are continuing with their Heritage Lottery bid, aiming to submit it by the end of the year with a decision in 2018.

With WAT funds of £300,000 ringfenced for the bid process, a recent most welcome legacy of £150,000 means that current restoration work can continue unimpeded. Restoration expenditure recently passed the £1 million mark; £400,309 was spent on Phase I, and so far £613,650 has been spent on Phase II. A visit by WRG BITM in June saw good progress in laying the concrete blocks and coir rolls, significantly advancing Phase II. This is being followed up by placing spoil on both banks and laying Bentonite on the bed with spoil covering where BITM completed the block work, after which re-lining eastwards will continue. Following the demise of Morgans, the plant hire firm previously used by the Trust, more expensive plant is being hired from another company. However, the equipment offers some useful features, and fuel consumption appears much lower, helping to offset the in- Lining work in progress at last September’s Restoration Open Day. Photo: Les Franklin. creased hire costs.

Details are still awaited from CRT for a pseudo-weir and wing walls to the wharf wall at Whitehouses. Once this has been settled, the Trust should be able to complete the higher level pipe capping in front of the wharf wall.

As mentioned last time, CRT wanted to revive an earlier proposal to gradually raise water levels back to Wendover in order to detect low points and weak spots. CRT has now asked WAT for help with this, and the Trust is seeking a volunteer to co-ordinate this work.

WAT's second Restoration Open Day of the year takes place on Sunday 3 September.

The Open Day is always a most pleasant occasion, and is your chance to see restoration work in progress on the Arm.

Information from WAT web site and Wendover Arm News, Summer 2017.

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nd ks a re a e r i rt b eekly h o h S w Page 7

Diary We hope you enjoyed the summer weather! As Autumn draws in, it’s time to update your diary with the Branch’s meetings and other activities. Our own events are in bold type. Remember that we are always glad to welcome non-members at all Branch meetings.

Bleak Hall Rbt

From A 5: Leave A 5 at A 421 exit (signed MK South, Buckingham) on to Redmoor Roundabout.

Take A 421 exit, V6 Grafton Street (signed Buckingham); continue to Bleak Hall Roundabout.

Take 1st exit (signed Milton Keynes West, Buckingham), and pass over railway and dual carriageway, to Elfield Park Roundabout (intersection with V4 Watling Street). Take 2nd exit, A 421.

Take next left, Denbigh Hall Drive; continue to miniroundabout, take 2nd exit, Whaddon Way. Continue past Zebra crossing at pinch point, then immediately, at Dolphin pub, turn left into Melrose Avenue.

After 100 yards, take driveway on right to Royal British Legion car park. The driveway is indicated by a small sign on a lamp post on the opposite side of Melrose Avenue.

V6 Grafton Street A5

A 421 H8 Standing Way Denbigh Hall Drive Whaddon Way

Redmoor Rbt

Tower block

V4 Watling Street

Royal British Legion Whaddon Way Local Centre The Dolphin

No Whalley Drive

Yes Melrose Avenue

Sherwood Drive

The building and car park fronting Melrose Avenue (marked ) is NOT the Royal British Legion. It is incorrectly marked as such on some maps.

Bletchley Park

Members from Leighton Buzzard can reach the venue via the A 4146 to the roundabout near Willowbridge, then via Stoke Road, Water Eaton Road, Sherwood Drive and Whalley Drive.

Buckingham Road

Sunday 3 September

9-10 September

Sunday 10 September 10am-4pm

Bletchley

Water Eaton Road (shortcut from Leighton Buzzard)

Wendover Arm Restoration Open Day. Church of St Mary the Virgin, Drayton Beauchamp, HP22 5LS Guided tours of the restoration, with volunteers at work, sideshows, tea & cakes. Parking at the church. http://www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk/events.html Stoke Bruerne Village at War Weekend—watch the flypast, meet all the usual wartime celebrities and entertainers! http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/ Two Arms on Two Legs Running Festival. Half-marathon and a 10km run taking place along the Wendover and Aylesbury Arms. More info: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/events?date=09-2017

Thursday 21 September IWA MK Branch meeting: Noggin & Natter evening, and 7.45 for 8pm watch some excellent videos about horse boating.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU Saturday 30 September 11.30am

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IWA Annual General Meeting. Aldercar High School, Langley Mill, Nottingham, NG16 4HL Hear about the work of IWA and attend the formal AGM and awards ceremony. Lunch free of charge, but donations gratefully received. Optional trips are planned. More info: https://www.waterways.org.uk/agm/agm

Diary—continued.

13-14 October MK Branch Autumn Canal Clean-up (subject to CRT approval). Working north from Fenny Stratford to the Galleon, Old Wolverton, overnight stop at Giffard Park. Details to be announced at Branch meetings and at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes/cleanups Thursday 19 October

IWA MK Branch meeting: The historic steam narrowboat “President”, with Richard Thomas, well-known waterway speaker. Raffle proceeds to President Appeal (subject to agreement) Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU

Thursday 16 November

IWA MK Branch meeting: The Wendover Arm – history and update, with Ray Orth, Assistant Restoration Director, Wendover Arm Trust.

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU

Saturday 2 December 5pm till late

Thursday 7 December

Milton Keynes Illuminated Boat Festival, organised by Canal & River Trust. Details are still awaited, and will be announced when known.

IWA MK Branch Christmas social: Pre-booked ticket event. Details will be announced at Branch meetings and posted at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes/events_socials

Thursday 18 January IWA MK Branch meeting: Wonder of the Waterways, with waterway speaker and author Roger Butler. Canal photography through the seasons, portrayed using Roger's images as supplied to books, magazines and calendars.

An ideal event for your non-member friends!

Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU Thursday 15 February IWA MK Branch AGM, including Regional address by John Pomfret, Eastern Region Chairman, who will also give a talk on the Fenland Waterways. Agenda in January TPT. Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU

Local angling clubs offer taster sessions Supported by Canal & River Trust, two local angling clubs are celebrating National Fishing Month by holding taster fishing events. The free sessions are aimed at anyone who wants to learn the basics of canal fishing with the help of professional coaches. Tackle and bait will be provided. Time slots can be booked between the times given below.

On Saturday 2 September, Milton Keynes Angling Association will hold a session from 2 to 4pm on the towpath adjacent to Deans Road, Old Wolverton, MK12 5NA. For information, please contact John Gray on 01908 320007, 07528 169008 or at jgray19@sky.com On Sunday 10 September, Luton Angling Club will hold its event at Three Locks, Soulbury, from 11am to 3.45pm. For information on this session, please contact Dennis Hunt on 07956 685316 or at dennishunt1@btinternet.com Page 9

CanalFILE . . . . . . . . . .

Welcome to CanalFILE! Summer is passing into Autumn, but there is lots of wildlife to find along the canal. While the trees are still covered in leaves, birds can be difficult to spot, but I always see interesting wildlife when I am walking, cycling or jogging by the canal. In this edition, I will be looking at the wildlife that lives alongside the canal rather than on, above or in the water.

CANALSIDE HABITATS The edge of the canal has an amazing variety of habitats, including woods, coppices, areas of scrub, wildflower meadows, ponds and marshy areas, gardens, hedges, parks and grassed areas which themselves can vary from grazed pastures through to closely mown sports fields. This variety of habitats enables a wide variety of different plants and animals to survive and thrive alongside the canal.

BIRDS I have done several surveys of my stretch of canal. My top 10 list of birds-next-to-thecanal are: Goldfinch – I regularly see flocks of 10-20 birds; Wood pigeon; House sparrow – they like the bushes near my local pub; Blackbird; Robin; Dunnock; Tits – often mixed flocks including Blue, Great and Long-tailed; Crow; Magpie; Kingfisher – my local Kingfisher favours the trees between the canal and a pond in an adjacent meadow.

Blackbird

Blue Tit

All these birds stay in this country all year but, for others, autumn is a time of change.

Swifts leave during August to fly south, and swallows will follow them in October.

Thrushes often move south within this country, and Redwings move in from northern Europe for the winter.

INVERTEBRATES This is a great time to find dragonflies and damselflies. They breed in the water, and can be found flying in areas alongside the Magpie water until well into the autumn. If you don’t know the difference between them, generally dragonflies are larger and damselflies smaller and daintier. The real give-away though is that, when not flying, dragonflies rest with their wings open at right-angles to their bodies; damselflies rest with their wings folded along the top of their bodies.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TREES As I mentioned in my last article, Hawthorn, Willow and Poplar are common trees found in the vicinity of the canal. The Willows have been shedding their seeds, and you may have noticed the surface of the water covered in their fluffy white seeds. You may also spot Alder, which likes its roots near water, Sycamore with its five-lobed leaves, and Elder, which sported large heads of beautifully fragrant flowers that are now ripening into clusters of berries.

FLOWERS The variety of wild flowers on the towpath this summer has been huge, although many are now going to seed or will be cut down when the contractors mow beside the towpath. On a recent walk I spotted 31 different flowers on a 200 metre stretch of towpath! A useful way to get to know the names of your local plants is to identify and learn a few, before going on to look at others. However, beware plants near gardens.

Some of these are garden escapees and some may be hybridised.

Elderberries

DID YOU KNOW? The collective name for goldfinches, a charm, is derived from the old English ‘c’irm’, describing the birds’ twittering song. The Anglo-Saxon name for Elder is ‘aeld’ which means fire. This is because the branches are hollow and were used to blow air through to help start fires.

THINGS TO DO In the autumn, the canalside hedges are full of Nature’s free food! As well as picking blackberries (mind those thorns), you can collect elderberries. Go to this page on the BBC Good Food web site for a recipe to make Elderberry and Almond pie: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/elderberry-almond-pie See you in the next edition!

Jane

Text and magpie picture: Jane Bidgood.

Other pictures: Pixabay.

Grafton St. Aqueduct fendering scheduled for repair Some time ago, Peter Caswell reported to CRT that some of the wooden fendering on the Grafton Street Aqueduct had rotted, leaving bolts exposed that could damage passing boats. The exposed bolts were cut off. Further fendering has since rotted or fallen off, exposing further fixings.

In response to a recent new enquiry by Peter during July, Anita Rana of CRT Enquiries Southeast confirmed that the aqueduct is the responsibility of Milton Keynes Borough Council (it was built by Milton Keynes Development Corporation in 1988-9), and that Council contractors were due to commence fender repairs during July but, in view of the current volume of boat traffic, have re-scheduled the work for September/October.

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Linslade Festival keeps good weather reputation - just!

On Saturday 29 July, the Festival crowds at Linslade’s Tiddenfoot Park made the best of the morning and early afternoon, in anticipation of rain forecast for later. Fortunately the rain held off until about 5pm as most stallholders were clearing away, so the Festival just about holds on to its reputation for good weather.

As usual, IWA MK Branch and Buckingham Canal Society occupied pitches side by side in the pleasant “Poplars” area of the Park. Both our stalls were kept busy with a constant flow of customers.

Our activities for children were as popular as ever, with one or two “kids” of very advanced age trying their hand at building the bridge arch. We made a few quid in the collection box too.

Thanks to all who helped – organising, transporting, setting up, gophering, chatting to the public, supervising kids’ activities, and clearing up afterwards.

Text and picture: Les Franklin.

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Buckingham Canal Society prepares to Bridge the Gap Our annual festival took place on 22-23 July. As usual the event was split into two parts, with a canal festival along the towpath and a craft fair and cream teas in Cosgrove Village Hall. The craft fair proved to be the most successful ever, and the canal festival attracted as many people as last year in spite of the weather. We were congratulated on the variety of trade boats along the towpath and the goods being sold. On Saturday night, the fish and chip supper was held at Cosgrove Village Hall where we were entertained by Phil Underwood.

Our main work parties have been at Bridge 1 at Cosgrove. “Bridging the Gap� is our new slogan to publicise the work and fundraising to restore the missing arch.

To help with fundraising, we attended the History Festival in Campbell Park, MK, on 17-18 June, and the Braunston Boat Festival on 24-25 June, with our new banner which gives details about the bridge restoration. I was able to chat to Timothy West and Prunella Scales about the project when they presented cheques.

Hired excavator at work. Photo: Athina Beckett.

The weekend of 8-9 July saw a joint visit by KESCRG/London WRG to Cosgrove. By hiring in extra dumper trucks and excavators we cleared the first 250 metres of the canal bed ready to re-water this section.

In the meantime, most of our regular practical task work parties have been held at our Hyde Lane Nature Reserve site with the help of several outside companies including Virgin Money (who helped us paint the lock gates at Cosgrove), Argos, Santander, Vinci Technology, and two groups from Network Rail. Further work is planned for both Cosgrove and the Nature Reserve site over the next few months.

Finally, if any MK IWA members have any free time on Thursdays and Sundays you would be very welcome to join one of our practical task work parties.

Athina Beckett.

Chris Howes takes over Region Chair Chris Howes has been elected as Eastern Region Chairman in succession to John Pomfret, who was appointed in 2016 for a year only, to fit in with the rotation schedule.

John will still give his talk on the Fenland Waterways in February at our AGM. He was also due to give a Regional address, and will decide with Chris Howes as to who should now give this address.

My thanks go to John for approving several editions of TPT in line with the Byelaws - Ed. Page 13

Waterway Park could link new villages At its Board Meeting on 25 May, the Trust agreed an update to the Business Plan, which will guide its activities during 2017-18. The Plan includes the key tasks the Trust set itself last year, and sets out some new activities for the coming year.

These include initiatives to help members become more engaged in lobbying for the project, promoting the Waterway Park as strategic infrastructure in the Marston Vale, submitting or supporting funding bids for Mark the Route and the Head of Navigation, and reviewing the scope for commercial projects along the route.

The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park could be the central feature linking a number of new villages south of Milton Keynes and in the Marston Vale. As one of its options for providing new homes, Central Bedfordshire Council’s Local Plan consultation proposes a series of new villages in the Marston Vale and near Aspley Guise. In the Marston Vale the proposed villages would be focussed around the new Waterway, linking Brogborough and Stewartby lakes, and this theme would be continued to the south of Milton Keynes.

Jane Hamilton, Chair of the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. said: “We are delighted that the role which the Waterway Park can play in creating an attractive location around which new homes and businesses can grow has been recognised by Central Bedfordshire Council. With current pressure for more jobs and homes locally, the early establishment of an attractive and sustainable environment will be key to making a difference.

This is a wonderful opportunity to create something unique for the communities between Bedford and Milton Keynes, and we very much hope that it will add a positive to the always difficult debate about new homes.�

BMKWT press release, July 2017; other information from BMKWT web site.

Willowbridge Marina http://www.willowbridgemarina.co.uk Willowbridge Marina is a working boatyard specialising in lifting boats in and out of the water, as well as on and off transport. We are a family-run business, working hard to provide services to canal boat owners and users in the Milton Keynes area.

We offer the following services: - Well-stocked chandlery, including stainless steel fastenings and Calor Gas fittings; - Red diesel; - All boat services, including coal, LPG and pump-out; - All mooring services, including limited linear moorings, wireless internet and power, toilets, showers, laundry and extensive storage ashore.

We offer a 10% discount on chandlery purchases and services in the yard to IWA members.

Page 14

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Support IWA for free, or win a prize!

Here's a reminder of some of the ways you can support IWA - either at no cost to you, or with the chance of winning a prize!

Waterways Restoration Raffle 2017 First prize in this year’s raffle is £1,000 cash, and second prize is a one-week boating holiday with Wyvern Shipping in June, September October 2018—need we say more? The proceeds will go towards IWA's Restoration Hub - a central resource for restoration enquiries and requests. The Hub provides access to the knowledge and expertise of our volunteers and staff as well as to the experience of the National Restoration Group. It supports all Restoration projects in whatever areas they most need it. You should have received tickets with August Waterways, but for more info, go to: https://www.waterways.org.uk/support_us/raffle/raffle Online giving with Easy Fundraising Raise money for IWA as you shop - at no extra cost to you! Over 3,000 shops and sites are registered with Easy Fundraising, and when you use the website to buy groceries, flights or clothing, a percentage of your final spend is donated to IWA. It's as easy as that!

They even have a helpful 'donation reminder' toolbar which will let you know when a purchase is eligible. For more info, go to: https://www.waterways.org.uk/support_us/fundraising/other_giving IWA Club 500 For just £12 a year, IWA Club 500 gives you three chances per year of winning a major prize - including one of up to £1,000. Club 500 gives the Association valuable additional income to fund campaigns to defend waterways and their users' rights, and to assist projects to conserve and restore the waterway environment and historic structures. Club 500 is run by members for members, and welcomes your support. To find out more, go to: https://www.waterways.org.uk/support_us/club_500 IWA / WRG Stamp bank The Stamp Bank is still going strong - raising money for restoration by selling your used stamps and other items! The stamps go to the Shropshire Union Canal Society to help fund work on the Montgomery Canal. The bank also collects aluminium (cans and foil), coins and banknotes (current or old), coupons (i.e. vouchers given by petrol companies), empty toner & inkjet cartridges, and old mobile phones. Info at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/wrg/useful_information/stamps_wanted

THE THREE LOCKS TEL: 01525 270214

A very traditional canalside pub . . .

Dating from the early 1900s, the Three Locks is full of character, with the added appeal of wide country views, and of course the passing boats.

The Three Locks is now family-run by Michael and Susan Schwartz. Our focus is on customer service, with high standards in our beers, wines and soft drinks, and in the quality of our food - locally sourced and freshly prepared. We are open daily from 12 noon, and our friendly and efficient staff look forward to welcoming you.

Web: www.thethreelocks.co.uk

Email: info@thethreelocks.co.uk

10% discount on food for IWA members - please show your membership card.

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Getting in touch with MK Branch The Branch Committee is always pleased to receive your news, views and comments.

We are still seeking volunteers for the vacant posts on this list, to ensure the future of the Branch. If you think you can offer your help, please get in touch.

E FOR COPY DATTPT NEXT

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ADVERTISEMENTS are welcomed to assist Branch funds.

Charges are as below and are subject to VAT. Payment must be made before copy date to ensure insertion. Please contact the Editor for further details.

Per edition £32.50 £20.00 £12.50

LES FRANKLIN les.franklin@waterways.org.uk

Vice-Chairman:

VACANT

Secretary:

PHILIP STRANGEWAY philip.strangeway@waterways.org.uk

Membership:

PETE BICKERS pete.bickers@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer:

TIM ARMSTRONG tim.armstrong@waterways.org.uk

Education Officer:

JANE BIDGOOD education.mkbranch@waterways.org.uk

Social Secretary:

VACANT

Publicity Officer:

VACANT

Buckingham Canal ATHINA BECKETT Soc Representative: athina.beckett@buckinghamcanal.org.uk

DEC

Whole page Half page Qutr page

Chairman and Editor:

3 editions £65.00 £40.00 £25.00

Get the latest waterway news at these web sites. Addresses change frequently, but these were correct on 5 July 2017.

B-MK Waterway Trust Reporter:

MARIE DRAPER marie.draper@waterways.org.uk

Trade Representative:

JAMES GRIFFIN james@canalholidays.co.uk

Cleanup Supervisor: VACANT Committee member: DAVE PORTER david.porter@waterways.org.uk Fenny Lock Adoption Scheme:

RODNEY EVANS (non-Committee) rodney.evans@waterways.org.uk

Webmaster:

VERNON DRAPER (non-Committee) vernon.draper@waterways.org.uk

Planning:

TONY BIRCH (non-Committee) Contact via Les Franklin

IWA homepage: https://www.waterways.org.uk MK Branch pages: at above address, under “IWA Local”, select “Milton Keynes”.

Canal and River Trust: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust: http://www.b-mkwaterway.org.uk Buckingham Canal Society: http:www.buckinghamcanal.org.uk Wendover Arm Trust: http://www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk Friends of the Canal Museum: http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk Leighton Buzzard Canal Society: https://www.facebook.com/LeightonBuzzardCanalSociety/

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The Inland Waterways Association or of the Milton Keynes Branch. They are however published as being of interest to members and readers.

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