Towpath Telegraph September 2019

September 2019

TOWPATH TELEGRAPH Journal of the Inland Waterways Association’s Milton Keynes Branch

Autumn Clean-up news New Branch meetings season News from BCS, B-MKWT and WAT Consultation on demise of Red Diesel Inspection cruise a useful chance to exchange views The magnificent Pont-canal d'Agen carries the Canal de Garonne across the Garonne river. It is 539 metres (1768 ft) long, has 23 masonry arches, each of 20 metres (66 ft) span. The channel width is 8.82 metres (29 ft). Building began in 1839 under the engineer Jean-Baptiste de Baudre, but was interrupted by the building of a railway. The aqueduct finally came into service in 1849. Photo: Tim Armstrong.

Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk A non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.

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Welcome to September 2019 Towpath Telegraph Well, the summer came early, then didn’t seem to make up its mind whether to stay. Nonetheless, we hope you were able to have some pleasant days on or near the water. There’s a little more water in MK than there was, as the new marina with its surrounding community develops apace (see Page 5). We hope you enjoy this news-packed edition.

Chairman’s Column Autumn Clean-up news GDPR and new members B-MKW Trust to launch Community Boat in MK Campbell Wharf—a new canalside community Inspection cruise a useful chance to exchange views Roger Leishman retires from Wendover Arm Trust Diary Happenings at Three Locks A musical Buckingham Canal Society Festival Summer work parties at Fenny Lock MK Branch out and about this summer Dave Leeson The Editor’s Page Consultation on demise of Red Diesel for private craft Getting in touch with MK Branch

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Chairman’s Column Hello everybody. Autumn draws nigh, but there's still time for leisurely cruising, when the canals are quieter. During the summer, your Branch management team has been busy, attending and supporting the local events along the GU Canal.

Thanks to all those who have been so supportive. See Pages 10 and 13.

The bridge and lock gear at Fenny Lock are now resplendent in a new coat of black and white. Along with the revitalised pub, this area is now looking very smart. If only we could shift the lock and bridge to Piccadilly, we would have an entry for next year’s Summer Show at the Royal Academy! Well done Pat and team - see Page 12.

Mindful of the facilities at The Royal British Legion, our current home for social meetings, Diane Witts and I are considering a move to a new base, and are looking at possibilities.

Nothing will be undertaken without your views, but we are mindful that the RBL site is not now as neat and welcoming as it might be.

We have often discussed the general condition of the GU Canal through MK and the decline in and resultant lack of proper mooring provision. James provided Ocean Princess for a day, and we transported several members of the CRT management team along with IWA and The Parks Trust staff from Fenny Lock to the Galleon. This provided a welcome chance to demonstrate the problems we face. Please see the report on Page 6.

In mid-May, I was invited to attend the reception at the House of Lords at which the IWA MP of the year award was announced (Andrew Bridgen). It was a chance to meet a broad range of waterways supporters: their Lordships, various MPs with waterways on their patch and other CRT and IWA officers. For me, a big learning curve!

By way of contrast I spent a happy week cruising the Canal de Garonne at the end of June.

We cruised from Le Mas d'Agenais, south-east of Bordeaux, eastwards via the magnificent Agen Aqueduct over the Garonne (see front cover), to Pommevic, west of Moissac, our original planned target destination. All typically French – relaxed, sleepy villages, bars and restaurants, albeit not many canal-side – damn it, you had to walk! But you could moor anywhere (sensibly of course), on either bank – the French government owns at least 15 Page 2

Chairman’s Column—continued. metres on either side. The down-side is a general lack of Armco-type piling, so spikes are used a lot, and gangplanks are needed, along with the occasional initial leap of faith on to the bank.

But all the locks are automatic once you start the cycle and (on the rise) quite aggressive.

As the westward extension of the Canal du Midi, connecting Toulouse with the lower reaches of the Garonne through Bordeaux, the canal still does fulfil one important Canal de Garonne at Mas d'Agenais. role – that of a cut-off route Photo: Tim Armstrong. for vessels from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay, avoiding the Iberian peninsula. We saw a fair selection of sailing craft making the trip. Also encountered were a handful of our own narrowboats, and also a widebeam or two. Do it again? Most definitely. Volunteers?

I hope that we will see you at our forthcoming evening meetings during the winter months, through to next April. The Committee is always open to new ideas for these meetings or otherwise, so do please let us know. One idea is a visit to The Solent for a boat trip from Portsmouth to see whatever cruise ships are sailing from Southampton. It is easy enough to find a timetable of liner sailings, but harder to find a Solent cruise when the liner fleet is in port to make it worth the trip. But your Chairman has not given up yet – there may be a sudden call for anyone wishing to enjoy what can be a spectacular sight.

Tim Armstrong, Branch Chairman.

Autumn Clean-up news The Branch’s Autumn Clean-up on 11-12 October is being planned as usual, with the support of Canal & River Trust and The Parks Trust. We hope to welcome Suzuki to the list of commercial supporters. An organisers’ planning meeting is scheduled for 5 September.

As always, members’ help at the Clean-up will be much appreciated. Volunteers will be sought at the September Branch meeting, but if you would like to volunteer in advance, please contact Pat Durham at pat.durham@waterways.org.uk

GDPR and new members

Under the GDPR legislation effective from May 2018, we are no longer allowed to publish the names of IWA members who have recently joined the Branch. All new members should receive a welcome contact from our Membership Secretary Pete Bickers. We very much hope to see you at our Branch meetings and other activities. Please introduce yourselves to one of our Committee members (those wearing IWA badges).

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B-MKW Trust to launch Community Boat in MK Following six very successful seasons with the John Bunyan trip boat on the River Great Ouse, Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust plans to run a small passenger boat, based at the new Campbell Wharf Marina. John Bunyan has been hugely successful in raising awareness about the Waterway Park project, and in raising funds. The Trust's trading arm, BMK Waterway Enterprises Ltd (BMKWEL), hopes to repeat that success in Milton Keynes, with a boat designed for the Grand Union, eventually providing up to 400 trips per year.

The boat will be a 12-seater, fullyaccessible, hybrid narrowboat suitable for trips throughout the year: short rides in summer, taxi for walkers, Santa Specials, catered trips for families, community and business groups, and ‘public specials’ – cream teas, fish & chip suppers, etc. It is hoped to launch the service in April 2020.

How the new Community boat might look.

BMKWEL is working in partnership with Campbell Wharf’s developer Crest Nicholson, who are committed to community-building in their developments, and with the Parks Trust, who are keen that residents and visitors can fully benefit from the city’s parkland.

A public meeting was held on 22 July to test support for the Community Boat project, to uncover concerns, and to begin building a new group of local volunteers to take the project forward. At the Milton Keynes Canalside Forum meeting on 24 July, Graham Mabbutt reported back from the above meeting. 25 people had attended, and 11 of those offered to take one or more volunteer roles. A further public meeting to refine plans and start crew recruitment will be held at 7pm on 24 September at The Parks Trust, 1300 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 4AD. For more information, please email Jane Wolfson at jane.wolfson@mkcommunityboat.org The Trust had been searching for an existing boat to buy, but it has been decided to commission a new boat for which £120,000 funding must be raised. Crest Nicholson will be a principal sponsor. Additional support and funding will be sought from local bodies.

At the Trust's Information Evening & AGM on 6 June, Neil Warren spoke about his company, Land & Water, which built the new marina. A centrally-placed marina had always been part of the Milton Keynes masterplan. Early designs had shown boat access to the marina from the start of the B-MK Waterway, but the need for a lock close to the GU main line made the turning into the marina difficult to design. That, and the existence of some ancient woodland on the site, prompted revisions, including the separate Waterway spur.

The Trust’s familiar branding has been in place for over 20 years, and although the project has always been seen as a waterway park, not just a canal, the Trust has received feedback from potential funders that the “knot” logo suggested too great a focus on boats for them to be able to lend full support. In line with the emphasis on the environmental benefits of the Waterway, a new logo has been developed, including green as one of the colours. A new website will follow, in line with this.

B-MK Waterway Trust press release, Powerpoint presentation and newsletter, July/August 2019.

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Campbell Wharf—a new canalside community The Campbell Wharf development brings together an enviable mix of facilities to become Milton Keynes’ new waterside destination.

With the 383 stylish apartments and houses with the marina on their doorstep, the pub with views across the Grand Union Canal, the quick links into Central Milton Keynes and the new bridge artfully crafted to fit right into the local landscape, Campbell Wharf is shaping up as an exciting new place to be. The 111-berth marina officially opened in May. It is managed by Land & Water Estates for its owners The Parks Trust. Over 40 berths have already been occupied, but further berths are available and can be reserved through the Campbell Wharf Marina website, details below.

Alongside the Marina, McMullen and Sons will be developing a two-storey waterside pub which will offer quality fresh food and drink, alongside the family-run chain’s own range of small batch production crafted ales. Construction is expected to start in Autumn 2019 following approval of the detailed plans, with the pub set to open in Summer 2020.

Crest Nicholson’s Sales and Marketing suite recently launched with a selection of properties now available to purchase, and residents are expected to start moving in later this year.

For information about plans for Campbell Wharf, visit the main website at www.campbellwharf.co.uk, or contact Gemma Gallant, Community Liaison Officer, on 07578 618775 or at community@campbellwharf.co.uk. For mooring enquiries, visit: www.campbellwharfmarina.com or call 07477 747747.

Text and photo: Crest Nicholson press release, July 2019.

Boat Safety Certification Alan Stewart

Lloyds Academy Diploma in Small Craft Surveying Ex-Merchant Marine Engineer

Authorised Boat Safety Scheme Examiner Visit my website: http://www.boat-safetyexaminer.co.uk Contact me by phone on 01234 767156 or mobile 07976 900113 Alternatively e-mail me at: alan_breck_stewart@msn.com Page 5

Inspection cruise a useful chance to exchange views James Griffin (Wyvern Shipping) made his boat Ocean Princess available for an inspection cruise through the city on 19 June, and invited along management teams from CRT and IWA. The Parks Trust was also invited with a view to seeing the vegetation along the canal, and the possibility of their taking on its management in some places. Myself and two other MK branch members represented the Branch itself.

The trip provided an excellent chance for attendees to exchange views on the concerns which James outlined in his introduction at Fenny Lock, where we all assembled.

It was soon apparent that high demand for moorings, well known in the London conurbation, is now affecting Milton Keynes. The proximity of the West Coast railway from Wolverton to Euston has made the canal an alternative and affordable place to set up home with its attached lifestyle, and all other facilities close to hand.

Inspection cruise participants at Campbell Marina.

Also identified was the poor external condition of some boats, with clutter on the roofs and towpath.

The Parks Trust invited us to moor in the new Campbell Park marina. We were given a brief and informative introduction by David Foster, the Parks Trust chairman, outlining the initial operational phases for the facility. At the time of our visit, occupancy was at about 25%, with a similar number having made berth reservations. One slight surprise was the stipulation that there will be no residential boats within the marina.

During the trip, these points became clear: • The MK area wishes to be somewhere to visit in its own right; this included the Grand Union Canal; • Moorings should be clearly marked as to duration: 14 day, 48 hour or 24 hour; • Moorings at key points (pubs, shops and other key facilities) must be short-term and marked accordingly, so as to encourage visitors to stop. Enforcement should ensure that they are not monopolised by craft wishing to stay longer term.

• Broadbeam boats must be encouraged to moor with greater consideration for others.

• CRT was encouraged to better manage the vegetation; one or two places were identified where manoeuvrability was hindered and sighting at corners impeded.

It was generally agreed that the initiative to hold the event was of great benefit, serving to bring to the attention of those present the factors contributing to the canal through MK becoming less attractive to visitors. The ideas outlined above met with broad approval and now form part of the next step by the Branch; a letter has been drafted expressing these concerns and proposals. After outline approval by the Eastern Region chairman, Chris Howes, it will be sent to IWA trustees and senior CRT management.

Tim Armstrong.

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Roger Leishman retires from Wendover Arm Trust April's WAT Restoration Newsletter (not available when May's TPT was being compiled) carried the news that after 24 years looking after restoration and having passed his 87th birthday, Roger Leishman resigned as Restoration Director and as a Director of the Trust as from the end of April. Roger's efforts in this post have been an inspiration to all who look forward to seeing the Wendover Arm fully restored. He will be offered the position of Vice-President at the Trust’s AGM on 30 October. Tony Bardwell, already in post as Assistant Restoration Director, has now assumed the post of Operations Director.

In May, agreement was reached with Herts County Council and the farm tenant regarding work to be done at the spoil tip at Whitehouses to make the land usable for sheep and cattle grazing. Accordingly, work has commenced in taking out the areas of elder scrub (including the roots) and profiling to create a smooth area of land that matches to the adjacent fields.

The area leading to the canal edge will be levelled as much as possible. After this, a layer of topsoil will be added and seeded.

The lining on the towpath side is now right up to bridge 4. It was not possible to back- Work in progress at the Restoration Open fill this with soil in the first instance as it Day. Photo: Les Franklin. was too dry, but this was completed after rain (welcome for once) moistened it. On the offside at Bridge 4, the lower edge of the mooring wall was exposed ready for the bed lining to be laid and blocks put on to the mat.

Work has also continued on creating a levelled site to be grassed over to form the picnic area next to the mooring wall.

On 7 July, the Trust held its Restoration Open Day at Drayton Beauchamp Parish Church.

A shuttle bus was available to take visitors to Little Tring, now the nearest road access point to the work site (now at Bridge 4) as restoration progresses eastwards. This year there will not be a second Open Day as in previous years.

From WAT Restoration Newsletters and Operations Reports, April—July 2019, and Wendover Arm News, Summer/Autumn 2019.

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Diary We look forward to seeing you as we begin our 2019-20 season of Branch meetings on Thursday 19 September. Please note that the Committee is investigating possible new venues, but the September, October and November meetings will take place at our current venue, the Royal British Legion, Melrose Avenue, Bletchley, MK3 6PU (see map). We will keep members informed should we decide to change the venue for December onward. Our own events are titled in bold type. Other selected events are in regular type. Non-members are always welcome at our Branch meetings.

Our Branch social meetings are attended by a loyal group of members, but there is plenty of room at the British Legion for more of you! A great deal of hard work goes into finding and booking good speakers, looking after them during their visits, and preparing and clearing away each time. And it's a real boost to the speaker to find a sizeable audience to speak to. With current numbers attending, each meeting runs at a loss, as the raffle income does not usually cover the venue hire and speakers' fees. David has arranged an excellent and informative programme of talks for 2019-20, so we hope that more members (and perhaps their guests) will be able to support the meetings. We look forward to seeing you!

David himself cannot always attend the social meetings, so we would like to find one or two people willing to learn how to set up the PA and other equipment in his absence, and perhaps help him set up and clear away when he is there. All offers gratefully received!

7 - 8 September

Stoke Bruerne Village at War weekend. All the usual favourites, with some new personalities too for 2019. Adult Weekend Pass £10 includes parking, programme and free admission to the Canal Museum. Children under 16 free with accompanying adults. http://www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk/vaw-2019/4594542102

Thurs 19 September 7.45pm Royal British Legion

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: Two videos of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, with David Tucker.

Re-opened in 2001 after restoration, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal possesses the longest canal tunnel in the UK at Standedge. It's a long way from these parts though, so this evening's videos are the next best thing to going there!

21 - 22 September 10am - 4.30pm

Two-day Roses and Castles painting course. Course fee £95. Booking essential on 01604 862229. Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum, NN12 7SE

Friday 11 & Saturday 12 October 9.30am sign-in for 10am start

IWA MK Branch Autumn Clean-up (subject to CRT approval). Working north from Fenny Stratford to the Galleon, Wolverton, overnight stop at Giffard Park. Please contact Pat Durham if you can help, . Details at September Branch meeting and at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/miltonkeynes/cleanups

Thursday 17 October 7.45pm Royal British Legion

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: Boston’s Waterways. Simon Judge will talk about his exploits over the last two years. He has had his boat moored over winter in Ely and has explored the many waterways of the area, collectively called the Fens. He has also crossed The Wash in both directions, and is planning another such trip next year. He will tell us of his various cruises in the area.

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Diary—continued Thurs 21 November 7.45pm Royal British Legion

Thurs 5 December 7.45pm Venue TBC Thurs 16 January 7.45pm Venue TBC

Thurs 20 February 7.45pm Venue TBC

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: The Thames River Police Force, with David Wells. This force was the forefather of modern policing and was London’s first police force. It was founded in 1798 by two men, Patrick Colquhoun and John Herriot, to deal with the rampant thefts that were occurring in the corrupt and chaotic Port of London. Eventually the River Police became the Thames Division of the Metropolitan Police.

IWA Milton Keynes Branch Christmas Social: Pre-booked ticket event. Details to be announced at Branch meetings and on Branch web site.

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: Grain Trade to Coxes Mill. Tam and Di Murrell operated a pair of narrowboats carrying lime products for Roses Marmalade. They then turned their attention to transporting grain by barge from Tilbury to Coxes Mill on the Wey Navigation. Eventually they operated three coasters in and around the Thames estuary. Di will tell us of their exploits.

IWA Milton Keynes Branch Annual General Meeting (agenda in January TPT), followed by Athina Beckett with an update on the Buckingham Canal, where Bridge 1 is being restored. Find out the latest on the project, now gathering pace.

Branch Meetings venue directions For September, October and November Branch meetings. We will advise members of the venue for future meetings.

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.

The building and car park fronting Melrose Avenue (marked ) is NOT the Royal British Legion.

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.

Bleak Hall Rbt V6 Grafton Street A5

A 421 H8 Standing Way Denbigh Hall Drive Whaddon Way

Redmoor Rbt

Tower block

V4 Watling Street

Royal British Legion MK3 6PU Whaddon Way Local Centre

No Whalley Drive

Yes Melrose Avenue

The Dolphin Sherwood Drive Bletchley Park Bletchley Buckingham Road Water Eaton Road (shortcut from Leighton Buzzard)

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Happenings at Three Locks On 18 May, Canal & River Trust held an Open Day at the refurbished Grade II Listed Three Locks Pumphouse. Some work remained to be done, but the occasion gave the chance to see inside the surprisingly large space at the rear of the building, which has been re-roofed.

Above: The Pumphouse interior.

Photo: Les Franklin.

Above right: Re-roofing in progress. Photo: Canal & River Trust.

CRT staff were on hand to answer questions about the building and the Lottery-funded work done on it, to show off some interesting finds discovered during the work, and to supervise family fun activities. The Trust also launched the Soulbury Pumphouse and Canal Trail, a self-guided walk from Three Locks to Fenny Stratford, which includes much historical information and many old photos of the area. You can download the trail at: http://www.mktrails.org/the-soulbury-trail.html On 20 July, a boat unfortunately became caught on the cill of the top Lock at Soulbury, blocking traffic for several hours until its removal next day. Noone was seriously hurt.

National AGM at the Potteries The IWA’s 60th AGM will be held at 11.30am on Saturday 28 September, at St Thomas More Catholic Academy, Longton Hall Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 2NJ. Before the AGM, at 10am, there will be a presentation celebrating the IWA’s recent successful campaign to get the Forth & Clyde Canal re-opened.

Photo from shared Facebook post.

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There is a packed weekend on offer, put together by IWA’s North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch. For full details, go to: www.waterways.org.uk/agm/

A musical Buckingham Canal Society Festival

Buckingham Canal Society held its annual festival on 20 -21 July, with 27 trade and private boats attending, canal stalls on the towpath, and Cosgrove Village Hall fully booked with stalls too. Saturday morning was a little quiet as the forecast had not been great, but by Saturday afternoon it hadn't rained and the people came out. Sunday also proved to be very popular.

On Saturday evening we even managed to hold our fish and chip supper outside on the 'island' next to the lock, with a beautiful sunset and music provided by Innocent Hare, a local group from Stony Stratford.

As well as the historic boats Raymond and Nutfield (which nearly always attend our festival), we were joined for the first time by working boat Roger. This was the first time in about twenty years that Raymond and Roger had been reunited!

Altogether a very successful festival; the only down side was that a boat had sunk at Three Locks on Saturday, (see opposite). The Wyvern hire fleet which would have passed our way couldn't get through, so our takings on the 'lock assist' were down this year.

A music duo at Cosgrove.

Photo: BCS. Work on Bridge One, Cosgrove, has continued with visits from several outside companies; these include three visits by Santander and five by Network Rail. Altogether we will have had sixteen outside company visits by the end of the year. So far this year two 'concrete pours' have taken place on the new part of the bridge.

On 8 August our third pour is due to take place. This will end most of this type of work, although a lot more brick laying work will be needed before the bridge will be completed.

Work has also continued at our Hyde Lane Nature Reserve site, where the area was recently strimmed, and solar panels installed so that the site will be in water all year round.

Most of the forthcoming work parties will be at Cosgrove. All IWA members are very welcome to come and see the progress being made on Bridge One. Athina Beckett, Buckingham Canal Society.

Excellent Boats on a Beautiful Canal Our base at Linslade is within weekend reach of the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne, or the Chiltern Hills and Aylesbury. Choice of exciting one- or two-week cruises including the Thames. 35 luxury boats, 2 to 8 berth.

Boat Builders - Repairs - Dry dock - Blacking - Repaints Waterside holiday cottage

The WYVERN SHIPPING Co Ltd

Rothschild Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 2TF Tel: 01525 372355 Fax: 01525 852308 http://www.canalholidays.co.uk james@canalholidays.co.uk Members of IWA, APCO, BMF, B&MK Waterway Trust, Wendover Arm Trust, Buckingham Canal Society, Aylesbury Canal Society

nd ks a re a e r i rt b eekly h o h S w Page 11

Summer work parties at Fenny Lock A work party on 18 June saw all the white paint on the swing bridge completed before it started raining.

Tim Armstrong dropped by to see progress and take these photos, and was able to deliver a copy of the latest Adoption Certificate received from Canal & River Trust.

The next work party on 25 June was cancelled due to a poor forecast, but the Pumphouse planting done previously benefitted from the wet weather. The planting was kindly sponsored by James Griffin.

At the re-convened work party on 9 July, final touches to the black swingbridge paintwork were done, bringing painting to a conclusion for a few months.

If you would like to help keep Fenny Lock spick and span, please contact Pat Durham (email on back page).

MILTON KEYNES MARINA

tel: 01908 672672

Modern full-service marina in the heart of Milton Keynes

10 & 15 year Leasehold moorings available at discounts

Relax

15 miles of lock-free cruising

Brokerage New and used boats for sale

Onsite facilities include Chandlery & full services Workshop, slipway

Secure car parking Laundry

Boat Brokerage Widebeam facilities

MK Afloat

Day Boat Hire Book now

Pub with carvery restaurant Indian & Chinese takeaway

For Moorings Availability and Prices, visit http://www.mkmarina.co.uk Page 12

MK Branch out and about this summer Over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, IWA Milton Keynes Branch held its annual Lock Help weekend at Three Locks, raising funds for the waterway causes we support. Volunteers worked a grand total of 394½ hours, collecting £527.86 in donations from boaters and pub visitors.

As usual, the Branch attended the Linslade Canal Festival on 27 July, sharing our pitch with Buckingham Canal Society. For the first time we were beside the lake, a more open position than the Poplars part of the site where we had been before. The windy, changeable weather obliged us to keep a close eye on the security of the gazebo.

Right: Dad, Mum, Gran and the children enjoy the water-play toy at Milton Keynes Branch’s stall at Linslade Canal Festival on 27 July.

Left: Dad, Mum and the children enjoy a gentle stroll, inspecting the stalls at Linslade Canal Festival.

Photos: Les Franklin.

On 3-4 August, the gazebo was erected once again at the Fenny Canal Festival (always a pleasant and friendly affair), where it straddled the towpath, so nobody could fail to notice it or the displays it contained. Many thanks to all who turned out to help at these events.

Dave Leeson

We are saddened to report the death of Branch member Dave Leeson, on 31 July.

With his wife Jo, Dave was a founder member of IWA Milton Keynes Branch, serving on its Committee until 2000. As well as serving as Sales Officer, Dave gave much practical help with outside events, notably at the 1985 National Rally at Newlands, Milton Keynes. He also built his own narrowboat, including the steelwork.

His funeral is due to take place on 28 August (details from Les Franklin). We send our condolences to Jo and the family.

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The Editor’s Page The damage to the Toddbrook Reservoir dam at Whaley Bridge in early August highlights the fact that the today's engineers who look after old structures often do not have complete or reliable information about them. When they were built, drawings and specifications were often not adhered to, workmanship was skimped, and poor or undocumented decisions were taken in maintaining or altering them later on. At Whaley Bridge, the dam (essentially an earth dam) has suffered leakages in the past due to the presence of mine workings, and a culvert built during construction and discovered only a few years ago.

Defects sometimes come to light quickly, or can take decades to manifest themselves. The original Wolverton aqueduct, which was probably three large culverts with an embankment above (see TPT, September 2016), failed within a few years of building. When the Blisworth Tunnel was finally opened, Thomas Telford (brought in for his opinion) pronounced the workmanship excellent, but it soon began to give trouble. When the central third of the tunnel was reconstructed in the 1980s, sections of the arch were found to consist of only one ring of brickwork instead of the specified three. In 1979, two lives were lost during maintenance on Wast Hill Tunnel on the Worcester & Birmingham, when material from an uncharted construction shaft collapsed into the tunnel.

We cannot always blame the engineers and workmen of the canal-building age.

Engineering design was largely a matter of rule-of-thumb, soil mechanics was little understood, and surveying methods were primitive. And even with modern methods, we are still not immune from poor design, workmanship or maintenance.

Les Franklin, Editor.

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.

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01908 643242 office@willowbridgemarina.co.uk

Consultation on demise of Red Diesel for private craft IWA is appealing to boaters and boatyard operators to respond to a consultation following the EU announcement that private pleasure craft in the UK will no longer be able to use red diesel. The Spring Budget stated that HM Revenue & Customs would seek evidence on the impact of complying with the judgment made by the European Court of Justice. The HMRC consultation is about the timescales required to implement the change.

Together with British Marine, the Cruising Association, and the Royal Yachting Association, IWA has already made the case to the UK Government that a change to using white diesel would create insurmountable problems for boat users and the industry.

The ruling will mean the end of the use of red diesel for any leisure boating. Whilst red diesel could continue to be used for heating, it would have to be in a separate tank, and there would be no dispensation for any proportion of fuel used by the engine for generating heat and light. Commercial boats, and residential boaters with proof of fixed moorings would still be able to use red diesel, but boats without a home mooring which are continuously cruising would be required to use white diesel.

It is not practical for most inland waterway boats to have two tanks; inappropriate modifications would raise safety concerns; and many diesel suppliers would simply not supply both red and white diesel due to the costs of installing additional equipment. IWA is particularly concerned that this change may encourage people to take measures that could adversely impact the environment and safety, such as increased use of generators in confined spaces or spillages from containers of fuel purchased away from the waterways. IWA is also concerned that the increased costs faced by both boat owners and boatyard operators will make an already expensive pastime unaffordable to some existing boaters and to many potential new boaters.

IWA will be taking up the offer from HMRC for further meetings during the consultation, and encourages all boating organisations, boatyards, diesel suppliers, and boat owners to respond to the consultation and provide evidence of the practical implications of the proposals.

The consultation runs until 9 September. More background information can be found in IWA’s Briefing Note on Red Diesel at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/news_campaigns/campaigns/briefing_notes/pdfs/briefing_note_red_diesel

IWA Bulletin, July 2019.

The Briefing Note at the link above includes, in turn, a (very lengthy but clickable) link to the Government website where you can respond to the consultation.—Ed. Page 15

Getting in touch with MK Branch The Committee looks forward to welcoming members for the coming season of meetings, and is always glad to hear your views. There are still gaps to be filled so that we can do all that we would wish, and any offers of help will be gratefully received.

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Get the latest waterway news at these web sites. Addresses change frequently, but these were correct on 31 July 2019.

Chairman:

TIM ARMSTRONG tim.armstrong@waterways.org.uk

Vice-Chairman

VACANT

Secretary:

DIANE WITTS diane.witts@waterways.org.uk

Membership:

PETE BICKERS pete.bickers@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer / Social Secretary:

DAVID TUCKER david.tucker@waterways.org.uk

Social Media / Data Holder:

CHRIS DURHAM chris.durham@waterways.org.uk

Buckingham Canal ATHINA BECKETT Soc. Representative: athina.beckett@buckinghamcanal.org.uk B-MK Waterway Trust Reporter:

MARIE DRAPER marie.draper@waterways.org.uk

Trade Representative:

JAMES GRIFFIN james@canalholidays.co.uk

Fenny Lock Adoption Scheme / PAT DURHAM Volunteer Organiser: pat.durham@waterways.org.uk Clean-up Supervisor:

VACANT

Education Officer:

VACANT

Editor and Publicity:

LES FRANKLIN (non-Committee) les.franklin@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”.

MK Branch Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/iwamiltonkeynesbranch/ Canal and River Trust: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust: http://www.b-mkwaterway.org.uk Buckingham Canal Society: https://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.