Towpath Telegraph September 2021

September 2021

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

A A trip trip aboard aboard Electra Electra WAT restoration WAT restoration news news BCS BCS begins begins at at Bridge Bridge Two Two East East West West Rail Rail consultation consultation Fenny Fenny Canal Canal Festival Festival report report World’s biggest navigable World’s biggest navigable tunnel tunnel Visitors enjoy browsing the floating market at the Fenny Stratford Canal Festival on 7 - 8 August. The event was enhanced by the presence of Electra, the new MK Community boat, which offered short return trips to Water Eaton Mill on the Saturday.

See report on Page 4. Photo: Les Franklin.

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.

Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no.212342.

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Welcome to September 2021 Towpath Telegraph While Covid ruled, the Branch found ways to adapt: we met via Zoom and even staged a Cleanup. The waterway organisations we support also found ways to carry on. As hopefully lasting normal times return, the Branch has staged the Fenny Festival and is resuming meetings in September. Good times or bad, TPT keeps going too. Enjoy this edition!

Chairman’s Column GDPR and new members Electra brings a buzz to Fenny Stratford Canal Festival Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway news A trip aboard Electra Diary BCS begins at Bridge Two, and acquires an Otter Repair at Three Locks Biggest navigable tunnel in the world Stuart’s walk raises £5695 for charity East West Rail consultation Wendover Arm: pipe capping begins from Bridge 4 The Editor’s Page Three Women and a Boat Getting in touch with MK Branch

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

Chairman’s Column

By the time you read this, the Fenny Stratford Canal Festival will have happened.

Tim Armstrong, Diane Witts and Les Franklin have done a magnificent job organising the event. Neither the weather nor any Government Covid restrictions spoiled it—see the report on Pages 4—5.

Pat Durham and her team of volunteers have spruced up Fenny Lock, the work progressing as the weather allowed. It’s a shame that Canal & River Trust have been unable to fix the broken paddle, which has been out of action now for almost two years I believe.

Speaking again of Fenny, the Branch Committee has discussed the implications of East West Rail’s proposal to close the level crossing on Simpson Road as part of the upgrade to the Bletchley - Bedford line.

The proposal includes options for possible pedestrian diversions using the canal, which we considered impracticable. See the article on Page 12.

Athina Beckett and her small band of volunteers have recommenced maintenance of the Wolverton Mural; quite a backPage 2

Fenny Lock, newly repainted. Photo: Pat Durham.

The Wolverton Mural—always a long job!

Photo: Les Franklin.

Chairman’s Column—continued. log of tasks still await attention thanks to lock-downs. More volunteers are always welcomed for these work parties.

Sadly, we had to cancel the proposed Lock Help fund-raising event over the August Bank Holiday weekend, as it became clear that we could not raise sufficient manpower. We are considering options for future Lock Help weekends.

At our August Committee meeting, we also took the decision not to hold an Autumn Cleanup. This was again because it seems unlikely that we can find the manpower to organise it effectively. The Committee will consider options for a Spring 2022 Clean-up.

Social meetings start again in September.

David Tucker has put together an interesting and stimulating programme, beginning on 16 September with a video evening. The Committee looks forward to welcoming members again in person. See the Diary page.

David has recruited some help with setting up and taking down the audio-visual equipment, but would welcome additional volunteers so that this task can be shared more effectively. If you would like to offer your help, please contact David—see the back page.

Still from one of the films to be shown on 16 September.

Lionhearts Cruising Club Great Linford, Milton Keynes

Many thanks to those mentioned above for their hard work, please do lend them your support, both moral and practical.

Chris Durham, Branch Chairman.

GDPR and new members Under the GDPR legislation (May 2018), we no longer publish the names or localities of IWA members who have recently joined the Branch unless they have given consent. All new members should receive a welcome contact from our Membership Secretary Pete Bickers.

As we begin Branch activities again, we very much hope to see you at our Branch meetings and other events—whether in person or online. Please introduce yourselves to one of our Committee members (those wearing IWA badges).

MOORINGS AVAILABLE

Secure moorings · Car Parking · Paint Dock Slipway · Clubhouse · Work Parties Friendly · Cruises · Socials · Wi-Fi Beautiful Grounds and People!

We provide excellent facilities and moorings for boats up to 38 feet. In return we do expect strong participation by our members at work parties, in running the club and in social activity. No Residential Boats accepted.

To find out more, including details of membership and fees, please visit our website at www.lionheartscruisingclub.co.uk Page 3

Electra brings a buzz to Fenny Stratford Canal Festival On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 August, despite changeable weather, visitors enjoyed browsing a floating market of trading narrow boats, and land-based stalls, at the Fenny Stratford Canal Festival organised by the Branch. At the IWA stand, visitors bought raffle tickets and Association merchandise, viewed the huge waterway map, and collected waterway information.

Electra, the new Milton Keynes Community boat operated by the BedfordMilton Keynes Waterway Trust, visited the Festival on Saturday. She offered four short return trips along the Grand Union Canal to Water Eaton Mill, all booked to capacity, and her voyages from her base at Campbell Wharf to Fenny and return were also fully booked. The boat's operators also donated a raffle prize - a cream tea cruise on Electra. Jane Wolfson, Chair of the boat’s Operations Team, said: "We have had a fantastic day! Community events like this are just the sort of thing we want Electra to be involved in.

When is the next Festival?" See also Pages 6 and 7.

Another unusual mode of transport visited the Festival on Saturday: a three -person bicycle. Inspired by his love of discovering Milton Keynes by bicycle, Thomas Gray and Grid Arts are creating a short film that will be a fast-paced magical mystery tour of Milton Keynes, filmed almost entirely from the perspective the special bicycle. “Grid Spinners” is being shot over the course of a year, but will be edited to look like a single extraordinary excursion.

Also on Saturday, Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, visited the Festival in response to the Branch's invitation. Volunteers discussed various matters with him, including East West Rail's proposal to close the level crossing at Fenny Stratford. Branch members have considered the impact the closure could have upon the Grand Union Canal if pedestrian diversions were to be routed via the canal (see Page 12).

Page 4

The last passengers of the day board Electra.

Photo: Les Franklin.

Actually, it’s a tandem with a pedal-powered trailer. Photo: Sheila Franklin.

A Wyvern hire boat pays a visit.

Photo: Les Franklin.

Fenny Stratford Canal Festival—continued.

A grant from Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council was awarded in 2020 to the Fenny Stratford Residents' Association for a canal festival, but that event was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Residents' Association kindly passed these funds to IWA for this year's event, which assisted with publicity, portaloo hire and other expenses.

Iain Stewart MP, with Diane Witts, Tim Armstrong, Athina Beckett and David Tucker.

Photo: Pat Durham.

Thanks are due to Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council for help with publicity and equipment, to the Fenny Stratford Residents' Association for funding and other help, to the Electra team for the boat's presence, to Lorraine Andrews and Penny Holloway for liaison with land-based and floating traders respectively, to those who donated raffle prizes, to those including the traders who made generous donations to IWA. Thanks also to Tim Armstrong and Dianne Witts for doing most of the organising, and to all the other Branch volunteers who manned the Branch stand.

Profits from the event are expected to exceed £700, and will go towards the waterway restoration projects supported by the Branch.

Les Franklin.

Lovely clothes, but mind the gap!

Photos: Les Franklin.

You can see a trailer for the “Grid Spinners” film at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArztbGQalfg

The Red Lion at Fenny Stratford

A friendly, warm and inviting canalside pub, offering a selection of great wines, speciality gins, beers and ales. There is a tasty lunchtime and evening menu, all very reasonably priced. Why not stop by for our amazing Sunday Roast, but remember to book so as not to be disappointed. Karen and her team will be sure to make your visit a pleasurable experience.

11 Lock View Lane, Fenny Stratford, MK1 1BY 01908 372317 http://www.the-red-lion-fenny-lock.co.uk karen@the-red-lion-fenny-lock.co.uk

Page 5

Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway news Since being craned into the Grand Union on 5 May, the new MK Community boat Electra has been equipped for public cruising. Skippers and cabin hosts have received their comprehensive training, and have spent much time in familiarising themselves with the boat. See Page 7.

In Bedford, the John Bunyan team has worked hard to get the boat back out on the river from 31 May, offering the usual range of cruises. Initially, capacity has been limited to 12, although with groups of four together, up to 20 can be carried.

Over the past year, Trust directors have joined a range of on-line initiatives and meetings, presenting the benefits the Waterway can offer. These meetings are thought to have brought the project to a wider audience than Bedford’s waterfront from John Bunyan. doing the same thing face-to-face. It has also Photo: Les Franklin. coincided with greater emphasis on the environment and sustainability, which is working to the project's advantage.

The Waterway Consortium has a new Chair, Councillor Alison Graham from Central Bedfordshire, who will retain the role for two years. Some of the key partners are stepping in with funding and other resources to strengthen the case for investment in the project as a whole. There are now three focused pieces of work underway: * Preparing a joint statement from all Consortium partners in support of the Waterway to feed into the Government as they develop a strategy for the Oxford to Cambridge Arc. * Preparing to commission expert advice on creating high level funding and investment opportunities for both public and private sector funders. This could bring the project a great deal nearer to being implemented. * Further work to properly establish the water resilience benefits of the project.

The design for the landing stage at Kempston Mill has been agreed and submitted to Bedford Borough Council for checking and approval. Work should begin in early September, and should take no longer than three weeks. The Trust has joined with Bedford Borough Council and others to help fund the development of the wider Kempston Mill area, but its contribution is conditional on the bridge being replaced or raised to allow the John Bunyan and similar craft to pass underneath it and turn at the millpond just upstream.

Goodmans have started further development at the Fields Road site, and the Trust has been endeavouring to contact them with a view to gaining a meeting together with representatives from Bedford Borough Council. The Trust is anxious to ensure the integrity of any future Waterway at minimal cost to any developer or the Council.

The Trust has submitted a response to the recent East West Rail consultation to ensure that the Waterway route is acknowledged and protected where it runs alongside the rail route under the M1 and adjacent to Ridgmont Station. The Trust hopes to work with Central Bedfordshire Council on the detail of how the Waterway, rail, cycling and walking routes can be integrated.

From Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Trust newsletter, July 2021.

Page 6

A trip aboard Electra On 13 July, Branch Committee members were invited on a complimentary trip aboard Electra. Sheila and I were also invited, but due to a prior engagement we couldn’t guarantee to arrive on time. We afterwards received an invitation for a similar trip as founder donors.

The weather looked threatening on 31 July as we boarded at Campbell Wharf, but the rain mostly held off.

The two-hour trip took us north to Great Linford and return. Jerry was our skipper, accompanied by Malcolm who, already familiar with Electra’s southern route, wanted to get to know the northern stretch.

David, our Cabin Host, welcomed the eight guests aboard, played a recorded safety announcement and, once we had set off, served complimentary coffee and biscuits.

Electra at her berth at Campbell Wharf.

Photo: Sheila Franklin.

Electra is 54 feet long and exactly 7 feet wide. Together with almost non-existent gunnels, this gives a few inches more cabin width than usual, making all the difference to the feeling of space on board. She can seat twelve, but is carrying at reduced capacity for the time being to ease social distancing. The interior is light and well finished, with plenty of space to move around. The foredeck allows guests to enjoy the view ahead to the full.

Cruising is virtually silent, except when the bow thruster is used. This had a lot of use, what with turning northward from her berth, meeting oncoming craft at blind corners, and winding at Linford. Electra’s batteries give her about ten hours’ cruising time, enough for three normal trips in a day, supplemented by the solar panels on the roof.

Viewing Milton Keynes as a seated passenger just a few feet above water level, one could hardly believe that this is a built-up city. This certainly made for a restful atmosphere, but it indicates that much more needs to be done to look after the canalside hedges and trees. At one point, Electra had to be steered under a huge overhanging branch. David’s sparing commentary was well-informed and always added to the enjoyment.

The return leg was uneventful, except that near Pennyland we hit an underwater obstruction with a thump, and one speeding cruiser opted to overtake on the wrong side. After just over two hours we were back at Campbell Wharf, reversing carefully into the berth.

David said that bookings are coming in briskly. Even so, he was not complacent, and remarked that there is bound to be a learning curve, both in operating the boat and in discovering what is popular with paying customers. Public trips include cream tea and Fish ‘n’ Bubbles trips, family adventure trips, and WOW (walk one way) cruises that let you ramble further. Charter cruises are also available for family gatherings or businesses. At present, Electra does not have a music licence; that is one thing to be considered for the future.

Les Franklin.

More information at https://www.bmkwaterway.org/mkcommunityboatelectra/ Page 7

Diary We very much look forward to resuming Branch meetings in person at the Irish Centre, Fenny Stratford (see directions below). We have been told that the lift to the first-floor bar, previously out of order, has now been repaired.

The meetings programme is essentially the excellent mix of topics which David Tucker put together for the 2020-21 season. Our own events are in bold type; selected events organised by others are in regular type. Many IWA Branches and other bodies are still in the process of planning future events. Some of these will be online—see panel opposite.

Although the Covid regulations have been relaxed for the most part, we will be encouraging attendees to wear masks and observe social distancing when possible. Needless to say, if you have Covid symptoms, have a recent positive Covid test, or have been told by NHS to self-isolate, please do not attend.

The entrance to the Irish Centre is off Watling Street, opposite Dobbies, 500m from Fenny Stratford centre.

Enter driveway (red and green signs) and cross bridge.

Follow drive through a left-hand, then a right-hand bend. The car park is on the right.

The Irish Centre is the centre building of three, with green front extension. Take stairs or lift to the first floor bar.

Thurs 16 September, 7.45pm

Grand Union Canal Fenny Stratford

Dobbies Garden Centre

P Irish Centre Manor Fields Watling Street Fenny Stratford MK2 2HX

A5 Central MK

V10 Brickhill St

V4 Watling St

A5 Dunstable McDonald’s A4146 Leighton Buzzard

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: Video night with David Tucker, including Northern Waterways.

Irish Centre, Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, MK2 2HX

Sat 25 September, 11.30am

IWA National AGM. The format of the AGM is still under review, due to the continuing uncertainty around Covid-19. Further details, including the meeting agenda, will be confirmed in due course.

Thurs 14 October, 7.45pm

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: The Grand Junction & Grand Union Canals—talk by Roland Doggett.

Irish Centre, Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, MK2 2HX

Wednesday 27 October 8pm

IWA Chiltern Branch meeting: Tug Boats, Barges, Workboats and Floating Plant—talk by Gerald Heward, from water transport company Wood, Hall and Heward.

Batchworth Lock Canal Centre, 99 Church Street Rickmansworth, WD3 1JD More info at: https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/

Page 8

Diary—continued Thurs 18 November, 7.45pm

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: The Suez Canal—talk

by Roger Squires.

Irish Centre, Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, MK2 2HX

Thurs 16 December, 7.45pm

IWA Milton Keynes Branch Christmas social: prebooked ticket event, details to be announced.

Irish Centre, Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, MK2 2HX

Thursday 20 January 2022, 7.45pm

IWA Milton Keynes Branch meeting: The Panama Canal— talk by well-known speaker Richard Thomas.

Irish Centre, Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, MK2 2HX

Thurs 17 February, 7.45pm

IWA Milton Keynes Branch AGM (agenda in January TPT), followed by Clive Johnson with an update on the Wendover Arm restoration.

Irish Centre, Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, MK2 2HX

As mentioned opposite, many Branches are still planning their meetings programmes, and also deciding whether to continue with Zoom presentations. For up-to-date details of most IWA events, please visit the main IWA events page at: https://www.waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events Please also check the following links, where additional events, and recordings of past talks and meetings are available, sometimes at quite short notice: https://www.waterways.org.uk/iwa-tv IWA-TV: Most future live stream events are posted here, also on-demand videos recorded from recent meetings or webinars. https://www.waterways.org.uk/waterways/discover-the-waterways Some meetings or webinars can be seen posted here but not at IWA-TV. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ROBJ6rpm_41BSmu-Glf2Q IWA’s Youtube channel carries video recordings of past meetings - there is quite an overlap of content with IWA TV. Joining a webinar “live” is easy, using a desktop computer, tablet or smart phone. * Go to one of the links above. The webinars are listed in date order; each has a "Book now" link, which takes you to more details about the meeting. Click the “Register now” button. * Fill in the online form that appears, and click the "Register" button. You can do this well in advance of the start time. * The ID number of the webinar and a very long web address then appear. You can save these into a Word document or text file. However you should also receive an email containing a simple “Click here to join” link. * Just before the webinar is due to begin, either copy the saved web address into your browser to join in, or use the link in the email—this is easier! Depending on your device's capabilities, you may be able to type questions into a Q and A box, or ask questions using your microphone if the meeting host offers that option to participants. Some Zoom meetings allow you to participate using your device’s camera and microphone.

If you are unable to join a meeting “live”, you can see all previous webinars and video presentations at one of the addresses in this panel.

The Parks Trust is organising a lively programme of family and special interest walks and talks, many of which will feature the canal in MK. More info at: https://www.theparkstrust.com/whats-on-in-your-parks/ Page 9

BCS begins at Bridge Two, and acquires an Otter With Bridge One restored, Buckingham Canal Society has started to look at the second bridge at Cosgrove. Before we can start work on Bridge Two, Canal & River Trust has asked us to carry out an archaeological survey on the bridge. Luckily for us one of our Trustees has the qualifications for this type of work, and has arranged for a group from the Veterans Archaeology group to do the work. This team has already carried out a weekend's archaeology survey on 5 - 6 June, and by the time you read this another weekend's work will have been done in July.

In past summer times we have received a great deal of help from outside company visits.

Because of lockdown this has greatly reduced, but this year we have still managed to run volunteering days with Network Rail, Hallam Land Management and the Church of Latter-Day Saints.

On Saturday 5 June this group with 27 people from the Church spent the day with us at Cosgrove, achieving a large amount of work, including extending the resurfacing work on part of the towpath and removing a large amount of reeds from the canal bed.

Volunteers have also been hard at work at our Bourton Meadow site because Buckingham Council has organised an Otter Trail from the town centre through Bourton Park, waymarked with a series of ten otter sculptures. Zoë Day with the BCS otter at Bourton Meadow.

We have our own otter Picture courtesy Zoë Day. (christened Canalotto) on view at Bourton Meadow from 23 July. Our thanks go to Buckingham artist Zoë Day who produced the otter for us. To show it is canal related, our otter has a narrowboat and canal scene painted on, and was much admired by the new Mayor of Buckingham, Cllr. Margaret Gateley, when she paid a visit to the canal. Visit Zoë’s web site at https://www.zoeday.com/ As we are expecting far more visitors following the otter trail, our volunteers are working hard to keep this site looking great and this is where our new weed cutting machine will come in useful. It has already been tested at Cosgrove.

Finally the BCS is obtaining another workboat on a very long term loan from the Basingstoke Canal Society. This will be arriving very shortly at Cosgrove to join our present work boat Louise.

Athina Beckett, Buckingham Canal Society.

Page 10

Repair at Three Locks

One of the bottom gates of the top lock at Three Locks, Soulbury, was repaired on 6 August. It was closed to navigation from 8 to 10am while a metal sheet was bolted and welded on, to stabilise the top beam. Fortunately the canal was not busy and only one boat needed to wait.

Annie Roberts.

Biggest navigable tunnel in the world The Norwegian Coastal Administration has been given the goahead for a $330 million (£237 million) project to build what is thought to be the world’s first full-scale ship tunnel, 1.7 km long, 50 metres high, and 26.5 metres wide. Piercing the Stad peninsula and connecting two fjords, it will bypass one of the most exposed sea areas on Norway’s west coast (the Vikings are reputed to have dragged their ships over the peninsula rather than sail round it). The tunnel will be illuminated throughout by LED lighting and, although too small for many cruise ships, will be able to pass merchant ships of up to 16,000 tonnes.

The Coastal Administration expects construction to begin next year, with completion in 2025-26.

Compiled from New Civil Engineer and other sources.

Stuart’s walk raises £5695 for charity

CONGRATULATIONS to Stuart Kettell, who raised £5,695 for Macmillan Cancer Support by walking backwards from Braunston to the Macmillan HQ in London along the Grand Union Canal from 7—16 July.

Stuart is a habitual wacky fundraiser, having previously pushed a Brussels sprout up Mount Snowdon with his nose, and journeyed from John O’Groats to Land’s End in a pedal-powered bath.

Stuart (in green hairdo) was snapped at Fenny Stratford by Diane Witts.

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

East West Rail consultation The East West Rail consortium (EWR) held a consultation about the upgrade to the Marston Vale line between Bletchley and Bedford, which will form part of the upgraded railway between Oxford and Cambridge. The chief problem for the railway authorities is that this section of line, across level country, has 31 level crossings. In their present form these crossings would be wholly unworkable for the anticipated speeds and frequency of train traffic on the upgraded line. Some stations, including Fenny Stratford, are also being considered for closure.

EWR therefore proposes to close many of the crossings, including that at Simpson Road, Fenny Stratford. Proposals for vehicular traffic along the severed parts of Simpson Road and adjacent roads, involving a new link to Bletcham Way, do not affect the Grand Union. However, two of EWR's options for pedestrian traffic would affect it. In May, the Branch Committee discussed these. They were: 1: No new construction - pedestrians would either take a lengthy detour via Staple Hall Road and Watling Street, or be diverted along Lock View Lane, across the lock swingbridge, and along the towpath to Watling Street; 2: A footbridge over the railway at the level crossing site; 3: Route via Lock View Lane (as Option 1), but then past the offside canalside cottages, under the railway bridge, and a new footpath back to Simpson Road, beside the railway.

The level crossing at Simpson Road.

Photo: Google Earth.

Having collected views from the Committee and other IWA members, Pat Durham prepared a document for presentation to Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Council. This, and her own individual response to the consultation can be summarised as follows: For Option 1 (no new construction), the route via Staple Hall Road and Watling Street is lengthy, and the steps from there down to Fenny Stratford station are not suitable for the disabled. Concerns for the canal diversion were that the swingbridge is quite unsuitable for operation by unaccustomed non-boaters and impassable from the towpath side if left open after boat passage, that the state of the towpath towards Watling Street and obstacles on it make it unsuitable as a diversion route, and that the access slope at the Watling Street end is unsuitable for disabled users.

Page 12

Fenny Lock swingbridge—un-suitable as a footpath di-version (Option 1).

Photo: Pat Durham.

East West Rail consultation—continued.

Option 2 (footbridge) would be expensive and would involve purchase of adjacent land. It might possibly provide a reason to close Fenny Stratford station, which would be undesirable for the local community.

Option 3 (involving new footpath) may affect the boaters' facilities by the railway bridge, leading to their closure or re-location. Importantly, this route would adversely affect the privacy of the offside cottages by the lock. (We presume that as the bridge pier rises sheer from the water, the intention is to create a route between this and the bridge abutment.)

Pat's presentation stated the view that Fenny Stratford station should remain open, that closure of the level crossing would harm the community and should remain open for vehicles, and that a footbridge or underpass is the only practical option for pedestrians if the crossing were closed and should be built regardless of which option for vehicles is chosen.

Pat's document was undoubtedly useful to the Town Council in forming its views, and it is also believed to have helped Canal & River Trust in its own response.

It is possible that EWR's proposals involving the canal were based purely upon map or desktop studies, rather than upon an understanding of the canal's features.

The consultation closed on 9 June.

Top: offside boaters’ facilities, and above: offside canalside cottages (Option 3).

Photos: Pat Durham.

Using consultation responses alongside continuing environmental, economic and technical studies, EWR will further progress plans. It will then present these plans for further comment in a statutory consultation, before applying to the Secretary of State for consent to build and operate the upgraded line.

From EWR’s consultation document and Pat Durham’s response document.

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 13

Wendover Arm: pipe capping begins from Bridge 4 With work on the swingbridge walls near Bridge 4 well advanced, volunteers have now started work from there towards Little Tring, starting as usual by laying a protective concrete cover on top of the old pipeline that lies in the canal bed. As of the end of July, 363 metres of concrete had been laid east of Bridge 4.

The concrete bed is now being laid at greater width than previously, to form a roadway wide enough to take the large dumpers now in use, thus avoiding the churned mud that usually occurs with winter operations.

As mentioned in the last report, an attachment for handling the 1-ton rolls of Bentomat lining material has been designed and made. Nicknamed the “Bentomatic”, it is attached to a 13tonne excavator, and positions the Bentomat roll against the sloping canal bank, and should greatly ease the task of laying the lining.

After some modifications, it was expected to undergo trials on site in August.

New concrete bed being laid at increased width to suit dumpers.

It has become clear that the quantity of coal-tar contaminated material from the early failed efforts to leakproof the canal is greater than anticipated. The plan had been to dispose of some of the harmless spoil to landfill, and use the contaminated material as backfill where it could be locked up under the re-lined canal bed. A team has been set up to explore alternative methods of dealing with it, including challenging the rationale that coal-tar cannot be The “Bentomatic” on early trial. dealt with effectively. Other options range from manual physical separation, through to specialist contractors who deal with coal-tar routinely, for instance those that deal with coal-tar in rebuilding roads.

Following preparatory work at the refuse tip infill area near Little Tring, the Trust has obtained several technical proposals from hazardous material specialists, and is now further analysing the material in the tip. Advice by one of the potential contractors holds out the possibility of reducing the cost of removal of the material if it can be shown that it is less hazardous than previously thought.

A viewing platform has been built at Whitehouses to allow visitors to view a representation of the Whitehouses walls made with low level brick work. Explanatory boards will be placed here too.

Photos and information from Wendover Arm Trust Operations Reports.

Page 14

The Editor’s Page The Branch seems to have done itself a bit of good by staging the Fenny Stratford Canal Festival. The traders seemed satisfied with the footfall and donated generously, the Electra team is resolved to attend a repeat Festival if we hold one, and Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council sent along a cameraman to record a short video (starring Tim Armstrong, Diane Witts and a couple of Wyvern boats) see it at https://www.facebook.com/bfs.towncouncil/videos/891794454753020 The nicest thing about the Festival was how normal it felt! Although a few masks were in evidence, the danger of infection must have been very low at this outdoor event, and the visitors, volunteers and traders seemed relaxed and able to enjoy it.

Canal & River Trust has recently begun a three-monthly workboat-based refuse collection service for boaters moored between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon. The western K&A has seen a huge increase in residential boats, many no doubt belonging to people with jobs in Bath or Bristol. C&RT acknowledges that it is often hard for boaters to get rubbish collected or take large items to the tip. The area has also seen a large increase in fly-tipping. See https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/weve-launched-our-first-refuse-collection-boats

If this is worth doing on the K&A, how about our stretch of the Grand Union? Such a service would not necessarily supersede the Branch Clean-ups, but could complement them— the K&A initiative does not appear to include litter-picking or dragline grappling. If—a big if—C&RT could find the money, discussions could decide whether (and how) to combine the operations as one event, or to intersperse the C&RT and Branch events.

Les Franklin.

Three Women and a Boat—book review.

Anastasia, gruff, forthright and independent, lives aboard the narrow boat Number One on the southern Grand Union, without a permanent mooring. She is ill, and needs to attend tests for an operation, and will need care afterwards. The Number One needs some urgent work if it is to be re-licenced. She can get the work done for nothing at a yard in Chester, but how then can she get the care she needs? Her problem is on the way to a solution when two women, both at a break point in their lives, meet by chance on the towpath.

Eve has just lost her high-powered job with a multinational company; Sally is bored with her anodyne husband. Neither knows a thing about boating or the canals, but they and Anastasia evolve a Plan.

The story centres around these three women (to say nothing of the dog), and around the other characters - some more engaging than others - that they meet on the waterways.

More a road movie than a travelogue, it sometimes irritates when the author is a little hazy about locations or lock operation, but this is not meant to be a guidebook, and the story carried me along well enough.

At the end, all three women achieve new self-knowledge, a partnership with each other and with the best of those they have met, and a new Plan for their future.

Les Franklin.

Three Women and a Boat, by Anne Youngson, published 2020 by Penguin Random House, ISBN 9780857527097 hardback, £14.99.

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Getting in touch with MK Branch The Branch Committee looks forward to welcoming members in person at our 2021-22 season of meetings, and is always glad to receive your news, views and comments about waterway matters.

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