Worcester Bar
Edition No: 2 May 2013
The Newsletter of the Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch, Inland Waterways Association
At The Helm
Contents Branch Activities 2 Volunteers Help Clean up the Stourbridge
Welcome to the second edition of “Worcester Bar”. After our first committee meeting since our AGM in March, the following changes have been agreed: I have taken over as chairman from David Pearson, who will continue to support the branch as a committee member, and positions of vice-chairmen have been accepted by John Taplin and Michael Payne. Other officers and members of the committee have agreed to continue as before. For further detail, please see the back page.
Canal 2 Solution to Edition 1
I would like to thank Dave Pearson for all the hard work which he put into his time as chairman. The branch is in a stronger, more influential position because of it.
Crossword 3
We intend to continue to ensure that good working relationships are maintained with other branches, local canal organisations and officers and staff of C&RT.
River Severn – Holt Lock 3 Boat Rallies and Other Events, 2013
3
New Members
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Forthcoming Meetings in 2013
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Working Parties 4
If the waterways network within the Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire Branch is to be maintained and developed, there is as always, much to do. In a time of continuing austerity, we have to maximise the input from volunteer groups and individuals to ensure that messages relating to the situation “on the ground” (and that includes water), are passed to those in a position to organise and fund the necessary remedial action. You may already be aware of the threat to the Lapal Canal (Dudley No. 2 Canal) restoration as a result of the planning application in Selly Oak being superceded. This included restoration of the stretch of Dudley No.2 Canal across Battery Park, from a re-established junction with Worcester & Birmingham Canal to the edge of Selly Oak Park and would have used the Harborne Lane bridge, recently re-developed by Birmingham Council at considerable cost. We were therefore very disappointed to learn that this approved plan had been modified by the developers to exclude the canal and we are currently involved in intensive lobbying to try to reinstate the proposal. Dredging and lock maintenance continue to be the subject of much effort as do routine planning matters where proposed developments impact upon the canal environs. I am also sure that other opportunities for our concern will arise in the coming year. As chairman, I look forward to seeing you at our social events and working parties. David Struckett