Winding Ways 60

Winding Ways A Newsletter from the Leicester Branch

Issue 60 September 2011

WATER SHORTAGE BITES Further Restrictions As you will no doubt be aware, BW have been dealing with significant issues concerning diminishing water levels in the South East, and restrictions have been in place on the Grand Union Leicester Line for three or four weeks.

Specifically, as of Friday 19 August and until further notice, the canal between Kibworth Top Lock 18 and Kings Lock 38, will be ‘open to navigation’ only between 1000 –1400hrs. Also as of Friday 19 August, the Foxton and Watford flights will be closed between 1600 and 0900 hrs.daily.

‘The unforgiving reality of this situation will mean that many boaters will be unable to use the network as normal’ said Dan Barnett, BW Contracts Manager. ‘We have had to extend restrictions and give an even stronger message to boaters to avoid affected areas and reduce boating activity overall if we are to survive to the end of the boating season – the end of October – 10 weeks.

Current Water Availability At the time of writing, the reservoirs feeding the Grand Union and South Oxford were at less than 30% capacity, which technically would indicate a 1 in 4 chance of closing waterways before the end of the season. In

MIKE (‘CLEM’) CLEMENTS We were greatly saddened to learn that our friend and founder member, Mike Clements, passed away on st 21 July. ‘Clem’, as he was known by everyone, was universally loved and respected. This was evident at his moving memorial service in Little Bowden church; an event at which the Branch was represented by a number of members. Sadly I only met Clem in mid life but we shared so many interests and I took to him so warmly that it will be my eternal regret that I didn’t get to know him better!

Among the many speakers paying their tributes at the Memorial Service was Mary Matts. The full text of her tribute can be found on our website but with her permission the following is an extract: “Perhaps his most prominent and visible memorial is ‘Frank the Plank’, the sundial sculpture which stands proud at Union Wharf, Market Harborough.

reality, the useable capacity is somewhere between 4 – 6 weeks maximum, assuming nil rainfall. The situation for the northern section of the Leicester Line would, however, appear to be particularly dire. This section is served by the Saddington Reservoir, which now has between 2 – 4 weeks of supply left, depending on level of use.

What Can You Do? BW are asking hire fleet operators to direct their boats away from the affected areas, and requesting private owners to restrict movement wherever possible.

Above all, when using the wide locks in these conditions, do wait to see if you can share them, and if the lock is against you, and another boat is coming the other way in the distance, open the gates for it, and save 80,000 gallons of water. Other means of saving water are to make sure you close gates and paddles behind you, and report any damage to BW as soon as possible.

If you are going cruising and want to keep up to date with restrictions and stoppages, there is a page on Waterscape called the Water Watch Diary, and this is a good place to look for any new restrictions which have been put in place due to lack of water. If you are intending to take your boat to the Foxton festival, it will clearly be advisable to check with BW first

STOP PRESS –See back page for latest position.

I.McD.

May 1936 – July 2011 This was a millennium project for the then newly refurbished basin, but which OUCS had to fight hard to prevent being just some meaningless lump, produced by someone with no connection to, or appreciation of, the canal. It took all of Clem’s many talents to persuade the sponsors that something commemorating the history of the waterway, and which had some use as well, would be better. He won the day, and then had to produce the complicated technical specification, and deliver the finished article (as with most other things they did, in total tandem with Marg). An extraordinary story that has been told elsewhere. If you go up to the Wharf, sit on Frank’s timber seat (note not just the main ‘plank’ sundial, but several others), and maybe give a few thoughts to his maker.

Above all, Clem just loved everything about the waterways, and it showed. He has left us a fine legacy, and we will all miss him terribly”.

Our heartfelt condolences go to Marjorie and the family.

J.E.

FOXTON FESTIVAL – EVEN BIGGER! The Foxton Inclined Plane Trust (FIPT) is promoting the restoration of The Inclined Plane, a major part of our historic Victorian heritage on the Grand Union Canal, Leicester Section.

The Trust, together with their partners on the Foxton Locks Partnership, have since 1980 made great progress in clearing the site, reinstating the canal arms servicing the inclined boat lift and progressing a major feasibility study for the remainder of the restoration, but they do need to achieve a great deal more.

As part of raising awareness and funding, FIPT are again organising a festival at Foxton Locks. This will be held over the weekend 17 and 18 September 2011, and builds on the great success of last year’s event – it will be bigger and better.

Over the weekend, there will be over 100 covered stalls, a variety of catering concessions, beer tent, Viking village reenactment, a large array of canal boats, vintage vehicles, children’s rides, inflatables, pets corner and many other attractions. This year, a major additional attraction will be a high-quality programme of musical entertainment, including, on Saturday evening (10pm finish), a programme involving leading tribute bands featuring The Paul Weller Experience, Stereosonics, The Boobytraps and Live4ever.

There will be something to suit every taste for the low, low price of £2.50 (accompanied children free) or £5 after 5pm.

Foxton in September attracts a great many visitors and lots of boats are expected to stop over or pass through. This is a great time to visit as the site is in an excellent condition following several years of improvement and maintenance.

FIPT Chairman and festival programme manager Steve Bowyer said, “Our volunteers are working really hard to make this our best ever event. We are catering for all tastes including a new evening musical event. All we need now is support from the public.

Stall holder and festival enquiries to Festival Director, Ann Bushby at festival@fipt.org.uk Enquiries regarding boat moorings to Andrew Shephard at andrewshephard@madasafish.com We will have our Branch Stand on site and, as always, would welcome volunteers to help fly the flag. If you are able to help please contact Maggie Young (contact details on back page).

IWA NATIONAL FESTIVAL

Chairman’s Bit

BURTON ON TRENT 29 – 31 JULY The National Festival this year was blessed with warm dry weather, unlike the one seven years earlier at Burton, that saw the site awash with water and mud. This year the Festival was held a month earlier than normal and not over a Bank Holiday.

Friday’s opening ceremony saw the dignitaries arrive by horse-drawn dray and once the official opening had taken place a reasonable crowd wandered around the site looking at the many and varied stands selling a whole range of products. It must be said that Friday’s crowd were mainly boaters and campers along with the many volunteers (some 300 in all) who help to make the Festival run smoothly. Saturday and Sunday saw the local town’s people out in numbers along with visitors by car.

On the water there was a good turnout of historic working boats that attracted a great deal of attention from the public, and a mile plus of visiting boats, many

decked out in colourful bunting and flags. A lot of local people living along the towpath joined in the Festival spirit by putting up bunting, flags and lights outside their homes and made the boaters very welcome. Some were selling drinks, cakes and Bar-B-Q food in aid of various charities and seemed to be doing a good trade with the large number of people walking up and down the towpath.

As always at the National, the “Wild Over Waterways” was a huge success with scores of children taking part doing various tasks to get their passports stamped up. This is so worthwhile and important activity as it hopefully gets youngsters interested in the waterways, some of who, it is hoped, may in the future carry on the good work that IWA members have achieved over the years.

Next year there will not be a National Festival as the IWA have been asked by BW to help organise the boat moorings for the London Olympics.

David Hastie

Loughborough Wharf: The Final Piece.

Work has now started on the construction of a £5.5m Travelodge hotel at the remaining vacant site at Loughborough Wharf. The seven storey, 4,900 sq. ft. building is scheduled to be complete by May next year, ready for the anticipated influx of visitors associated with the University’s role in the Olympic Games.

Members of Leicestershire Branch have been campaigning and attending meetings for many years in an effort to realise the full potential of this historic site. At one time it was proposed that part of the canal basin be filled in to facilitate construction of the Inner Ring Road. Fortunately the local newspaper, The Loughborough Echo, campaigned for its retention and with the help of a small but dedicated band of individuals, not only was the campaign successful but it spawned the ever popular Loughborough Canal and Boat Festival.

Whilst the overall development is not as we would have wished, we can claim credit for a number of redeeming features, including the area of water in the basin being greater than at first envisaged! In our opinion the use of the final site as an hotel, whilst not ideal, is a significant improvement on yet more student accommodation, as originally planned. It has to be said that almost any development will be an improvement on the ugly empty site that has blighted this part of town for several years, and it was feared may remain as such for years to come.

Whether boaters will feel ‘welcome’ at the basin remains to be seen. It is feared that much of the area will be in shadow for long periods, thus promoting a degree of ‘gloominess’. Let’s hope that we’re proved wrong.

Our requests, during more recent consultations, that greater emphasis be put on soft landscaping and interpretation work, appear to have been taken on board. There must be few local residents, let alone visitors, who realise the importance of this site to the early development of the town; we now have the opportunity to ensure that this is recognised and commemorated.

John Evans

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Welcome to this edition of Winding Ways (is there still any doubt as to how it should be pronounced?) and I hope you find it of interest. Contrary to a note in the previous edition, a hard copy is being sent to all members so that our Social Programme can be enclosed. Hereafter, all e-mailable members will receive an electronic version (in colour!) unless you have requested otherwise.

In this connection, I would once again urge any members who use e-mail, and have not yet given the Association their address, to do so, as it really does save our much needed resources and enables us to communicate important matters instantly. All membership records are kept ONLY by Head Office so, have no fears that your details will be improperly stored or used.

Approaching the Leicester Riverside Festival aboard Element from the north, I have to admit to being somewhat disheartened by the state of the navigation and its environs.

Proof, if proof were needed, that the dreaded ’cuts’ are already having an affect.

I’m concerned that much of the good work that has been achieved in recent years could be cancelled out unless urgent action is taken.

Whilst at the Festival, I briefly had the ear of Leicester’s newly elected City Mayor, our member, Sir Peter Soulsby, and was able to voice my concerns. Knowing Sir Peter to be a keen advocate of the waterways we have great hopes that he will find a way of halting the apparent deterioration and ensure that the full potential of the City’s waterfront is realised.

On that subject but from another angle, it is gratifying that we are being consulted as to our ideas and aspirations for one of the major waterside redevelopment sites. More details of this as it unfolds.

Wendy and I have been fortunate this summer in having been invited to join friends and family on boats traversing both the Edinburgh/Glasgow Union Canal and the Kennet and Avon. Both canals form part of a coast to coast route and both pass through some outstanding scenery (the K & A wins in this respect!) but there the similarity ends.

Once away from the stunning Falkirk Wheel and its approach locks, the ‘Union Canal’ follows the contour right into the centre of Edinburgh, while there are about a hundred locks on the K and A. But most noticeable was the difference in maintenance standards. Bearing in mind the relatively small number of boats using the Scottish canal it seemed that no expense is spared in maintenance and provision of facilities. We all know the extent to which the English canals are starved of cash and the K and A is no exception (not to mention the problems that BW faces in the area with some boaters overstaying on moorings ). I hadn’t realised how generously the Scottish government support BW Scotland in pursuit of the 'leisure pound'. I understand that, largely for this reason, there are currently no plans for BW Scotland to seek charitable status.

Watch this space . . . . North and South of the border!

John Evans – Acting Chairman

MOWS Update

Social Events

WORK PARTIES:

Explore "off limits" parts of the Soar

Cottesmore:

If you've ever wondered what it's like round the backwater from Barrow to Quorn, this is your chance to find out.

Join us in a bell-boat (2 canoes fixed together, making them stable) trip on Thursday 8th September. Meet at The Boat House (below Barrow Deep Lock) at 7.00 p.m., wearing suitable clothing and footwear (lifejackets provided). You will be taken up to the Navigation pub and the weir, then from the weir, down the backwater, past Quorn Hall, and returning to The Boat House. The trip will take about an hour, so there will be time for socialising afterwards. Cost £3 per person. To reserve a place phone Beryl on 07710 02927 a.s.a.p.

On Saturday 25 June 2011, two of our committee, Mike Loxton and Ron Francis along with members of the Student Force for Sustainability attended the Rocks By Rail site at Cottesmore. They assisted their staff by the clearing and disposition of branches and undergrowth, enabling the public to see more of the Oakham to Melton canal, which the railway track crosses. Further joint working parties are to be planned.

Oakham: We are planning to hold a work party on the Oakham canal. This will be a joint work party with Oakham School and will be held on Saturday 1 October 2011 at 10.30am.

The location is known locally as 'Springfield', between Foxfield Way and Schofield Road.

Parking available near the work party site.

For more detailed directions, please ring Ron Francis on 01664 564028.

Hard hats, bibs and tools will be provided, but please wear stout shoes/boots and protective gloves.

Do You Want to Learn a New Skill?

MOWS are looking to train new driver/operators for its Mole River Clearance Vessel.

No experience required. Safety workwear provided. Free Health and Safety boat/hiab training given in return for an occasional few hours of river clearance work at a time that suits you.

Spend a little time amongst friendly, likeminded people learning a new skill (and putting it into practice) whilst doing something for the local community. If this idea appeals to you then please register your interest with Richard Booth 01664 503330 or with any member of the committee. All volunteers will be notified of a training date/venue soon

Merchandise The Society is pleased to offer a selection of top quality leisure wear. The range includes tee-shirts, polo shirts and fleeces. Each is beautifully embroidered with the MOWS logo.

For prices and further information, please see our website or ring Mick on 01509 414140.

Mick Clowes Chairman, MOWS

Canal Boat – Back Issues Herbert Eppel is having a clear-out and wonders whether anyone is interested in his (probably almost) complete Canal Boat Magazine archive (approx. 20042008) before it goes in the paper recycling bin?

(Contact details on back page and a donation to funds in exchange would be appreciated!)

Social Meetings 2011 - 2112 Please note that our Social Meetings this season will be at a new venue - The Gate Hangs Well, Lewin Bridge, Fosse Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1NH (in the Function Room). The pub is not far from the "Hobby Horse" roundabout on the A46. Members who wish to eat before a meeting will have time to do so, as food is available from 6.00 p.m. in the main part of the pub, with snacks and bar menu, plus restaurant. If you want to find out more about the venue, which is alongside the River Wreake, then go on the internet to: http://www.thegatehangswellsyston.co.uk Our first indoor meeting will be on Thursday, 10th November, when the speaker will be Beryl McDowall, who will give an illustrated talk entitled "Over Forty Years on the Waterways." This will take you on a journey through time, when you will visit many waterways (including the Soar) and encounter various types of boating, including canoeing, trip boats, cargo carrying, and living on a modern boat - not to mention building a boat from scratch!

Beryl McDowall.

Branch Social Secretary Phone: 07710 029247 Email: beryl@nbwasp.co.uk

Branch Yahoo Group & Website Our member Herbert Eppel recently volunteered to set up (and 'manage') a Leicester IWA Yahoo group for the purpose of electronic communication (by e-mail) among local IWA members. The new e-group is now up and running and currently has about 20 members.

Herbert has also taken over the running of the Branch website from Richard Pearce, to whom many thanks for setting it up.

To join the group or to make suggestions regarding the ‘site please contact Herbert at HerbEppel@gmail.com

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Volunteering We have had two work parties so far this year, both at Mountsorrel Lock where we were blessed with pleasant weather. A useful team arrived at 1000 hrs when we were given safe working instructions & were issued with Hi Vis gilets & life preservers, we having been told to bring suitable clothes where if they got covered in paint it would not matter. Some set to brushing & scraping loose paint off the balance beams, bollards & other metalwork before getting to work with white & black paint.

Others set to with loppers to tackle a creeping plant that was engulfing part of the bridge parapet, removing about a dozen black sacks of vegetation. Two other stalwarts set to painting with wood preservative the wooden fence alongside the lock moorings. We stopped for a bite of lunch & a chat together before a shorter afternoon session.

This first party achieved some of the task, and the second one completed the work, but it was decided that it was preferable to do one longer session before finishing before a slightly later lunch.

Everyone who came along said how much they enjoyed the session, and it was pleasing to be able to see the benefits of the work.

On a slight tangent from this, the other day Carol & I were cruising away from Liverpool on a lovely afternoon & noticed cans & bottles being thrown into the air, yet no-one was immediately visible. As we reached the eruption a man appeared with his litter picker & plastic bags, yes, a volunteer. He was maintaining his bit of the canal. Stuart has a method of safe working for people who would like to do this, so if you’d like to do your bit on a length near to your home, please get in touch with me (details below).

Volunteers we will next meet at Lime Kiln lock at 10am on 24th Sept for a 3 hour session of general works in the area. Parking is available in Abbey Park and wear suitable clothing but safety gear will be provided. Please will people contact me via email ianmcdonald@uwclub.net or by phone 07950 003383 if they can come."

I have a list of some helpers but it would be great to have a lot more so please call me. It would be helpful if you could let me know if you are available for work during the week, at weekends, or both. .

IMcD

Leicestershire Branch Committee Branch Chairman (Acting): John Evans Highfields Farm, Woodhouse Road, Quorn, Loughborough, LE12 8AL Tel: 01509 416647 jandwevans@quornvillage.com Vice Chairman & Membership Secretary: David Stevenson Tel. 01530-458257 dj.stevenson7@ntlworld.com Secretary: Peter Dand Tel. 07860 210341 peterdand@fsmail.net Treasurer: David Brewer Tel. 0116-2303144 dandlbrewer@talktalk.net Social Secretary: Beryl McDowall Tel. 07710-029247 beryl@nbwasp.co.uk Planning Officer: Ian McDonald Tel. 07932 156539 ianmcdonald@uwclub.net MOWS & Restoration: Mick Clowes Tel. 01509-414140, M.S.Clowes@Lboro.ac.uk Archivist: Jim Evans Tel. 0116 273 9838 Maggie Young Tel. 0116 224 8755 maggie3751@hotmail.com Newsletter Editor (Non Committee): Andrew Shephard Tel. 0116 267 2630 andrewshephard@madasafish.com Website Editor: Herbert Eppel HerbEppel@gmail.com

Membership I am very pleased to report a marked improvement in membership recruitment in the past quarter. I hope that our new members will feel able to support the events in which the Branch will be involved and attend the meetings listed in the Social Calendar. These meetings, as well as being of waterways interest, give members the opportunity to meet and share experiences in a convivial environment.

On behalf of the IWA and the Leicestershire Branch in particular I therefore bid a hearty welcome to the following new members: Mr and Mrs F. Bates, - Birstal Mr and Mrs James Garratt, - Kibworth Mr Ian Hannah, - Coalville Mr Paul Kenny, - Market Harborough Mr David Marshall, - Rothley Mr Nick Lowe and Ms Denise Puddifoot, - Sileby Mr and Mrs Bernard Rush, - Sileby Mr E. J. Stas and Mrs Stas-Goddard, Sileby Mr Stephen Ware, - Exton. Oakham Mr and Mrs Les Douglas, - Anstey Mr and Mrs Philip Gunn, - Syston Mr and Mrs Malcolm Peberdy, Huncote Mr R. Francis, - Husbands Bosworth Mr P S Green, - Barrow-on-Soar Mr C J Parker - Market Harborough Mr & Mrs J F R Smith, - Rothley Mr & Mrs D Wade - Kirby Muxloe

We look forward to meeting you!

David Stevenson, Membership Secretary.

TOP RESS

STOP PRESS STOP

STOPPAGES As we go to press it has been announced that due to on-going water shortage further restrictions are necessary.

With effect from Friday 26th August passage through Foxton Locks will be restricted to essential passage only. Essential passage is defined for those boats who have a home mooring or are a hirer based between Foxton Locks and Kings Lock 38 (GU Leicester Line) Passage will continue to be allowed ONLY between the hours of 10.00am 4.00pm daily.

Ashby Restoration Whilst the Ashby is not in the Leicestershire Branch area, it is still close to home. Last year Carol & I happened upon the opening of the first 100 yards of the newly dug canal being opened. At the Foxton Festival last year the Ashby Canal Association was working hard collecting signatures to support an open cast coalmine to operate for about 3 years close to the line of the canal.

It might have seemed odd to be supporting this scheme, but there were to be major benefits for the canal. I note that this mine has now been granted planning permission, and this will include provision for over ÂŁ1.25m as staged contributions towards the canal, a winter storage lake to supply the restored canal, and 20,000 ton of puddled clay. After the coal has been extracted the land will be restored to green fields.

Ian McDonald

Winding Ways Winding Ways is the newsletter of the Leicester Branch of the Inland Waterways.

The next issue will be out in 2012. All contributions are welcome. Please send to: Andrew Shephard, 41 Roman Road, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4BB, or email to: andrewshephard@madasafish.com Opinions expressed in Winding Ways are not necessarily those of the Association, and the Editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish material submitted for inclusion.

GRANTHAM CANAL SOCIETY invite you to a

DISCOVERY DAY to inform, inspire and involve Sunday 9th October 2011 10.00 – 5.00

at Woolsthorpe by Belvoir behind the Rutland Arms (Dirty Duck) Public House NG32 1NY

Branch Members volunteering at Mountsorrel

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