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Latest
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*Cotswold Canals Shortlisted For £16 Million Grant
- 12 Aug 06
*Top
Awards For Environment & Heritage Teams
-30
July 06
*Enjoy
Waterways Safely This Summer London
-12
July 06
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- 12th August 2006 -
Cotswold Canals Partnership Shortlisted For £16 Million Grant
The
Cotswold Canals Partnership is one step closer to realising its
ambition to restore the Cotswold Canals from Stonehouse to Saul. An
application by the Partnership for £16 million to the Big Lottery
Living Landmarks fund has been shortlisted for consideration. Bruce
Hall, Chairman of the Cotswold Canals Trust was thrilled with the news,
“this is a fantastic recognition of the passion that local people
have for their canal”.
A shortlist of just 23 projects from over 700 applicants has been drawn
up by the funding body. If the Partnership is successful it will see
Stroud re-connected to the main waterway network for the first time in
65 years, enabling boats to travel from Bristol and Gloucester right to
the heart of the town and on to Brimscombe Port.
As one of the short listed organisations the Partnership has now been
awarded a development grant of £250,000 in order to progress
towards the full £16 million grant.
This project, which is the next phase of the plan to restore the
37-mile long Cotswold Canals, has two key aims: it will see the
creation of a new wildlife wetland corridor that stretches across the
Stroud District and it will work with young people locally and
nationally, asking the architects and engineers of tomorrow to provide
innovative solutions to today’s built environment. It will also
link rural and urban communities and provide a wealth of training
opportunities both locally and nationally.
‘This is excellent news for all supporters of the canal project
and is another major step forward towards the goal of restoring the
navigation from the River Severn to the River Thames,” said
Councillor Nigel Studdert-Kennedy, Stroud District Council’s
Cabinet Member for Regeneration.
British Waterway’s Director of Regeneration, Derek Cochrane said:
“This is good news for these two historic waterways and their
surrounding local communities. This development grant will bring us one
step closer to restoring the Cotswold Canals and whilst there is still
much work to be done to secure the full grant it will allow us to
investigate the project’s potential in detail”.
The final application to the Big Lottery Fund will be submitted by the
end of May 2007 and winners will be announced in late August 2007.
Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust, says:
“This announcement moves us ever closer to revitalising these
important national assets. This is an ambitious project and to reach
the shortlist is a testament to the hard work and commitment devoted to
the project by all members of the Partnership.”
Information
provided by British Waterways
|
-
30th July 2006 -
Top Awards Beckon For Environment & Heritage Teams
Waterway
teams in Wales & Border Counties have scooped awards in the regional round
of a prestigious British Waterways run competition to honour the best kept parts
of the inland waterway network.
Teams from the Monmouth & Brecon
and Llangollen Canals have won through to the national final for natural environment
and historic structures.
Works at Llangattock on the Monmouthshire &
Brecon Canal fought off competition from River Weaver’s team for the
British Waterways Wales & Border Counties Heritage Award.
Wales
& Border Counties Environment & Heritage Manager Peter Birch judged the
regional contest and was impressed with the standards.
“The projects
demonstrated exactly the sort of approach we are encouraging for our heritage
assets, with the teams developing their crafting skills while liaising with regulators
and expert advisors,” said Mr Birch.
“They could not be
separated on the standard of workmanship. Llangattock scored higher on the involvement
of customer groups and local heritage enthusiasts,” he added.
And
projects by the Llangollen Canal team based at Ellesmere came out on top in the
natural environment category – with both now up for national prizes.
Reinstating features of special scientific interest on Shropshire’s
Prees Branch site claimed the overall Wales & Border Counties title. It will
compete for the national prize judged on habitat improvements.
Runner-up
in this category is an innovative environmental assessment award scheme –
the Green Dragon Standard which is managed by the ARENA network and Groundwork
Wales. This pioneering project has also caught the eye of the national judges
and is being considered for an award for best management process within British
Waterways.
Mr Birch said the region is rich both in natural and constructed
heritage, from conservation areas on the Montgomery Canal to World Heritage Site
contender Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
“We are looking to showcase individual
projects that embody our wider aspirations for the waterway network. By rolling
out best practice across the region, we are able to raise standards and improve
our working patterns,” said Mr Birch.
Information
provided by British Waterways
|
12th July 2006 -
Enjoy
Waterways Safely This Summer London
Now
the school summer holidays are approaching London 's waterway authorities have
once again joined forces to remind people of the dangers of swimming in canals,
rivers, docks, waterworks or reservoirs.
Safer Waterways for London is a
joint campaign by British Waterways, Thames Water, the Port of London Authority
, the Environment Agency, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, the Metropolitan
Police Marine Support Unit and the London Home & Water Safety Council to promote
the safe enjoyment of the capital's waterways.
Waterways may look inviting
on a warm day but everyone should resist the temptation to enter them, especially
when under the influence of alcohol. The water will remain extremely cold even
on a hot day and the resulting shock can swiftly weaken even the strongest swimmer
in areas which are not supervised by lifeguards. Plant growth and slippery, steep
banks can make it difficult to get out again and there can also be hidden objects
under the surface which pose a danger, as do currents created by passing boats
and water movements. In other places deep silt and mud can trap the unwary .
The waterways are also home to naturally occurring organisms, not found in
swimming pools, that can cause stomach upsets, and contact with stagnant water
can pose health risks from waterborne diseases such as Weil's Disease (leptospirosis).
Although rare, Weil's Disease can be fatal if it remains undetected. It is caused
by rats' urine entering the body through cuts and grazes.
Brian Coleman,
President of the London Home & Water Safety Council, explains: "Millions of
Londoner's enjoy the city's wonderful network of canals, rivers and docks every
summer. During the hot summer months and especially during the school holidays,
we want to make it absolutely clear it is not safe to go in the water. There are
many safe and fun waterside activities people can take part in without risking
their lives."
Hanna Ehlers, Safer Waterways for London training and development
officer, says: "Our biggest concern in the summer is with people, particularly
children and young adults, thinking it's a good idea to swim in waterways to cool
down.
We've been working hard over the last few years to get the safety message
out to children and parents, stressing that people stay away from the edge, that
children must be accompanied by an adult and swimming must be confined to recognised
and supervised swimming areas such as swimming pools and beaches."
London
has a fantastic network of waterways including the River Thames, the Rivers Lee
and Stort, the Grand Union and Regent's canals and London 's Docklands. They are
a popular retreat during summer and, used safely, can provide enjoyment for everyone.
Remember to follow the water safety rule and be SAFE ( S tay A way F rom the E
dge) of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs.
Between them, British Waterways,
Thames Water, the Environment Agency, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and the
Port of London Authority manage London 's waterways and rivers. They have come
together to highlight the importance of being safe around the water, an issue
of particular significance during the summer months.
Safer Waterways
for London is a partnership aiming to promote safe practice on London 's waterways.
The partners involved are British Waterways London, Lea Rivers Trust, Lee Valley
Regional Park Authority, the Environment Agency and Thames Water. Since it started
Safer Waterways for London has delivered water safety training and activities
to over 12,500 young people, worked with over 50 community groups and voluntary
organisations and has contributed to 32 community safety initiatives.
For more information about water safety training email hanna.ehlers@leariverstrust.co.uk
Information
provided by British Waterways
|
-
19th June 2006 -
LLangollen
Canal Reopens After Mamoth Effort
Llangollen
Canal has reopened following a major repair initiative by engineers in the wake
of the breach on 5 June 2006.
British Waterways Wales & Border Counties
completed work during the afternoon of Friday 16 June – just 11 days after
a 15 foot section of towpath was washed away between Grindley Brook and Hurleston.
The
repair work cost in the order of £100k.
British Waterways Wales & Border Counties
Service Manager Susan Lewis said the quick turnaround time meant one of the most
popular waterways in the land was once again fully open for business in time for
the forthcoming Eisteddfod.
“Our focus remained firmly on the needs
of our customers, from placing additional staff on site to handle queries, through
to craning out boats from the affected area,” said Ms Lewis.
“Everyone
from anglers to cyclists and wildlife spotters can now enjoy the entire 46 mile
length of this wonderful waterway at the height of what is sure to be another
hugely popular season,” she added.
The breach occurred in the early hours on Monday
5 June 2006 between bridges 11 and 12 with canal water escaping on to adjacent
farm land. The cause of the breach is thought to have been failure of an original
canal culvert that carried a drainage ditch from the farm land under the canal.
 The
canal was quickly dammed between bridges 10 and 13 in order to limit the effects
of the breach. It was then refilled as much as possible between bridges 11 and
12 so boats that had been initially stranded could continue their journeys. A
further 14 vessels were craned out of the water and transferred between Viking
Afloat’s hire boat base at Whitchurch and Nantwich Canal Centre on the Shropshire
Union Canal.
Following
a CCTV survey of the culvert BW Engineers concluded that the culvert needed to
be rebuilt, using modern materials on a new line parallel to the old culvert.
The new culvert has now been constructed and connected to the ditch and the embankment
has been completely rebuilt to carry the canal channel.
Information
provided by British Waterways
|
-
18th June 2006 -
Narrowboat
Sinks On The Kennet & Avon Canal
Whilst
looking at a few websites I came across this sad story on 'This
Is Wiltshire' about a narrowboat,
which had been renovated over the last three years from just
a shell, sinking in the Kennet & Avon Canal near Devizes, blocking the canal.
'Canal
boat owners Jeff and Doreen Selby were close to tears looking at their narrowboat
Inglewood lying in six feet of water at its mooring at All Cannings, near Devizes.
Mr
Selby said: "We left the boat on Sunday night and then on Monday morning we had
a call to say that the boat was sinking. We managed to bail her out so that the
front was out of the water, but we couldn't level her. The rear was still under
water. We had to leave her and when we came back on Tuesday she had slid
off the bank and is now deeper than she was before."
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-
9th June 2006 -
Rochdale
Canal Re-Opens to Navigation
Rochdale
Canal will re-open to navigation on Saturday 10 June 2006, thanks to the hardwork
of British Waterways Engineers and contractors, following the breach at the River
Irk Aqueduct at Chadderton.
British Waterways appointed contractors Galliford
Try to complete the £1.27 million of engineering works to repair the breach
which occurred in April 2005.
The major engineering works included the reconstruction
of the embankment using soil reinforced with sheets of geo-textile (webbed plastic).
The canal channel over the aqueduct was then relined and remedial works were undertaken
to the aqueduct structure. Using recovered materials from the canal, engineers
re-built the wash wall to retain its 200 year old heritage value.
Located
on a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation, important
ecological work was undertaken in consultation with English Nature. Through the
inclusion of newly created reed beds, additional Crayfish habitat and tree planting,
the scheme aimed to improve the ecological value of the site.
Since re-opening
on 1 st July 2002 after more than 50 years, British Waterways has funded an estimated
£2 million for additional engineering works including the repairs to Whit
Brook Culvert and upgrades to lock gates.
British Waterways worked with
local authority partners to restore the Rochdale Canal when £24m was secured
to fund the restoration works. The restoration was the culmination of 25 years
of volunteer work and overcame obstructions including a supermarket built on the
route, two motorways crossings and numerous road blockages.
Debbie Lumb,
General Manager, British Waterways said: " We're absolutely thrilled to have completed
the repair works to the Irk Breach at Chadderton, as its such a popular area for
walkers, cyclists and anglers. Our engineering team have worked tirelessly to
complete the works so we can fully open the Rochdale Canal."
Information
provided by British Waterways
|
-
9th June 2006 -
Section
8 Boats Removed
On
Tuesday 6 June British Waterways removed five boats from the Gloucester &
Sharpness Canal under Section 8(2) of the British Waterways Act 1983.
The boats will now be stored for six weeks in a secure location to allow the owners
time to make contact with British Waterways and resolve the matter. If, however,
after six weeks the matter has not been resolved the boats will then be either
sold or destroyed. The owners of the boats are liable for all costs incurred in
the removal and storage of it.
Sheila Shaw, patrol officer for British
Waterways said, “This is a really positive step in continuing the progress
we have already made in making sure all boats are licenced. It’s important
that everyone who keeps a boat on our waterways pays their way to help continue
to maintain them for the benefit of all.”
This is part of British
Waterways crack down on licence evasion, which gives boaters 28 days to licence
their craft before further action is taken. If the boat owners continue to ignore
requests to purchase a licence British Waterways will remove the boat from the
canal using its powers set out under Section 8(2). Within the South West thirteen
boats have been removed over the last ten months.
Nationally over 26,000
boats are licenced to use British Waterways 2,000 mile network of canals and rivers.
The money that is raised from craft licences and also moorings is reinvested into
the upkeep of its waterways.
Information
provided by British Waterways
|
-
7th June 2006 -
Go
Batty On The Beastly Waterway Stroll
Calling nature lovers, casual walkers and night owls: British Waterways wants
you to join in a summer evening walk along picturesque Montgomery Canal –
and be part of its summer long National Wildlife Survey.
The two mile
walk is being staged on Thursday 15 June, under the expert guidance of Wales &
Border Counties Ecologist Stuart Moodie. The start point is Llanymynech Stable
Block at 8.00pm, returning to the start point by 10.00pm.
This year’s
survey is asking people to be vigilant for the nation’s most endangered
mammal species – the water vole, under threat from development and preyed
upon by the invasive American mink.
“Their numbers have declined
dramatically in recent years. In some areas the water vole has disappeared completely
and accurate information about numbers is difficult to obtain,” says Mr
Moodie.
“The National Waterway Wildlife Survey aims to halt the
water vole’s decline by identifying the areas where they live and thereby
the places that we should protect,” he added.
But while the water
vole gets top billing on the conservation agenda, the summer long survey aims
to act as a comprehensive census of our waterway fauna and flora.
Canals and rivers provide a haven for many plants and animals, including dragon
and damselflies, otters, kingfishers, frogs, swans, ducks and, of course, the
water vole. In addition to providing a source of food and places to live they
also provide a sheltered corridor to travel safely.
“Identifying
exactly where water voles live is crucial to their survival. We have a good idea
where some water voles are but know that the millions of people who visit our
canals can help us to identify their precise locations. If we don’t know
where populations of water voles or other birds and animals live we can’t
help protect them,” said Mr Moodie.
The information gathered will
be added to British Waterways’ species database which records biodiversity
on the inland waterways and is used to help plan the management of its canals
and rivers and the protection of their rich array of wildlife.
The survey
wants people to pay particular attention to recording the places where they observe
a water vole to help build a picture of habitats and help their future conservation.
For the walk, a torch and flat shoes are essential equipment, while
packed food is a desirable option. Booking a place on this rare opportunity is
essential by calling 07795 111397.
Mr Moodie says the waterway harbours
an abundance of wildlife including bats, badgers, otters, dragonflies and some
rare and elusive water plants.
“Although there is no guarantee
we will see all of these, many inhabitants of this aquatic borderland come alive
at night, particularly on warm summer evenings,” he said.
“A
canal side walk gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with a
catalogue of fascinating creatures you would never get to see by day,” he
added.
Information
provided by British Waterways
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3rd June 2006 -
IWA
Advocates More Accessible Morrings
The
Inland Waterways Association has made the case for more accessible moorings on
Britain's waterways.
The need for the creation of new moorings off the
main line of canals and navigable rivers, for instance in marinas or mooring basins,
as opposed to more traditional 'linear' moorings along the banks of waterways,
is highlighted in a new policy statement formulated by the Association's Navigation
Committee. The policy suggests that linear moorings should be gradually replaced
by the provision of new off-line moorings especially in popular areas and near
bottlenecks. The document also considers the factors that should be taken into
consideration when a site for new moorings is proposed, including traffic implications
and provision for residential moorings.
Roger Squires, chairman of IWA's
Navigation Committee said,
"We felt that this policy statement was needed
as a result of the increasing number of craft appearing on the waterways system
and the resultant congestion, visual impact, and shortage of long term moorings
that is apparent on some parts of the network. We hope that the policy will encourage
IWA branches to discuss with their local authority the application of these considerations
to any off-line moorings proposed in their area."
Roger Squires continued,
"Although IWA welcomes British Waterways' recent initiative to encourage
investors wishing to create marinas in suitable locations around the system, we
believe there is, in addition, a need for many more modest moorings. IWA would
like to encourage the creation of smaller mooring basins with basic facilities
that could be run on a partnership basis, for instance by a boat club or a small
group of private boaters. The high level of facilities commonly found in the larger
marinas are not required by all boat owners and the provision of different types
of off-line moorings with a wider variety of mooring fees would help promote boating
as more socially inclusive."
For more information please contact:
Jessica Letters, IWA Project Officer, 01923 711 114 ex 24
Notes
for editors:
Copies of IWA's policy statement on long term off-line moorings
and their facilities are available to download on our website www.waterways.org.uk/library/linksmanager/library.asp
or by contacting Jessica Letters at head office.
The Inland Waterways
Association (IWA) is a registered charity, founded in 1946, which advocates the
conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways
for public benefit. IWA has over 17,500 members whose interests include boating,
towing path walking, industrial archaeology, nature conservation and many other
activities associated with the inland waterways. Information provided by 188 corporate
members with their own membership structures has revealed that they, in themselves,
have a combined membership of at least 59,500 in support of IWA's voice.
IWA works closely with navigation authorities, other waterway bodies, a wide range
of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector organisations
to raise funds, lobby for support and encourage public participation. The Association
also supplies voluntary labour through its subsidiary Waterway Recovery Group.
More than 500 miles of canals and navigable rivers have been re-opened
to public use since the Association was founded in 1946. Currently another 500
miles of derelict inland waterways are now the subject of restoration plans.
Further information can be found at www.waterways.org.uk and www.wrg.org.uk.
Information
provided by IWA / WRG
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12th May 2006 -
Generous
Bequests Enable Waterway Recovery Group To Do More
The
Inland Waterways Association has announced the receipt of two substantial legacies
to support the work of its Waterway Recovery Group (WRG). A gift of £115,000
has been left by Mr. Alan Jenks and further £76,000 by Mr. James Reilly.
Receipt of the two legacies was announced at the Association's Diamond Jubilee
dinner held at Stratford-upon-Avon on 6th May.
The money will be used
to support the work of IWA's Waterway Recovery Group in restoring derelict waterways
and furthering its role as the national co-ordinating body for voluntary labour
on Britain's inland waterways.
Legacies bequeathed to the Association
in the past have, for instance, enabled locks on the Droitwich Junction Canal
to be reopened and have funded most of WRG's work on the Montgomery Canal over
the past 15 years. A small legacy of £2000 might enable WRG to purchase
a pump that could be used on restoration works all around the country. Larger
legacies could enable the volunteers to restore bridges and locks at much less
cost than a contractor.
Neil Edwards, IWA chief executive, said,
'A legacy to the Association can provide a major boost to IWA's work, and
often IWA is able to multiply the value of legacies by attracting matched funding
and harnessing the support of volunteers to provide maximum benefit. Much of the
restoration work achieved at the northern end of the Montgomery Canal was inspired
and made possible by the magnificent bequest of Humphrey Symons, a former IWA
branch officer who lived near Shrewsbury. Careful spending over 15 years has enabled
locks to be rebuilt, walls repaired, weirs restored and the Canal brought back
to life through the support of many organisations led by the foresight and generosity
of Humphrey Symons. IWA and WRG officers will work similarly hard to ensure these
two new legacies are put to similarly good use'.
Information
provided by IWA / WRG
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