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Floating Pennywort could close the Soar

SUCH is the problem with the invasive Floating Pennywort on the Soar that a massive effort is being made to get it out of the river as there is the real possibility of it closing the waterway if left to its own devices.

A combined effort is being made by the Leicester City Council, the Environment Agency, British Waterways and Defra, and the use of volunteers EFRA will be removing the invasive weed Floating Pennywort from the river around Leicester.

The weed taking over the Soar

Last week, the volunteers from all four organisations joined forces to physically remove the weed, which as the Environment Agency will not allow chemicals to be used, is the only way of destroying it.

Floating Pennywort is a highly invasive plant which, if left unchecked, can block waterways. A non-native plant, it was introduced into the country in the 1980s by the aquatic nursery trade and has since found its way onto parts of the inland waterways network.

With growth potential of up to nine inches per day, and the ability to regenerate from the smallest fragment, control of the weed can be difficult and expensive, which is why the Environment Agency, British Waterways and Leicester City Council have combined resources to attempt to control it.

Needing assistance to negotiate Belgrave Lock

Since April 2007, the partnership and volunteers have developed a programme of physical removal of Floating Pennywort which has seen over 6,000 tonnes removed from the Soar.

In addition to the clearance activities a wider campaign is being launched to raise awareness of the weed amongst boaters and anglers so they know what to look out for and what to do about it.

Riverside Ranger, Adrian Lane, is very much involved with the control of the Pennywort, pointing out its invasive properties, and how it can grow and spread rapidly, warning of the risk of it getting down onto the Trent.

Yet there is a use for the weed—as feed for animals. Cows eat it, with at least one drowned through trying to get at it, and it has been discovered that it can also be fed to horses.

British Waterways Heritage & Environment Manager, Richard Bennett explained;

“It’s vital that we continue to manage Floating Pennywort on the Soar. Controlling the spread of the plant helps to keep the river attractive and accessible which can, in turn, encourage waterside regeneration.

"By working in partnership with the Environment Agency and Leicester City Council we’ve already been able to remove a significant amount of the weed, and activities such as this volunteer work and our campaign to raise public awareness can only add to the success of the initiative”.

Should anyone want to help with the removal of the weed from Leicester’s waterways they can contact the Leicester Riverside Park Rangers on 0116 255 3333. 10/08

Part of the Kennet & Avon Canal could be closed if repairs are not carried out

READERS will have realised from the many comments recently in narrowboatworld about the Kennet & Avon Canal, that it is in a sorry state of affairs, and there is the real possibility that parts of it could be closed if urgent maintenance work is not carried out.

Locks, bridges and banks have been left crumbling as the British Waterways funding crisis has seen repeated delays to crucial maintenance work.

Keith Norfolk pointed out the lack of maintenance making the canal difficult to cruise; Alan Tilbury told of the state of Caen Hill Flight and of the foliage allowed to grow over the waterway and now the Chairman, Rob Dean, of the Newbury Branch of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust has added his voice to the problem, Alan Tilbury again reports.

Rob's particular concern is the sluice gate at Bone Mill which he believes is in such a perilous state that it could collapse at any time, explaining:

“If that sluice gave way now, and it could do so in five minutes time, we’d have a real problem with all the boats moored in the town. It would flood half of east Newbury.”

If the present rate of lack of maintenance to the canal keeps up, owing to the lack of funding, he warns:

“Something will fail, like a lock or a weir, and they won’t have the money to do anything until the next financial year. The whole canal restoration project is now in reverse.”

The canal will celebrate its 200th anniversary in two years time, but if the level of maintenance keeps up at the present rate it is felt by many that there will be little to celebrate, only the start of the canal's second long decline.

British Waterways Susie Mercer admitted the problem caused by the Defra cut, remarking:

“We do share the view of the canal trust that at the moment, the level of funding isn’t sufficient to maintain the standard that we would like to see maintained."

Newbury MP Richard Benyon too shares the concern about the funding of British Waterways, but believes the Kennet & Avon Canal is in real; danger:

“It’s not being sensationalist to say the canal could become un-navigable in the next decade. It is a real worry.” 06/08

Waterways Minister encourages Bedford & Milton Keynes link

THE Waterways Minister, Jonathan Shaw MP, was an official visitor and special guest at a fund and awareness raising evening hosted by Bedford MP, Patrick Hall, to highlight and promote the work of Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust.

Members thought it an inspiring evening, with the mayors of both localities, other local dignitaries and senior staff in private and public bodies, such as British Waterways, Renaissance Bedford and Nirah, and Trust volunteers, to hear the latest news about the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway.

Jonathan Shaw (third from left) at the opening of Loughborough Basin

In his talk Jonathan Shaw defended the government’s record on the waterways and assured the meeting of his personal support. He spoke of the need for co-ordination between organisations including government departments. He himself chairs a new interdepartmental committee where he will be pressing for support for inspirational national projects that cross departmental and organisational boundaries, such as the proposed Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway.

On behalf of the Trust, Chairman Jane Wolfson, presented a DVD narrated by Kevin Whately. This showed the project’s vision for the transformation by water of a landscape blighted by landfill, clay pit and the embers of the brick industry.

Jane used the example of the Trust, driven by the commitment of volunteers and working in partnership with many organisations as one to be supported by government.

The meeting closed with the compliments of the Minister for the inspiring presentation, endorsed by those present. 04/08

Another boatbuilder goes bust as the bottom drops out of the market

THOUGH the media is busy reporting the 'vibrant' waterways, nothing could be further from the truth as the credit crunch and spiralling costs force boaters off the waterways and boatbuilders out of business.

With a never before seen glut of second-hand boats on the market as people give up boating, the prices have dropped alarmingly, and consequently the market for new boats has diminished, not helped of course by the import of European boats.

Every month seems to bring news of a boatbuilder going out of business or drastically cutting staff, with Simpson Boats of Brimscombe being the latest, going into receivership last Friday.

Though there has been boatbuilding at Brimscombe on the Cotswold Canals since the 18th century, Simpson Boats was one of the new ones that commenced business at the start of the heyday in boatbuilding some ten years ago.

Difficult to remain in business

Many of the companies that have so recently started, are finding it increasing difficult to remain in business with the drastic downturn in demand for new boats, and without a long tradition of boatbuilding behind them.

Simpson Boats exhibited at both the Crick Show and a final attempt at the recent Saul Festival, but picked up no business.

One customer who had heard of the impending failure was the owner of a tug being built by the company, that was unfinished. So took matters into his own hands by hiring a crane and rescuing it from the yard. This particular tug had been exhibited at the Saul Festival.

The cost of a 'standard' 55 feet narrowboat from Simpson was £79,695, whilst a full length 70 feet boat was over £100,000. Which did not even include such as navigation lights, inverter, extra batteries, pump-out toilet, curtains and blinds, smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, fuel and water gauges or even signwriting.

It was only recently that a a boatbuilder at Stourport went into liquidation, and just before this the biggest boatbuilder in the country, Liverpool Boats, reduced its staff from 88 to 8.

Nothing coming in

John Turner, a small boatbuilder near Staveley in Derbyshire warned us:

"My supplier tells me that there are one or two builders who are just working on their orders, but have nothing coming in, and he thinks they will have to pack up."

John himself, working with a relation, has work until the end of the year, but can see nothing on the horizon.

He adds:

"When you have British Waterways, who should be looking after its own people, buying Polish boats, what sort of a message does that send out to the very few would-be customers?"

The every increasing cost of steel, the raw material of the boatbuilder, is pushing prices to an unheard of level, which coupled with British Waterways' over inflation' increases of both moorings and licences, is making boating very much a luxury item, now unaffordable by many. 13/08

'Closed' internet chandlery taking orders and cash but not supplying goods

AN INTERNET chandlery would seem to be a good idea, with an online catalogue that can be browsed at leisure, but oldsmithychandlery.com is one that boaters are advised to miss.

Though it still offers items on its web pages, and boaters were still ordering, they are receiving neither their goods or a refund of their cash.

Admits no longer trading

For its owner, Colin Brooks openly admits the company is no longer trading and he in fact retired in May last year.

One boater caught out was Graham Phillips who purchased three Elecsol batteries for his boat on the 8th of June this year, received an invoice and had £382.81 taken for the three batteries at £106.93 each.

After contacting the company, he eventually received an email from Colin Brooks stating:

'...we are no longer trading, as I retired in May 2007 and due to illness I had to close the business completely. I would also add that our experience with Elecsol was not good...'

Yet these batteries were still obviously advertised, as Graham Phillips ordered three 13 months after the company was supposedly closed.

Then strangely Colin Brooks added:

'We have been trying to get the web site closed down, but it seems some irresponsible jerk keeps it alive and it's extremely annoying.'

This is very strange, as it is easy for anyone who publishes a web site to close it down, or simply take off the pages or include a notice that the company is no longer trading. The server can take a site off in minutes.

Money had been taken

Realising that the Old Smithy Chandlery, which is based at Todmorden in West Yorkshire, was no longer trading, Graham was then astounded to learn his money had been taken for goods that were no going to be supplied.

But Colin Brooks' answer to this was that he 'had instructed World Pay not to accept payments, but it is not cooperating'.

Upon hearing this, Graham contact World Pay, and was amazed to be told:

'I can advise that the merchant in question has not ceased trading and of yet have received no confirmation that they wish to cancel their account'.

Graham has now put the matter in the hands of Trading Standards, and we will most certainly report upon the outcome. 30/07

British Waterways should use information and communication technology

THE report on Information and Communication Technology by the Inland Waterways Advisory Council issued this morning (Monday 21st) recommends that those involved in managing the inland waterways should, in particular consider the development of a country-wide ‘smart card’ for access to, and to charge for, navigational services and waterway facilities.

This means that such a card could possibly be used to pay for waterside services and navigational licences, etc.

Licence online

The council also recommends that British Waterways and the Environment Agency should develop the ability for waterway users to licence and re-licence all inland craft online, similar to the system used by the vehicle licensing authority, so doing away with forms and posting.

Furthermore, with communications in mind, the Inland Waterways Advisory Council would like to see a single wireless internet (WiFi) supplier appointed, to provide services at designated locations across the whole of Britain’s inland waterway network.

This will enable British Waterways and the Environment Agency to collaborate better about operational information and communication technology (ICT), and so improve the services offered to users of the inland waterways.

"Improvement to their enjoyment"

John Edmonds, Inland Waterways Advisory Council Chairman explained:

“We believe that users of Britain’s inland waterways would see an improvement to their enjoyment of the network if navigation authorities adopt our report’s recommendations on the application of ICT to the inland waterways.

"We also judge it likely that navigation authorities could improve the service they deliver to their customers whilst at the same time potentially reducing their costs.

"We would urge everyone involved with the successful management of Britain’s inland waterways to read our report and adopt its recommendations.” 21/07