News
Vandal believed to have polluted the Rochdale CanalEVIRONMENT Agency officials have now concluded their investigation into the pollution of the Rochdale Canal at Chadderton, and believe a vandal was responsible for its pollution. The officers believe a herbicide, found in the canal, which killed fish and plant life, was poured into the water via a road drain, by an individual possibly acting alone. The drain that was traced as the source of the pollution enters the canal under the Causeway, off Oldham Broadway Business Park, in Chadderton. Though it was initially estimated that 4,000 fish had been killed, that figure rose to more than 15,000 in 24 hours. A spokesman explained: "We’ve followed a number of leads off the back of test results, but these have proved inconclusive. We now believe an individual could be responsible for this. We believe somebody may have come along and dumped the herbicide down the drain undetected." Roach, perch and pike were found dead in the canal between locks 64 and 83 on Saturday 19th July. Samples taken from the watercourse and results from fish post-mortems revealed that a herbicide had entered the water and affected the 1.5 mile stretch of canal. 22/08 Jumping at Gas Street BasinIT IS only a matter of time, local boaters believe, before one of those, fuelled by drink, jumping across the gap in the waterway at Gas Street Basin comes to grief.
Many of them fail to leap the seven feet gap, just falling short, and either landing in the canal or hitting the wall. A couple of narrowboat residents state that they are often woken up by the shouts of the drunks who have tried and failed to jump the gap, as many of them fail, mistaking the width. They are now asking British Waterways to erect a safety fence near the water’s edge to stop people attempting to leap across the water. The chairman of the Worcester Bar Residents Association, told he had been complaining about the problem for four years. 22/08 A bit expensiveIF YOU are wondering why so many canalside developments are remaining empty, the cost of a two bedroom apartment at the recently built 'Lockhouse' at Camden may give some idea— a cool £2,500 a month! Though built primarily for investors, the downturn has meant that there is now a lack of takers, so developers are now targetting owner-occupiers. The Lockhouse comprises one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, many with balconies or terraces overlooking either the canal or the split-level landscaped courtyard, with many still for sale, with prices at the Lockhouse for one bedroom apartments starting at £330,000, two-bedroom apartments from £499,000 and three-bedroom apartments from £895,000. Clampdown on canal drinkersDRINKERS by the Lancaster Canal in the city, are being targeted by police after public concerns of anti-social and intimidating behaviour by a group of individuals on the towpath. Several people have been arrested, fines handed out for drinking in a public area and several people handed a Direction to Leave notice, banning them from returning to the canal for at least 48 hours. Police Sergeant Hamlett remarked: "We will always take positive action when we come across people drinking on the canal.towpath, and we have made several arrests recently and handed out a number of fines and direction to leave notices and seized alcohol. "But we are also looking at other sustainable measures such as targeting local off-licences known to serve the regular offenders and working closely with other agencies such as British Waterways to help reduce the problems. 22/08 Police investigate sexual attack on girlA 12 YEARS old girl was sexually assaulted as she cycled along a canal towpath which runs into Sonning. She was cycling with a friend near Wokingham Canoe Club by the Thames, when she was stopped by a man on a bicycle. He touched her inappropriately and then asked her to go in the woods with him, but then rode off in the direction of Reading when a woman passing by stepped in between them. The attacker is described as black, aged approximately in his forties, of average build, with a shaved head and was speaking in what is believed to be a Jamaican accent. He has a distinctive gold tooth and was wearing a dark blue short-sleeved shirt with a cannabis leaf logo or design and light blue jeans. 22/08 Warning noticesWARNING notices are being put up on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal after after a series of six indecent exposures. Police are putting up the warnings in the areas following six indecent exposures in that area over the past six months. The police are responsible for the notices, which have been placed by the towpath around Daventry, Watford, Welton, Whilton and Braunston. Every time a white man, in his 40s or 50s, with grey/silver swept back thin hair, of average height and build, has exposed himself to people on the towpath, though he has never approached any of the people he exposed himself to. 22/08 Vandal believed to have polluted the Rochdale CanalEVIRONMENT Agency officials have now concluded their investigation into the pollution of the Rochdale Canal at Chadderton, and believe a vandal was responsible for its pollution. The officers believe a herbicide, found in the canal, which killed fish and plant life, was poured into the water via a road drain, by an individual possibly acting alone. The drain that was traced as the source of the pollution enters the canal under the Causeway, off Oldham Broadway Business Park, in Chadderton. Though it was initially estimated that 4,000 fish had been killed, that figure rose to more than 15,000 in 24 hours. A spokesman explained: "We’ve followed a number of leads off the back of test results, but these have proved inconclusive. We now believe an individual could be responsible for this. We believe somebody may have come along and dumped the herbicide down the drain undetected." Roach, perch and pike were found dead in the canal between locks 64 and 83 on Saturday 19th July. Samples taken from the watercourse and results from fish post-mortems revealed that a herbicide had entered the water and affected the 1.5 mile stretch of canal. 22/08 Jumping at Gas Street BasinIT IS only a matter of time, local boaters believe, before one of those, fuelled by drink, jumping across the gap in the waterway at Gas Street Basin comes to grief.
Many of them fail to leap the seven feet gap, just falling short, and either landing in the canal or hitting the wall. A couple of narrowboat residents state that they are often woken up by the shouts of the drunks who have tried and failed to jump the gap, as many of them fail, mistaking the width. They are now asking British Waterways to erect a safety fence near the water’s edge to stop people attempting to leap across the water. The chairman of the Worcester Bar Residents Association, told he had been complaining about the problem for four years. 22/08 A bit expensiveIF YOU are wondering why so many canalside developments are remaining empty, the cost of a two bedroom apartment at the recently built 'Lockhouse' at Camden may give some idea— a cool £2,500 a month! Though built primarily for investors, the downturn has meant that there is now a lack of takers, so developers are now targetting owner-occupiers. The Lockhouse comprises one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, many with balconies or terraces overlooking either the canal or the split-level landscaped courtyard, with many still for sale, with prices at the Lockhouse for one bedroom apartments starting at £330,000, two-bedroom apartments from £499,000 and three-bedroom apartments from £895,000. Clampdown on canal drinkersDRINKERS by the Lancaster Canal in the city, are being targeted by police after public concerns of anti-social and intimidating behaviour by a group of individuals on the towpath. Several people have been arrested, fines handed out for drinking in a public area and several people handed a Direction to Leave notice, banning them from returning to the canal for at least 48 hours. Police Sergeant Hamlett remarked: "We will always take positive action when we come across people drinking on the canal.towpath, and we have made several arrests recently and handed out a number of fines and direction to leave notices and seized alcohol. "But we are also looking at other sustainable measures such as targeting local off-licences known to serve the regular offenders and working closely with other agencies such as British Waterways to help reduce the problems. 22/08 Police investigate sexual attack on girlA 12 YEARS old girl was sexually assaulted as she cycled along a canal towpath which runs into Sonning. She was cycling with a friend near Wokingham Canoe Club by the Thames, when she was stopped by a man on a bicycle. He touched her inappropriately and then asked her to go in the woods with him, but then rode off in the direction of Reading when a woman passing by stepped in between them. The attacker is described as black, aged approximately in his forties, of average build, with a shaved head and was speaking in what is believed to be a Jamaican accent. He has a distinctive gold tooth and was wearing a dark blue short-sleeved shirt with a cannabis leaf logo or design and light blue jeans. 22/08 Warning noticesWARNING notices are being put up on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal after after a series of six indecent exposures. Police are putting up the warnings in the areas following six indecent exposures in that area over the past six months. The police are responsible for the notices, which have been placed by the towpath around Daventry, Watford, Welton, Whilton and Braunston. Every time a white man, in his 40s or 50s, with grey/silver swept back thin hair, of average height and build, has exposed himself to people on the towpath, though he has never approached any of the people he exposed himself to. 22/08 Canalside flour mill destroyedA FLOUR mill by the side of the canal in Wolverhampton has been totally destroyed by fire. The old JN Miller Ltd mill was destined to be part of Wolverhampton’s canalside regeneration, and turned into flats. At the height of the blaze there were 15 fire engines on the scene, with water being pumped from the canal to tackle the blaze.,
The grade two listed building, beside being turned into flats, was to have another 212 homes on the site. The fire started at around 8pm on Saturday and firefighters were still on the scene the following morning, with trains stopped from using the nearby rail station for long periods. The flour mill was rebuilt after a previous fire in1851, but had been empty since 1981 when Miller’s closed down. 21/08 New beam at last
Well past its sell-by dateA NEW balance beam has been fitted to the bottom gate of Lock 10 of the Curdworth Flight, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. A big thanks to all concerned, writes Ralph Freeman.
That's betterFourth drowning in Coventry CanalA WOMAN discovered in the Coventry Canal this week was the fourth drowning in the city in just over a year. Police are appealing to anyone who saw a woman at 2pm on Monday on the towpath of the Coventry Canal close to Longford Square, to contact them. The 57 years old woman was found by two local boaters who were on their narrowboat on the canal. The police are treating the woman's death as unexplained. 21/08 Dead dog in suitcase by the AshtonA DOG, seemingly left to die in a suitcase on the towpath of the Ashton Canal in Manchester, was discovered by the RSPCA after being alerted by a towpath walker. The RSPCA inspectors made the discovery at Lock 16 at Openshaw, where they found a dead Staffordshire bull terrier in a silver suitcase, embossed with the logo `Beverley Hills Polo Club'. Inspectors say the female animal appeared to be in good bodily condition and had no signs of injury. RSPCA Inspector Natalie Avery, who attended the incident was at a loss to explain what happened: "This is a shocking and unusual incident. The dog seemed in a good, healthy condition which suggests she may have once belonged to someone. "It's difficult to tell whether the dog was dead or alive when she was abandoned. Because of the way she was enclosed in the suitcase, it's clear this wasn't an accident." 21/08 New navigation guides from the Environment AgencySEVEN new guides have been published by the Environment Agency, covering the rivers Ancholme, Welland and Glen, Nene, Great Ouse, and the Stour, as well as two updated guides on Boating the Right Way and Enjoying Safer Boating. The guides include maps of the rivers, as well as essential information on how to navigate safely along them. All of the navigation guides are on the Environment Agency website and available to download from www.fenswaterways.com 21/08 Sea Otter back in productionA NEW company has been formed to produce the aluminium Sea Otter boats at the same Staveley factory as the one that went into liquidation in May, as reported in narrowboatworld.
Sea Otter factory at StaveleyThe new company has been named Sea Otter and resurrected as a partnership by Paul Hobson, Matthew Cowan and Anthony Hobson, all of whom were part of the management of the previous company. It is expected the new concern will continue building the range of its narrowboats from the factory, though its workforce has been reduced from 21 to 12. When the old company went into liquidation, there was only one unfinished boat, which the directors purchased back, and finished for the customer. 14/08 Not such a dream cottageTHE problem with living in a 'dream cottage' by the side of the canal is that it is so isolated that large items cannot be delivered by road. The couple Keith and Iris Cockett, living by the Bridgewater Canal near Warrington found to their cost that the store from which they bought their kitchen units could not get its vehicle down the track to their cottage, so agreed to deliver it by water instead. The store delivered the whole assembly to the towpath, and then the couple's neighbour agreed to load it all on his narrowboat and take it to the cottage, with the fitting team then taking it into the building and doing the installation. 14/08 Green TrentGOING green' is the 'in' thing at the moment, but the Trent at Stone really was green, after a dye had been tipped into the river. Residents in the town contacted the Environment Agency after the Trent changed colour. Photo: John Pearson
The Trent at the canoe course, and very pretty!Samples were taken, but it was shown to be a water-based dye that was not harmful to fish. The agency is attempting to discover who dumped the dye into the river. 14/08 New repair to troubled canal lockAFTER being closed for six days after safety concerns forced it to close for a second time, Crinan Sea Lock is once again open for passage of boats.
The structure was closed for two weeks on 19 July after a bond failed between the concrete cill and the lock floor. Though it re-opened for one day for several hours, it was closed again after concerns surfaced about other parts of the lock. British Waterways believe that a second temporary repair had resolved short-term safety issues. A major repair will be undertaken in winter. 14/08 179 people drownedFIGURES just released show that 179 people drowned in the inland waterways during 2005, and it is believed this is on the increase. With this in mind the Environment Agency is urging youngsters to treat the waterways with respect, and be aware of the dangers posed by jumping off bridges and weirs, and into the cold water of locks. Andrew Graham, Waterways Operation Manager, warned: “Water claims the lives of more than 50 children a year. In fact, drowning is the third most common accidental death among Britain’s under 16s, behind road accidents and house fires." 14/08 Boater burned in fireA BOATER was badly burned when a fire broke out in his cruiser at Ripon Motorboat Club Marina at the week-end. It is believed the fire was started from petrol when the owner was trying to start the engine, and left him with burns to his face, arms, chest and back. There was also damage to the wooden jetty and a neighbouring boat. 07/08 Troubled canal lock closes againONCE again the sea lock on the Crinan Canal is out of action, with divers being called in again to asses its safety concerns, and so is closed to boats.
This was just hours after re-opening following concerns about its safety. The lock had been closed for two weeks to repair a failed bond between the concrete cill and the lock floor. Though it is believed this repair held, there are now concerns about other parts of the lock. British Waterways Scotland issued the notice: "As public safety is at the forefront of our operations, British Waterways Scotland has taken the decision to close the lock once again to minimise any risk. "We will not be accepting vessels through the Crinan Canal, certainly for the next few days." 07/08 Divers find body of teenage boyPOLICE divers searching for a teenage boy have recovered a body from the Medway in Kent. Though not formally identified it is believed to be that of a teenager who was seen getting into difficulties after jumping into the river near Tonbridge Castle on Saturday. He was seen trying to swim to the far bank, then was lost to sight. A ghostly arm at the museumSTAFF at the National Waterways Museum at Gloucester were amazed to see a ghostly arm showing on the photograph of an exhibit at the recently revamped National Waterways Museum. Photo: Abigail Williams
The arm can be seen in the bottom right hand of the photographThe arm could clearly be seen protruding from behind a barrel on the second level. Staff have previously reported hearing strange noises, seeing a mysterious man in black and feeling a tap on the shoulder, but this is the first time a ghostly image has been recorded. 07/08 Art exhibition honours canal heritageAN ART exhibition featuring works inspired by the Forth and Clyde and Union canals will open later this month at the Falkirk Wheel Visitor Centre. The works, all by local artists, detail the history and relevance of the canals, and includes contributions from lecturers and graduates from Forth Valley College. Named the Way Point exhibition, it is sponsored by British Waterways, and features photographs, paintings, sculptures and drawings. 07/08 Developers must save bicycle factoryBIRMINGHAM City Council have called on the developers of the Eastside Locks development—a £500 millions scheme for offices, apartments and shops—to do everything possible to save the remains of a late-Victorian factory. While backing the latest phase of the development by the side of the Digbeth Canal, the city planning committee invited proposals to preserve the facade of the fire-damaged Belmont Works, which dates from 1899 and was originally the headquarters of the Eccles Rubber and Cycle Company. Although not on the statutory list of protected buildings, the works feature on the council’s own local list of important historic landmarks and also lies within the Warwick Bar Conservation Area. Severely damaged by an arson attack several years ago, the structure is believed to be in danger of collapsing if restoration work is not carried out. It is hoped the facade can be saved as a 'grand entrance' to the new development of the 44 acres scheme. During its life the factory has also been a piano factory, an underwear factory and a bedstead factory. Most of the development will comprise offices with around 500 flats and small business units. 07/08 Another canal pollutedBOTH birds and fish have been killed in the latest waterway pollution, this time in the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Wednesfield. An unknown liquid spread over quarter-of-a-mile, with dead ducks found tangled in the weeds and hundreds of dead fish floating on the surface of the canal. The RSPCA managed to rescue ducks, two swans and cygnets from the waterway. The liquid, which was initially thought to be diesel, is believed to be a mixture of oil washed from the roads coupled with the algae on the canal. The Environment Agency is still carrying out tests on the liquid, which stretches from Linthouse Bridge to Devil’s Elbow Bridge. The dead birds, in addition to ducks, include coots and moorhens, though the swans are recovering. 04/08 Lock cottage soldBOURTON Lock Cottage on the Oxford Canal, that is featured in David Hymer's Idle Thoughts has been sold at auction this week. Photo: David Hymers
Bidding started at £50,000 and it eventually sold for £86,000, and 'Maffi' tells us it was sold to a boater, and remarks, that it will 'stay in the family' so to speak. 04/08 New Stroud bridge delayedTHOUGH work on the new A46 bridge over the canal in Stroud had been planned to start this year, this has now been ruled out, according to Gloucestershire County and Stroud District Councils, with Stan Waddington, Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet member for the environment blaming British Waterways: “The unexpected withdrawal of British Waterways from the canal project has inevitably pushed everything back." Work on the bridge will not now start until October of next year. Some preparatory work, moving services, may take place during the summer of next year in order to reduce the overall construction period. 04/08 Boater was major drug dealerA BOATER was named as one of Oxfordshire's major drug dealers when he was jailed last week after police found cannabis and £68,000 in cash hidden on his broad beam boat. Alistair Hayhurst, who spent two-and-a-half years at large from police, was eventually caught on his boat Dreamcatcher at Abingdon Lock on the Thames. Photo: Maffi
Alistair Hayhurst's boat having been in the floodsOxford Crown Court heard that in 2005, Hayhurst,cultivated hydroponic growing systems in houses in Oxford, to cultivate cannabis plants. He failed to attend his court hearing after being arrested and remained at large, until his was eventually discovered on his boat. Matthew Corrie, prosecuting, stated that officers recognised Hayhurst, searched his boat and found 980g of cannabis resin and £50,000 in cash in a backpack and a box on board. Another search a few days later uncovered another £18,000 in cash, hidden in a secret cupboard under bedroom drawers. He had admitted charges of unlawful cultivation of cannabis and possession of cannabis with intent to supply at the earlier hearing. 04/08 Deadline for Masters' licenceTHE British Marine Federation reminds members to be aware that the deadline for the Boat Masters Licence is the 30th September. Members operating boats on the inland waterways must apply for a licence under the regulations before this date. The British Marine Federation Technical Department has been in consultation with MCA about the impact on the inland boating trade since January and an agreement on requirements, to include a schedule of exemptions for various activities, is expected to be finalised within the next two weeks. This will be communicated to all members as soon as available and a guidance document on what individual member should do—whether to apply for an exemption or obtain a licence—will be provided. The approach taken by MCA in drafting the agreement has been very pragmatic,believe the British Marine Federation, and most member small inland craft operators should find a suitable solution for their particular operation. 04/08 Chemical killed Rochdale fishTHE Environment Agency has now identified the chemical found in the Rochdale Canal that killed an estimated 15,000 fish, and is following a number of leads to find the culprit. A spokesman for the agency reported: "We are keeping an open mind as to the specific location of where the pollution happened and are appealing for anyone who saw anything of a suspicious nature along the canal to contact our incident hotline." Roach, perch and pike were found dead in the canal between locks 64 and 83 on Saturday 19th July. Though Initially it was estimated that 4,000 fish had been killed, that figure rose to more than 15,000 in 24 hours, with more bodies discovered as they floated to the surface along a one-and-a-half-mile stretch of the canal. 04/08 Towpath stabbingSPECIALIST police officers have searched the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in the hunt for a knife used in an attack on the towpath in Worcester. Three men have been arrested in connection with the attack in which a man in his 20s suffered numerous knife wounds to his body, and have been bailed to return to Worcester police station while enquiries continue. The attack happened at 3.30am on Saturday morning, and the police are asking for witnesses. Police officers made an initial search of the area, then police dog handlers were called in for further examination a few hours later. 04/08 Canal Watch for the Grand Union towpathSUCH is the 'bandit' activity on the waterways, that at last British Waterways has acknowledged the problem in one area at least, and has joined forces with the Metropolitan Police to launched a Canal Watch scheme. This will cover the area of the Grand Union Canal between the junction of the Slough Arm through Uxbridge to Denham Deep Lock. With a similar neighbourhood watch scheme already in place within Packet Boat Marina, the new one extends the scheme to a 3½ mile stretch of towpath. Matthew Bannister, mooring coordinator for British Waterways, comments: “Police officers patrolling the canal will now be a far more regular occurrence making the canal seem and feel a safer place to live and use." 28/07 Boatyard deathA MAN helping to dismantle on old boatyard crane at Willowbridge Marina on the Grand Union Canal at Bletchley has been crushed to death. He was one of the contractors working for the company employed to dismantle the crane that had been used to lift boats into and out of the canal.. An ambulance and air ambulance attended the scene, and though paramedics worked on the man they were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. 28/07 Security at BanburyWITH the problems with attacks on boaters at Banbury, the organisers of the Banbury Canal Day, responding to a boater's concern, have intimated that they will employ security.
The boater was told: "There have been a couple of incidences recently. If finances permit then we were going to hire a security group to be on hand and patrol the canalside for both Friday and Saturday evening—providing we have enough boats booked in to warrant this. I did ask the police to help out last year and they did agree to, but we never saw them so that didn't really work too well." The spokesperson hoped that the boater would 'risk it and join us'. 28/07 Horse dumped rider on towpathA HORSE rider had to be airlifted to hospital by helicopter after being found injured on the towpath of the disused Nottingham Canal without her horse. The alert was raised and a search of the waterway near Ilkeston was launched after the saddled animal was found grazing by the side of the canal. The police helicopter air-lifted the female rider to the Queen's Medical Centre, with a suspected leg injury. 28/07 Towpath improvement at EllesmereTOWPATH improvements costing £180,000, have just been completed on the Llangollen Canal at Ellesmere, with just over a mile of path constructed between Frankton and the Narrowboat pub by Maestermyn Marina. Financed by British Waterways and English Nature it comprised of degradable sheeting between wooden stakes to secure the bank, with dredgings used to recreate the towpath. We are told that 'a wet summer has brought rapid colonisation of the area by plant life, with clump grasses breaking up the straight line of the embankment and encourage wildlife such as spawning fish, dragonflies and even water voles to take up residence'. The towpath had been closed due to bank erosion. 28/07 Man's body recovered from ThamesTHE body of missing Peter Jones, who was attending a boat party on the Thames, when he disappeared, has been found. He was attending the party close to Windsor Racecourse when he was subsequently seen in the water, then disappeared. A search was mounted with a police helicopter called in, but it was a day later that his body was finally discovered and retrieved from the river. 28/07 New £12 millions marina—for 46 boatsTHE most expensive inland marina that has ever been built, will open on the Forth & Clyde Canal at the end of July, costing £12 millions, but will only have berths for 46 boats, Alan Tilbury relates.
Of course, the primarily cause for building Southbank Marina at Kirkintilloch, is not for boats at all, but little more that an excuse for a massive expensive development that virtually surrounds the water of the basin.. Of the facilities we are told is has: Naturally ventilated building (air conditioning/comfort cooling option); Curtain wall glazing; High quality entrance foyers; Full raised access floors incorporating floor boxes; Suspended tile ceiling system; Recessed LG3 compliant low energy lighting; Low energy gas fired central heating system with independent localised controls; 8 person smart lifts; Fire alarm and intruder security system; Fully DDA compliant; Adjacent free car parking facilities; CCTV Security across the development. For boaters? Not a lot! In fact nothing, it seems, and it has been suggested that 'only the most pristine boats will be allowed', and there will definitely be no overnight staying in 'view of security'! Possibly boats are to be allowed only for show purposes in this—here it comes—'vibrant' facility. However, to make sure it is seen as a marina, the local East Dunbartonshire Council, that gave the planning permission, has arranged a boating event to take place on Saturday 23rd August. This will be Themed Boat Rides, comprising of boat trips along the canal from the marina, and will include a ghost and ghoul event, run by Spirit of Glasgow Ghost Tours, and a wine tasting barge with the Bowling Harbour Ceilidh Band. Timothy & Prunella explore the MontgomeryTWO of the country's best known boaters, Timothy West and Prunella Scales, both well known actors, have ventured onto the Montgomery Canal.
Long-time boaters, they wanted to see for themselves what had been done to restore the waterways, so took their narrowboat for a week-end visit. Timothy West, vice-president of the Waterways Trust, revealed he and his wife had been the first to take their canal boat along the restored Kennet & Avon Canal, but admit that this is their first time on the 'Monty'. Reporter saved child from the NeneLOCAL newspaper angling correspondent, Ken Wade, was on hand when he saw a young girl in trouble in the Nene at Peterborough, having fallen off a moored boat. The child, thought to be about four years old, was disappearing underwater when Ken saw her, ran down to the scene, and was able to reach down and drag her out by lying on his front. Fuel cell powered boatPROFESSOR Rex Harris of the University of Birmingham has built the first fuel cell powered canal boat, and he is convinced that fuel cell engines could be adapted to suit much larger vessels. He explained that is was easy to store hydrogen in a boat, and believes it to be a practical proposition, though he realises that filling stations would be a problem. A hydrogen car developed by Nissan has already been demonstrated in Birmingham. New Grand Union Canal marina approvedA NEW marina at Yelvertoft on the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal was approved at a Daventry District Council planning meeting last Wednesday.. It will be built on land at Flint Hill Farm, and will accommodate 150 non-residential moorings, together with buildings for offices, toilets and showers. A spokesman speaking at the meeting explained: “I consider this a great opportunity for a most attractive marina based at the site. British Waterways has identified the need for more off-line moorings nationally, and this will go towards resolving the problem.” The approval came despite the council receiving objections from ramblers and 10 letters of complaint about the application, including concerns about an increase of traffic in the village posing a risk to pedestrians; doubts as to whether there was a need for more boat berths as other nearby marinas currently had vacancies; and that the development would be a further intrusion into the open countryside and would have an adverse impact. As part of the application, the marina will support wildlife with wetlands and breeding and spawning ponds. 18/07 Much ado about nothingFOR those of you who have been following narrowboatworld's reporting of the new bridge over the Avon at Stratford, either with interest or total boredom, it has now all ended—it's been scrapped!
The winning design that has been scrappedThe controversy over the proposed £2 millions walkers and cyclists bridge has been fermenting for years, with the county council approving the plan yet the huge majority of locals against it, with various designs and polls, costing thousands of pounds it has all come to nought. Organisers have complained the plans for the arch bridge across the Avon near the Royal Shakespeare Theatre were getting too expensive due to the credit crunch, so have scrapped it. 18/07 Girl in horrific accident asks for study materialTHE 15 years old girl, Jade Smethurst, who lost both legs in a horrific accident with a canal swing bridge is sitting up in bed asking for homework, her teachers have stated.
Buxton Road Swing BridgeShe was with friends at the swing bridge when the incident happened, and it is understood she was dangling her legs over the side of the bridge when it was swung. She had both her legs amputated below the knee, and is still in Booth Hall Children's Hospital. 18/07 Salt and pepper to goPLANS for a huge 'green' power station in Tinsley that will provide enough renewable energy to heat 40,000 homes have been approved, by the side of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation.. Sheffield Council's city centre planning board approved the new £60 million development which will be capable of generating 25 MW of electrical energy by burning plant material that would otherwise have been sent to a landfill.
'Salt and pepper' to be demolishedThis will be on the site of the two cooling towers, part of the old Blackburn Meadows power station, locally known as 'salt and pepper', which will be demolished. Though others want the towers to stay. 18/07 Help wanted for festivalTHE organisers of the Angel Canal Festival are calling for volunteers to help them run the festival now and into the future. A volunteer recruitment day is being held on Sunday 27th July along the towpath at City Road Basin between 11am and 5pm, and potential volunteers can enjoy a boat trip along the Regent’s Canal to get a real flavour of the waterways and find out more about the event. Festival organiser Beryl Windsor explained: “The Angel Canal Festival is a real community event, which has the Regent’s Canal at its heart. The waterways in this area offer so much to local people, they are a peaceful place to relax, a wildlife haven or simply a great place to stroll and watch the boats cruise by. I hope that if people have just a taste of the waterways they’ll be hooked just like me and want to get involved.” Now in its 22nd year the festival is a well-established event in Islington’s calendar. Based around City Road Lock and Basin and along the towpath to Packington Park, it attracts local families, boaters from around the inland waterways network and visitors. Events on the day include everything from bands to bee keeping to climbing walls, all on the waterside. This year’s festival is taking place on Sunday 7th September, from 11am to 5pm. For more information, please contact Beryl Windsor- Tel: 07973 504 212. 18/07 An added festival attractionTHERE was an added attraction at Bedford River Festival, when a seal was spotted swimming up-stream—75 miles from the sea. The Environment Agency is aware of its presence, and is tracking its movements. 18/07 Body identified as a boaterPOLICE have identified the body of the man pulled from the water at Oxford, as reported in narrowboatworld as that of William O'Neill, who had been missing from his narrowboat since the 5th July.
His body was found by police in the Thames at Oxford last Thursday (10th July). A post-mortem examination has proved inconclusive, and officers are treating the death as unexplained. However, a man from the area who was in police custody in connection with the death has now been released without charge. The body of William O'Neill was found in the Castle Mill Stream, which runs parallel to the Oxford Canal, in Jericho by Castlemill Boatyard by a police officer. He had lived alone on his boat in Jericho for the past six years. 16/07 Filling MerciaTHE NEW Mercia Marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Willington has been completed ahead of schedule, with water already being allowed in.
However British Waterways is monitoring the flow to safeguard the water level in long pound, and it is expected it will take two week to fill. A spokesman related: "If we opened up the gates quickly we could suck all the boats in here and we would automatically get more moorings, which is brilliant for us, but I don't think the boat owners would be very happy with it!" It is expected that boats will be allowed into the £7 millions marina before September as originally stated, perhaps in the middle of August. 16/07 Marks & Sparks for Gloucester QuaysMARKS & Spencer and Travelodge are just two of the major companies interested in the new development at Gloucester Quays on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal in the city.
The £200 millions development takes up 60 acres of the quay side and will include a supermarket as well as living accommodation. The local authority is hoping that the development will bring in 'three million visitors a year'. 16/07 New lock for the OlympicsTHE construction of a new lock and water control structure in Prescott Channel, known as a ‘tidal lock-out’, prevents the influx of tidal flotsam and detritus, reduces the fluctuation in water levels and enables essential repairs to be carried out on the river walls. It will also maintain the rivers at a navigable depth for river traffic to the Olympic Park. A British Waterways spokesman related: "Following the works, water levels in the river will continue to rise and fall by up to a metre a day, creating ideal opportunities for establishing habitat features such as reedbeds. These valuable wetland habitats are also being created throughout the Olympic Park to encourage a diverse array of native plants and animals. A ‘fish pass’ is also being incorporated into the new Prescott Channel structure, enabling a variety of fish species to cross between the river system and the Thames tideway to the south." 16/07 Nottingham towpaths get £1 millionTHERE is a project to further upgrade Nottingham towpaths and walking routes with £1 million to be spent by British Waterways in conjunction with East Midlands Development Agency, English Partnerships and Nottingham City Council. A study is also being carried out on the possibility of moving more freight on the River Trent. British Waterways' Marketing Director Simon Salem explained: "We need to be sure that if public money is being invested that there is a real prospect of it being used (for freight) and for a long time to come." 16/07 Picture for canal pubTHE Boat YardInn at Houghton on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal is wanting a photograph for a postcard the management intends publishing, so is running a competition. The pub has just had a complete re-vamp so to celebrate it is appealing to people to either send in or leave pictures of its location by the canal, with the winning photograph being published as a postcard.. Manager Scott Bannon explains: “Our idea to produce a postcard is the perfect way to celebrate our refurbishment and capture peoples’ favourite things about the pub. “And as a single picture can say a thousand words, the postcards will be an excellent souvenir for our customers to take home with them.” The picture can be the pub, the canal or even waterway wildlife around the area. The chosen winner will be given guest of honour status at the Boat Yard Inn to enjoy not only the first postcard off the press, but also a complimentary evening meal for themselves and their family. 16/07 Police threaten throwersPOLICE and local authorities have come together in an attempt to stop the normal summer madness of people jumping off Wallingford Bridge into the Thames and throwing things at boats passing underneath.
The police, Wallingford Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council have all warned young people ready to throw themselves off the bridge into the river during hot weather that they could kill themselves. What is important to boaters is that the police have warned there would be on-the-spot fines for people caught throwing things at boats from either the bridge or riverside. Mark Bradfield, for Thames Valley Police, stated: "We have had incidents of things being thrown at the boats and of abuse from people on the riverbank—the police will deal with these very forcibly." 10/07 Ripple Pidler a waste of moneyIT HAS been discovered that the statue overlooking the Ribble Link on the Lancaster Canal, known as the Ribble Pidler, was a waste of money being carved in wood, as it would not stand the elements.
The £21,000 figure was taken away earlier this year, and was found to have rotted and cracked, beyond repair, and thus unsafe. It is being considered that an iron man could take his place. Sculptor Thompson Dagnall had spent five months carving the 16 feet oak statue, which was commissioned in 2002 as part of the £5.8m Millennium Ribble Link project. British Waterways hopes to restore a statue to its former location but finding enough money could be the problem. 10/07 Replica tug launchedA REPLICA of the tug Gloucester which was used to tow working boats through the tunnels on the summit level of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal was launched at Sharpness on the 4th June.
She was built at Brimscombe by Simpson Boats, trading as Abdela & Mitchell, and is due to be available for hire throughout the year. 10/07 Waterbus scrapped after three weeksONLY three weeks after a weekday waterbus service was started in Leeds, to much acclaim, it has been scrapped. Leeds City Cruisers, that started the service had no option but to finish it as there were hardly any passengers. Ian Livingstone, joint Director of the business, explained: "We have trialled it for a month and uptake was pretty much zero. One of the main problems with residents is an awful lot are working flexi-time and because Clarence Dock is not as full of commercial residents as was proposed by this time this year, obviously footfall is affected." It was reported that crew wages alone cost the firm £700 a week so they couldn't afford to run an empty boat any longer than they already had. 10/07 £11.000 raised on sponsored walkTHERE is no doubt that the Wey & Arun Trust can certainly show other such organisations how to raise cash for waterway restoration. Its recent sponsored 15 miles walk, following an interesting “figure of 8” route, allowed walkers good views of the trust’s major project to restore the canal crossing under the main road in Loxwood, and raised £11,000.
The finished 'tunnel' at Loxwood255 walkers gathered to register and collect their walk guides. The morning provided the opportunity to see Sidney Wood, which many consider the most attractive stretch of the canal route. The walk passed lock numbers 12 and 16; the structures have almost completely disappeared, but there is still a marked change in the level of the canal bed. 07/07 |
New recordTHERE was a new record for the pages of narrowboatworld when on Wednesday 6th August the Front Page was visited 11,285 times on the single day. This is the first time the figure has reached 11,000 in one day. The Breaking News at the time was the possible closure of the Kennet & Avon Canal due to lasck of maintenance. 22/08 Boater shut canalTHERE was little cruising through Banbury on the Oxford Canal on Wednesday, after a hirer, not taking care, allowed his boat to slam back into the gate of Banbury Lock making it inoperable. British Waterways engineers had to drain the lock to make the repair to the gate which had been jerked out of its socket. The hire boat's rudder was forced out of the skeg, and had to also be repaired. 22/08 Apartments not sellingYET AGAIN property developers are finding it hard to sell their canalside apartments with the Water's Edge development on the Grand Union Canal at Northolt having apartments unsold.
Both one and two bedroom Water's Edge apartments are available from £164,950, with all facilities. A total of 86 apartments were recently built, around a new marina, with many still unsold. 22/08 The bench faces the canal—at lastIT WOULD seem that British Waterways do not really want visitors viewing the Llangollen Canal, for a bench seat installed by the towpath at Lower Frankton, was placed facing away from the waterway towards the hedge! Locals were amazed, especially as the excuse given by British Waterways was that it was installed facing away from the canal 'for safety reasons'. However, after so many complaints, workmen arrived at the scene, cut out a level piece of ground then turned the bench seat around—facing the canal, after three years. 22/08 'Green' bags on sale at the NationalON SALE this weekend at the National Waterways Festival will be the Inland Waterways Association Stoke-on-Trent branch's limited-edition 'Friendship' reusable shopping bags, featuring a water can designed by branch member—waterways photographer, author and artist—Harry Arnold. Inspired by the narrowboat Friendship owned by Joe and Rose Skinner—the last 'Number Ones', who owned and operated their own cargo-carrying horse boat—these bags, made from biodegradable Jute, are environmentally friendly, with all profits from their sale go to benefit inland waterways causes. Suggests Festival Marketing Director Gillian Bolt: "What better way to carry your Festival purchases and belongings than in one of these practical, good quality, reusable Jute bags—and to show that you care for Britain’s canals and rivers? "Be a true 'Friend of the Waterways', and also give your family and friends an extra special piece of canal art as a token of your friendship!" To purchase, visit Inland Waterways Association Stoke on Trent branch on stand H32 at the National Waterways Festival & Boat Show, this week-end at Autherley Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal. 22/08 Ben to the rescueWITH some pump-outs not working on the southern Shroppie, boaters should be pleased to learn that Ben, on Alton, is operating a pump-out service from his boat. He charges £9 for pump-outs and 75p a litre for diesel. Anyone finding it hard to find a working pump out on the southern section of the Shroppie might be interested to know Ben with Nb Alton will be in the area shortly. Ben is offering pump outs for £9 and diesel at 75p/litre. Search for boys called offA SEARCH for two boys who were spotted in a partially-inflated dinghy paddling down the Caledonian Canal near Inverness has been called off. However, it is not thought the boys, about 12, have come to harm, the authorities maintain. Latest: They were later found to be at home. 22/08 Waitrose gives to DroitwichSUPERMARKET giant Waitrose has made a £4,500 donation to help with the restoration of the Droitwich canals. The trust managing the restoration is hoping to raise a total of £1m to complete the entire project. The latest donation means it is now halfway there. 22/08 Rochdale open againIT WAS on Friday 25th july that the Rochdale Canal was closed between Failsworth and Chadderton, in Oldham owing to pollution, but only yesterday (19th August)—over three weeks later—that it was reopened. Around 4,000 dead roach, perch, trench, bream and pike were found floating on the surface of the canal at the time. With the section being a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation, boaters had to wait until tests were completed to see that there would be no harm to the plant life by allowing boats back on the water. 21/08 Taylor Wimpey pulls out of waterside developmentTHE credit crunch is having its effect on waterside developments, with the massive Taylor Wimpey pulling out of its partnership with Fenland Council to build the £50 million Nene Waterfront Development in Wisbech. Cambridge County Council members are calling for an enquiry, with Peter Humphrey, head of a prominent firm of planning agents in Wisbech, who fears £2 million allocated to the scheme by the local housing corporation for social housing could be lost. However, the local council see no reason for an enquiry, as circumstances stand, and he was told that the £2 million had not been lost but has been 'sensibly re-allocated' and could be available once the building industry picks up again. A spokesman for the local council warned: "The current economic conditions, not just in Britain, but across the world, are having an adverse effect on the housing market here in the UK. It is a measure of that market downturn that even the largest house builder in the country—Taylor Wimpey—is having to consider closely its house building programme." 21/08 Not a good escapeA SUSPECTED shoplifter, being chased by staff from PC World in Bath thought he had the ideal means of escape—leaping into the Avon to escape capture. Store staff tried to persuade him to come out of the river, but he refused. But he did evaded being caught—he drowned. It needed police divers to trawl the river to recover his body which was found at Weston Lock. 21/08 Money available for canalside schemesTHOUGH there is certainly little money available for the canals at the moment, the organisation, Community Spaces is offering grants of between £50,000 and £450,000 for community groups wanting to improve green and open spaces in their neighbourhoods. The programme, which is funded with £50m from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme and managed by Groundwork UK, has been open for small and medium applications since March 2008 and has so far received over 200 applications. The launch of the large grants means that groups are now able to expand their horizons further and apply for more money to create and revamp green spaces. The larger grants will be distributed on a competitive basis and only four large (£50,000 to £100,000) and one flagship (£100,001 to £450,000) grant will be allocated in each region of England. The grants, it is stated, may be used for canalside spaces as well as nature reserves, woodland walks, etc. 21/08 A bigger canalside cinemaPEEL Investments have applied for planning permission to extend the Cineworld cinema along the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal at Gloucester Quay.
It also wants to add four cafe/bar units. The extended cinema will have an extra three screens, making nine in all, with its external appearance being modernised. If planning consent is granted later this year by the planning committee, the development will be completed by next summer. 21/08 Objections to boozing boat passengersTHE owners of a river cruise company applying to expand its alcohol licence onto dry land in Lechlade on the Thames, have met with objections from local residents. Cotswold River Cruises, based at Lechlade Marina, caters for parties on its wide beam passenger boat Adventuress. Its current licence allows music and the sale of alcohol for consumption on the boat until midnight, but the owners wanted this extending to cover the jetty at the marina to midnight as well. Various organisations including Lechlade Town Council, Lechlade 2000 Plus and Lechlade District Society, including many locals, have objected to the plans saying it may lead to an increase in underage drinking and its associated problems in the area Sue Coakley, Secretary of the town council planning committee, explained: "There is a risk of young people getting hold of alcohol and the consequent noise, disturbance and vandalism that goes with excessive drinking." 21/08 New petitionTHERE is now a new Thames Parliamentary Petition concerning the Environment Agency selling off Lock houses, as the last one was only available for a month. Our correspondent tells us: "Things are quiet at the moment, but thinks the agency is licking its wounds and about to regroup! "A new review group has been set up and the agency have placed managers from outside the waterway department on the group, so that a fresh perspective can be gained. "As you can imagine this has put a few noses well and truly out of joint!" A link to the petition is on the front page, and all who favour lock keepers being present at Thames locks at all times should sign it. 14/08 John Fletcher leavesJOHN Fletcher, the very active Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association, has left the position, which has been taken over by Clive Henderson, pictured here.
The decision was made at an extended meeting of the association's National Council in July, which had been scheduled to discuss proposed changes to the organisation following concerns expressed by branches about regional representation in the future. John has been chairman for an eventful six years which has seen the Inland Waterways Association celebrate its Diamond Jubilee, and the fight against Government funding cuts to British Waterways. Idle Women wantedTHE Waterways Trust and British Waterways are appealing for women who worked on the waterways during the Second World War to come forward to receive formal recognition of their efforts more than 60 years after the conflict ended. During the war, women volunteered to work on the canals. Wearing a badge with the initials IW to indicate that they were working on the waterways on essential war work, this group of women became known as the Idle Women. These young girls, mostly from middle class backgrounds with no experience of manual labour worked hard and effectively, transforming themselves into first rate boaters, earning the respect of traditional boating families. Tony Hales, British Waterways’ Chairman, explained: "The achievements of this group of women during the war, while small in number, have never been formally recognised. We would now like to rectify this and hope that former Idle Women, or their relatives, will come forward to share their stories and experiences." The majority of the Idle Women worked on the Grand Union Canal. The Waterways Trust and British Waterways are now having a plaque created to provide permanent and lasting public recognition of the contribution made by this special group of people during World War II. The plaque will be mounted at the National Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne. Former Idle Women, or their families, should contact Justine Lee at The Waterways Trust on 07917 804550 or email justine.lee@thewaterwaystrust.org.uk 14/08 More development on the 'Narrow'HOUSE BUILDER Barratt is developing land between the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the Tame for housing. The properties, aimed at the 'young family' cost around £275,00 and will be ready by September. The company operate an 'exchange' scheme for those wishing to move up to the more expensive properties. 14/08 Another car in Sheffield canalFOR the second time this year, a car was seen going into the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Canal at Tinsley, with the emergency services being called out. The specialist water rescue team members that were called out found however that the vehicle was empty, and it appears that the car had been pushed into the water by vandals. 14/08 Helicopter rescues woman from the NeneIT NEEDED a police helicopter crew to rescue a woman stuck in the mud in the Nene near Crab Marsh at, Wisbech, who had telephoned her family who called the emergency services. Ambulance crews, the fire service and the Spartan Rescue water search company were unable to find the woman on the ground, so as it was then dark, the helicopter was called in, with infra-red technology being used, that located the woman who was taken to hospital for treatment. Once spotted, the helicopter landed near the bank of the river, with the crew throwing the woman a rope and pulling her free. 14/08 300 boats at the 'National'ALREADY there are 300 boats booked in to attend the Inland Waterways Association 'National' at Autherley Junction over the Bank Holiday week-end, Gillian Bolt tells us. The local Inland Waterways Association branch and the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society have jointly organised Explorer Cruises for these visitors wanting to explore the lesser used sections of the Birmingham canals. Another way of travelling to the festival, of course, is by horseboat and the very well known Sue Day of the Horseboating Society will be doing exactly that! Using Success, which is an iron horseboat built in 1910, from a firm which was situated on the BCN, and Prince, a Clydesdale owned by Jayne Bradley, former head horse keeper at the Black Country Living Museum. Sue will be horseboating along the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Staffs & Worcs to the festival site. 07/08 Museum archive open to the publicPEOPLE wanting to research the heritage of our waterways or trace their family trees can get expert advice and access original archive documents at a series of special summer open days at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. The Waterways Archives, which are housed at the museum, will be open to members of the public during August.
Original documents and photographs will be on display alongside some more recent additions to the archive collections. Visitors will be able to brows back copies of canal society pamphlets and journals as well as accessing the extensive waterways reference library. Archive Research Assistant, Linda Barley, will also be on hand to offer advice and information on boat family history research, and there is no need to book, people can simply drop by with their questions or browse the library. The archive will be open to the public from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm on Sunday 10th August, Saturday 16th August and Saturday 23rd August. 07/08 Another community boatTHE Surrey Care Trust, that operates the Swingbridge Community Boat on the Wey in Guildford and Basingstoke Canal in and around Woking, now has another. The work of the trust focuses on training and education, inspiring people who face disadvantage or need a second chance in life to transform their futures by gaining new skills. The £30,000 cost of building the new Swingbridge 2 as it has been named, has been raised from three £10,000 donations from Thames Water, Woking Borough Council and the Thames Heritage Trust, while a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund is paying for a proportion of the running costs, including staff, tools and equipment of the new boat, for two years. The new boat was built for the trust by Reeves Boatbuilders of Napton on the Hill, and was officially launched by Charlie Dimmock at an informal ceremony at the end of July at the National Trust’s wharf in Guildford. 07/08 Angling club gets compensationA FOREST of Dean angling club has been paid £18,000 compensation by Severn Trent Water for polluting the Lydney Canal two years ago. Sewage had been released from the East Marsh pumping station into the waterway killing thousands of fish. The company was prosecuted by the Environment Agency, and admitted liability. The cash is to be used to restock the canal with fish. 07/08 Water resort by the Llangollen CanalA LEISURE facility is to be opened this September by the side of the Llangollen Canal at Oswestry, which has taken 18 months to complete. The Lion Quays Waterside Resort, will have log cabins and a lake adding to the hotel and restaurant that is already on the site. The owners tell that it will have feature a thermal suite with a sun meadow and a snow paradise in the form of a quick chill room. In addition there will be a 25 metres swimming pool with marble effect pillars, along with poolside Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, changing facilities and a spa reception area, with 15 treatment rooms and a relaxation room opening to an outdoor area with hot tub, a VIP suite and hydrotherapy baths. 07/08 Castlemill fight goes onTHE fight for Castlemill Boatyard is far from over, as the campaigners, backed by the residents of Jericho at Oxford prepare to continue their fight against a large block of flats, after developers announced last-minute changes to their plans. It was last December that Oxford City Council rejected proposals by Spring Residential to build 54 flats on the former Castlemill Boatyard site.
Artists' impression of the proposed flatsSpring's plan includes 54 one- and two-bedroom flats, 16 parking spaces, a public square but only a single boat repair berth. Earlier this year, Spring had appealed against the council's decision and a planning inquiry is scheduled to start on Tuesday, 12th August, submitting revised plans. Original campaigner, Adrian Arbib, who wants a new boatyard, observed: "At the end of the day, this is still an overbearing, ugly building which will destroy the character of Jericho and residents remain totally opposed to it." The revised plans are on display at the community centre in Canal Street until the 9th August. 04/08 Anglers attack cyclistANGLERS on the St Helen's Canal at Spike Island at Widnes tried to steal a bike from a teenage cyclist who had stopped to chat to them on the towpath, then when he refused was viciously attacked. When he refused to give the anglers his bike, several of the men punched and kicked him in the face and body, and though hurt, managed to escape. There were three anglers involved, who have not yet been traced, though police are asking for witnesses to come forward. He was shaken but managed to escape on his bike. 04/08 The safe way
AS A result of the piece published of the exploding battery, Tony Brooks advises: On most boats always disconnect all the negative battery connections first. Then disconnect the positives. That way you can not cause a short circuit. Negative off first and on last—all of them. The only exception is on old boats that have the positive battery terminal connected to the engine block. In that case it is positive off first and on last. To be sure you do not cause a spark you should also turn the master switches off before disconnecting the batteries. 04/08 WATERWAY DEATHS:Anglers body foundTHE body of the man who was last seen attempting to free his fishing line on the Trent at Dunham Bridge has been found after a three days search. The discovery was made a mile downstream from where the angler disappeared from his boat. His father, who threw a lifebuoy, told that his son had jumped in the river to untangle his fishing line. Inquest into canal deathTHERE is to be an inquest into the death of Humphrey Meddings, aged 47, whose body was discovered in the Kennet & Avon Canal in Newbury. He was first reported missing in March by friends, but it was more than a month later that his body was found in the canal, opposite the Swan Inn. There had been rumours that he had fallen into the waterway, but there had been no evidence. Humphrey Meddings had been seen to be unsteady on his feet when he was last seen, but because that was common, the witness took little notice. The doctor however, who examined the body ruled out death by natural causes as there was nothing physically wrong with him. Foul play could not be ruled out. 04/08 Man drowned in Caledonian CanalA YOUNG man in his early twenties has disappeared and feared drowned while swimming with a friend in the Caledonian Canal. They were swimming in Muirtown Basin at Inverness when the man failed to surface, with the friend getting into difficulties when he attempted a rescue, but himself had to be rescued by members of the public. A search was made around the middle of the basin, but had to be called off as darkness fell. The police had taken away two bottles which were floating in the water. A police inspector warned: “Despite the water being inviting on a warm day, it is extremely cold and we would advise people not to go near the water.” 04/08 Body found in Lancaster CanalUNDERWATER search teams were called to Garstang after the sighting of a body was reported to police in the Lancaster Canal. The body of a man in his 30's was then pulled out of the water under Kepple Lane Bridge on the waterway. One savedA POLICE officer, seeing a man drowning in the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Blackburn, immediately jumped in to rescue him. He then performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation with the help of a passing doctor until the ambulance arrived, with the man then being taken to hospital where he is believed to be stable. 04/08 Has British Waterways gone barking mad?A QUESTION asked by our columnist, Pam Pickett, after seeing signs on the locks of the derelict Grantham Canal telling boaters to 'keep forward of the cill'. Photo: Pam Pickett
Sign for boaters on a derelict boatless canalCompletely boatless of course, with many locks not even in water, British Waterways must indeed have gone barking mad! 28/07 New contractors to tackle towpath vegetationTHE early summer change of contractor to manage the towpath vegetation on the waterways in London and South East has led to an unacceptable level of towpath vegetation on the Grand Union and Oxford Canals, British Waterways admits. Acknowledging the problem and apologising for the inconvenience caused to boaters, walkers, anglers and local residents, Jeff Whyatt, British Waterways' General Manager in the South East has outlined the progress being made and timescales for getting the vegetation back under control, remarking: “I am very aware of the state of the vegetation on the Oxford and Grand Union Canals and apologise for the inconvenience this has caused. When our new contractor, Fountains, commenced work at the beginning of June they inherited a backlog of work and the situation has been made worse by the wet and warm weather over the past few months which has provided optimum growing conditions. The new contractor has employed an additional 14 people on top of its core team of 18 staff to clear the towpaths of vegetation as quickly as possible, with some 220 miles of towpath having now been strimmed back. 28/07 Selfish boatersTHE boat in the picture was crewed by Russians. They locked down the Braunston Top Lock, turned the boat around and put it on the lock moorings before demanding where the 'town' was, and marching off down the towpath! Photo: Roger Fox
This was on a busy Sunday afternoon, causing havoc at the lock moorings. Three for oneNOW that James Froomberg has 'stepped down' as Commercial Director for British Waterways, three people have taken over his responsibilities. Stuart Mills, currently Head of \property, has been appointed Director of Property; Vince Moran, Customer Operations Director, will be Lead Director for British Waterways’ interests in the Waterside Pub Partnership; Philip Ridal, Finance Director, has been appointed Chairman of British Waterways’ wholly owned marina subsidiary, British Waterways Marinas Ltd. 28/07 Decimating water vole populationTHE misguided action by animal rights activists of releasing mink into the wilds is decimating the water vole population the chairman of the UK Water Vole Steering Group has declared. Alastair Driver, the Chairman of the group explains: "Over the last 15 years or so, the water vole has undergone one of the most catastrophic declines of a species ever known in the country, a far more rapid decline than that suffered by the charismatic mega fauna of Africa or Asia, and it has happened here right under our noses."
Mink by the side of the canalAnd Tory MP Andrew Robathan, who has travelled 137 miles by boat, mostly on the Grand Union Canal, announced that he did not see a single water vole. The mink were originally brought over to this country from the United States to provide fur, but when this was banned, the mink were simply set free, and those that were still held were released by animal rights activists. It is now estimated that there are 110,000 wild mink wreaking havoc with indigenous species, with water vole a favourite dish. The Vincent Wildlife Trust in 1989-90 spotted water voles in 15.5% of the sites surveyed in the south-west of England, but by 1996-98 it was down to just 1.9%. Water voles in the Thames Valley saw a drop of 73.5% to 24%, and the trust believes the water vole will be extinct by 2012. Anti-erosion system makes towpath dangerousRESIDENTS near an experimental £60,000 anti-erosion barrier along the Thames towpath in Oxford maintain it has not worked as the towpath in now dangerously narrow, and the barrier should be removed, as the bank is still not holding. The river bank had been crumbling away, and so the Environment Agency placed controversial willow sticks nine years ago as a defence against erosion, but which have not stopped it, leaving the towpath much narrower. In January 2007, 15-years old Ben Halsey-Jones died after falling off his bike into the river. Earlier this month the river washed over the towpath for the first time in more than 40 years, with flood water just two inches below residents doors. Geoff Palfreeman, a local, complained: "It's not working and the bank is collapsing. We have lost at least a metre of the towpath since 1999. It's incredibly narrow now. It has taken man centuries to get to the point where we use steel and concrete for building, why on earth have we gone back to willow sticks?" The willow barrier cost Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, and the Environment Agency £15,000 each to install it along the 300m stretch north of Osney Bridge. Then a further £10,000 had to be spent on repairs. 4,000 dead fish in canalAROUND 4,000 roach, perch, trench, bream and pike have been found floating on the surface of the Rochdale Canal between Chadderton and Failsworth, in Oldham. An Environment Agency spokesman confirmed that a `major pollution incident' had taken place, adding: "To date we have recorded about 4,000 dead fish. There has been some discolouration to rare aquatic plant life, which suggests a chemical substance present in the water, although we cannot confirm at this stage." Eco Town backers promise canal restorationBACKERS of the Eco Town bid at Ford Airfield at Arundel aim it would have more green open space than London's Hyde Park, and promise to restore part of the Portsmouth to Arundel Canal as part of the scheme. Ford Airfield Vision Group, the consortium of landowners and housebuilders which wants to develop the 'zero-carbon' community, state that more than 40% of the 865 acres site would be allocated for green, open space and new wetlands. The plans include a massive 5,000 new homes, technology and light industry in new business parks, together with shops, a health facility, a secondary school, and community and sports facilities. 18/07 Woman attacked on Erewash towpathA WOMAN has been attacked and robbed on the Erewash Towpath near Ilkeston as she was walking her dog. The attack happened last Tuesday, with the woman noticing a man approaching her, but then struck her to the floor and kicked her. She managed to get to her feet, upon which the man grabbed and threatened her and demanded she empty her pockets. He stole a mobile phone, an iPod and a watch, then ran off along the towpath towards Ilkeston. The man is described as 6ft tall, in his late 30s, of medium build and had short wavy scruffy hair. He was wearing a royal blue Adidas zip-up top, dark blue jeans and brown or black trainers. The woman's small dog who tried to defend her, was also kicked and hurt, and the woman herself was left shaken and suffered minor grazes and bruising, vowing never to walk the towpath ever again. 18/07 Convicted of River Great Ouse murderTWO men, Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington have been convicted of the murder of 17 years old Robert Gill who was found in the River Great Ouse near Bedford.
At Luton Crown Court, the two 18 years olds had denied a charge of murder. It was shown that the two dragged him to the river using him as a 'punch bag', and throwing him in the river. A youth of 16, who cannot be named, was also involved, and was convicted of manslaughter, robbery and false imprisonment. Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington were also convicted of charges of robbery and false imprisonment. The victim, Robert Gill, was an engineering student who was on a night out with his brother when he was attacked in Bedford during the Christmas period. The three had picked on Robert Gill demanding his debit card and pin number, but he would not give it, so was subjected to a savage attack, punched and kicked to the body before going into the water. Police divers recovered his body eight days later. The judge, Judge John Bevan QC, adjourned sentence until September for reports to be completed on the three accused. 18/07 Vandals put Trent lives at riskLIVES are being put at risk because vital equipment on the banks of the Trent is being vandalised, stolen or simply thrown into the water. There is a total of 46 lifebelt stations on the Trent between Gunthorpe and Carlton-on-Trent, maintained by Newark and Sherwood District Council. But an average of three or four are taken out of action every week, with little care that they could save lives. Newark Castle Ranger, Rene Mouraille, is responsible for lifebelts near the castle, but stated that a station near the Woolworth’s store in Newark was recently set on fire. He warns: “It is senseless and dangerous and it has to stop before it costs someone their life. We check them all once a week as it is not possible to check them daily, but there could come a time when someone goes to throw in a ring to someone who is drowning but finds it is missing. “Not only this, it costs the taxpayer about £30 every time a ring goes missing. I have recovered a few and some have obviously been thrown in and ended up as far away as Gainsborough.” He believes that the life-belt stations could be removed if problems continued, but that would be a last resort and was not something the council wanted to do. 18/07 Boater's body?THE BODY of an elderly man has been recovered from the sea off the coast of North Devon, and police are investigating whether the body could be that of 80 years old Peter Smith, who went missing from his narrowboat in Hilperton Marina. He went missing from his other boat, Midnight Oil, a converted lifeboat, which was found drifting off the coast of Cornwall on 30th June. The body was spotted by people on board a boat about two miles off Morte Point in North Devon on Saturday, and was recovered from the sea by a helicopter from RAF Chivenor and taken to North Devon District Hospital. 18/07 Police try to stop canal deathsTHE Police in Preston have launched a campaign to try to stop more waterway deaths in the town after a 13 years old boy died in the Lancaster Canal. 'Operation Summer Nights' is aimed at making people aware of the how dangerous it can be to play around the Lancaster Canal and the Ribble. Dylan Gabriel drowned in the lock at Cottam, entering the fenced enclosure. 18/07 £100 millions development on the Forth & Clyde CanalTHE Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership have created a 'masterplan' for the area around Speirs Locks on the Forth & Clyde Canal in Glasgow costing £100,000. The project, will see the transformation of approximately 30 acres around the canal, with the first phase of the proposed mixed use scheme including the creation of approximately 100,000sq ft of offices, 250 homes, a hotel, shops, workspaces, studios and community facilities all set around the canal. The plan is to use boats as a method of transport between the development and the city, with extra mooring promised! The masterplan proposal follows an 'extensive 10 month community engagement exercise', which included 10 public meetings and involved the development of a close working relationship with local residents, businesses and school children to produce the plans. A series of events on the canal corridor have been staged over the past few months to focus on the plans, including dragon boat racing on the waterway later in the summer and a canal festival at Maryhill Locks in October. 18/07 Mother wants canal fenced offONCE again, a death has caused a cry for a canal to be fenced off, this time the Oxford Canal at Banbury. At a coroners inquest into the death of Alfie Palmer, who died after falling into the waterway from the towpath in Banbury, his mother Bianca Slevin complained that there should be a barrier: "There needs to be something along the edge to make people more aware and to stop people slipping right in." Coroner Nicholas Gardiner said the tragic event must have occurred within a very short period of time as no one heard or witnessed the event. Bianca Slevin, told the inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court that she looked away for a 'second' from where the children were playing and when she looked back, Alfie had gone. She thought her son was hiding and searched the boat and towpath, but when Jaylei-Rose, eight, pointed out Alfie's boots in the canal, his father, Damon Palmer, jumped into the water and pulled out his unconscious son. The youngster was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, but pronounced dead on arrival. 16/07 Leeds waterside development stoppedA £225 millions construction project, between the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Aire, has been put on hold due to the credit crunch, the developers have revealed. The Lumiere project, which was to have two glass towers with a garden linking them, will not now go ahead. Richard Dean, Joint Managing Director of K W Linfoot, the developer explained: "We are of course disappointed that we are unable to progress plans for Lumiere to the anticipated timescale but we have to take heed of the current climate. "We have made a sensible and pragmatic decision to put on hold construction at a time when the piling works are complete and before we embark on the next phase." This is though 600 of the 952 apartments which will make up the development have already been sold. 16/07 Only the offensive words go!IT SEEMS that lack of money is a great concern indeed for British Waterways, for after complaints of graffiti on a bridge over the Coventry Canal, workmen scrubbed out the offensive words but left the rest! Locals were told this was due to 'budget constraints', so they rest of the graffiti was left, with the bridge now in a worse mess. Staffordshire County Councillor Matthew Ellis stated that British Waterways had wasted taxpayers’ money by only removing selected parts of the graffiti from the bridge near Lichfield, adding: “Most of the cost of removing graffiti is getting a team on site to do it.To get there and spend time selecting which bits are offensive and then removing only those, leaving everything else, is jobsworth bureaucracy gone mad. It’s completely bonkers.” There is concern in the area that this will attract anti-social behaviour and more vandalism, and that by scrubbing off only parts of the graffiti British Waterways was sending out the wrong message. A British Waterways West Midlands spokesman explained it aimed to remove any racially or sexually offensive graffiti within 24 hours, and in this case sent out workers with special graffiti wipes. The rest of the graffiti on the bridge, British Waterways spokesman added is put into a 'planned maintenance programme'. 16/07 Towpath to get camerasPLANS have been submitted for six CCTV cameras to be erected along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to deter bandits. This is the section towards Liverpool where is runs by the side of Crosby Costal Park, and the plans for entrances to the towpath from the park have been cut from 13 to just three to attempt to limit vandalism. In June 2006, Sefton Council secured over £1m from the European Regional Development Fund for canal towpath improvements and links to Crosby Coastal Park. In 2005 the Community Safety Team carried out a CCTV appraisal along the canal, which identified key locations for CCTV along the canal towpath where vandalism is rife, if funding became available. A total of £85,000 from the budget has been approved by the Government office to be spent on the cameras. However, no funds are in place for the future maintenance of the cameras including any vandalism but the chance of the cameras being damaged has been described as ‘minimal’ as they are robust and are of vandal resistant design. Towpath resurfacing for cyclists has already been done. 16/07 Cat's terrible deathTHOUGH the police were called after a towpath walker saw a suspicious bag floating in the Union Canal at Falkirk, they were too late to rescue the drowned cat inside. The cat had been drowned after being sealed in a plastic bag weighed down by bricks and slung into the water. Doreen Graham, of the Scottish SPCA, declared: "This really is horrific and the society is extremely worried because this was so premeditated. It would have been fighting for its life and the fact it was trapped in a bag and couldn't get out, that's grim. "To take a cat, to put it in a polythene bag with bricks and then seal it and throw it in the water, this has been well-planned and I have to say the animal had quite a horrific, long, protracted death." "It would have been fighting for its life and the fact it was trapped in a bag and couldn't get out, that's grim, that's really grim. This poor animal had a terrible death and someone out there is responsible for it, they need to be caught." She warned that those responsible could face animal cruelty charges resulting in a £5,000 fine and up to six months in prison. 16/07 Fears grow for missing boaterPOLICE are concerned for the safety of William Michael who went missing from his narrowboat on the Oxford Canal in the city. William is 62, white, slim, 5ft 11in and has short grey hair and a grey moustache. He has not been seen since he left his boat at 7pm on Saturday. 10/07 Stourport ready to re-openAFTER a three and half years regeneration project costing a massive £3.5 millions, Stourport Canal Basins are set to re-open, with a festival to mark the completion of the project. The 18th and 19th Century buildings, locks and canal basins have all undergone major restoration, landscaping improvements, with the aim of 're-engaging the town with the canal'. The event, named the Flow Festival will take place over the three days of this week-end 11th to 13th July, to celebrate the basins being restored to their former glory. The festival, which is free, will begin on Friday night, with carnival display culminating in a mini light show at the basins. The rest of the week-end has activities including; street entertainers, scavenger and treasure hunts, arts, crafts and face painters. There will also be a craft market. Guided tours around the basins are also available, and there will be a British Waterways heritage working boat moored in the basins so people can really experience life on board in the old days. British Waterways and Stourport Forward Market Towns Initiative, supported by Wyre Forest District Council, have worked with a range of partners to improve the town's canal basins and the adjoining banks of the Severn. The project has received funding from a number of sources, including The Heritage Lottery Fund, British Waterways and Advantage West Midlands. 10/07 More at StourportMONEY is pouring into Stourport Basins, for in addition to the massive regeneration another £585,000 has been awarded to develop a former workshop and stable building in the basin into a café, office and heritage information point. Regional development agency Advantage West Midlands has made the investment as the latest stage of the ongoing transformation of the area since the formation of Stourport Forward through the Market Towns Initiative in 2004. 10/07 Compulsory purchase of canalside landTHE Government has approved compulsory purchase orders for two stretches of land at Brierfield on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. There is a £15 millions scheme to build by the side of the waterway in Brierfield what is described as a 'flagship housing scheme', with Pendle Council having already bought most of the 138 terraced properties on one of the sites. Work is expected to start soon and the first houses should be ready for occupation sometime next year, and development would seem to be the first of many with a spokesman announcing: "The development is expected to set a benchmark for future projects across Pennine Lancashire. It will also have a key role in helping to revitalise the local housing market. 10/07 Teenager's body found in the WeaverTHE boy that was reported disappering after a night out in Northwich, has been found dead in the Weaver. Michael Igoe disappeared after a night out drinking with friends on Friday and was last seen in the early hours of Saturday morning. Then on Monday his body was recovered from the river. A woman had reported seeing a man leap into the water, and the police are trying to trace her. 10/07 Don't swimBRITISH Waterways is, as usual, reminding people not to swim in the' canals, rivers and reservoirs, explaining that they may look inviting on a hot day, but the water is often colder than expected and can cause cramps in even the strongest swimmers. Adding that many canals are also shallow and anyone jumping or diving into them risks serious injury from hidden objects under the water, and that currents created by passing boats and water movements around locks and weirs pose further dangers as does contact with canal or river water which can cause stomach illnesses or even the potentially fatal Weil's disease. 10/07 Disused arms for mooringsTHE General Secretary of the Residential Boat Owners Association, Ivor Caplan, is having talks with Peter Moore of British Waterways on the possibility of turning disused canal arms and basins on the Birmingham Canal Navigations into residential moorings. Photo: www.upthecut.co.uk
Cambrian Wharf used for mooringsPeter, of British Waterways West Midlands Waterways is responsible for developing new mooring sites in the area. Ivor explained: “There are many locations on the Birmingham Canal Navigations that lend themselves to small mooring sites. The original commercial arms, loops and wharves are often neglected and their use for moorings would assist in their retention and regeneration. “I am working with Peter Moore to identify some of these sites as they may well lend themselves to small groups who wish to self manage their residential moorings. This concept has been tried before in rural areas where there has been some difficulty in getting planning approval." Peter is believed to have welcomed the idea and that more residential boats would enhance security, and British Waterways would look at the possibility of such moorings having all services, including electricity, being installed on site. 07/07 Murder inquiry team search towpathA MURDER inquiry team are searching the towpath of the Kennet & Avon Canal as part of the Barry Cooper murder inquiry. The undergrowth on the bank of the canal was cut back by workers from Kennet District Council to allow seven police officers to search the area.. The search area is currently limited to around a 50 yards section of the towpath but police reveal that this could be extended. The entire length of the towpath from London Road bridge to Couch Lane in Devizes is closed to the public. Barry Cooper, was fatally stabbed and found bleeding, and though he was airlifted to the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, he died from his injuries the following day. Karl Quincey, a resident of the town has been charged with his murder and is in custody. 07/07 Boater missing at seaTHOUGH normally a narrowboater on Waterlilly moored at Hilperton Marina on the Kennet & Avon Canal, 80 years old Peter Smith decided to take his converted lifeboat, Midnight Oil, to sea, but it was found by a fishing vessel north of St Ives with no one on board. Falmouth coastguard scrambled a rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose and also launched a lifeboat to search for the missing boater, but to no avail. Peter and his son had brought the boat down from Scotland and had docked at Milford Haven in Wales after experiencing mechanical problems, which were repaired. Peter then decided to set off on his own to Gosport where he lives, his son going by road. When Midnight Oil was found, suspecting engine trouble the rescuers tried the engine, which started immediately. The boat was towed to St Ives and then taken to Hauls Harbour on the next available tide, where she is now berthed.. A Belgian fishing boat discovered Midnight Oil abandoned at sea, 23 miles off Cornwall. 07/07 Waitrose staff help the restorationSTAFF at the Droitwich branch of the Waitrose supermarket are supporting the restoration of the town’s two historic canals by raising money for a new reedbed at Coney Meadows, near Salwarpe. Kim Chester, development manager for The Waterways Trust,explained: “So far, 120,000 reeds have been planted in the new reedbed, many by willing volunteers from the town, but a final 20,000 reeds are needed to complete the project. “Staff at Waitrose will be going all out to raise the necessary funds to buy the reeds and will then get their hands dirty planting them.” The reedbed will also be part of one of three self-guided walks that loop in and around the canal and a programme of school visits are being developed involving reed sculptures, pond dipping and wildlife identification.” 07/07 Towpath attacker gets jailTHE man who kicked and punched a man until he blacked out on the canal towpath in Bath has been jailed for two years. Simon Farnham, an alcoholic, was said to have rained blows during a robbery on Paul Beecroft during an unprovoked and bloody attack which yielded just £5. Paul Beecroft was found unconscious in his blood by a friend who dialled 999, with an ambulance taking him to hospital for his injuries. Simon Farnham was seen making the attack and reported to the police. When the police accosted him, his clothes were splattered with blood He later admitted the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for two years at Bristol Crown Court. The witness told police she had seen kicks and punches being rained down on Paul Beecroft who was left lying unconscious on the towpath in a pool of blood, and called the emergency services. The defendant had previous convictions for assault and robbery, was an alcoholic and had been drinking at the time of the attack. 03/07 |
