A trustee responds - More income?

Did you read about the proposals to alter the weirs of the out of use duplicate Regent's locks (reversible if the locks were to be re-opened)? The plan—now out for consultation—is to increase the canal's ability to take surface water discharges. Among other things, this will enable the Trust to increase its income by charging to take drainage from new waterside developments; the Trust's Utilities division's annual c £23m income already includes about £3.5m from charging for surface water drainage. These works would be paid by for one of the developers in lieu of an annual charge.

Bulbourne Yard (GU)

Had you heard that the Trust is informally discussing this yard's future with the IWA, Wendover Arm Trust, Dunstable Boat Club, Maritime Heritage Trust, Marsworth Parish Council and others? Lock gate making ceased there some years ago. Provision will be made for operational activities to remain and the meeting (one of three) discussed what might be done with the rest. The Trust is consulting in order to get the broadest range of views about the site's future, learning the lessons of Marsworth.

Volunteers

I was impressed by the Ashby Canal Association's volunteers repairing the towpath between Bridges 25 and 26. And to hear that IWA's Lichfield Branch has been putting in mooring rings etc near Brindley's Bank at Rugeley on the Trent & Mersey. Other benefits for boaters have come from various IWA Branches' work in pulling out rubbish in Milton Keynes, Kidderminster and at Ashton-under-Lyne.

The Trust's own volunteers' coordinators have set up 16 monthly Towpath Taskforce teams, at least one in each waterway area. Their work will include clearing overgrown vegetation and painting lock gates. Anyone wanting to help can make contact via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I was pleased to see eleven different volunteer groups are getting awards from the Trust, including those working on the Hanwell Flight, Blisworth, upper Peak Forest, Caen Hill and even the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal. All this (new-ish) volunteer activity is good to see and goes beyond the useful volunteer lock-keepers.

Take Trust staff on your boat in 2013?

Some of you will be thinking of where to go next year. Please think of inviting Trust staff on your boat. As we all know, you get a different perspective from being on a boat. Why not let them share your experiences—whether it be a local supervisor, someone from the office or (as has happened in 2012) one of the top executives?

And that's enough—too much?—from me. Happy Christmas to all waterway lovers and see you in 2013.

[This article has been published in full, with the exception of minor corrections and the normal adherence to our Style Book—Editor.]