David: Lack of Boats?

RALPH Freeman's view of lack of boats bears out our own experience in recent weeks. I do not have the impression that there are fewer boats moving now than in past years.

We have recently used Middlewich Junction three time in various directions and on two of those occasions it was as 'interesting' as usual. There was the usual queue at Middlewich locks, both ways, and visitor moorings have been well used, although we have always managed to find a space.

The key word in the above paragraph is 'impression'. This whole debate is entirely subjective, since none of us have any hard evidence on which to base a theory of 'fewer boats'. The only people with actual figures are CaRT and as far as I know they only have the number of licences issued and the figures from those devices which monitor how often some locks are used.

The licence figures do not, as far as I know, show a significant fall in numbers and even if there is, where have the boats gone? Perhaps to non-CaRT waterways, but is there any evidence for this—are the Bridgewater or the EA experiencing a rise in boat numbers? I have not heard of boats being scrapped in any numbers and the level of licence evasion is now tiny, thanks to effective enforcement—we were checked three times in a week by CaRT people on the towpath.

Demography

I think Mick Fitzgibbons (Epic Conundrum) is being overly pessimistic about the future. Yes, the majority of private boat owners are of the more elderly persuasion, but that was always the case. Most people would not be able to contemplate the purchase of a boat until they had the money available and the time to use it—which usually happens later in life.

Once they become too old for boating then in many cases the boat will be passed on to their children; it seems unreasonable to assume that they will all suddenly be dumped on the market. I see no reason to think that some of those children, as they grow older, will not want to go boating, especially as they will have experienced it when younger—that can cut both ways, of course!

Vegetation

My diatribe about the lack of vegetation control on the Macclesfield and Trent & Mersey seems to have gained some support. In the interests of fairness I have to report that the Middlewich Arm and the Shroppie from Ellesmere Port to Market Drayton are absolutely exemplary in this respect. Almost every yard of bank is properly cut to the edge and the towpath is thus fully accessible to both boaters, walkers and fishermen. Since there is supposed to be a national standard policy on vegetation, how come two canals can be so different? Can it simply be that they are in different areas of CaRT management?

Don't believe the Towpath Telegraph

Chatting to other boaters as we waited for locks I mentioned that we were heading for Ellesmere Port and was told by several that the weed was dreadful, we would struggle to get through etc. We went anyway and yes, there was some weed (floating pennywort, I think), but it was easily pushed aside and

did not cause the slightest problem—I've still been down the weed hatch only once in two months and that was a plastic bag. So don't listen to all the doom mongers, go and find out for yourself.

Nearly sunk

Descending Northgate Staircase in Chester we met a hire boat coming up, which we could pass. The hire boat was a full 70 footer and as he rose in the bottom chamber his bow became wedged in one of the openings in the face of the steel gate. Had he been flush with the side of the lock this could not have happened, but he took a slight angle and caught in the hole. It seems that the hirers had been strongly briefed about the importance of not getting caught on the cill and were thus staying forward in the lock, not realising that this is not a problem going uphill.

Quick work on the paddles averted disaster, but not before some water had come through the front doors—I reckon they were only about 30 seconds from sinking. Perhaps CaRT need to think about covering those holes in the gate structure—after all, they have been assiduous in blocking other possible catch points in broad locks.

I haven't been down Northgate locks for seven years and the changes to the Tower Wharf area are considerable.

The re-excavated North Basin is now surrounded by new warehouse style housing, the boatyard looks active and well cared for and there is plenty of mooring. The basin is currently locked off and I hope that once building works are completed it will be open to boats again; the new residents of the flats I spoke to would certainly welcome it.

Anderton Lift warning

Once again we went down the Anderton Lift for a few days on the Weaver, which we always enjoy. I was pleased to see how smart Sutton Weaver Bridge now looks after its refurbishment, which is not yet quite complete—apparently there is some work still needed on the mechanics so it is still in the open position with a temporary bridge for the road traffic.

A word of warning—try and avoid being on the first lift passage of the day. During the night silt accumulates on the edges of the lifting gate which give access to the caissons. When you pass under the open gate the inevitable drips put muddy splodges all over the boat, which are difficult to get off. Later passages do not produce this problem—you still get dripped on, as with any guillotine gate, but the water is clean.

David Hymers