Waterway Watch » Waterway Communities

Monthly clean-up for canal – News Article

Will Chapman — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:12:47 +0000

Tameside Radio report that British Waterways and Tesco have launched regular clean-ups of the canal in Stalybridge as part of a drive to breathe new life into Stalybridge town centre.

Attracting boaters and visitors to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, which passes through the town centre, is seen as a crucial part of the plans drawn up by the newly formed Stalybridge Town Team.

But there have been fears that debris in the canal, particularly discarded trolleys, would continue to be a real deterrent for boaters and that the potential offered by the canal would be lost.

In the past three years more than 200 trolleys have been retrieved from the stretch of the canal taking British Waterways resources away from other projects. Even additional security measures implemented by supermarket chain Tesco have failed to eradicate the problem.

Working in partnership with Tesco, British Waterways have agreed to make regular visits to the stretch of the canal to keep it clear of trolleys and other debris, with the clean-up costs being met by Tesco.

And the move has been welcomed by Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds, who has been talking to British Waterways and Tesco about the issue.

Given its picturesque location next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Stalybridge should be attractive to tourists and to shoppers, as well as being an ideal place to spend a day out, said Mr Reynolds.

But far from being an attraction, debris in the canal can make it an eyesore and discarded shopping trolleys can make it hazardous for boaters.

I have been talking to Tesco and British Waterways about this issue for a number of weeks and I am delighted that they are now taking such an active role to clear up the canal.

Taking action to ensure the water is clear of debris will help to make it a much more attractive destination for boaters, as well as those looking for a stroll along the towpath.

Supermarkets are clearly not responsible for the anti-social behaviour of those who think it is acceptable to dump litter and trolleys in this way. But the canal-side location of this particular store makes it a particular problem in Stalybridge, so I am pleased that British Waterways and Tesco are taking this pro-active approach.

David Baldacchino, Waterway Manager, Manchester & Pennine waterways said: Litter is a huge problem for the waterways, especially when people are using the canal as a dumping ground for litter and – at this particular location – shopping trolleys.

We have been working closely with Tesco to try and reach a solution to this on-going problem which is spoiling the environment and causing damage to boats. I am pleased that we have agreed to carry out regular clean-ups with the help of Tesco.

In the next few months the guardianship of the nation’s 2,000 miles of canals and rivers will be transferred from British Waterways to become the Canal & River Trust. The new Trust will be calling on the help and support of the local community in Stalybridge to get involved with their local waterway by volunteering and helping care for their canal.

Anna Wisnoiwski, manager of Tesco’s Stalybridge store, said: We work hard to ensure that our trolleys are collected and secured every night. We are always looking for new ways to prevent trolleys being stolen and we’re grateful to customers who make us aware of abandoned trolleys, as it enables us to collect them quickly. We are pleased to join British Waterways in this new initiative to help keep Stalybridge canal clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.

via Monthly clean-up for canal – News Article | 103.6FM Tameside Radio.

Non-tidal Thames – Drought Update

Will Chapman — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:02 +0000

boating on the non-tidal Thames -
drought update

Dear boater,

How does the drought affect you now?
At present there are no drought-related restrictions to boating on the Thames. Recent rainfall has increased flows in the River Thames, though this is likely to be relatively short-lived unless there is further rain.

Thames Water’s hosepipe ban means that you may not use a hosepipe to wash a leisure boat. You may only use our water points to fill up your boat’s water tanks; not to wash your boat.

Please continue to use water wisely. The south east is still in drought. One month’s significant rainfall after an extended dry period is not enough to greatly alter the situation. Groundwater levels are still well below average, and are not likely to recover until winter.

Last month, the Thames catchment received 255 per cent of the rainfall that we would normally expect in April. But March was exceptionally dry, and the Thames catchment only received 38 per cent of its long-term average rainfall for the month. River flows were more typical of late summer.

Potential impacts for boating
Falling water levels trigger actions for us to maintain river levels for boating. In order, these are:

a ban on the use of hoses/sprinklers at lock sites – implemented April 2012
voluntary delays to lock passage – not yet implemented
elevation of water levels above target – not yet implemented
‘sealing’ of weir sluices (depending on water levels) – not yet implemented (although works to minimise leakage in weirs and locks are under way)

If the drought worsens and flows on the Thames decline, further potential actions are:

out-of-hours power switched off at powered locks
lock passage restricted to once every half hour
locks closed out of hours

The water levels may vary along the river and the measures will be implemented accordingly. Each lock keeper will be able to tell you the situation at their lock. Out of hours, please refer to the lock notice board.

For more information
For updates on the drought position on the Thames, please visit our website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/thamesdrought.

If you would like to receive e-mail updates about the drought or other river information please e-mail us at riverthames@environment-agency.gov.uk and include ‘Register for updates’ in the title of your message.

For updates on river conditions please call our free Navigation Information Line on 0845 988 1188 (when prompted press 1, followed by 011131) or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/riverthamesconditions

Andrew Graham
Environment Agency South East Waterways drought lead

Regeneration of Marsworth is given approval

Will Chapman — Sun, 06 May 2012 10:30:22 +0000

Published on Saturday 5 May 2012 08:00, Bucks Herald

APPROVAL has been given for a waterside residential development at Marsworth.

The application by British Waterways was for the building of 12 new dwellings and the conversion of the former carpenter’s workshop to provide a total of 13 new dwellings with new and upgraded boater’s facilities, a retained and refurbished crane, minor access improvements, parking and landscaping.

Work is not expected to start on the site until next spring, although this date could be brought forward.

Once work begins it is thought it will take between nine months and a year to be completed.

Head of property development south for British Waterways, James Lazarus, said: “We are delighted with the scheme.

“We think it is something that will work for everybody.”

The proposals aim to regenerate the site and create a “high quality and attractive residential location, with an emphasis on historical canal related uses”.

A previous application was submitted for the site by H20 Urban LLP in October 2009, but withdrawn in January 2010 to allow for wider consultation.

via Regeneration of canal site is given approval – Local News – Bucks Herald.

Kennet & Avon Canal Volunteering Renaissance

Will Chapman — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 06:43:42 +0000

The team on the boat at BW's Caen Hill yard ready to begin the refurbishment: ©Bob Naylor

Waterway volunteers will be recognised in the Waterways Renaissance Awards for the first time this year — and a group on the Kennet & Avon Canal have reached the finals of the award.

The Devizes-based Avon Vale Group completely restored a British Waterways workboat that had sunk on the Bath Flight on the K&A Canal — and they now volunteer for BW clearing offside vegetation on the canal.

The group was formed after a group of canal enthusiasts realised that financial constraints had led BW to have to concentrate on essential maintenance work at the expense of jobs like off-side vegetation management which meant that the navigation width was rapidly becoming narrower.

They believed that they could do something about it — if they only they had a boat— and in 2007 they heard about a sunken BW workboat on the Bath Flight.

They negotiated with BW to take it over and restore it to its original condition so that they could use it to work on the canal. They towed the boat from Bath to Devizes and took it out of the water and immediately set about removing the engine so that the engine that had been submerged for some time could be brought back into use.

After having the hull grit-blasted they repainted the boat in its original BWB colours, refitted the cabin and replaced the engine and they were ready to go.

British Waterways gave the team five years to complete their refurbishment — but they completed the work by 2010 (two years ahead of schedule) and they immediately began the work of clearing the offside bank on the Long Pound near Devizes to widen the channel.

Working one day a week they have made a marked difference on the 16-mile Long Pound and the core team has begun recruiting more teams so that the boat can be used more often — and they have also encouraged work to start on other stretches of the canal using other BW workboats.

As well as the bankside work they have also become a valuable resource for BW as a team of boat handlers. They move BW workboats to sites ready for maintenance to start — freeing up BW staff for essential maintenance work.

On a waterway where the culture of volunteering on work directly connected with the canal had been lost — this project is a significant step towards returning to the hey-day of volunteering on the K&A that existed in the 1960s and 1970s. And just like the early years of volunteering on the K&A local businesses have been encouraged to play their part. The Avon Vale Group say they would not have been able to achieve so much without the support of local businesses like Boat Safety Examiner Mike Price, Victoria and Spencer Collins at The Boat Yard Hilperton, Devizes Marina, Protect Fire Equipment, Devizes Commercial Signs and HMG Paints who have been generous with materials and services — and they have had regular coverage of their project in local papers and on local and national radio and television.

This project has been an inspiration for other groups along the canal who have drawn strength from its success of this project and gone on to develop their own projects.

Team member John Kirby said: “Our project shows how a small number of people with a vision, determination and passion for what they are doing can make a project happen — and make a difference for the benefit of all users of the canal.”

The Avon Vale has also been used as the removal ‘van’ for a remote canal-side house in the Bath Valley that had no suitable road access.

The group have had a two-stage assessment on the way to the final, first with Eileen McKeever, the Strategy and Engagement Manager at the Environment Agency and then with Ian George who is the Maritime Technical Director at Hyder Consulting Ltd who are partners with BW in the Renaissance Awards.

The final results will be announced at a ceremony at the ICC in Birmingham on 23rd May.

The Waterways Renaissance Awards is run by The Waterways Trust and recognises exceptional projects that have turned inland waterways into desirable places for living, learning and leisure.

via KAcanalTIMES: K&A Canal volunteering renaissance.

Staffordshire canal users asked to help keep crime down

Will Chapman — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:47:20 +0000

Police in Staffordshire have unveiled Canal Watch, a new campaign to help keep the waterways safe.

Those who sign up to Canal Watch will be able to report suspicious activity and find out about any incidents on the waterways in their area.

They will have access to the Owl Online Watch Link system currently used by Neighbourhood Watch groups. If incident hot spots are identified police and Police Community Support Officers will help British Waterways officers patrol them.

The mid-Staffordshire scheme is being launched by Staffordshire Police next week. It follows the launch of a similar scheme in South Staffordshire in March 2011 which has proved a success.

Louise Jones, the Staffordshire Police Canal Watch co-ordinater, said:

“Our neighbourhood officers and PCSOs routinely patrol the canal towpaths but as we have such a large network we want to encourage members of the public to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity near canals.

“The towpaths are often used by dog-walkers, joggers and people fishing and it is these regular users who can help us continue to keep crime on towpaths and canals low.

“The scheme allows members to access and share information on reported incidents in their area by email, text or by visiting the Canal Watch Facebook page – they will also receive advice and guidance on crime prevention.

“This official launch is taking place at the busy Aston Marina and we welcome anyone who is interested to pop down and have a chat.”

Anyone interested in signing up can find out more at Aston Marina between 11am and 4pm on Thursday, April 5.

via Local news from Stafford and Staffordshire | Staffordshire canal users urged to become crime fighters.

Get involved with the Waterways Partnerships

Will Chapman — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:33:49 +0000

Last year, the Government announced that British Waterways would transfer its canals and rivers to a charity, the Canal & River Trust. The Canal & River Trust will be up and running in 2012.

The Canal & River Trust is setting up 13 Waterways Partnerships and following the recent recruitment of five new chairs the search is now on to find members for these Partnerships.

Members wanted

Each Partnership will consist of 8-12 Members. Members will work closely with their chair and waterway manager to develop an overarching vision for the Trust’s waterways within the Partnership area and develop strategies and plans to encourage more people to use and get involved with their local waterway.

We are now recruiting for Members for the following Partnerships:

North East
Central Shires
East Midlands
London
South East

The roles are voluntary with expenses paid and will involve approximately 2-4 days a month of your time.

For more information and to apply, please click on the links below:

Closing date for applications: 20 April 2012

Last updated: 21/03/2012

via Get involved with the Waterways Partnerships.

Boaters launch campaign against inspectors

Will Chapman — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:54:44 +0000

Thursday 15th March 2012 from Oxford News By Andrew Ffrench

A CAMPAIGN group is using the Freedom of Information Act to uncover the details of a crackdown on illegally moored boats in Oxford.

Earlier this month it emerged Oxford City Council is paying £44,000 over two years towards work by the Unlawfully Moored Boats Enforcement Group (Umbeg).

Although Umbeg was established in 2010, its existence only became public after the city council agreed to provide the funding.

Now the National Bargee Travellers’ Association has submitted an FOI request to the council to find out more about Umbeg and how it operates.

The request asks for a copy of the terms of reference, the work plan and the minutes of all past meetings of the group.

And it has asked for a copy of any “memoranda of understanding” between the different Umbeg group members – which include British Waterways, the Environment Agency, Thames Valley Police and other landowners – and a breakdown of the budget and the budget contributors.

Association spokesman Panda Smith, 54, said boaters from Oxford have contacted the organisation because of their concerns about how Umbeg could affect them.

Based on a boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Wiltshire, she said: “We are using the Freedom of Information Act to try to find out whose idea it was to set up Umbeg in the first place.

“If boaters are forced to move off their boats then they will automatically become homeless and the consequences will be increased homelessness and demand for housing benefit.

“We have been arguing for local authorities to include boat dwellers under the provision for travellers and other nomadic people. Boat dwellers fall through every policy and legislative net that there is.

Tony Swatton, 73, who has been living on his cabin cruiser Tapper on the River Thames for the past 12 years, said: “I don’t support the council funding Umbeg.

“If all boaters played by the rules there would be no need for an organisation like this.

“I pay £314 a year for a licence but I have never paid a mooring fee because I just keep moving.

“Twenty-four hour mooring is free – it’s a brilliant life and I wouldn’t change it.”

The city council declined to comment but confirmed it had received the FOI request.

According to the Environment Agency, if you keep, or mainly use, your boat on the River Thames you should have a legitimate base mooring.

If you live on your boat as your only place of residence on a permanent mooring, the mooring must have approved residential use.

via Boaters launch campaign against inspectors (From Oxford Mail).

Statement: Nigel Moore v British Waterways

Will Chapman — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:47:23 +0000

7 March 2012

British Waterways welcomes the Judgment of The Honourable Mr Justice Hildyard in the High Court of Justice on 16 February 2012 in which he declared that the vessel ‘Gilgie’, owned by Nigel Moore, was unlawfully moored.

Mr Justice Hildyard conducted what was, in the eyes of one legal commentator, a “massively detailed and scrupulous analysis of the source of the British Waterways Board’s powers” which resulted in British Waterways winning on all the claims before the Court. Mr Moore was ordered to move ‘Gilgie’ from the waterways managed by British Waterways by 16 May 2012 and not to return ‘Gilgie’ or any other vessel to the stretch of the Grand Union Canal between Bax’s Mill/The Boatman’s Institute and the junction of the Canal with the Thames, other than at a lawful mooring or to cruise lawfully. Mr Moore was ordered to contribute to British Waterways’ legal costs.

Mr Justice Hildyard ruled that a riparian owner has no entitlement, simply by owning the land, to moor a vessel alongside their land other than temporarily to facilitate access and for loading and unloading. A vessel moored on any of British Waterways’ navigations requires a valid boat licence, and needs to comply with the terms and conditions of that licence.

British Waterways accepts that it failed to adhere to its own internal procedures in 2007, when enforcement staff did not issue advance warning letters before serving legitimate notices to remove vessels under the British Waterways Act 1983. At the time, enforcement officers did not believe the vessel was being used as a home and so issued the notice without prior warning letters, as would normally have been the practice. British Waterways accepts that this action was premature and the enforcement officers should have made more enquiries into the situation. Since the event, British Waterways has reinforced its internal processes and procedures. No remedy was required as this procedural mistake had no consequences: the notice was never acted upon, Mr Moore having embarked on a course of litigation.

Nigel Moore v British Waterways Board: Approved Judgement

via Newsroom – British Waterways.

New Waterways Partnership Chairs appointed

Will Chapman — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:56:07 +0000

9th Mar 2012

The Canal & River Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of five new Waterways Partnership Chairs.

Lynne Berry, Trustee and member of the Transition Appointments Committee, explains: “Following an open and extensive recruitment process, I am pleased to say that we have recruited five excellent candidates to represent the local and regional interests of their waterways. As each will play an integral role, assisting with the management of 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales, it’s imperative that along with a passion for our waterways, they possess business leadership skills and be experienced influencers and negotiators.

“As Chair of their Waterway Partnership each will sit on the Trust’s National Council and will bring a wealth of experience in a number of important areas including regeneration and planning, partnership building and community engagement, water management and operations, customer service and education and learning as well as in depth knowledge of local, national and European government.”

Champion interests of local waterway

Tony Hales, Chair of the Transitional Trustees, comments: “I am delighted that such a high calibre of people are going to chair these important positions of governance within the Canal & River Trust. Along with the seven Chairs appointed earlier this year, they will be well placed to champion the interests of their local waterways and provide new perspectives, insights and ideas to assist with the management of our canals and rivers.”

The appointed chairs are:

North East: Mark Penny – previously Yorkshire Water Director of Customer Service and Networks

Central Shires: Charlotte Atkins – former MP

East Midlands: Danny Brennan – Company Director

London: Brian Fender – previously Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding Council for England

South East: John Best – former Chief Executive, Milton Keynes Council

The Chairs will shortly begin recruiting Members for their Waterways Partnerships. Each Partnership will represent a balanced group of people interested in our waterways including boaters, waterway users and local businesses and the community, as well as heritage and environmental specialists and people with experience in fundraising and volunteering.

Twelve of the thirteen Waterways Partnership Chairs have now been appointed. Applications are currently being sought for the post of All Wales Waterways Partnership Chair.

A written record of all meetings will be publicly available on-line. All positions on the Waterways Partnerships will be unpaid, agreed expenses will be reimbursed.

via New Waterways Partnership Chairs appointed | News | Waterscape.

Angler prosecuted for trying to pervert the course of justice

Will Chapman — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 02:44:57 +0000

Wednesday, March 07, 2012 from This is Bath.

Angler Shaun Brindle thought he’d found the perfect ruse after he was seen fishing on the River Avon during the closed season without a licence and using an illegal bait – he’d pretend to be someone else!

But Brindle, 28, had under-estimated the persistence and professionalism of an Environment Agency bailiff who brought the evasive angler to justice after exposing his false identity.

On May 7, 2011 Brindle was fishing from a boat with a friend near Keynsham when they were spotted by an Agency bailiff who told them to stop because it was the closed season that runs from March 15 – June 15.

They were asked to move the boat to a nearby mooring so the bailiff could talk to them properly. Brindle agreed and after packing up his fishing gear started the boat engine and headed upstream to moor by the lock gates of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The bailiff walked up the opposite bank and arrived at the lock gates to discover the boat and two anglers had gone. It was later found moored near the Old Lock & Weir public house upstream of Hanham Lock.

The bailiff noted the boat’s name, ’Jasmine Sea Otter’, and saw it contained several fishing rods, some tackle and empty can of luncheon meat.

He told the owner of a nearby boat he intended to seize the Jasmine Sea Otter. The person said he could contact the anglers and agreed to pass the bailiff’s mobile phone number to them. Shaun Brindle later rang the bailiff, but refused to give his name. When told the owner of the boat could be traced through its British Waterways registration number, Brindle gave the boat owner’s name instead of his own.

Brindle confirmed he and the second man had been fishing and had valid rod licences. They had used luncheon meat and sweet corn as baits and hadn’t realised it was the closed season. Luncheon meat is banned as a bait under a local fishing byelaw.

On June 11, 2011 Brindle was interviewed under caution. Once again he identified himself as the boat owner and signed a statement using that name. Two days later the bailiff was contacted by the real boat owner who apologised that his craft had been used for illegal fishing and said it would not happen again. He confirmed he was not the person the bailiff had seen fishing on May 7 and said he had allowed some friends to borrow his boat on that day.

‘Providing false personal details to escape prosecution is a serious offence. The defendant was given every opportunity to give an honest account of his actions, but chose instead to assume a false identity in an attempt to pervert the course of justice,’ said Chris Povey for the Environment Agency.

Appearing before Bristol Crown Court, Brindle, of Sunningdale Drive, Warmley, Bristol was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 costs after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice. The case was heard on Monday March 5.

Several rod anglers have been prosecuted by the Environment Agency for fishing on the River Avon during the closed season. They were caught during a crackdown by bailiffs who have been working closely with the local fishing association.

via First angler to be prosecuted for trying to pervert the course of justice | This is Bath.