DOCSLIB.ORG

Committee Report by the Director of Environment

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Committee Report by the Director of Environment COMMITTEE REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT CULTURE & SPORT READING BOROUGH COUNCIL ITEM NO. 13 PLANNING APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE : 06 March 2013 Ward : Whitley App No.: 12/01430/FUL Address: Burghfield Landfill site, Island Road. Proposal: Development of a Leachate Treatment Plant. Applicant: CEMEX UK Materials Limited Date valid: 09 October 2012 Minor Application: 8-week target decision date: 04 December 2012 26-week target decision date: 09 April 2013 RECOMMENDATION: GRANT planning permission subject to the following conditions and informatives: Conditions to include: 1. TL1 – Full 3 years. 2. AP1 – Development as per approved plans. 3. M2 – Details to be submitted. 4. Detailed landscaping proposals to be submitted to be submitted and approved prior to first use. 5. Landscape and ecological management plan to be submitted to be submitted and approved prior to first use. 6. Development shall not be brought into use until parking and turning space has been provided. 7. No development shall commence until a Construction Method Statement (CMS) has been submitted to and approved by the local planning authority. The CMS shall include measures to deal with: - Vehicle parking; - Loading and unloading of plant and materials; - Storage of plant and materials; - Erection and maintenance of security hoarding; - Wheel washing facilities; - Measures to control the deposition of dirt/mud on surrounding roads; - Details of Footpath/Road closures needed during construction; - Traffic management needed during construction, and - Times, routes and means of access for construction traffic. 8. No development shall commence until details of external lighting measures have been submitted to and approved by the local planning authority. 9. The development shall only be used to treat leachate from the Burghfield Landfill site. 10. The cessation of the use and restoration of the land to its former condition shall be undertaken when the development is no longer required. Informatives 1. Positive and Proactive Approach by LPA. 2. Development plan compliance. 3. EA Environmental Permit. 4. Building regulations required. 5. Damage to the highway. 6. Terms and conditions. 7. Pre-commencement conditions. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The application site is approx. 0.495 ha in size and lies on the northern edge of the existing Burghfield Landfill site at the western end of Island Road. To the north of the application site lies the River Kennet and wetland habitat associated with Fobney Island including groups of established mature trees. To the east lie other areas of restored landfill level with the application site.To the south lie raised areas of landfill which rise to between 7m and 14m above land at the application site. Immediately west of the application site lies the existing Landfill Gas Utilisation Facility (LGUF), refer to Photo. 1 below and the original approved plans at Appendix 1, which processes gas from the restored landfill and turns it into energy. Further west lies a 30m high pylon and electricity lines and beyond that lies the railway embankment (again raised above the level of the application site) which runs north-south. The closest residential properties include Southcote Mill, approximately 500m to the north west, and dwellings at Manor Farm Cottages, about 700m to the north east. 1.2 The site lies outside of the Council’s settlement boundary which extends as far as the existing RE3 Waste Management Facility on Island Road. The site lies within the ‘Kennet and Holy Brook Meadows Major Landscape Feature’ and within an area of ‘Public and Strategic Open Space’, both of which extends north from Island Road, as designated within the Council’s Core Strategy and Sites and Detailed Policies Document (SDPD) Proposals Map. 1.3 The application site lies within Flood Zone 2 (as defined by the Environment Agency) which has up to a 0.1 per cent (1 in 1000) chance of flooding occurring each year. Site Location Plan: Fobney Island Railway Thames Water Sewage Island Road Treatment Works A33 LGUF Burghfield Landfill site RE3 Photograph 1: Application site – looking west towards the LGUF and pylon. 2. PROPOSAL 2.1 The proposal intends to construction of a Leachate Treatment Plant (LTP) in order to remove leachate from the existing Burghfield Landfill site. The proposed LTP comprises of the following: • Two covered Raw Leachate Balance Tanks (RBLT) – 8m in diameter and 5.5m above ground level at its apex; • Modified Sequencing Batch Reactor tank (SBR) – 19m in diameter and 3.6m above ground level at its apex; • Treated Leachate Balance Tank (TLBT) – 8.6m in diameter and 4.0m above ground level at its apex; • Bunded Chemical Dosing Area – specialist chemical tanks the largest of which would be 3.5m above ground level at its apex; • Site Office and Control Building – 12m x 5m linked modular containers; • Compressor House and Store – each 6m x 2.5m modular containers, and • 2.3m high security fencing around the LTP compound. 2.2 The LTP compound would also be enclosed in a bunded area to contain any potential spillages and exclude flood waters. The height of the bund would vary between 0.2m to 1.0m, depending on ground level, so that the top of the bund is at 41m AoD. Main other features outside of the LTP compound include a car parking area (6 spaces), access road and landscape areas. 2.3 Following pre-application discussions, the applicant proposes to partially bury the SBR tank in the ground to a depth of 6m in order to limit its visual impact. 2.4 The leachate would be pumped from cells within the existing landfill to the proposed LTP facility from where it could be discharged directly to the nearby Thames Water Sewage Treatment Works. This system would replace the existing arrangement whereby a 45,000m3 litre storage tank that collects the leachate has to be emptied twice daily and transported by road tankers off-site for treatment. 2.5 The applicant has advised that the proposal is required to comply with environmental permits relating to the restored landfill area and complies with best practice guidance. 2.6 The following supporting information has been supplied with the application: Drawings: • Site Location Plan (Drawing no. JW30192 - 1) • Key Local Features Plan (unreferenced) • Planning Applications Boundaries (Drawing no. JW30192 – 2A) • Proposed Landscaping Planting (Drawing no. JW30192 – D1C) • Proposed Site Layout (Drawing no. JW30192 – 3H) • Proposed LTP Compound Lighting Plan (Drawing no. JW30192 – 5B) • Proposed Elevations (Drawing no. JW30192 – 4D) Documents: • Planning Supporting Statement (including Design & Access Statement) • Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (including photographic survey) • Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Report (Jan 2012) • Great Crested Newt Survey (July 2012) • Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) 3. RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY 12/00029/SCR Request for an Environmental Impact Not EIA Assessment Screening Opinion for the development development of a Leachate Treatment Plant. 03/10/12 01/00678/FUL Installation of Landfill Gas Utilisation Facility Approved (LGUF), three electricity generators and 08/01/02 ancillary plant. 4. CONSULTATIONS Statutory Consultees Environment Agency (EA) 4.1 The EA support this proposal as it would allow for greater volumes of leachate to be treated and thus comply with the conditions of the applicant’s Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Environmental Permit for the site. The EA has accepted that adequate leachate management and secondary containment measures would be put in place as part of this proposal. A condition to secure details of a landscape and ecological management plan is also requested. Non-statutory Consultees RBC Transport Development Control 4.2 Transport DC raises no objection to this application as the proposal would result in a significant reduction in vehicle trips and adequate parking and manoeuvring space for vehicles would be provided on site. 4.3 RBC Ecologist Raises no objection to this proposal as it would result in no significant or adverse ecological impacts. However, conditions are suggested to secure details of any contractor’s storage compound, details of any external lighting measures and a detailed landscaping scheme. RBC Environmental Protection 4.4 Raise no objections to this proposal but have requested that the EA is consulted on this application. RBC Parks & Open Spaces 4.5 Raise no objections to this proposal. RBC Building Control 4.6 Advise that Building Regulations approval is required. West Berkshire Council 4.7 No comment. Public consultation 4.8 A site notice was displayed and an advert placed in the local press advising that the application forms a departure from the development plan. No written representations were received in respect of this proposal. 5. RELEVANT PLANNING POLICY AND GUIDANCE 5.1 Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that proposals be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Material considerations include relevant policies in the National Planning Policy framework (NPPF) - among them the 'presumption in favour of sustainable development'. 5.2 The following local and national planning policy and guidance is relevant to this application: Reading Borough Local Development Framework Core Strategy (2008) CS1 Sustainable Construction & Design CS2 Waste Minimisation CS6 Settlement Boundary CS7 Design and the Public Realm CS8 Waterspaces CS24 Car / Cycle parking CS28 Loss of Open Space CS34 Pollution and Water Resources CS35 Flooding CS36
Load more

Recommended publications
  • RCC Summer 2011
    READING CYCLE Reading CAMPAIGN WORKING FOR A CYCLE FRIENDLY READING uk Cyclewww.readingcyclecampaign.org.Reading Summer 2011 No 113 Town Centre Changes Audited Attempting a right turn into Contents Queen Victoria Street – some wizardry may be required 1 Town Centre Changes 8 Annual Bike Census 2011 Audited Bird Racing The results of the Town Centre Audit, undertaken by the Reading 2 Campaign News 9 The Reading Cycle Forum Cycle Campaign, Reading CTC and 4 Other Cycling News 10 Contact Us Sustrans, are outlined in Campaign 6 Chairman’s Letter Campaign Diary News on page 2. CycleReading Summer 2011 1 Campaign News travelling along Garrard Street due to meeting is not scheduled until late confusion among road users. September. Workshops proposed by 3) Station Approach and Station Hill the council on specific issues, such as the difficulty in crossing Reading The unsigned and interim facilities for Bridge, were supposed to take place Campaign News cyclists are confusing and inadequate Reading Borough in May but never materialised. Minor and place cyclists in conflict with infrastructure improvements emanating Council (RBC) other road users and pedestrians. In from the cycle strategy that were due particular the marked facilities lead Town Centre Changes are for completion in 2009/10 languish in cyclists into the door opening zone of the ‘to do’ list. Audited taxis at the rank outside the station. Members of Reading Cycle Campaign, 4) Forbury Road / Blagrave Street In fact the most significant cycle Reading CTC and Sustrans undertook a related action undertaken in 2011 We have seen and had reported cycle audit of the new town centre seems to be the erection of ‘No repeated incidences of cyclists turning layout in May after concerns were Cycling’ signs along the Thames right who come into conflict with west- raised over the certain junctions.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin of the Veteran Car Club of South Australia, Inc
    Bulletin of the Veteran Car Club of South Australia, Inc. www.vccsa.org.au Vol. 7, No. 10 – May 2013 Chairman: Howard Filtness 8272 0594 Treasurer: Tim Rettig 8338 2590 Secretary: David Chantrell 8345 0665 Rallymaster: Phil Keane 8277 2468 Committee: Peter Allen 8353 3438 Neil Francis 8373 4992 Terry Parker 8331 3445 Public Officer Dudley Pinnock 8379 2441 Address for Correspondence: P.O.Box 193, Unley Business Centre, Unley 5061 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vccsa.org.au Bulletin editor : Tony Beaven 0407 716 162 [email protected] Some Nuriootpa Rally photos Meetings The Club holds informal gatherings at 8pm on the Wednesday 5 th June. Rob Elliott will be showing first Wednesday of each month, except January, at pictures and telling us about the wonderful car the Colonel Light Gardens RSL, enter off Dorset museums that he has visited in the U.S.. Ave. Assemble at 7.30 for a pre-meeting chat. The Wednesday 4 th July. Will be our AGM. Please only formal club meeting is the Annual General bring a small plate of supper to share. Meeting, held on the first Wednesday in July each August. We are once again looking at having a year. cinema night, similar to last years very successful Wednesday 1 st May. Anecdotes, photos and tall outing, but not sure where we will find a film as stories from our terrific weekend rally based at good as ‘The Sapphires’. Nurioopta. Bulletin May 2013 Page 1 Upcoming events McLAREN VALE BRITISH LUNCHEON SUNDAY 5 th MAY (not 12 th May as in previous Bulletin) Meet in the carpark at Coles Blackwood at 9.30 for 10am start Travel through Coromandel Valley and Clarendon to Bakers Gully Road.
    [Show full text]
  • Henley and Return from Aldermaston | UK Canal Boating
    UK Canal Boating Telephone : 01395 443545 UK Canal Boating Email : [email protected] Escape with a canal boating holiday! Booking Office : PO Box 57, Budleigh Salterton. Devon. EX9 7ZN. England. Henley and return from Aldermaston Cruise this route from : Aldermaston View the latest version of this pdf Henley-and-return-from-Aldermaston-Cruising-Route.html Cruising Days : 5.00 to 0.00 Cruising Time : 20.00 Total Distance : 37.00 Number of Locks : 28 Number of Tunnels : 0 Number of Aqueducts : 0 Cruise along the Kennet & Avon canal to the River Thames and the renowned town of Henley-on-Thames. Passing Reading you will be central for shopping or just strolling around the streets, window shopping. You may like to visit the Abbey Ruins, or perhaps Reading Gaol, made famous by Oscar Wilde, who wrote De Profundis (a letter to Lord Alfred Douglas) whilst imprisoned there in 1897, as well as the poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol. There are also a couple of museums, and gardens to relax in. You will be spoilt for choice for somewhere to eat, or to enjoy a coffee, perhaps whilst people watching, in this vibrant town. Henley-on-Thames has a pretty waterfront with moored boats. Here, you will find a market town with all facilities. There is a wealth of shops, a theatre and local services, including a launderette. The Henley Royal Regatta is held in the first week of July. Cruising Notes Day 1 If you set off this afternoon, you could travel for a couple of hours before mooring for the night.
    [Show full text]
  • DBA (Desk Based Assessment)
    The Historic Environment Consultancy Heritage Statement: Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land to the West of Kennetholme Quarry Colthrop, Thatcham West Berkshire RG19 4NT National Grid Reference: SU 536 662 Dr Peter Wardle, Colin Lacey & Dr Heather Papworth 15/12/2016 Document Reference Number 2015/1259 Version 1.5 i Historic Environment Consultancy 38 Elvendon Rd Goring on Thames Oxon RG8 0DU, T01491 875584 :[email protected] www.historicenvironment.co.uk Heritage Statement Land to the West of Kennetholme Quarry Heritage Statement: Archaeological Desk Based Assessment Land to the West of Kennetholme Quarry, Colthrop, Thatcham West Berkshire RG19 4NT Dr Peter Wardle, Colin Lacey & Dr Heather Papworth 15/12/2016 Table of Contents 1. Summary ..................................................................................................................... vii 2. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 The Client ............................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Confidentiality and Copyright .................................................................................. 8 2.3 The Land ................................................................................................................ 8 2.4 Site Visit .................................................................................................................. 8 2.5 Current Land Use ................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Funding Partner Logos to Be Added As Header
    (Funding Partner Logos to be Added as Header) The Kennet and Avon Canal Heritage Lottery Fund Partnership (HLFP) ANNUAL REPORT (Draft: Rev3: 4 July 2014) April 2013 to March 2014 Executive Summary This report summarises maintenance and operation expenditure on the Kennet and Avon Canal, as divided by Local Authority Area, for Business Year 2013/14. The report sets out information that fulfil the Trust’s reporting obligations that are set out in the HLF (Restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal) agreement. Role and Objectives of the Canal and River Trust The Canal & River Trust (the Trust) was established in July 2012 and has responsibility for canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs, along with historic buildings, archives and three waterway museums, including the National Waterways Museum. These valuable assets are recognised as a national treasure and a local haven for people and wildlife, and they are held and managed by the new Trust on behalf of the nation. The principal role of the Trust is to care for this unique legacy, holding it in trust for the nation in perpetuity. The Canal and River Trust has been working hard during the last twelve months to develop and refine its long term strategy, recognising that the Trust has a different focus and to British Waterways. Guided by the Trust’s new Chief Executive, Richard Parry, the organisation is under-going a significant change in emphasis to ensure that this longer term strategy is achieved. The Trust recently unveiled its key values that will provide the context for all of its future work; Excellence, Openness, Caring, Inclusive and Local.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of British Waterways' Waterways Condition Survey 2009
    © NABO 2009 BW Waterways Condition Survey 2009 Page 1 Analysis of British Waterways' Waterways Condition Survey 2009 in association with Page 2 BW Waterways Condition Survey 2009 © NABO 2009 Table of Contents Executive Summary..............................................................................................................................3 Report on NABO's BW Waterways Condition Survey 2009...............................................................5 Introduction.................................................................................................................................5 About You...................................................................................................................................5 Cruising Area..............................................................................................................................5 "In better shape than at any time in decades", or not?................................................................6 Locks...........................................................................................................................................6 Bridges........................................................................................................................................6 Cruising and Mooring.................................................................................................................7 Stoppages....................................................................................................................................7
    [Show full text]
  • Devizes to Westminster 2013 Day 1
    Devizes to Westminster 2013 Day 1: Devizes to Newbury 33.65 miles & 34 portages Time Start Finish Day Planned Latest Actual 0.0 125.0 Devizes Wharf: Start 33.7 09:30 09:30 0.2 124.8 Cemetry Road Bridge [No 140] 33.5 09:32 09:33 0.3 124.7 Park Road Bridge [No 139] 33.4 09:33 09:35 0.4 124.6 A361 London Road Bridge [No 138] 33.2 09:35 09:37 0.9 124.1 Brickham Bridge [No 137] 32.8 09:40 09:46 1.0 124.0 Coate Bridge [No 136] 32.7 09:41 09:47 1.8 123.2 Laywood Bridge [No 135] 31.9 09:50 10:02 2.6 122.5 Horton Bridge [No 134] 31.1 09:59 10:15 3.0 122.0 Bishops Cannings swing Bridge [No 133] 30.7 10:04 10:23 3.2 121.8 Horton Chain Bridge [No 132] 30.5 10:06 10:27 3.7 121.3 Horton Fields swing Bridge [No 131] 30.0 10:12 10:35 3.9 121.1 Allington Bridge [No 130] 29.8 10:15 10:39 5.5 119.5 Allington swing Bridge [No 129] 28.2 10:33 11:08 5.9 119.1 Woodway Bridge [No 128] 27.8 10:38 11:15 6.1 118.9 All Cannings Bridge [No 127] 27.6 10:39 11:18 6.9 118.1 England's Bridge [No 126] 26.8 10:49 11:33 7.3 117.7 Stanton Bridge [No 125] 26.4 10:54 11:40 7.9 117.1 Honey Street Bridge [No 124] 25.8 11:00 11:50 8.2 116.8 Alton Valley Bridge [No 123] 25.5 11:04 11:56 8.8 116.2 Woodborough Fields Bridge [No 122] 24.9 11:11 12:06 9.7 115.3 Lady's Bridge [No 120] 24.0 11:21 12:22 10.2 114.8 Bowdens Bridge [No 119] 23.5 11:27 12:31 10.4 114.6 Wilcot swing Bridge [No 118] 23.3 11:30 12:35 10.6 114.4 Wilcot Bridge [No 117] 23.0 11:32 12:39 10.9 114.1 Stowell Park Suspension Bridge [No 116] 22.8 11:35 12:44 11.2 113.8 Bristow Bridge [No 115] 22.5 11:39 12:49 11.8 113.3
    [Show full text]
  • Attach Signage to Totem
    Canal/River Location Standard Description of standard Description Programmed works Lock ladders must extend 900mm below water level or to the lock invert level where Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock 49, Barrowford Road Locks 2.d.1.a this cannot be achieved. STPO o/s ladder fails CRT standard In project program Lock ladders must extend 900mm below water level or to the lock invert level where Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock 45, Top Lock Locks 2.d.1.a this cannot be achieved. o/s ladder fails CRT standard Lock ladders must extend 900mm below water level or to the lock invert level where Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock 46, Lock 2 Locks 2.d.1.a this cannot be achieved. STPO Tps lock ladder fails std In project program Lock ladders must extend 900mm below water level or to the lock invert level where Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock 47, Car Park Locks 2.d.1.a this cannot be achieved. Tps lock ladder fails CRT standard Lock ladders must extend 900mm below water level or to the lock invert level where Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock 48, Lock 4 Locks 2.d.1.a this cannot be achieved. STPG o/s Lock ladder fails std In project program Lock ladders must extend 900mm below water level or to the lock invert level where Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock 51, Bottom Lock Locks 2.d.1.a this cannot be achieved. STPO O/s ladder fails CRT standard In project program Lock ladders must have hoops. Hoops must be a continuation of the stringers of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock 51, Bottom Lock Locks 2.d.1.c ladder.(NEW) STPO Tps ladder fails CRT standard In project program Lock ladders must have sufficient tread depth to allow a secure foothold during use.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes Kennet & Avon Partnership Meeting
    NOTES KENNET & AVON PARTNERSHIP MEETING Date 25 February 2015 10:00hrs – 13:00hrs Venue Devizes Meeting Room, CRT Offices, Devizes Attendees WP Members Tamsin Phipps – Chair (TP), Emma Fearnley (EF), Ken Oliver (KO), Richard Watson (RW), John Inman (JI), Alistair Millington (AM), Nick Worthington – Acting Waterway Manager (NW) CRT Staff Alison Jordan (AJ), Matthew Symonds (MS), Elaine Stanley (ES), Steve Manzi (SM), Dale Marshall (DM), Maeve Thompson (MT) Richard Rutter (RR) via video conference Apologies WP Members Terry Fell (TF), Rob Dean (RD) Action 1. Welcome TP – Chair welcomed the Partnership Members to the meeting. RW and JI were introduced to the partnership. 2. Declarations of Interest TP declared a personal interest with regards to housing estates being built along the Eastern end of the canal and the impact this would have on the towpath (which is already in a poor condition) 3. Notes of previous meeting (Friday 19th December 2014, CRT Office, Devizes) Minutes of the previous meeting were discussed and the following points were raised: TP reported to members that Canal & River Trust are evaluating how User Group Meetings are managed and establishing how they can reach a wider audience. Agenda and keynotes to be improved. AJ is arranging a date and venue for the Spring User Group Meeting which will be held in Newbury area. Page 2 of 3 With regards to destination areas – it was noted that partnership members should focus on 6 key sites. JI JI offered to look at Bridgwater & Taunton for destination areas. JI NW reported to members that there is no provision for towpath improvements and is conscious that significant third party funding and investment is required.
    [Show full text]
  • The Birds of Berkshire
    The Birds of Berkshire Annual Report 2015 Published 2018 Berkshire Ornithological Club Registered charity no. 1011776 The Berkshire Ornithological Club (BOC) was founded as Reading Ornithological Club in 1947 to promote education and study of wild birds, their habitats and their conservation, initially in the Reading area but now on a county wide basis. It is affiliated to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Membership is open to anyone interested in birds and bird-watching, beginner or expert, local patch enthusiast or international twitcher. The Club provides the following in return for a modest annual subscription: • A programme of indoor meetings with expert • Conservation involvement in important local speakers on ornithological subjects habitats and species. BOC members are involved in practical conservation work with groups such • Occasional social meetings as Friends of Lavell’s Lake, Theale Area Bird • An annual photographic competition of very high Conservation Group and Moor Green Lakes Group. standard • Opportunities to participate in survey work to • A programme of field meetings both locally and help understand birds better. The surveys include further afield. These can be for half days, whole supporting the BTO in its work and monitoring for days or weekends. local conservation management. • Regular mid week bird walks in and around many • The Club runs the Birds of Berkshire Conservation of Berkshire’s and neighbouring counties’ best Fund to support local bird conservation projects. birdwatching areas. • Exclusive access to the pre-eminent site Queen Mother Reservoir (subject to permit) This Berkshire Bird Report is published by the Club and provided free to members. Members are encouraged to keep records of their local observations and submit them, electronically or in writing, to the Recorder for collation and analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Lockage Report 2014
    Annual Lockage Report 2014 Produced: Jan 2015 Annual Lockage Report 2014 Annual Lockage Report 2014 The monitoring of lock operations across the network remains an essential element in our water resources management, business and corporate planning. This report marks the 14th year of publishing an Annual Lockage Report. For the 2014 report, we have based the analysis of each Waterway on those lock sites with complete records for both 2013 and 2014 (the comparison sites). Lockage can be defined simply as lock usage through the filling and emptying of a lock chamber, which in turn allows the movement of water and passage of boats. It is important to distinguish lockage from boat movements, which are the actual number of boats which travel through a lock. We have separated boat movements from lockage to acknowledge that averages can be skewed by the boat:lockage ratio (in the case of a typical broad lock, the ratio can be between one and four boats per lockful of water used). The number of lockage and boat movement comparison sites included in the report is 175, an increase of 22 compared with 2013. The total number of lock monitoring sites giving an annual total has increased from 163 (in 2013) to 169 (in 2014). Increased reliability and geographical coverage of lock counters gives us a much better appreciation of overall trends. In the Appendix we have included, for information only, the sites where a complete record for 2013 and 2014 is not available. Nationally, the average number of recorded lock operations in 2014 increased by 2% compared with 2013, (for those sites where data was available for both 2013 and 2014).
    [Show full text]
  • Kennett and Avon Canal- Aldermaston to Reading Moderate Trail: Please Be Aware That the Grading of This Trail Was Set According to Normal Water Levels and Conditions
    Kennett and Avon Canal- Aldermaston to Reading Moderate Trail: Please be aware that the grading of this trail was set according to normal water levels and conditions. Weather and water level/conditions can change the nature of trail within a short space of time so please ensure you check both of these before heading out. Route Summary Distance: 9 miles This linear canal route passes through pleasant Approximate Time: 2-3 Hours countryside, with many more water bodies such as lakes The time has been estimated based on you travelling 3 – 5mph and former gravel pits, and the meanders of the River (a leisurely pace using a recreational type of boat). Kennet, which at one point joins the canal. Eventually, Type of Trail: One Way the town of Reading is obvious to the north, and the canal winds around the south side of the town, before Waterways Travelled: Kennett and Avon Canal and going through almost the centre, and then east to the River Thames Thames. Type of Water: Canal and River The canal gives views of many narrow boats, locks, Portages and Locks: 12 portages- 11 locks and 1 bridge bridges and landscapes, with a level towpath to either walk or cycle on. Many paddlers know the stretch from Nearest Town: Reading Devizes (west of this route), to London, through taking Start: Aldermaston Wharf – RG7 4JS part in the annual Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, Finish: Wokingham Waterside Centre, Reading – RG6 run every year since the 1960s (www.dwrace.org). 1PQ O.S. Sheets: Landranger No. 174 (Newbury and Wantage), and No.
    [Show full text]