The Magazine of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust
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The Magazine of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Issue No. 88 - Summer 2016 David and Sheila Suchet together with David Dixon and Peter Buck unveil the Lichfield Canal panel depicting the tunnel at the Boat Inn (17-June-2016) ay Wha eeth rf L tr Lichfield td S Heart of the Coventry Canal . TEL:01543 414808 MOBILE:0782 4848444 FAX:01543 414770 www.streethaywharf.co.uk 7-DAY CALL OUT SERVICE GEN SETS FITTED DIESEL AND SOLID FUEL STOVES FITTED BOTTOM BLACKING REPAINTING AND SIGNWRITING NEW BOATS FULL & PART FIT-OUT SUPPLIED ALL MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL WORK FULL CHANDLERY STRETCHING AND REBOTTOMING GAS SAFE. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ALL STEEL WORK AND TANKS Support the boat yard on the “Lichfield Ring” Boat Transport, England, Europe Cranage Arranged Site Surveys Complete Service for DIY Repairs Boat Hire Boat Fitting Diesel Pump Out Mooring Boat Sales Laundry Trent & Mersey Canal V.A.T No. 133609427 Chairman’s Column Our Vice-President David Suchet has been so associated in peoples’ minds with the Trust that when I started volunteering, people used to ask “What’s he like?” Yet so ay Wha long is it since David and Sheila last visited us – ten full years ago – that until June eth rf this year I’d never met them. They are charming people, so interested in what we are re L doing, and so supportive of it: we are so fortunate to have them on our side. They t td saw pounds 26 and 27 at Tamworth Road, the former already in water, the latter S minus the “big pipe” which we had removed earlier in the month after consent came . through from Staffordshire’s flood prevention officer. Next time we hope to show them water in pound 27 as well; the Environment Agency whose consent is needed came for a site visit recently and now understand better the issues involved. David hopes too to be able to “cut the ribbon” to inaugurate the section of the “Heritage Towpath Trail” from Walsall Road along our Summerhill section (where he and Sheila saw what we have achieved so far with the SIB grant) and over the aqueduct to Barracks Lane; currently we are still going through necessary approval procedures. Because of their evident interest in our progress and the enthusiasm of our volunteers in showing off every detail of what we’ve been doing, not to mention everyone wanting to take pictures, it was hard to keep to schedule. Some of our invited guests were kept waiting at the Boat Inn; fortunately, and unusually for this June, the weather was kind. The tour ended with the unveiling nearby of an original boundary post from the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) which had been presented to us. We are blessed with fewer original structures and artefacts than some canals, so treasure those we do have. The shape of the forthcoming appeal which David Suchet has offered to head is under discussion. Under the provisional title of “Tunnel Vision” it was targeted at raising the money (estimated at around £1 million) to get the Lichfield Canal under the Cross-City railway south of Lichfield, close to the Birmingham Road roundabout under which we built a section of canal in 2006. But we now know that the earliest that works can start is 2019, and it could be later still; in which case it is a bit early to be seeking funds from kind donors. But of course we have several roads, major and minor, to burrow under before we can open both our canals, and another railway, the Chase Line at Churchbridge. We are looking at making a more general appeal towards funding these structures – mole holes perhaps? Those who came to the AGM in June will know that two of our long-standing directors, Mike Battisson and Bob Mullarkey, stood down. Both have given freely and generously of their time to the Trust, and like others before them have helped greatly to keep the flame of restoration alight. Our good wishes go with them. Christine Howles was elected to Council, doubling the number of females currently serving; she also reduces the average age round the table! Her main role, a new one but so necessary these days, is to manage social media; she is also helping to recruit and train volunteers. Stalwarts Bob Williams and John Bryan were re-elected for further terms; John has been unwell recently but is on the mend as I write. Cut Both Ways Summer 2016 3 Chairman’s Column I am continuing as Chairman for a few months yet; fortunately my land work is being taken on by two enthusiastic retired surveyors, Gill and Jeff, who have volunteered at just the right time. Our President Eric Wood rightly reminded members that we must not forget the Hatherton Canal. It is always on the agenda for Council meetings; the main reason we haven’t recently arranged work parties there is that we have been waiting to gain possession of crucial areas of land. One has just become ours, having been gifted by Cannock Chase Council; the most convenient access is from the A5 at Bridgtown across the premises of Finning CAT, who are being most cooperative. The other has been “on its way” to us for several years, but the legal processes are still uncompleted. Incidentally, there appears to be confusion in the minds of some people (not our members, of course!) about our title, with occasional references to a single “Lichfield and Hatherton Canal”. We must be careful to emphasise that, while our Trust has a double-barrelled name, we are restoring two separate canals. Our guest speaker at the AGM after the formal business of the evening ended was Ian Lane, Canal & River Trust’s West Midlands Waterway Manager, who gave a rousing talk. I was struck by the parallels between CRT, with a rather different outlook from that of their predecessor British Waterways, and the LHCRT. Both realise that boaters are but a minority of canal users (3% is an oft-quoted figure), so we must both appeal as well to the 97%–walkers, anglers, cyclists, not to mention dogs. We both rely heavily on volunteers, whose recruitment and training are vital tasks. Safety and publicity are vital tasks for us both. With similar commitment to the future of our waterways, we must work together whenever we can. And finally, we were delighted to have volunteering at Summerhill, two groups from the Royal School in Wolverhampton, where our late Chairman Brian Kingshott taught for so many years. One of the teachers was interviewed for her job there by Brian, and two of them originate from Cannock which our Hatherton Canal passes through. Brian would have been so pleased that we have forged a link that we hope will continue for many summers to come. David Dixon, (Chairman) Our Vision To reinstate the historic Lichfield Canal and Hatherton Canal for the benefit of the community. The natural wildlife corridor from Huddlesford to Hatherton will provide a valuable amenity for walkers, cyclists, boaters and visitors to use and will bring prosperity to the area. This project will also provide an opportunity for young people to learn about our history, our heritage and our environment. Cut Both Ways Summer 2016 4 Donations to the Trust We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st April to 30th June 2016. Tunnel Vision Name ( in order of receipt ) Trust & Marketing Appeal Mr P Evans 100.00 Mr E Adams (with sub.) 50.00 Mr I Caplan (IWA talk fee) 40.00 Mr R J Fenton (with sub.) 30.00 Easyfundraising 48.65 Mr & Mrs P R Swindale (with sub.) 60.00 Yoxall Scout Group 100.00 Brownhills Peoples Alliance 500.00 Mr D R F Willey, Feet of Clay Fund 500.00 Mr P R Swindale (with sub.) 60.00 Mr J A Sullivan (with sub.) 24.00 Mr J W Farren (with sub.) 54.00 Rev. A J G Cooper 25.00 Mr A J Hales 250.00 Sea Otter Owners Club 100.00 Mr W H Cole (with sub.) 24.00 Mrs C V Lee (with sub.) 24.00 Mr J N Potts (with sub.) 94.00 Mrs J G Sheppard (with sub.) 25.00 Mr P R Newman (with sub.) 35.00 Braunston Marina, show dividend 200.00 Mr R T Willis (private talk fees) 250.00 Mr & Mrs D Gray 90.00 Mr David Stanistreet 120.00 Mr J Moody (returned property rent) 300.00 Mr R O Williams (returned expenses) 202.00 Regular donors to appeals and 2,022.14 1,866.45 aggregated amounts up to £20.00. Cut Both Ways Summer 2016 5 Membership Matters Donations Our sincere thanks once again to those members who, when they pay their annual subscription, feel able to add a donation towards the work of the Trust. Over the course of a year these donations add up to a very useful sum, which we feel is better raised in this way than by an increase in the basic subscription rates. In short–we need you. Please stay with the Trust and please pay when you receive your reminder. My details are: Godfrey Eland, 18 Furnival Crescent, Lichfield, WS13 6DD Email:- [email protected] Towpath Times If you are not receiving our newsletter “Towpath Times”, which is published in the months between editions of Cut Both Ways, this is likely to be because we don’t have your correct email address. If you would like to be included on the mailing list please send an email headed “Towpath” with your name and membership number (or the first line of your address) to [email protected].