Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER Roger Evans – Why has bridge 169 been painted a very light blue This has been painted by a member of the public without the Trent & Mersey instead of the traditional white trust’s knowledge, the heritage team are dealing with this and Canal Society we are waiting for an update from them. Bob Luscombe – 1. Any plans for dredging on Macclesfield Canal, in There are no plans for general dredging on the Macclesfield IWA North particular bridge holes on summit level where boats Canal at present. We are aware of the concerns about a few Staffordshire and are regularly getting stuck. of the bridge locations but have not been able to secure funds South Cheshire for spot dredging at these sites yet, but will continue to press.
2. Towpath vegetation on Macclesfield and UPF canals The length of both of these canals will have their hedges cut restricting towpath access and creating danger for beginning in November. Completion in February. users e.g. when cyclists meet pedestrians forcing someone into vegetation or worse.
3..Has offside vegetation work been completed by Yes all offside vegetation that has been highlighted for contractors between bottom of Bosley and Hall Green removal has now been completed by the contracts team from the T&M/ Macc Junction up to Bosley services. Work has now started north of Bosley services, Volunteers will be undertaking the very important removal of the wash wall saplings north of Bosley. To date 6000 mtrs of offside veg has been removed and 53 trees have been felled on the Macclesfield Canal 4. Repair of broken access gates (e.g bridge 72 on We were unaware of the broken access gates, but will look Macclesfied canal into this.
5. Repair of collapsed wash wall at Bosley Services (now We are planning for this work to be included in next years’ over two years since it happened) causing navigation contract programme. This is currently being developed and difficulties for boats using the services we will be able to provide an update later in the year.
6. Graffiti overpainting at bridge 75 on Macclesfield canal This is a main road bridge in the ownership of the local and measures to prevent further. authority. We acknowledge that it is unsightly and would be happy work with others in an approach to the highways Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER authority to try and get this cleaned up.
7. Improvements to lock moorings below Hall Green lock We are putting in place measures to provide an alternative which are currently unusable by boaters. lock landing here. The reinstatement of the wall at the current location would be very costly.
8. Re instatement of temporarily closed locks on Cheshire The closed chamber at TM Lock 63 will have work on it next Flight eg lock 63 and others summer to stabilize the moving walls and reinstate this to the full width. With that done we will use the reinstated chamber while the currently open one is worked on.
The wider restoration project of reopening long standing closed chambers remains an ambition but we are not actively progressing work to be done by the Trust towards this at present.
Mike Carter Poor condition of canal between Anderton and Dutton We will be carrying out work this winter to the wash walls between Saltersford and Barnton Tunnels at a variety of locations to address low points/ improve condition.
There are a lot of locations on the Trent and Mersey generally where there are problems with the wash walls. We try to deal with repairs in order of priority, balanced with the other work that we are doing.
1. Gating of Undercroft Thank you to everyone who provided us with comments relating to the proposal to install overnight gates at the Undercroft. The conclusion of that can be best described as reluctantly accepting given the history of this area. Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER
There remains a substantial element of formal process to go through which is being led by Manchester City Council. There will be a formal consultation about the plans either before or after Christmas and we will make sure that this is publicised to our customers when this goes live. 2. Water supply over the pennines Not clear what we can add on this though happy to discuss at the meeting to identify the concerns.
Barry Greenhough Number of Canal & River Trust boats overstaying on the The Bridgewater canal is not managed by Canal & River – Bridgwater Bridgewater canal. Trust, we therefore have no rights of enforcement here. If you Canal Watch have specific concerns relating to overstaying on the Bridgewater you can contact The Bridgewater Canal Company on Tel 0161 629 8432
1. Poor state of banks at Acton Bridge and between See comments above Barnton and Saltersford tunnels.
Neil Pickles – 1. Speed limit signs on Rochdale Canal. We do not normally have speed signs that I am aware of or Hebden Bridge have been informed of the requirement for apart from signs Angling Society that inform boats of obstructions in the water and to stay left
or right, this is normally to ensure boats do not run aground or get damaged. We don’t have evidence of speeding above
4mph on the Rochdale – people boating past persons who are angling is a matter for code of conduct which I believe most boaters understand. Is there a particular problem area?
2. Bank erosion is eating away at the towpath at an We are aware of issues with washwalls in the northern area of uncontrollable rate. the Rochdale canal. We are currently undertaking piling works in the Mytholmroyd area and will be seeking further funding for further works next year. Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER
Terry McKee – Excessive weed growth on MB&B. Tried to control it, but This will have to be brought up with the M&P waterways, Bolton & District seem to be losing the battle. Matches have had to be advice will have to be sought from the Ecologist team before Angling cancelled due to this. any actions if any can be taken regarding weed control and Association removal
Ian Moore – IWA Update on the Colne Valley Greenway and what impact it Formal update to follow. West Riding could have on the Huddersfield Canal. Bryan Pollard – 1.) The latest Boater’s Update mentions unpowered craft The waterway have agreed to these two tunnels as being NW Chairman allowed in tunnels. It specifically mentions Barnton & suitable, there is visibility through provided craft are properly AWCC Saltersford tunnels on the Trent & Mersey Canal as lit and using the timed navigation slots. suitable tunnels for unpowered craft . The construction and line of the tunnels prevent a clear view from one end of the tunnel to the other and therefore I feel that these tunnels are not suitable for unpowered craft. This would be an unsafe practice.
2) There is a presence of Pennywort weed from Our contract team have been instructed to undertake a 2nd Middlewich to around bridge 212 on the Trent & spray application of the Pennywort from Preston Brook Tunnel Mersey Canal. I am pleased that a considerable to Harecastle Tunnel on the T&M canal, this will take place at amount of the weed has been cleared from bridge the end of November. 212 towards Preston Brook. The application in September covered the area from Preston Is there any plans to clear the remaining weed? Brook Tunnel down to the boat lift at Anderton.
3) Vegetation Control. When the tall vegetation at the This vegetation will not be allowed to fall into the canal, wash wall is cut down do you allow it to fall into vegetation and small saplings will be mulched up when the canal? What happens to it? removed and larger young trees will be windrowed .
4) Anderton Visitor Moorings – I have noticed that 2 We haven’t entered into any trading mooring agreements at trade boats have been mooring on the visitor this location so they are not trading moorings as far as we are moorings (a Fudge Boat and Baked Potato Boat) aware. Boats with roving trader business licences should Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER they have exceeded the 24 hour limit for mooring. abide by the max stay times at visitor moorings like other The number of mooring places has been reduced boats recently because of faulty mooring rings. This had been classed as an attractive mooring and there were plans to charge for overstaying the 24 hrs permitted mooring. Are these now trade boat moorings? 5) Trent & Mersey Canal - half a mile from The Salt There are plans to raise this area of sunken copings this Barge pub towards Anderton Boat Lift, the bank winter, an agreed date has not yet been finalised with our has subsided down to water level. Are there any contractor but it is likely to be around February. There are plans to rectify this issue, could any remedial currently no plans to include rings but we can check and see action include the provision of additional mooring rings. if they can be added.
Ray Butler – 1. CRT's Dimensions Data Macclesfield Canal Society (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/1059.p df) states that the draught for the Macclesfield To minimise water loss from the canal we target to operate Canal is 1.08 M (3.54 ft) and the Peak Forest the canal just off weir in a range upto 50mm below the critical Canal is 1.35M (4.43 ft) weir level. This is because we need to conserve water in this area and cannot afford to waste water with boat wash over Given that weirs and the like. Our experience is that when operated at . The summit level is usually several centimetres that level the canal is OK. below datum, and . Boats drawing much less than these figures are There have been some occasions over the summer when the regularly becoming stuck in some notorious bad water level was allowed to fall well outside this range and that places (such as the scour South of Br 20) should not have happened. We will be focussing much harder on this in the future. What instructions do Trust staff have about
maintaining the depth in the summit? There is no main line dredging planned for the Macclesfield in Why is the depth maintained below zero on the the next 2 years, however we have forwarded areas such as depth gauges? bridge holes and winding holes to be included in the national When do you expect to dredge the bad places? spot dredging programme which as yet has not been finalised. Users can help by reporting any localised spot that requires Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER What can we as users do to help get the resources dredging to the waterway office so a comprehensive record for dredging? can be maintained between the 8 year interval for surveying each length.
2. Can you please let us know some more about the The work is statutorily required in the interests of safety to forthcoming works to Bosley Reservoir, in increase our ability to draw down the reservoir quickly if there particular: was ever an emergency. The existing draw-off also requires inspection which will be done at the same time. The work will . The start and end dates install a new symphonic outlet. When you expect the reservoir to be back at capacity after the works We have deferred the work for 12 months so it is now What impact the works will have on water levels. expected to go ahead in 2015 – dates to be confirmed.
We have deferred the work because the project detail was not finally settled and had reached the point where we could not be confident that the reservoir would recharge in time for next year.
While we cannot give a specific date for the recharge to have taken place, we are confident that levels will come up. Water supply to the canal has been reduced to the absolute minimum from Bosley and Sutton reservoirs, both of which are now filling week by week.
Joan and David Bridge 47 Macclesfield Canal – We have had another We have carried out work to clean out the ball race that the Jones – Furness injury reported by one of our members (strained back – bridge swings on and this has significantly improved the Vale Boat Club still there 3 weeks later). Took 4 boat crews to move operation of the bridge. Looking ahead we are building that bridge at end of September. Can there be a permanent activity into the maintenance schedule for the bridge twice a solution to this problem, ie permanently open to canal before someone sustains a really serious injury? year which we believe should be sufficient. The bridge is collecting debris now where in the past and this is due to the wear of the structure underneath. Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER
We know that the ball race is also damaged but do not believe that this is a significant issue at present, but will continue to monitor.
Ray Barber – Maintenance programme 2014-15 winter lock 13 – 51. We are sorry if the club feel that the quality of the fishery has Todmorden declined as a consequence of the reintroduction of navigation Renewals programme lock 13 – 51. Angling Society or the maintenance and operation of the canal. It is our Outcome/Feedback of meeting and canal towpath walk ambition to grow navigation on the canal as well so we accept with John Ellis. that work is needed to find a compromise in the way that we work together. We want a good sustained relationship with the club.
Over the next 12 months we will be developing a Fisheries and Angling plan for the Manchester & Pennine waterway which will involve discussions with all of the angling clubs to find out their concerns and how they would like to see things improve. This will allow a more strategic approach to be taken in promoting the development of the fisheries.
It will not be simple to find external funding to assist this and it is not clear how much, if any resources, the Trust will be able to put to it. However, when taking such an approach we have a great track record in enabling works funded by others.
We will also shortly be launching new mandatory procedures for the management of fish stocks in concert with maintenance activities. This is to provide a transparent process for fish rescues and other activities, and ensure that clubs are properly consulted about work that we have planned – destinations for rescued fish for example. It is also expected that 1 or 2 club officers will be able to witness fish rescues. All fish rescue data will be collated by the National Fisheries & Angling Team as a further check that things are being done in line with procedures. Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER
Many clubs, including Todmorden Anglers, have concerns regarding our offside vegetation management programme. During the 2015/16 financial year the National F & A team will be working closely with Environment Team colleagues to incorporate a fisheries and angling section into the Environmental Appraisal process. This should lead to fisheries habitat being more sympathetically managed whilst at the same time ensuring that necessary tree safety works still take place.
It is unlikely that the Trust will be able to assist with fish re- stocking this financial year. We have suffered two major pollutions on the Erewash, and Trent and Mersey Canals totalling £72k. Unfortunately we have not been able to recover this loss from insurers. The restoration of these fisheries will be a priority for the national team over the next 12 months, none the less National Fisheries Angling Manager will be available to meet and start the process of action planning early in the new year.
Christine Orentas No Facilities between Littleborough and Ancoats From time to time we receive comments about the lack of Anne Leggett (Manchester facilities on the Rochdale canal and acknowledge that more Rochdale Canal would be desirable. The original restoration project did not Society provide significantly for this and we have had no funds/other opportunities to develop facilities since then.
Looking ahead, I don’t believe that we will be able to commit funds from the general maintenance budgets to create new services. However, opportunities do sometimes arise and so it is useful for us to know what and where the greatest need is. We welcome feedback at any time. David Castle Why in your first page is there no mention of the That was an administration oversight on our part for which we Saddleworth Manchester and Pennine Waterway Customer Forum - Pre-Submitted Questions
12th November, Middlewich Town Hall / 19th November, Rochdale Town Hall
NAME/ ORG QUESTION / ISSUES ANSWER Angling Society Huddersfield Narrow Canal? apologise.
We carried out investigations of the lock paddles at the There has been constant problems with the movement of beginning of the year and found no problems. The pounds boats through lock 26. Due to the gate being damaged and water levels being low ie no more than 2ft and an here are short and the levels will change with boat issue with the wash walls. movements. What you have described sounds like significant level changes and we will reinvestigate.