Boaters’ Update 20 Sep 2019

Welcome to the latest edition. It’s a bumper one with news of our Annual Meeting, Annual Report and newly published Boater Report. You’ll also find lots of advice on everything from mooring and water conservation through to the delights of the Caldon Canal and wide beam boating advice from wide beam boat owners!

As ever, there’s the regular roundup of news, upcoming events, and the latest stoppages.

If there’s an article you’d like to read in a future edition then please drop me a line.

Happy boating,

Damian

In this edition:

• News round-up and upcoming events • Annual meeting and Boater Report • Wide beam boaters give advice • More mooring advice • Using paddle gear safely • Water resources update • Caldon Canal cruising guide • Toddbrook reservoir update • Get involved • Maintenance, repair and restoration work affecting cruising this weekend

News round-up and upcoming events

Over the last few weeks you may have heard, or seen, that:

• 12 Sep – Bicycles, traffic cones, fridge components, underpants and safes. No, not some bizarre shopping list but just some of the things one of the country’s biggest canal clean-ups removed. Of the 1.8 tonnes of rubbish, 809 Kgs of it was plastic (nearly half). • 12 Sep – Angling clubs across our canal network are being encouraged to nominate venues for the 2020 Canal Pairs Championship. With the promise of a star studded final line up on the Shropshire Union in this year’s final on Saturday 19 October we, in partnership with Angling Trust, are now asking angling clubs to put forward canal venue suggestions for the 2020 qualifiers. • 18 Sep – Details have been announced for the biggest ever Sheffield Waterfront Festival, as part of our year of celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of Sheffield & Tinsley Canal.

Below I’ve picked out some events that you might be interested in over the next month. There are plenty of other activities and volunteering opportunities if none of the below

take your fancy. Just visit the events section of the website to find the perfect one for you.

• 21 & 22 Sep – Meet the North West's canal restorers on SS 'Daniel Adamson'. Don't miss this unique event where ten of the leading restoration societies come together to promote the waterway movement and the specific benefits of their individual projects. • 22 Sep – Looking to end the weekend with something completely different? Then head to Dobson’s Lock on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to learn some simple mindfulness practices and see the canal in a whole new light before enjoying some outdoor yoga as the sun sets. • 27 Sep – Bring your family for an adventure on the Grantham Canal. The Nottinghamshire Bat Group will be joining us for an evening walk to see how many bats we can spot.

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Annual Meeting, Annual Report and Boater Report

If, on an unexpectedly warm September day (yesterday, 19 September), you found yourself canalside in the Kingston Theatre in Birmingham then there’s a very good chance you were at our Annual Public Meeting.

At that meeting you would have heard that during 2018/19 we increased our charitable spend and saw further growth in volunteering and support – all detailed in our 2018/19 annual report and accounts.

Spending on our charitable activities topped £156m while those volunteering gave a record 670,000 hours of their time. Green Flag status also continued to grow with 250 miles of waterway holding the quality assurance mark at year end (now 300 miles). You may have noticed, while out on the cut, that we also recorded a small rise in boats on the network.

Chair Allan Leighton commented: “The past year has seen continued progress as the Trust works towards its ambition of living waterways that transform places and enrich lives.

“This year we have maintained the investment in the network that is so vital to all our four million regular users - boaters, anglers and towpath visitors - while taking the decision to reposition the Trust to raise awareness of the hugely important role that waterways are playing in improving the daily lives of millions of people. As we look towards the 2020s, we know that the foundation we have laid in this first phase of the Trust’s life will give us a strong platform from which to build a powerful case for ongoing funding, and a compelling appeal to a broader audience, to make their lives better by water.”

Chief executive Richard Parry comments: “While delivering our waterway operation, maintenance and repair remains our priority, we are striving for greater efficiency so that our funds can go further. The past year has seen us reminded of the scale of our core responsibility with some extreme weather contributing to infrastructure damage and to severe water shortages in many areas in the peak summer months.

“Our capacity to deliver on our broader strategic agenda has been strengthened this year through a major restructure that has seen accountability devolved into regional teams whose priorities reflect the needs and aspirations of each area that they serve.”

Highlights in the 2018/19 annual report and accounts include:

• An increase in charitable spending to £156m with record spend on waterway operation, maintenance and repair • Growth in volunteering to 671,000 hours, with the first volunteer recording 10,000 hours of service for the Trust, and a 27% growth in volunteer lock keepers to 1,130 • A further increase as Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag status awarded to 250 miles of canals at year end (now 300 miles) • 420 local groups – canal adoption groups, corporate volunteers and community groups – helping to care for the Trust’s canals • Over 92,000 children enjoyed face-to-face sessions with the Trust’s Explorer’s team and nearly 4,000 adults and children took part in a ‘Let’s Fish!’ taster-session • An increase in boats of 0.5% to 34,367 with boating accounting for around 22% of overall income • A growth in Friends (those making a regular financial donation) rising 18% to almost 29,000

Another thing, if you’d been at the meeting, that you would have seen is the second edition of our annual Boater Report. This report, developed specifically for boat licence holders, gives an overview of how much it costs to maintain our canals and rivers, including where our money comes from and where it gets spent, for example how much gets spent on dredging, maintenance, vegetation management, and on customer service facilities.

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Your wide beam boating advice

It seems like a long time ago but, in fact, a few editions ago I asked wide beam boat owners to get in touch with advice for those thinking about, or just starting out, as a wide beam boater. Thanks to those of you that did!

There’s not room to include every nugget so the following list represents a summary of the key points. It’s worth noting that the advice comes from wide beam boaters who themselves have also had narrowboats (including the owners of the 60x12ft floating gallery & cinema Fiodra!):

• On tight bends have someone at the bow to signal if a boat is coming. With less room for manoeuvring on bends it can help to avoid collision with a boat or trees. • Slow down approaching bridge holes and look down the tow path side only to pass it as closely without contact. The off-side will be ok. • Don't be arrogant with a bigger boat. We often go more slowly especially on shallow stretches. We may wave boats through at bridge holes or pull over if they are caught behind us. • Be mindful about where you moor up. Try and choose a wide section of the cut. Don't moor where trees restrict the navigable width. • Wide beams displace more water than a narrow boat. So it's especially important to slow down passing moored boats in restricted channels.

• If you want to cruise around be especially mindful of which canal you put your boat on (ours is too fat for the narrow locks). • There’re fewer dry docks that can accommodate wide beams so be prepared for a good trip to find one (and the extra cost involved). • Consideration should be given to your boat’s home mooring – most marinas have double berths so two narrowboats sit side by side. may be charged for the extra space.

Thanks again to all those who got in touch. If you’re a wide beam boater and think other tips need adding to the list then do please drop me a line. Equally, if you’re considering upsizing to a wide beam and have questions then please send them in and, in a future edition, we’ll run a wide beam frequently asked questions article.

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Your mooring advice

You may recall, in the last edition, that I summarised the advice you would give other boaters when they’re mooring up. Since then, more of you have got in touch, thanks. Most confirmed that what was previously featured was generally good but there was one omission, point five below, that was need to complete the list:

1. When mooring at popular visitor moorings don’t leave gaps, as in the photo on the right, between your boat and the next one. If there’s no space, ask if you can breast up. 2. Don’t moor on blind bends, near bridge holes, or anywhere the canal narrows. 3. Don’t moor, or leave your boat unattended, on service points, winding holes or lock landings unless you’re using the associated facility. 4. Make sure you tie up securely and use spring lines. 5. Don’t run generators before 8am or after 8pm. 6. In rural areas, when a boat is moored in isolation, moor away from them as they’re likely to have picked that spot for its tranquility.

In addition to the advice above, one boater sent in a handy tip:

“Measure your boat including fenders using normal paces, not exaggerated paces, then your crew can walk on ahead to find a gap (at a visitor mooring). When we are getting nearer to where we want to moor my wife drops off the boat at a convenient spot, walks along to the moorings whilst I poddle along slowly, she finds a gap and paces it out, (21 of her paces for our boat) raises her hand, I pull up and throw her a middle rope and she pulls me in sideways with me gently going forward/reverse to get into the gap. Never fails. But it is amazing how many people will tell us we can’t get in and are then surprised when we do. We’ve been told many times when we explain what a brilliantly simple idea it is.”

Next up is… Well, actually, I’d like you, good reader, to decide! There are still a few boating subjects to consider – using a lock, visitor mooring etiquette (when, and how, to breast up, running engines etc.), choice of boat for first time boat owners and so on. Please drop me a line and let me know what you’d like to see covered – it doesn’t have to be one of the suggested topics either!

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Using lock paddle winding gear

The last edition featured a video on how to go through a tunnel safely. This time round it’s lock paddle gear as it’s been reported that some boaters are using the large eye of a windlass on tapered spindles. The video below demonstrates the correct (and safe) way to do it… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UIW7VotJpM

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Water resources update

Following the heavy rain in July and August, the vast majority of the Trust’s reservoirs are at, or near to, their long-term average levels for this time of year.

In central London, however, flows within the River Colne that feed the remain low, which is having a direct impact on the water levels on the Paddington Arm, the Regent’s Canal, and the . Our monitoring systems also show water is frequently being run through London locks overnight, further depleting the water supply.

This means that we’ve taken the difficult decision to temporarily close navigation so that water levels can return to normal. You can see details of the locks affected in the stoppage section below.

You may be wondering why the closure feels so sudden. While the amount of water coming into the Grand Union has been reduced recently, the situation has been manageable. However, water levels on the 26-mile pound can fluctuate very quickly, and when water is lost in these conditions it can be hard to replenish, especially when we’re limited in how much water we can get from other sources.

We’re monitoring the situation constantly and will reopen the locks as soon as practically possible – in fact by the time you read this some locks may be open again! We appreciate your patience during this unprecedented time.

That’s central London. We’re also experiencing low water levels on the at Stanstead and Hardmead Locks due to low groundwater levels in the area and an ongoing demand from Thames Water who abstract from the river upstream. We’re working with the Environment Agency to ensure that their flood gates, which are next to our locks, are allowing a sufficient bypass flow through this pound. Despite this at times the pound level has dropped below normal and at present we’re having to close the navigation for short periods to rebalance the levels.

We’re keeping a close eye on water levels across the south of the country, where the dry weather is continuing to cause us concerns. On the South Oxford Canal, water levels at the Boddington Reservoir remain very low, and we’re proposing to close Marston Doles and Claydon lock flights overnight from 7 October to preserve water over the Oxford summit, unless significant changes occur. We’ll also be maximising the amount of water we can recover via the pumps at Napton. Low groundwater levels on the Kennet & Avon is also making it a challenge to keep the summit pound meeting typical boating demand. Our water management and regional teams are looking at options to make the best use of the water.

Boaters have an important role to play in saving water and we ask that you help us by making sure that all gates and paddles are closed after use, sharing a lock if possible, and waiting for oncoming boats. It’s helpful to aim for minimal contact when using locks by ensuring gates are fully open as pushing them open using a boat can damage the gate lining. Thank you for your help.

Contact us on 0303 040 4040 for local updates or to report the unauthorised use of lock paddles.

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Caldon Canal cruising guide

You may remember that over the past few editions I’ve been asking for your suggested lesser known waterways – the ones which you’ve cruised, and loved, but not many others know about. I’m keen to get more suggestions if you have them…

One which has, by a fair few readers, been suggested is the Caldon Canal. So, boater and colleague Debbi Figueiredo took to Twitter and YouTube to get your advice. The fabulous full cruising guide, developed with the help of those who’ve cruised it, is now on our website.

If it inspires you take a trip then do let us know!

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Toddbrook reservoir update

Although the huge emergency response to protect the town of Whaley Bridge may have fallen off the front pages of the national media, for us and our contractors, in many respects the hard work is just getting underway.

Rob Jowett, the project manager leading the team of experts planning the repairs, says: “Moving on from the emergency response, our job now is to understand what happened, and why, and prepare the detailed plans for repairing the damaged dam wall. It is a huge job which is likely to take some time.

“Our works to date have involved injecting grout under very high pressure into the top of the damaged dam, raising the level of the inlet weir to prevent water flowing into the drained reservoir, clearing the silt and vegetation from the bywash channel and moving the satellite pumps from the sailing club side of the reservoir to the main pumping site. The focus of this work is to make sure the bywash channel can operate at full capacity, diverting as much water as possible, and the pumps in the reservoir are mainly dealing with just rainfall capture.

“We have also welcomed the government announcement that they are conducting a nationwide review of the already stringent regime around reservoir inspections and maintenance. Their review will supplement our own inquiry into what led to the damaged spillway, which the Board of Trustees has already launched, with any lessons learned shared with other reservoir owners to inform their own inspection and maintenance regimes. We are supporting the government investigation in any way we can.”

The Trust is holding a drop in surgery for boaters and local Whaley Bridge residents at the Transhipment Warehouse in Whaley Bridge every Wednesday, between the hours of 2.00pm and 4.00pm. Days or hours may be extended depending on the level of demand, we may also look to provide specific specialist themes during these times, again, depending on the interest, so why not pop by and say hello if you’re in the area.

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Get Involved

Many boaters go the extra mile in helping to keep canals and rivers in good condition by volunteering, donating, or just picking up the odd piece of discarded plastic. As you’re such an integral part of what makes waterways so wonderful, and life better by water, I thought you’d like to know about other ways you can get involved:

• Can you believe that there are less than 100 days until Christmas? Well, for those who plan ahead, you can now view the Trust’s available winter mooring sites online ahead of them being available to book on 1 October.

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Maintenance, repair and restoration work affecting cruising this weekend

As someone who’s out on, or by, the water more often than most you’ll know that there are times when we need to fix things that unexpectedly break. So, below, you’ll find a list of anything that’s happening that may affect you if you’re planning on a cruise this weekend.

Below you’ll find, by canal or river, those that may affect your plans this weekend:

• Dudley No 1 Canal • Grand Union Canal • Hertford Union Canal • Huddersfield Narrow Canal • Lancaster Canal • Lee Navigation • Macclesfield Canal • Manchester, Bury & Bolton Canal • Montgomery Canal • Pocklington Canal • Prescott Channel • Regent's Canal • River Severn Navigation • River Stort • Weaver Navigation

When any restrictions to navigation happen, we get them up on to our website as soon as we can – always best to have a scan before you set off for a cruise. The tech savvy among you may already know that you can set up your smartphone to notify you if a notice is issued for a canal or river that you’re interested in. For those that didn’t know, check out this guide to setting it up.

If you have any questions about a specific closure then just get in touch.

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Happy boating,

Damian