The Magazine of the National Association of Boat Owners Issue 5 September 2019

CYCLOPATHS ON TOWPATHS

CRT : HOW DID THEY DO?

MARPLE WHARF BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT 23

The NABO Council Regional Representatives Chair Anglian Waterways Stella Ridgway Vacant The magazine of the National Association of Boat Owners 07904 091931, [email protected] East Midlands Waterways Issue 5 September 2019 Vice-Chair Joan Jamieson Vacant 0115 981 2047 [email protected] Contents Next NABO News copy date Treasurer London Waterways Helen Hutt David Williams 4 Editorial Articles, letters, cartoons and photos are most wel­come. Images in JPEG format please. 07813 496208 [email protected] 5 In the Chair 07831 682092, [email protected] Please email or post your contributions by Middle Level 6 Fly on the wall Legal Affairs and BSS Rep. November 23rd 2019. Our email address is Mike Rodd Vacant 7 Around the regions: Wales & South West News: Glandwr Cymru appoints new [email protected] 07831 860199, [email protected] North East, Yorkshire and Humber, Shared Chair Ownership Rep. NABO News Editor 8 News: CRT Annual Report Cover photo Peter Fellows Howard Anguish 12 Toddbrook latest 01482 669876 [email protected], shareowners@ This month’s cover photo has a more relaxed type 19 High Street, Bonsall, Derbyshire, DE4 2AS 14 Red diesel demise? 01629 825267, [email protected] nabo.org.uk of cycling than the towpath cycling described in 16 NABO: AGM nomination forms Webmaster, NAG (Operations) and BSS Rep. North Wales & Borders Waterways this issue Taken on the Leeds and Liverpool at David S. Fletcher David Fletcher 18 Winter moorings. Skipton by the Editor. 19 Boating: The Nene revisited Win a year’s free membership by having your 07719 276659, [email protected] [email protected] 20 Talking points: Towpath cycling: photo selected for the front cover of NABO Media Officer North West Waterways Cyclopaths News. Please email photos as JPEG attachments, Alison Tuck Peter Vickers 22 Oxford cycling consultation ideally portrait format with a file size of 2MB or 07450 108659, [email protected] 07517 157154 [email protected] larger. River Severn 23 On roads, cyclists are vulnerable—but on Communications Officer, Moorings Rep. towpaths they're the menace. Mark Tizard Phil Goulding (details left) 24 Tigers need your old rope 07818 757676, [email protected] River Thames 25 New homes for historic boats Graham Paterson Continuous Cruising Rep. 26 Marple Wharf back on the agenda. Phil Goulding 0118 986 3959 [email protected] 28 Techies’Corner: Engine gauges River Trent 01271 865340, [email protected] 29 Rewind: Issue No 5, 2004 Vacant Regional Reps. Coordinator, Promotion and 30 Letters, I name this boat Recruitment South East Waterways Ken Hylins Geoff Wood 07852 911539, [email protected] 07968 491118 [email protected] Minutes Secretary Southern Waterways , Welsh Waterways Vacant Mike Rodd General Sec. (External Relations) [email protected] Mark Tizard West Midlands Waterways 07818 757676, [email protected] Alison Tuck NABO News is published by the [email protected] National Association of Boat Owners

Additional Contacts PO Box 7366, Wolverhampton, WV1 9GQ NABO Online Editor: Peter Fellows Production: Chris Pink Assistant for the Disabled National Association of Boat Owners Ken Hylins Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the contents of this newsletter are factually correct, we accept no liability for any direct Mark Tizard 07852 911539, [email protected] or consequential loss arising from any action taken by anyone as a result of reading anything contained in this publication. The Administration views expressed are not necessarily those of the Association. The products and services advertised in this publication are not Twitter @NABO_Official necessarily endorsed by the Association. Vacant David Fletcher CRT Emergency No: 0800 4799947 EA Emergency No: 0800 807060 Contact CRT waterway managers at canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/our-regions NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 4 5 The Editor’s Column In the Chair

RT’s Annual Report, pub- social media posts by NABO mem- ince my last missive, it all Customer Service team at CRT. They lished in July, makes for bers and other boaters suggests that started with rain; lots and worked their socks off, emailing up- mixed reading: income failing or leaking locks, overgrown lots of rain. On July 29th, we dates to boaters in the area, plus C and expenditure on the vegetation and CRT’s inability to S noticed a video on Facebook boaters sighted in the area within waterways were up in all areas over control speeding towpath cyclists of Toddbrook reservoir overtop- the previous fortnight, and generally the year, but boater satisfaction are more likely causes of boaters’ ping—hardly surprising considering keeping everyone up to date. declined significantly. CRT at- dissatisfaction. I have devoted a the amount of rain we’d experienced. As far as the reservoir is con- tributes this to ‘disruption due to significant section of this issue to The canal was so full that the cerned, the dam came close to summer water shortages, changes problems caused by towpath lycra- water was level with the bank and breaking, but it didn’t and the inves- to licence fees, concerns about net- louts and possible ways that CRT CRT opened sluice gates near us to tigation will tell us what happened. work maintenance, and concerns could address them. feed water into the River Goyt. On Anything else is pure speculation. about the Trust’s repositioning.’ There is also the looming threat Thursday morning, 1st August, the But I will say that to factor in two Correspondence in this issue and of a change in the law regarding use local news said that Whaley Bridge months’ rain in 48 hours into an of red diesel, which can only result was being evacuated; all excitement already full reservoir is possibly in increased costs to already hard- and apprehension. Toddbrook res- something that needs to be thought pressed boaters (unless everyone ervoir supplies the Peak Forest canal about when doing the inspections Don't be shy! gets a trading licence and becomes and is the top feeder for the Cheshire and forecasts, as these events may exempt!). I have included NABO’s Ring. If it flooded, it would take out become more frequent. NABO needs YOU response to the HMRC consulta- the Whaley Bridge shops, the rail- tion on the effects of these proposed way station, the school, houses, Keep your chinook up Editor Peter Fellows describes some current changes and also a response to the basin and any boats in Whaley Oxfordshire County Council’s con- Bridge. Although the police ad- Stella Ridgway on an eventful time in the High Peak. threats to boating and why you can help NABO. sultation on new local cycling and vised boaters to leave their boats, walking infrastructure plans. we studied all the projections and, Graham Clarke gives a critique of while there might have been a slight And so our little towns were on CRT’s resubmitted plans for the de- surge, the river and floodplain would the world stage for a brief time, but Photo: CRT Photo: velopment of Marple Wharf, thrown have taken the full impact. Videos now back to earth. CRT’s AGM is out by Stockport Council last year; showed the river at 14-15 feet above on 19th September, a Thursday, so I yet another instance of a threat to its normal level on the Wednesday need to change my dialysis day—last waterway heritage. Elsewhere, Helen and there had already been evacua- year, I did dialysis and then travelled Hutt reports on changes on the River tions due to the river flooding. But down and was completely shattered, Nene since her last visit and Mike on Thursday this had dropped sev- so I’ve learned my lesson. I hope that Rodd describes CRT staff changes en or eight feet as the EA managed if any of you get to Birmingham on in Wales and the South-West. In levels. All traffic was stopped go- the 19th, you will say hello. You will Techies’ Corner, Tony Brooks ex- ing through New Mills, the A6 was see the NABO submission to the red plains why false readings can occur closed and there were no Buxton diesel consultation; this may or may on temperature and pressure gauges. trains; it was quiet. not be an academic exercise. Finally, NABO’s AGM is on the We were cut off until 7th August, The nomination forms for NABO horizon in November and I have in- six days later, when the dam was Council are in the magazine in time cluded a nomination form to stand deemed safe and residents were al- for our own AGM in November. I so for the Council. We need new blood lowed back and the roads reopened. hope that you will consider being a to keep NABO up to speed to ad- It was a bit surreal hearing all the council member. There are six meet- dress boaters’ needs and I would traffic again and surprising to see ings a year, three by teleconference encourage you to consider stand- how life returned to normal. Whaley and three ‘in person’. We need more ing. As it says on the form, “Don't Bridge has reported a surge in visi- people on the council to get a greater be shy!—being on the Council is tors and we can attest to an increase breadth and depth of boating expe- rewarding and interesting … and in boating traffic and speed— rience across the system. There are occasionally frustrating. You'll learn “SLOW DOWN” and “get rid of the also meetings with the Trust that what goes on behind the scenes and motorway in your head” are often you can attend if you wish, but it is make new friends into the bargain. I heard emanating from our boat. not an onerous task; it is good to hope to see you at the AGM. I want to congratulate the share experience and knowledge. NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 6 7 NABO Council, September 1st 2019 News This month’s Council meeting two feet. Councillors await news of Unfortunately, the centralised CRT contact Glandwr Cymru was by teleconference, with many plans for what will happen to this form does not have a reference number for members phoning in during a break and other earth dams around the each complaint or suggestion, so it is difficult appoints new Chair from cruising in different parts of system. for boaters to follow up whether remedial ac- the system. Chair, Stella, reported on Widebeams, especially the newer tion has been taken. Also CRT is not collating The Canal & River the Toddbrook dam event in August, 12-foot wide boats, continue to cre- statistics that would identify problems in spe- Trust in Wales near her residential mooring on the ate difficulties, even on wide canals, cific areas, and so remains unaware of them. has appointed Peak Forest Canal. Two months’ where there is insufficient depth at NABO has responded to an HMRC con- Steve Thomas worth of rain fell into the already- the edges for two to pass each other. sultation on stopping the use of red diesel CBE to chair its full reservoir over 48 hours. She Boats are being forced towards the for propulsion by privately owned boats. The advisory board praised CRT’s response, both bank, with some using bow-thrust- higher duty on white diesel will make boating in Wales. Steve by keeping boaters ers to get off the mud, eroding banks more expensive and fuel-sellers are likely to was chief execu- and local residents in- and causing even more silt to be de- stock the type of diesel that they can sell most tive of the Welsh formed of developments, posited in the canal. There was also of; not both red and white. Local Government Steve Thomas and by opening all the sluic- an incident during the summer in Over the summer, there have been more Association for Photo: www.business-live.co.uk es into a full canal and which a widebeam became jammed and more incidents of inconsiderate speed- 14 years until the sluices from there in a bridge-hole on the Grand ing cyclists. ‘Share the space’ is not working, the end of 2018, where he developed strong into the River Goyt. Union, near the Blue Lias, and CRT especially where towpath improvements have connections across Welsh Government. His The excess water drained onto the contractors needed to remove part allowed cyclists to ride at higher speeds. As knowledge of the wide range of programmes flood-plain to a depth of more than of the towpath in order for it to a result, fewer people, including pedestrian and policies will influence the Trust’s work pass through. CRT has a growing commuters, are using the towpaths because in Wales. He has also held a number of vol- problem with widebeams, but is not of the perceived dangers. This is not good untary roles which align with the work of the yet fully aware of it. As with speed- news for CRT’s Waterways and Wellbeing Trust in Wales, including chairing the Prince’s Fly on the wall ing cyclists, overgrown vegetation campaign and, as one Council member put Trust for Wales for five years. and places that need spot dredging, it: “They shot themselves in the foot with the Observes proceedings at Council in September boaters need to report problems to Sustrans deal.” CRT so that they can be acted upon. Byeee! NABO calendar 2019 Council meetings are held at boat clubs in the Around the regions with Midlands area. Members are welcome to attend; NABO’s regional reps please just let the Secretary or the Chair Wales and the His replacement on a temporary basis, CRT’s know in advance (contact Head of Customer Service, Jon Horsfall, is well details inside cover). South West known to NABO and meetings are presently be- The remaining dates for ing set up. Council meetings in 2019 Mike Rodd Also, after a long appointment process, are as follows: , October The sudden and seeming- the eventual replacement of the very popu- 13th, November 17th lar operator managers on both the K&A (Dale (includes AGM). ly mysterious departure of Richard Thomas, the re- Marshall) and the Mon & Brec and the associ- cently appointed Director ated waterways (Kevin Phillips), came as a huge of Canal and River Trust in disappointment to all boaters. Wales & South West, came as a real shock, as Both individuals had extensive and detailed the positive and regular meetings with him were knowledge of their canals, and enjoyed excellent proving to be most encouraging. working relationships with boater and user- Indeed, a trip was planned with him for the representative organisations. We welcome Rob Eaton who takes over both roles. Bridge deconstruction to following week on the Mon & Brec on our boat! allow a widebeam to pass. Photo: Mark Tizard

NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 8 9 CRT News CRT News

Income: KEY PROJECTS “[The decline in] boater satisfaction How did they do? 1 Boating licences and moorings: £46.4m from „„ £2.8m for reconstruction of A summary of CRT’s Annual Report for 2018 / 2019 boaters and boating businesses, ≈22% of over- scores is attributed to disruption Stanthorne Embankment, all income. Middlewich. 2 £1.9m from utilities and water sales. Consents due to summer water shortages, „„ £500,000 for a culvert achieved for new hydro-generation plants on changes to licence fees, concerns repair on the Leeds & several weirs. Four canal transfer schemes in- Liverpool Canal. corporated into Water Resource Management about network maintenance, and ... 117,500+ calls to customer „„ £1.65m to rebuild lock 11 Plans of two water companies. 171 licence ap- the Trust’s repositioning.” service centre, mainly about on the Marple Flight. plications by CRT to abstract water to supply summer restrictions due „„ £7.2m on 24 dredging waterways. from the Welsh Government for work at to drought and prolonged schemes, removing 3 More than £1.8m from Friends, one-off dona- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Trevor Basin, stoppages at key sites over 100,000m3 of sediment, tions, in-memoriam giving, sponsorship and £2.8m for Titford Pools at Oldbury (£1m from winter. 97% resolved at 98% reused and recycled. towpath fundraising. Number of Friends in- the European Regional Development Fund first contact and 97% of 96.25% of planned creased to 28,600. and £1.8m from Highways Agency), £767,000 emails responded to within preventative maintenance 4 £18.5m from donations, legacies and income for the Trent & Mersey Canal from National two working days. 93% of on mechanical and for third-party funded projects. These includ- Lottery Heritage Fund, £239,000 from the customers satisfied with electrical assets delivered. ed a private donation of £30,000 for Regent’s Local Economic Partnership for towpath im- how their query was dealt „„ £7.7m improving towpaths. Canal, £191,000 from Sport England, £170,000 provements on the Erewash Canal in Ilkeston, with and 90% of enquirers Income Source 2017/18 2018/19 % change The full report can rated the service as either Boat licence £20.4m £21.1m 3.4% be downloaded at good or excellent income canalrivertrust.org. Overall boater satisfaction uk/news-and-views/ Property and non-property Number of boats 34,207 34,367 0.5% scores declined to 61%, news/2018-19-annual- investment portfolio increased with a licence at report-and-accounts- attributed to disruption by 3%. 31 March 1 due to summer water £9.1m spent on published. Income £630 £646 2.5% shortages, changes to vegetation and PROPERTY INVESTMENTS environmental per private licence fees, concerns about „„ Phase 2 of Brentford 12-month licence management, cutting network maintenance and residential scheme, West (annualised) more than 4,500 miles concerns about the Trust’s London. of grass, and a further Income from £7.3m £7.7m 5.5% repositioning „„ Residential scheme at Bow £1m managing off-side mooring permits vegetation along 300km Wharf, East London, and (restated to new industrial units at of canals include garden More than Tyseley, Birmingham. permits) £204,000 to empty „„ Start on a residential Boating trade 2 £9.0m £9.7m 7.8% 900+ litter/dog scheme at Hale Wharf, East 649 days of (BWML shown waste bins more London. separately) unplanned than 86,000 times „„ Work on a hotel and closures, against Other £1.4m £1.7m 21.4% industrial development at a target of 450 Total boat £38.1m £40.2m 5.5% Rickmansworth licences & „„ Joint housing venture on moorings Fly-tipping costs Icknield Port Loop. Income from £8.5m £6.2m -27.1% increased from 317 reported incidents „„ Restoration of the BWML 3 £54,000pa to more to members of the Roundhouse in Total boating and £46.6m £46.4m -0.4% than £215,000pa, public (313 during Birmingham. moorings income 80% of 5,000 tonnes 2017/18). 34 were „„ Planning permissions 1 of waste reused or attributable to an 3.5% of boaters do not hold a current licence. for work at Brentford, 2 Income from businesses undertaking trading activities on or in facilities recycled infrastructure fault or Bulbourne Yard and Finsley connected to the waterways, or premises leased from the Trust. failure (29 in 2017/18). Gate Wharf, Burnley. 3 £2.5m in relation to the disposal of British Waterways Marinas Limited in December 2018, 40 fatalities on the retaining network access income from the sites that were sold. The proceeds were invested network in the non-property portfolio. NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 10 11 CRT Annual Report CRT Annual Report

£100,000 in principle from Sport Defra Targets 2017/18 2018/19 2018/19 England to refurbish Liverpool Actual Actual Target Watersports Centre, £100,000 Towpath condition 79.7% 80.8% more than 60% from corporate partners to sup- (Grade C or better) port corporate volunteering Principal assets (Grade C or better) 86.8% 86.8% more than 77% events to improve waterways and Condition of flood management assets (Grade C or better) 99.0% 99.0% more than 96% £1.9m from the People’s Postcode Boating customer satisfaction 70% 61% 72% Lottery for Community Roots Visitor satisfaction 91% 92% 90% projects, including environmen- tal improvement work on the Regular visitor numbers each fortnight (from monthly surveys) 4.3m 4.1m 4.5m Montgomery Canal. Public safety measure—number of reported incidents 29 34 25 5 The Defra grant funding was Internal safety measure (accident frequency rate as number of 0.09 0.29 0.10 £41.3m, with additional £10m accidents per 100,000 hours worked) due to satisfactory performance Number of days of unplanned navigation closures within CRT 490 649 450 against performance conditions. control (individual instances over 48hrs) Total CRT funds have increased Employee engagement (those answering positively to six key 68% 65% 69% from £791.2m to £845.3m. engagement measures)

Expenditure: Volunteer satisfaction 96% 96% 95% Spending increased across all Volunteer hours 616,300 671,800 670,000 key areas, with additional spend People aware of the Trust 36% 38% 42% on emergency repairs for major CRT Expenditure 2018/19 breaches being partially offset by re- Friends donating to the Trust each month 24,100 28,600 30,000 phasing of other major work. Number of children reached through education programme 81,700 92,200 85,000 The allocation of expenditure has Day-to-day operations and customer service Community adoptions 225 254 260 been re-analysed to more accurately reflect the (The Operational team dealing with network Diversity (% employees black, Asian and minority ethnic) 5.1% 5.6% 5.5% activities of the Trust following the regional re- users, primarily through reactive minor re- Diversity (% female senior management) 22% 34% 25% structure and repositioning as a Waterway and pairs and customer service activities). Wellbeing Charity: ...and Alan Richards summarises in The Floater 1 Assetcondition: A new category 'Community engagement www.thefloater.org/the-floater-july-2017/crts-annual-report-spin-v-facts and participation' has been created, which 87% of listed structures in ‘Fair’ condition or bet- includes expenditure on delivering and sup- ter (86% in 2017/18). Three structures remain on To sum up —for those whose eyes gloss over when pre- SPIN Numbers of Friends have grown to 22,000 and porting community/youth/education art English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register. sented with masses of figures—just two examples of how donations are now £2.9m per annum projects and website and paper-based litera- Restoration work started on the Roundhouse CRT attempts to put a positive spin on its failures. CRT sets FACT CRT's 2016/17 Annual Report states Friends grew KPI's which are monitored by its board on a bi-monthly to 20,600 rather than the 22,000 claimed ture to support community engagement. in Birmingham, a £2.5m joint venture with the FACT This is not the first time that CRT have made 2 basis. However, failure to meet its yearly targets is hidden National teams and supervision expenditure National Trust, funded by the National Lottery inflated claims regarding number of Friends has been allocated to the business areas that Heritage Fund with Historic England. away in a 100+ page Annual Report whilst a press release FACT CRT failed to meet its Friends target of 22,500 the teams support. Other work on heritage structures included: seeks to turn these failures into success stories. FACT CRT's ambition of 100,000 Friends over ten years 3 Other expenditure has been reclassified to two Beeston Iron Lock footbridge, Walbut Lock on equates to an increase in Friends of 10,000 per new core areas, where these are not shown in the Pocklington Canal, helping to reopen an ad- SPIN Increased annual visitor numbers by 33 per cent year. On this basis they should now have 50,000 to 396m separate categories, such as vegetation and ditional two miles of the canal to boats, Hayhurst Friends after five years rather than 20,600. FACT CRT's claim is not based on its published KPI target FACT CRT's ability to recruit and retain Friends fell by 20 dredging: Bridge in Northwich, three historic cast-iron figures. Caring for waterway assets (the Asset bridges on the BCN, Lock 15 on Grantham per cent last year compared to 2015/16. FACT CRT failed to make target on visitor numbers last FACT For the fifth year running CRT lost money in attract- Improvement team expenditure, primar- Canal, Parbold Dry Dock, £1.3m for Stainton year. ing donors. ily direct service programmes to maintain Aqueduct on the Lancaster Canal from the FACT Visitor numbers were actually down in 2016/17 FACT To date, CRT has lost £5m attempting to attract and improve assets, often involving stop- National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Rural compared to the year before. donors. pages, rather than external contractors Payments Agency. FACT CRT visitor numbers in 2016/17 were the same as FACT In 2016/17 it spent £1.27 for each pound raised in completing major infrastructure work. New moorings were constructed at Millwall BW visitor numbers in 2009/10. donations. The costs include equipment and support Inner Dock in London and a new mooring pon- FACT CRT's claim of a 33 per cent increase in visitor numbers over five years is eclipsed by BW's 48 per of engineering and inspections teams). toon at Barons Quay in Northwich. cent over a similar timeframe.

NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 12 13 News News

to get my breath and being helped ter dialysis, it was very quiet. Dam disruption by the junior doctor who lives in a In the afternoon, we took house next to our mooring. She sent the dogs down to the Tor's Stella Ridgway recounts how her life as a liveaboard on the Peak Forest her husband to the boat to get my and we could see where the canal was affected by the Toddbrook dam event. inhalers and I got home, changed river level had been on the into dry clothes and set off to collect Wednesday. The flood plain two very clean Labrador Retrievers. was indeed flooded, the Opposite ormally, we go for water, failure patients or those suffering As we came out of the groomers and farm had flood planks and The effects on the canal at to empty rubbish etc. on from COPD (Chronic Obstructive turned the corner to cross Union sandbags up and the road Whaley bridge the alternate weekends Pulmonary Disease) as my husband Road Bridge, there was police tape was still flooded. The river Stop planks N to coal-boat ‘Alton’ com- does, so we waited until Wednesday across the road and a very earnest was very fast flowing and we Towpath Closure ing. We should have gone on the last when it seemed to be a bit sun- policeman telling me we couldn’t carried on round, discover- High water levels weekend of July, but it rained almost nier. We were thinking of going to cross the bridge. This would have ing later that the police had Photos: Stella Ridgeway constantly; heavy rain. It stopped for Bugsworth Basin (a two hour cruise meant not getting home at all really, closed off the street access Below an hour on the Sunday afternoon, there and back), but it looked as so I explained that we only needed to the Tor's, although they Chinnook carrying aggregate but then it was heavy showers and though it might shower so we head- to cross quickly, and we wouldn't be never closed the way down to Toddbrook Reservoir rain on Monday and Tuesday as ed to New Mills marina (about 10 crossing the other bridge towards from the canal. All weekend, Photo: Crown Copyright well. Standing in the rain for three minutes). We winded at the winding the Co-op, so he reluctantly allowed we saw people walking along hours isn’t conducive to either renal hole just past the marina (for those us across. We got to the towpath the towpath from Furness who haven’t been on the Peak Forest to find a police car and policeman Vale and Disley to go to the canal, the marina has a very short telling me I couldn’t go onto the Co-op—Tesco was closed jetty) and it rained - it was like being towpath. I explained that we lived in all week. Strangely, pedes- in a tropical monsoon - but it only one of the boats just around the cor- trians were allowed to cross lasted an hour or so. On Thursday ner (he hadn't seen them) and that, the bridges in New Mills, but morning, it was raining again at 6am if necessary, we would cruise away not vehicles. From Saturday, when I went for dialysis in Stockport. from danger. Later that evening, two with no vehicles, trains, It rained heavily on and off all morn- boaters from the marina, the Canal buses, or planes overhead ing and, coming home, the local and River Trust and the policeman (because of a no-fly zone for news said that the rain was expected inserted stop-planks in Bridge 29, the Chinook), it was really to continue and that Whaley Bridge lifting them on the Saturday to al- quiet; all you could hear in was being evacuated. low boats from Whaley Bridge to the background was the reas- The previous week, it had been come through. It was quite a surreal suring sound of the Chinook. 32°C and I had postponed taking sight to see the Judith Mary moored What some boaters failed the dogs to the groomer, as it was alongside the boats at the marina. to realise is that, in a civil too hot to walk them on the pave- Strines Road was still open, as was emergency that uses multi- Toddbrook Reservoir latest ments, postponing the appointment the Sheffield Line, but these were ple emergency services plus until 5pm on Thursday. The showers both closed on Friday night as the council services, all notices At the end of August, CRT appointed an experienced project man- stopped and the sun was shining, so reservoir repair operation got into are sent out by the local con- ager, Rob Jowitt, to lead a team of experts to work out what went I headed off to the groomer. We got full flow and the weather forecast stabulary, so the best place wrong and to prepare a detailed design plan for repairing the half way and the heavens opened – predicted heavy rain (which, fortu- for us to look and keep book- dam wall. Contractor, Kier, is on site to manage water levels and an absolute downpour again; I was nately never arrived). On Saturday marked was the Derbyshire deliver the repair works to the dam. The reservoir is nearly empty soaked and the dogs, even though morning, at 6am, my phone rang Constabulary website and and is being kept at below 10% of its usual capacity. The Marple they love water, hate the rain. When and my transport driver asked me to social media; their advice to flight on the Peak Forest Canal and the Bosley flight on the we got to the groomer, as she fin- speak to the policeman at the junc- boaters never altered, leave Macclesfield Canal are both open. Apart from Toddbrook, there ished grooming a German Shepherd, tion to tell him that I needed to go your boats. After six days, are three other reservoirs that supply water to the Peak Forest a combination of heat, dog hair and for dialysis. The headlines were full the dam was deemed safe and Macclesfield canals. Their current holdings are all above the being wet, set my asthma off and I of Whaley Bridge, even my family in and residents were allowed long-term average and CRT believes that there will be sufficient had no inhaler! (The last time I had the US, Norway, New Zealand and home and the roads were water available to support navigation throughout the remainder an asthma attack was about 25 years Australia had it on their TV news. reopened. We could hear all of the autumn. ago, so I normally don’t carry it By now, the Chinook had arrived to the traffic again as life re- around). So I went home, stopping drop aggregate and, going home af- turned to normal. NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 14 15 NABO 's Reponse to HMRC on Red Diesel

diesel for on-board non-propulsion Alison Tuck Red diesel demise? use, where they have a separate fuel tank for this purpose. For propul- “Suppliers of red diesel will have to NABO’s response to an HMRC consultation sion, craft rely almost exclusively on buy additional storage tanks for white, Stella Ridgway puts the inland waterways boater's case diesel engines. This means that craft with only one tank will pay more so marinas and boatyards will have tax than they currently do, as they The consultation to make the decision as to whether ollowing the judgment the network mean that these craft will have to purchase fuel taxed at documents can be made by the European are usually less than 21m in length it’s profitable to do this. If a boatyard viewed at assets. the higher white diesel duty rate for publishing.service. Court of Justice that private and less than 4m beam (width). For a both propulsion and non-propul- is running a hire fleet and selling red, gov.uk/government/ F pleasure boats will not be more detailed description of the sit- sion uses, and pay the standard rate it uses the majority for their hire boats. Are they going uploads/system/ able to use red diesel for propulsion, uation of boaters in our constituency of VAT as white diesel is not eligible uploads/attachment_ in July HMRC began a consultation in Greater London please see ‘Moor for the reduced rate of VAT. Red die- to then fit new storage tanks for white to supply other data/file/817231/ for evidence of the impact on private or Less—Moorings on London’s sel is currently taxed at 11.14 pence customers? Possibly not. Implementation_of_CJEU_ leisure craft of complying with the Waterways’ led by Jenny Jones (now per litre instead of 57.95 pence per judgment_on_diesel_fuel. ruling. Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb). litre for unmarked (white) diesel. We are currently looking into supplying diesel at Urban pdf Commercially operated boats The nature of these craft, and the B. Non-propulsion use of diesel Moorings. As trade boats, we can still use red, so we will There is a petition and residential boaters with fixed fact that they are mobile, means that When in navigational use, the be supplying red. In order to supply white, we will have against the changes at moorings will still be able to use they rely on self-contained systems diesel engines, almost without petition.parliament.uk/ red diesel, but other boats would for heating, domestic electrical pow- exception, provide low-voltage to buy another storage tank at a cost of £1400 (1300 litre petitions/269295. If there be required to use white diesel. The er and propulsion, and such systems are enough signatures, electricity generation for both do- capacity). Our current red diesel supplier does not supply scheme that was introduced to allow are designed as their primary en- Parliament will be asked mestic and locomotive use [engine white. White diesel tends to be sold in larger quantities to reconsider and debate boaters to buy red diesel and pay the ergy systems. For propulsion, craft starting], typically stored in lead this. duty differential with white diesel rely almost exclusively on diesel en- acid battery banks (typically 12v or and we have access issues for big tankers, so it looks on fuel used for propulsion will end. gines. It should be noted that there 24v low-energy systems). In most like we won’t be able to supply white. I think this will be Although red diesel can still be used is no obvious viable alternative to cases, hot water is also generated typical for many marinas and boatyards, so the risk is for heating, it would have to have a diesel engines for propulsion. Petrol by linking engine cooling water to separate tank, and there would be engines are highly discouraged be- simple calorifier systems, which use that white diesel will not be available on large parts of no dispensation for diesel used by cause of the fire and explosion risk engine coolant to heat an immer- the system for private narrowboats.” the engine to generate hot water and from the fuel. sion style water tank. It is therefore charge batteries. The consultation Our main areas of interest are also apparent why it is necessary for ended on 9th September and NABO around the potential adverse im- boat owners who are stationary on made the following submission: pacts that private boat owners might temporary/visiting moorings and stock either one or the other. Once a “The National Association ofexperience in the event of insensitive long-term moorings to need to run boat fuel tank contains red diesel the Boat Owners (NABO) is a voluntary regulation of: their navigational engine, at least dye remains, so Customs authorities membership organisation, prin- A. The use of diesel for navigation- every few days, to recharge domes- will not be able to accurately check cipally consisting of private boat al propulsion. tic batteries and produce hot water whether a boat has red or white die- owners based on the inland water- The government intends to abol- while the boat is occupied. sel in the tank. ways of England and Wales. NABO ish the scheme introduced in 2008 It is noted that only boats Conclusions exists to represent the interests of its that allowed users of diesel-powered moored permanently on residential members with navigation authori- private pleasure craft (e.g. motorised moorings, which have Council Tax We therefore urge HMRC to care- ties and government organisations yachts, canal boats and motorboats) applicable, will be able to use red die- fully implement these changes, as and to promote responsible owner- to purchase red diesel and pay the sel. Many of our members use their having separate tanks fitted will ship and use of inland boats duty differential between red and boat for leisure purposes only and be beyond the scope for most boat white diesel on the fuel used for pro- the use of white diesel will mean that owners due to insufficient space for Our constituency pulsion. the running costs for their leisure two tanks. Boating is a major source The craft in question, as represent- It intends to remove the right of craft will increase. The introduction of tourism income as our members ed by our membership, are typically operators of such craft to use red of the need to use white diesel will travel the country and, if implement- privately owned narrowboats, canal diesel for propulsion and mandate also affect their ability to source the ed, this proposal will have an adverse and river cruisers and small barges. the use of white diesel. Users will correct type of diesel, as most mari- impact on the communities who rely The dimensions and capacity of be allowed to continue to use red nas and boats that sell fuel will only on canal tourism.” NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 16 17 The NABO AGM The NABO AGM Come and join us… Nomination form for the NABO Council at The Annual General Meeting of the Nominee Proposer* National Association of Boat Owners Name: Name: Nominations must reach us he NABO AGM is on The Council meets around seven by October 3rd 2019 Sunday November 11th times per year and the work is re­ Address: Address: at Tamworth Cruising warding and interesting, giving an Please send the General T Club, Kettlebrook Road, in-depth insight into what is really Secretary any Resolutions Tamworth B77 1BS. We will start happening on (and to) our water­ Tel: Tel: you wish put before the at 11am with the AGM formal busi- ways. There are few formalities and AGM meeting with the ness, followed by a presentation and you can choose how much or little names of proposer and discussion. After a light lunch, there you are able to contribute—either Email: Seconder seconder by October 3rd will be a meeting of the new Council, from the comfort of your home or 2019. to which NABO members are wel- out and about at meetings. Name: come. Please complete the nomination Boat name: Please send to: form in this issue, photocopy it if Address: [email protected] Call for new blood you would rather keep your NABO or by post to; This is a golden opportunity to in- News intact, and then return it to Signature and Date: MARK TIZARD troduce new ideas, expertise and Mark Tizard, General Secretary, by Tel: PO Box 7366, thinking to NABO. Please con­sider 3rd October. Wolverhampton, WV1 9GQ putting yourself up for election at If you don't have anyone to pro­ the November AGM; we would par- pose and second you, just phone one In 80 words or less, please tell members why they should elect you to NABO Council: ticularly like to find someone who of the Council members and we can can offer ideas and advice on recruit- sort that out. Please use the space on ing new (and younger) members, so the nomination form for necessary if this is you, don’t be shy—let us declarations or include them on an know. attached sheet.

In relation to nominations, the NABO Constitution states:- Only full members are eligible to be nominated for election to, or to be members of, the Council. Any member seeking election or re-election to the Council who is, or has at any time in the previous 12 months, held any position of influence or authority in any organization which is involved with the inland waterways, or has any personal interest which is likely to affect their dealings with outside bodies on behalf of the Association, shall declare their interest at the time of being nominated for the Council. Any declarations required by the Constitution: Any member seeking election or re-election to the Council shall declare the full circumstances and current status at the time of being nominated for the Council if he or she is, or has been at any time in the previous six years: convicted of any criminal offence, Send to: MARK TIZARD, PO Box 7366, Wolverhampton, WV1 9GQ to arrive by 3rd October 2019 involved in or threatened with litigation, *If you don't have anyone to propose and second you, Please use the space on the nomination form for involved in or threatened with formal insolvency proceedings, don't worry, just phone one of the Council members and necessary declarations, or include an attached sheet. we can sort that out for you. or the subject of a formal inquiry.

NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 18 19 News Boating

Winter moorings Get up early! The Nene revisited CRT has ‘rationalised’ the winter moorings on It’s a good five years sinceHelen Hutt last cruised this beautiful river. offer for 2019/20, removing sites where no win- Booking for CRT winter ter moorings were sold last year. Around 100 moorings opens sites will be available between 1st November and 6am Tuesday 1st October 29th February, compared to 135 in 2018. his summer I noticed quite being redeveloped. Two new price bands have been added this a few changes—some good Nonetheless, a lovely journey year, now seven bands, reflect each site’s relative and some bad. Let’s start upriver, enhanced this time by ap- attractiveness, such as location and facilities, the CRT Winter Mooring Sales 2018 with the good. Renowned proaching from the Wash—the and prices for 2019 T level of demand from boaters, and to ensure that for its lack of mooring opportuni- crossing itself is a wonderful experi- prices are in line with private mooring operators Band 2018 Price Number 2019 Price ties, the river is now blessed with ence but the long, straight, five-hour and CRT’s own long-term mooring sites. metre Sold 2018 metre an organisation called Friends of the slog on the incoming tide up to Dog Permits will be charged per metre, per month River Nene (www.friendsoftheriv- in a Doublet Lock is not something Nene manual guillotine lock rate, and boaters can book moorings in incre- Band 6 £6.70 262 £6.90 ernene.co.uk), which has built up I’m in a hurry to repeat! Photo: Peter Fellows ments of one month. Band 5 £8.50 a portfolio of (currently) ten de- The price bands have had a 3% inflation in- Band 4 £10.30 151 £10.60 lightful bankside sites available crease applied. 36 sites have moved into lower exclusively to its members. It costs price bands and 25 have moved into higher price Band 3 £13.90 150 £14.30 £12 a year to join and, in my view, bands; the rest stay the same. Band 2 £16.00 75 £16.50 that’s money well spent. The sites CRT have reported on last year’s sales of are mostly between Wadenhoe Lock winter moorings. The total number of months Band 1 £18.00 80 £18.50 and Doddington Lock and they all booked was 2305, raising a total income of Band 0 £20.00 appear on Google maps. Otherwise, £314,149.40. Total 2018 718 some ‘unofficial’ bankside moorings CRT’s future provision of winter moorings is have gone, along with the EA over- to be reviewed after consulting the Navigation night mooring at Titchmarsh Lock, Monday 9th September Advisory Group to consider the longer term op- Photo: Rhodes Gilly and the EA’s remaining pontoon tions. Boaters will be able to look at the sites on the moorings can only accommodate Do NABO members have any views on online booking system at www.canalrivertrust. one or two narrowboats. org.uk/winter-moorings whether winter moorings should be provided by The locks themselves seemed marina operators rather than by CRT? Tuesday 1st October 2019 easier to operate than I remember; Bookings for the moorings through the boat mostly electrically-operated and licensing site will open at 6am and will be made only three with those huge wheels to on a first-come, first-served basis licensing. raise and lower the guillotine gate. canalrivertrust.org.uk/Account/Register. Paddle gear and pointing gates were For further information, either call all in good order. Grass was beauti- customer services on 0303 040 4040 or email fully manicured! [email protected]. The bad news is the decline in EA facilities: no rubbish disposal/ recycling between Peterborough and Northampton Marina; pumpout and Elsan closed at Peterborough (so I was told, although I didn’t need to use them myself); and all services closed at Irthlingborough. And the nail in the coffin has to be the closure of the King’s Head and its lovely mooring at Wadenhoe; hopefully the pub is being refur- bished prior to reopening and not NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 20 21 Talking Points

sue, and the athletics community, Cyclopaths Strava, regularly displaying fastest “Pedestrians and boaters have times along stretches of the Leeds Stop! says Peter Fellows, it’s time to address this towpath & Liverpool towpath, among others, priority ... ringing a bell does menace. on its website. It is time that CRT stops this not give cyclists the right to madness and implements concrete or several don’t specify speed limits on the measures to stop speeding along years, NABO towpath. We ask that everyone uses towpaths. It cannot do this by ap- make others move out of their has been get- common sense, with primary con- pealing to cyclists’ better nature or F ting reports sideration for pedestrians and those sense of responsibility for the wel- way” from boaters of cyclists handling boats, as they are often fare of others—this has been tried tive from, say, 8-9am and 5-6pm. It speeding along tow- the most vulnerable. At busy times and it has failed. It requires CRT would be relatively easy to police the paths, causing collisions anyone in a hurry should use an al- to police towpaths in areas where ban at checkpoints on commuter and resulting injuries to ternative route.” problems are known to exist and to towpaths, enforced with on-the-spot pedestrians, pets and Cycling associations are no bet- hit offenders where it hurts; in their fines. Additionally, despite a report- wildlife—and other cy- ter. The Cycling UK website states: bank accounts. ed lack of cooperation with CRT by clists. Over the summer, “There is little evidence to support I have received yet more the view that cycling on towpaths Action by boaters Heavy metal: cyclists publish letters from boaters de- creates excessive hazards to walk- To do this, CRT requires help their towpath time trials on scribing incidents and ers or to cyclists themselves.” And: from boaters, by reporting all in- Strava near-misses, and the is- “Towpaths are, of course, shared by cidents, whether a near-miss or Photo: Strava/Glory Cycles sue was also highlighted a range of users—walkers, anglers, a collision, to CRT’s Customer Letter to The Times from by Mark Townsend in The Guardian and boaters. Research* shows that Services (0303 040 4040) dur- Anne Woods in July (who has permitted me to cyclists and walkers are able to mix ing office hours or by filling out reprint his article, which also intro- happily on off-road routes and that a CRT incident reporting form duced me to the term ‘Cyclopaths’). conflict is more perceived than real. (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ CRT seems to be in denial about Conflict is rare, but if it does hap- contact-us and select ‘Reporting pen, insufficient width and poor an incident accident or near-miss’) maintenance are important factors. and emailing it to customer.servic- “Exhortations, such as the On towpaths in particular, problems [email protected] with as can occur if they are heavily used, much detail as possible. especially in urban areas and during ‘Drop the Pace’ campaign, or fishing matches.”—So nothing to do Action by CRT with the behaviour of some cyclists Using this information, CRT needs painting ‘sleeping policemen’ then! (*The research quoted was to identify the towpaths where from 2003; the problems were far speeding has become a serious on urban towpaths, are not less severe16 years ago). problem. It should quickly introduce Reports by boaters in the wa- signs at key towpath entry points for going to solve the problem.” terway press and on social media cyclists, telling them that pedestri- show a very different situation, with ans and boaters have priority and the extent of the problem, or at speeding cyclists causing distress that ringing a bell does not give cy- least unwilling to take any seri- and injury on nearly all parts of the clists the right to make others move ous measures to address the issue. system. The worst-affected towpaths out of their way. Exhortations, such as initiating the are ones leading into towns and cit- The signs should also give the ‘Drop the Pace’ campaign, or paint- ies, with Leamington Spa/Warwick, times when cycling is not allowed ing ‘sleeping policemen’ on urban Bath, London, Manchester and on the towpaths, as suggested by towpaths, are not going to solve the Birmingham featuring prominently Mark Townsend. Given that most problem. Even the guidance offered this summer. But rural towpaths are speeding cyclists use towpaths for to cyclists in the cycling FAQs on also being targeted, as described in commuting to and from work, the its website is mealy-mouthed: “We Graham Hearnden’s letter in this is- prohibition would be most effec- NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 22 23 Talking Points: Towpath Cyclists Talking Points: Towpath Cyclists

Research quoted: Strava, all cycling time-trials or cy- introduction of safe cycle routes on Countryside Agency. cle racing along towpaths should be nearby roads to benefit cyclists. And How people interact on On roads, cyclists are vulnerable banned immediately, and this should this would allow it to reclaim the off-road routes: phase II. CA report CRN69, 2003 be publicised on the Strava website towpaths as tranquil places where —but on towpaths they're the menace. publications. and by other cycling organisations. boaters and pedestrians—and ‘nor- naturalengland.org.uk/ mal’ cyclists ¬– can relax. The use of Britain’s narrow canal towpaths as cycling publication/65057 Action by Government Introducing and publicising the commuter routes is not sustainable. It’s time to ban bikes at The Guardian is running Of course, as Mark Townsend points restrictions on speeding cyclists is peak times. a ‘Cities’ series of out, such a restriction will force cy- likely to reverse the recent decline in articles, titled ‘Canal clists to use roads, which are more numbers of towpath visits (200,000 Mark Townsend writes in The Guardian in July as part of the Cities Series revolution’, looking dangerous to them than towpaths. fewer in the last year, according to at what our changing In the longer term, local and central CRT’s latest annual report). waterways reveal about governments must introduce more Many people, especially parents here was a loud screech rushing metal, wide-eyed pedestri- Published in The modern British cities safe cycling routes on the road net- walking children to school or play- of brakes. Katie Jackson ans nervously sidestep their way to Guardian, Saturday 27th www.theguardian. recalls watching a cy- work. The soundtrack is one of shrill July 2019. com/cities/2019/jul/25/ work, as are found in most European group, dog-walkers, or people who cities. just want to unwind somewhere in clist, anxiously looking bells interspersed with the squeal theguardian.com/ the-canal-revolution- T cities/2019/jul/27/ how-waterways-reveal- What is missing at the moment is peace and quiet, are increasingly de- behind, speeding off along the ca- of brakes. Predictably, there are ac- nal. Below, on the towpath, lay her cidents. Anecdotal cases reported on-roads-cyclists-are- the-truth-about-modern- the political will to acknowledge and terred from using towpaths by the vulnerable-but-on- britain address the problem and to make the actions and attitudes of the lycra- kitten. Jackson’s pet died minutes along Britain’s 2,000 miles of canal towpaths-theyre-the- necessary investment. louts. after being struck by the cyclist on include descriptions of hit-and-run menace It is in CRT’s and boaters’ in- the Hertford Union Canal, Victoria cyclists crashing into guide dogs and Benefits for all terests to make towpaths as safe Park, in east London in July 2015. pensioners. Canals, particularly in As part of CRT’s Waterways and as possible, so that they are widely For some canal cyclists, including rush hour, have become the domain Wellbeing strategy, it is surely in its used, which will also support the up- me, it was the final straw. Appalled of bicycles, the trucks of the tow- interest to collect and collate tow- coming negotiations for a renewed by the latest tragedy, I abandoned path. Some travel so manically they path data that would support the government grant. the towpath as a commuter route. are called cyclopaths. Four years on, the decision is yet to These waterways should be calm cause regret. spaces where people seek solace. In My new route was longer, a 25% our cities, their value is obvious as Oxford cycling consultation: NABO’s submission increase in time and distance. It green spaces, linear escapes from also involved navigating several the stresses of urban life. congested thoroughfares and a par- Time-pressed commuters on In July, Oxfordshire County Council issued a ability in case of conflict between a cyclist and ticularly perilous crossroads. It was bikes are destroying this precious consultation on plans for the development of another towpath user. profoundly more dangerous, but felt resource. As cycling grows more new local cycling and walking infrastructure in It is important that any improvements to tow- liberating. The need to issue endless popular (25 million Britons now the county. Graham Paterson replied on behalf path or riverside paths take into account all users apologies to dog-walkers had disap- own a bike) and cleaner forms of of NABO: and also take into account both access and the peared. Instead I concentrated on transport more attractive, the im- “I am writing on behalf of the National protection of the rural environment. Specifically my own survival. pact will escalate. Association of Boat Owners (NABO) with re- any improvements need to recognise and mini- Over the previous months, racing Away from the menace of reckless gard to the above consultation. We note that you mise cyclist’s speed, which will increase should along the narrow waterside path had cyclists, the broader issue remains are only seeking comments from cyclists, but the paths be upgraded. felt increasingly incompatible with the paucity of credible cycling in- would point out that any proposals regarding the Recently the Canal and River Trust has other users. Swerving past mothers frastructure on UK roads. There, Thames riverside or Oxford Canal towpaths are launched a promotional campaign to attract with prams or cutting up small dogs cyclists suddenly become the most likely to affect all users. more visitors to the canals, the numbers of trotting languidly by the water made vulnerable of users. Almost 18,500 As a direct result of the regrading of many which have dropped substantially over the last me feel ashamed. My desire to reach cyclists were injured in road acci- of the canal towpaths, the number and, more few years. We believe this reduction may well be the office on time was patently caus- dents in 2016, including 3,499 killed importantly, the speed of cyclists has brought linked to the recent regrading/improvements of ing misery to others. or seriously injured. By contrast, of conflict between cyclists, pedestrians, and boat- towpaths, turning many into Sustrans cycleways Take a canalside seat at rush the 400 or so pedestrians who die in ers who need to have mooring lines and pins and commuter routes. The increased numbers hour and watch the chaos unfold. collisions each year, about 2.5% in- attached to the bank. NABO recently took legal and speeds of cyclists have led to a reduction in Guaranteed, you will witness a lita- volve a bicycle. That cyclists choose advice on behalf of its members to establish li- the number of other towpath users.” ny of near-misses. Amid the blur of crowded, uneven paths beside open NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 24 25 Talking Points: Towpath Cyclists

water in preference to superior roads is an in- The Canal & River Trust’s messaging that cyclists dictment of the investment in the provision of should give way to pedestrians as the more vul- New homes for historic boats safe cycling lanes. nerable party is only selectively obeyed. But as canals become more crowded, so jour- Prohibiting cycling on canals during peak The deadline for expressions of interest is ney times will lengthen. Trips on roads, even times should be trialled and enforced with on- ollowing a review of the historic impor- tance of all the boats in its collection, 2nd November and details can be found at with the interruption of traffic lights, are often the-spot fines. The move would be easily policed, canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/national- quicker. A tipping point has been reached, the as the structure of canals means cyclists cannot the National Waterways Museum is waterways-museum/the-historic-boat-collection/ volume of cyclists exceeding the capacity of avoid checkpoints. Fines should be invested di- F seeking new homes for twelve vessels. museum-collection-rehoming-12-boats or contact paths built during the industrial revolution for rectly into fundraising alternative, safe cycling It will offer the boats free of charge to accredited the museum at nationalwaterwaysmuseum@ horses to slowly tow boats laden with goods. routes on the road network. museums and then to individuals and private or- canalrivertrust.org.uk. The issue now requires political intervention, a Fundamentally, canals need to be reclaimed ganisations who are able to meet the demands of recognition that using canals as key cycling com- as places of contemplation—greenways that are caring for the vessels. The boats that need new homes are: muter routes is not sustainable. quickly accessible to huge tracts of the UK’s ur- In some cases, the museum has better exam- ‘Aries’ Star class wooden motor Many of the UK’s towpaths are narrow and ban population. Not long ago canals served a ples of the type of vessel, or the boats don’t play ‘Chiltern’ wooden motor narrowboat cannot be widened; separating cyclists from pe- purpose for cyclists, a traffic-free route through a significant role in the history of the waterways (stern only) c1946 that the museum focuses on. Others have been destrians is not possible. Proposals such as speed cities still in thrall to the internal combustion ‘Marlyn’ wooden motor gigboat c1940 changed so much over the decades that very little gates and painting 3D “sleeping policemen” on engine. But the rise in numbers and demands ‘Marple’ iron hull of ice breaker c1850 the towpath, infrastructure modifications bor- of a cleaner city mean their purpose for cycling original material remains. Graham Boxer, Head of Collections and Archives, said: “We have 68 ‘Marsden’ iron hull of ice breaker early rowed from roads, are not long term solutions. has been outgrown. Their value needs to be re- 20th Century Nor is distributing leaflets enforcing cycling eti- appraised. These ancient routes, a retreat from boats in our care but, with limited funds and quette which, although well meaning, offers no the frantic hubbub of the streets above, are too storage space, we need to focus our efforts on ‘Minstrel’ small boat, c1940 evidence that it will influence mass behaviour. important to sacrifice. those of the greatest historic importance, and ‘Shirley’ small powered leisure boat so re-homing some is the right option. There are c1930 enthusiasts who could provide the right homes ‘Speedwell’ wooden dumb barge c1925 for these vessels, as they do for many of the his- ‘Spindrift 3’ c1910 toric boats still in use on the waterways.” Shepreth Wildlife Park and John Marlen- ‘Stratford’ small iron riveted boat from If this is not possible, the museum may have Tigers need Summers of the online rope company, Buy Rope, the Stratford Canal c1930 www.buyrope.co.uk is requesting donations of to recommend documented deconstruction to compile detailed records of the boat, to pre- ‘Ulla’ clinker-built salmon fishing natural fibre rope for the Park’s two Sumatran ti- boat c1952 your old rope! gers, Kelabu and Ratna. serve the boat’s story for future reference and potentially to inform future conservation or res- ‘Whaley Bridge’ iron hull of ice breaker, date The Park has been home to the two tigers, unknown. since they were transferred from Chessington toration work on other historic boats. World of Adventures in March this year. The Applicants will be asked to pay only the trans- park is also home to meerkats, macaques, emus, port costs but must show what plans they have The previous owner of Aries posted this on Canalworld in June 2018 caiman and lynx. With numbers of Sumatran for the vessel, how they will be cared for over the tigers in the wild estimated at between 300 and long-term, what public benefit there might be, “July 1982 we delivered the boat to the Boat Museum 500, Ratna (aged 16) was part of a breeding pro- how the plans will be funded and what, if any, at Ellesmere Port as an exhibit on semi-permanent loan, where she has been ever since. gramme to keep the critically endangered tigers support will be needed from the museum. All alive in captivity. Now retired from breeding, she expressions of interest will be considered anony- The cost of the restoration ran to tens of thousands, a lives at Shepreth with her daughter Kelabu (aged mously before the final recommendations are fortune. It was worthwhile as Malcolm Braine wrote to made to the Board of Trustees for ratification. the Museum Director "Without any question at all she is 11). by far and away the best condition Grand Union wooden Rope is used to keep the tigers stimulated and motor boat hull left in existence." encourages natural behaviour, which has a posi- It is sad to see the engine removed and the hull sunk, tive effect on their physical and mental health. Can you help? rotting once more. This was never the intention when Buy Rope was first approached by Shepreth in taking the decision to place her in the museum. The If you have any natural fibre rope that you no longer May and has since donated two large coir boat need, the Park would love to hear from you. Please museum formally purchased the boat sometime in fenders, which have been a big hit with Kelabu in 2004.” contact Alice Vassallo at alicervassallo@hotmail. particular. Donations of old boat rope will help co.uk or on 01763 262226. Or send rope directly, The full and fascinating story of its last restoration at the park to continue to provide innovative en- Norton Canes can be found here; for the attention of Alice, to Shepreth Wildlife Park, richment, including the creation of a tiger-sized canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/ Station Road, Shepreth, Nr. Royston, Herts SG8 6PZ cat scratch-post! 96687-mb-aries Aries in happier times at Audlem Mill in 1980 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 Photo: Grawar at canalworld.net 26 27 Talking Points

overdevelopment and the heritage made by CRT to Marple Wharf back on the agenda aspect of much of the site will be the density of the obliterated by the houses. The con- planned hous- Graham Clarke dissects CRT’s plans for development of this historic site. textual setting for the wharf and ing. So on what the surrounding area has heritage grounds are CRT importance—the top lock, Lime submitting a plan- Kiln House, lime kilns—ignored by ning application The plans can be viewed was pleased to read on the Parking concerns the housing scheme. This was all and expecting a at planning.stockport. Marple website of a proposal Only three parking spaces are gov.uk/PlanningData- clearly explained in the Marple Civic different outcome live/applicationDetails.do for community use of the planned, to cover the needs of the Society heritage comments on the from last year? ?activeTab=dates&keyVal I warehouse at Marple Wharf. warehouse—fitness centre, café, first planning application. Without the =PVTN5SPJJVF00 The business plan provided by heritage room and gift shop, New The photos included with the proposed houses, The Wharf Marple CIC Ltd. shows Horizons boat trips and visitors to warehouse development proposal the proposal for that a lot of time has been spent on the seven houses. This will barely are misleading. The area to the right the warehouse is developing and presenting the idea. cover the staff, let alone the users of the warehouse is shown as an fantastic. It would However, I was very surprised to and visitors. outdoor seating area. This will not be lovely to have learn of the resubmission of the pro- The Business Plan states: ‘There be possible as it is the area planned a community posal by CRT to build seven houses is ample parking at the town cen- for access by passengers to the New café, something on the remaining part of the wharf. tre, with Chadwick Street car park Horizons boat and also for canal connected to wellbeing and fitness, The warehouse at An application by CRT for develop- being just 100 yards away and pub- boat users taking their rubbish to the and something for heritage/educa- Marple Wharf ment of the wharf was turned down lic transport 100 yards away.’ This skips and their toilets to the elsan. tion. If, in the plans, there was space Photo: Peter Fellows in December, due to concerns about is a significant underestimate and The area in front of the warehouse around the warehouse to show off the impact on heritage, the density lack of appreciation of the parking is shown as grassed over. Again, this the building and to provide park- of the development and the amount requirements for the facilities. The will not be possible as, according to ing, it really would be marvellous. of traffic it would generate. If the Chadwick Street car park is some drawings submitted by CRT, it will However, if it is wedged in between previous CRT application was re- 300 yards from the warehouse, not be a parking area for the seven hous- the houses, parking and waste bins, The plan of the proposed jected for these reasons, I fail to see especially convenient. It is uphill es, New Horizons, and a space for plus the New Horizons yard and all development showing how this new proposal for the over- all the way from the car park to the refuse lorries entering the wharf to the related vehicles, inconvenience relocated facilities block, all development of the wharf would wharf and difficult for families with turn around. Consequently, people and inaccessibility could soon take warehouse cafe and new mitigate the problems; on the con- pushchairs, people with disabilities reading the warehouse development its toll. houses trary it would make them worse. or reduced mobility. This would, documents in isolation will not have without doubt, result in a true picture of the proposal. Fears about anti-boater feeling parking on roads near the The problems that boaters will have wharf. Facilities for boaters if houses are built include: Moreover, the warehouse pro- complaints about boats/boaters Heritage issues posal document and public by residents of the houses, The combined uses pro- information leaflet make no men- poor access to the boaters’ facili- posed in the warehouse do tion of the planned houses and the ties—this site is also approved for not address the heritage is- associated parking, waste disposal self-pumpout by boats equipped sues, which were a further facilities, toilet block for boaters and to do so, which would probably reason for refusing the ini- storage facilities that will be built no longer be the case, tial application. next to the warehouse. lack of space for loading/unload- This is, first, because I am aware of one local resident ing boats, the cafe and fitness centre who, having read the warehouse proximity of the boaters’ facilities would occupy the major- proposal, was shocked to then learn (toilets/rubbish) to the café, ity of the warehouse space of the planned houses. Crowding complete loss of space for plant and, secondly, because the the warehouse with parked cars and and materials for canal and lock warehouse is only part of rubbish skips does not respect the repair/maintenance. the heritage aspect of the heritage value of the building. It is yet another obliteration and loss site; other listed build- As far as I can see from the draw- of canal heritage and land to resi- ings are affected by the ings, absolutely no change has been dential housing. NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 28TECHIE’S 29

few times a year, I get questions, Rewind or read about, A engine overheat- Issue No 5, 2004 ing or loss of oil pressure. In Howard Anguish explores NABO News from 15 years ago CORNER one case, a boater gave me a set of symptoms that were Aspects of boat design, simply unbelievable. construction, equipment, He said their tempera- Slow Down The Chairman men- However, would this be ture gauge got to 150°C, tions the window stickers that say: appropriate nowadays, with to- facilities or maintenance but he did not mention any “What part of SLOW DOWN don’t day’s focus on Health & Safety clouds of steam and burned you understand?” and says that it and increased litigation? paint on the engine. Despite doesn’t actually specify what this Attend a rally for free (in senders are not that reliable, so if means. He suggests a better request 2005)The Secretary offered you get what looks like an incorrect would be “Pass moored boats slowly, an invitation for members to Engine gauges reading with no other symptoms, or even very slowly or dead slow”. I help at boat rallies, with free there will be a much-better-than- agree that I get annoyed when I see attendance to the rally for a evens chance that the sender is the stickers which are aimed at eve- minimum of two people, free Tony Brooks explains false readings. failing. ryone, not only those who are going attendance for your boat and a As a quick test on the majority too fast! bankside mooring close to the of senders, simply short the live ter- What is a mooring? He also sug- rally site. telling me at one point that the tem- minal to a negative, like the engine gests that a definition of a mooring This was a good way to perature gauge AND sender unit block. If the gauge moves to full- should be ‘A piece of bank where spread the word about NABO and were both new, it later transpired scale deflection, any fault is likely one can safely and securely tie up it may be worth considering the res- that his ‘engineer’ had only fitted to be the sender. If it does not, then any boat that can use that waterway urrection of this idea to assist in the a gauge, leaving the old sender in it might be the gauge, but a wiring without impeding other waterway search for new members. place. fault is always possible; especially if users’ (my underlining). Some thoughts on cleaning brass American standard senders have you have a large multi-plug in your His contention is that many BW There is an interesting article on about half the resistance of European main engine wiring harness. moorings didn’t meet these criteria. brass and how to look after it, writ- ones and often (but not always) they In these days of increased towpath ten by Nigel Parkinson, which is still use different threads. What I think cycling and heavier towpath use in very relevant today and would make happened is that the ‘engineer’ got a general, this is a campaign that has a useful article to reprint in NABO European sender and gauge kit, but even more relevance today. News, suitably updated where ap- found that the sender had a differ- Tidal cruising The Secretary writes propriate. To read it in full it can be Tony Brooks has offered ent thread. This meant that he about a proposal for a NABO or- found on pages 23—25 of issue 5 in to answer any technical could not fit it, so he left the ganised ‘cruise in company’ in 2004, in the ‘Back Issues’ section of enquiries that members American one in the engine. the NABO website. may have. Please send 2005, cruising the Severn between your question(s) to Tony Hence the reader swear- Sharpness and Bristol, and asks for Overtaking A letter from David via [email protected]. ing blind that the engine anyone who is interested to get in Cragg discusses the issues involved uk and I will forward was overheating, although touch. when overtaking another boat, mak- them to him. Note: Tony not displaying any oth- For a small fee (£10), NABO ing the point that the onus is on the may use the questions er symptoms. Thus, the would make all arrangements—pi- overtaking boat to keep clear. and his answers without alleged 150°C was actually lot, correct documentation etc.—for He also points out the little un- further permission to about 75°C, which is not you. All you would need to do would derstood ‘interaction’ that can often advise others. overheating. The moral is be to turn up with the appropriate take place—especially if passing ei- always to change gauges insurance and boat equipment. I ther too close or too fast. The boat and senders in pairs unless can certainly remember one or two being overtaken can certainly help NABO News back issues you KNOW, or you can organised similar organised cruis- by slowing right down and allowing are available online at; nabo.org.uk/index. test to find, which standard es—one down the Thames and up a boat to get past safely. He mentions php/reference/nn-back- they were built to. the Medway and, I think, one across that, like dancing, it takes “two to issues-2 However, electric gauge the Wash. tango and one to lead”! NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 30 31 Have Your Say Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor I name this boat … Opinions expressed here are independent of NABO policy and If you have spotted a boat name that made statements made have not been verified as true you smile, please let me have a photo to use in future issues. Here’s one from Brian Holt

Yet more cyclists spoiling it for boaters my boat for five years. I am also a life-long cy- clist. There are now thousands of National Cycle Having just moved off from Tunnel Pool on Network signs along towpaths. This has led to the Leek Branch of the Caldon Canal, CRT has more cyclists assuming that the towpath is now spoiled what I considered to be one of the most their domain and pedestrians, boaters, dogs etc. beautiful mooring spots on the canals. They have have to give way. done this by allowing the towpath to be desig- I am amazed to read that CRT states that cyclists nated a cycle route. What was a peaceful location should give primary consideration to pedestrians now has speeding cyclists passing (and a motor and those handling boats. What is CRT doing scooter and a quad bike). The dust generated to deliver this message' to cyclists? Surely, they covered our boat and made it uncomfortable to should have conducted risk assessments. What sit outside the boat. preventative measures have been instigated? The general point is that the path alongside the Measures such as rumble strips either side of canal is a towing path, not a cycle path. I have bridge holes; clear signs at key entry points for encountered speeding antisocial cycling over cyclists, stating the priority rule; advice to cy- the whole of the canal system. The days when we cling groups regarding cyclists’ potential liability could walk our dog and enjoy the peace of the in the event of accidents; warning signs at top canalside are gone, as one is forever tense wait- and bottom of lock flights that these are danger- Boating ‘season’ ing for that “ting ting” from a cyclist behind you. ous areas to speed through. As for dismounting at bridge holes, I have yet to Increasingly I am seeing multiple bikes racing With reference to Helen’s correspondence with witness this happen. along the towpath, with parents and children CRT concerning ‘the boating season’ and fishing As to mooring on the towpath bank I would having to step into undergrowth to clear the cy- on lock landings in the winter, I’m sure the en- make the following points: cleway for bikers. This is awful and it will lead to closed pictures show the lack of understanding 1) If a boat is stationary at the bankside, then or enforcement of any CRT policy regarding fish- fewer children being brought to the waterside on Maintenance on the GU a passer-by can assume it will be tied up to the canals used by cyclists, especially in towns. ing. Share the space! bank, probably with a line fore and aft. 2) Unless Several times, I have had irate bikers annoyed Brian D Jarrett Earlier in the summer, the locks on the Buckby the lines cross the towpath, then I see no reason that I am hanging onto my centre line ahead of flight were locked from 10am to 4pm to conserve to mark where they are attached to the bank. mooring up, blocking their raceway. At bridges, water. Fortunately, I closed the top gates and the There is enough single use plastic on the canals I have witnessed several accidents between on- photo (left) shows how much water leaked out of without adding bags and bottles, which may coming bikes. If you are lucky, one of them may the lock in 20 minutes after I closed the gates. If I blow away. ding a bell, but they give, at best, a second for hadn’t closed the top gate.... CRT has made a mistake encouraging cycling on pedestrians to react. It’s madness. Someone is In a similar vein, the Foxton flight was locked at the towpath (presumably so that the path gets a going to get seriously injured or killed. I had a 4pm, meaning that, in my case, it was not pos- free upgrade from likes of Sustran etc.). It has toddler with me and had to grab her and lean up sible to get down the flight after arriving and destroyed the peace and tranquillity of the net- against the bridge wall, or else she would have contacting the volunteer lock keeper at 12pm. In work. It should be made clear that pedestrians been ploughed into by a bike with two-inch itself not a problem, but pointless as a water-sav- have right of way. wide tyres, racing along. Many bikers, like this ing measure, when, after the flight was locked, a Graham Hearnden one, have earphones in and simply do not hear paddle was lifted and water ran down the flight a shout. overnight. Evidently, this had been going on for CRT is going to be prima facie liable for result- days and even the volunteer lock keeper was A cyclist’s view of towpath racers ing claims in future unless it commences serious confused as to why they were not running boats I felt compelled to write to you. I do not wish any actions to minimise the risks and ensure that the down the flight with the water! I suspect boaters of my personal details publicised, but you are towpath is restored to being for use by all—with would have a lot more respect for CRT if it just welcome to use all or any of my comments if you the priority being pedestrians, then boaters and focused on dealing with some of the leakages. wish. I am a continuous cruiser and I have owned bottom of the list: cyclists. Mark Tizard NABO News Issue 5 September 2019 NABO News Issue 5 September 2019