The Magazine of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Issue No. 81 - Autumn 2014 “Navvy at Work” HAY WHAR EET F L TR LICHFIELD TD S Heart of the Coventry Canal . TEL:01543 414808 MOBILE:0782 4848444 FAX:01543 414770 www.streethaywharf.co.uk 7-DAY CALL OUT SERVICE GEN SETS FITTED DIESEL AND SOLID FUEL STOVES FITTED BOTTOM BLACKING REPAINTING AND SIGNWRITING NEW BOATS FULL & PART FIT-OUT SUPPLIED ALL MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL WORK FULL CHANDLERY STRETCHING AND REBOTTOMING GAS SAFE. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ALL STEEL WORK AND TANKS Support the boat yard on the “Lichfield Ring” Boat Transport, England, Europe Cranage Arranged Site Surveys Complete Service for DIY Repairs Boat Hire Boat Fitting Diesel Pump Out Mooring Boat Sales Laundry Trent & Mersey Canal V.A.T No. 133609427 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN The issues surrounding the route of HS2 in the Lichfield area have been simmering for several years now. All of us who love canals are concerned about the profound HAY WHAR impact this new railway will have on the canal environment but with the special ET F focus on protecting the route of the Lichfield Canal at Huddlesford. The HS2 Ltd. RE LT preferred route past Lichfield was unkind to much of Staffordshire and especially to T D the iconic area around Fradley Junction. It was inevitable that this would provoke a S . determined opposition with proposals of alternative routes. There was also the issue of the effect on the residents of the greater Lichfield area with strong visual and noise intrusion associated with what has become known as the “high level” route. However, this proposal represented little more than inconvenience to the restoration of the Lichfield Canal with the original route remaining available and adequate headroom guaranteed. In line with this L&H maintained a “watching brief” while working with groups working to mitigate the impact of HS2. A petition was lodged against the Bill but revised terms were offered which satisfied us at the last minute. In the first week in October it was leaked and then announced that HS2 Ltd. has agreed to vary its route past Lichfield. It will now propose the “low level” route which meets many of the objection of its opponents with greatly reduced impacts at Fradley and generally east of Lichfield. Unfortunately, this route will cross the existing line of the Lichfield Canal virtually at water level, making restoration on this line impossible. It will also entail the re-routing of Capper’s Lane and the demolition of the new bridge which we had built ten years ago using European funding. Additionally, there will be a considerable impact on Lichfield Cruising Club. Our engineers have identified a somewhat tortuous alternative route which can be built and must be included in the railway construction programme. As we go to press we are continuing our dialogue with HS2 Ltd. especially with insisting that they pay the costs of this new route. We will use every endeavour to protect our canal. We have the experience of installing the aqueduct over M6 Toll to draw on and we understand what has to be done. We are undoubtedly a more experienced and professional organisation than we were a decade ago and with much more public support and the backing of our committed membership. We have an excellent team and have engineers who can hold their own with anyone. The outcome cannot yet be assured but we will fight to the last. Our Vision To reinstate the historic Lichfield Canal and Hatherton Canal for the benefit of the community. The natural wildlife corridor from Huddlesford to Hatherton will provide a valuable amenity for walkers, cyclists, boaters and visitors to use and will bring prosperity to the area. This project will also provide an opportunity for young people to learn about our history, our heritage and our environment. Cut Both Ways Autumn 2014 3 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN Meanwhile, life goes on with confidence. Our team at Tamworth Road continues to achieve miracles. The walls from Lock 26 to just short of the A51 are now complete as is the winding hole and its associated works. Preparations are well advanced for lining the canal with clay in preparation for watering later in the year. If all goes well we will have another, and substantial, pound in water and ready to float a boat or two. There are still several technical issues to be addressed but completion of this part of the project is now in sight. We must now lift our eyes to other challenges. The Heritage Towpath Trail project is still moving forwards although it will now be several years before we can open up the most easterly section as the building of HS2 and the rerouting of the canal will bring considerable impediments. We are grateful to our team of “scrub-bashers” who have done so much to deal with considerable undergrowth spread this summer. This includes the section downhill from Lock 18 and from Darnford Lane to the lift-bridge. Inevitably, the more we restore the more we must maintain. We are so fortunate to have a considerable and growing team of volunteers. The Trust’s information van parked at the Tamworth Road site “reaching” out to the public with coffee and a chance to meet the volunteers. All Correspondence should be addressed to :- Trust Secretary, Mrs D Hancock, 2 Elias Close, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9TX Cut Both Ways Autumn 2014 4 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN We are now hoping to formalise our approach to attracting and enlisting volunteers and using a more systematic and professional approach to recruitment and retention. With proper job descriptions we can draw in those who might otherwise think we only need brickies and lads in trenches. The first move must be to find someone who can take charge of this process and then manage new recruits as they settle in. We need a Volunteer Coordinator as the first priority. We are drawing up job-descriptions for this and the other vacancies we will create. Posts can be tailored to individual skills and abilities but we have learned that there must first be a framework on which to build. We will need help with finance, project planning, engineering, publicity and local authority planning. We will mount a recruitment drive and ensure that vacancies can be made known wherever we interface with the public. We will also give newcomers a proper induction process and will work closely with them, especially in the early days. In the past, good people have slipped though our fingers and we cannot afford to waste potential in this way. This was clear recently when we had a display in the Three Spires Centre in Lichfield where so many people approached us, just for a chat. If this goes well we may be able to achieve our long-term aim to set up separate, but closely federated teams to develop both the Lichfield and Hatherton projects. So, it is business as usual. In many ways the Trust is at its best when it is challenged and under pressure and the latest challenge is only one of many we have faced and no doubt will again. We have a solid membership base which is firmly behind all we do and that is invaluable. The wider challenges are still there. On the Lichfield we have three major roads to cross and land to purchase. On the Hatherton we have a major section of new track to build, a tortuous route through Churchbridge to install and the M6 to penetrate. There is plenty here for us and for our heirs and successors. This was always going to be a long-term project but let us hope it has not just got longer. I am confident we can still get there. Brian Kingshott(chairman) Canal Transport Services Boat builders at Norton Canes since 1964 Traditional narrow boats and tugs built to your specification, from one of the oldest & most respected boat builders in the business. We have our own fully heated paint shop, dry dock and grit blasting facility as well as all the usual boat yard trades at your disposal. Call Matthew Cooper on 01543 374370 Cut Both Ways Autumn 2014 5 DONATIONS TO THE TRUST We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st July to 30th September 2014. Suchet, Trust & Restoration Feet of Clay Name ( in order of receipt ) Marketing and Land Fund Appeals Mr H Eyles: Birmingham Monday 50+ 50.15 Ramblers Group, Lichfield walk (June) Mrs J Phillips (with sub.) 25.00 Mr & Mrs A J Thomas (with sub.) 25.00 Mr A D Brookes 100.00 Mrs K P Fontaine (with sub.) 44.00 Mr F V Prottey (with sub.) 24.00 Dr P H Cooper 115.00 Mr D Gorton 30.00 Mr C D Humphreys (with sub.) 100.00 Mr A J White 100.00 Mrs P C Wilson 95.00 Mr I Campbell (with sub.) 85.00 Mr H Eyles: Birmingham Vegetarian & 42.00 Vegan Ramblers Group, Lichfield walk. Anonymous 1,000.00 Mr G Burns 50.00 Dr R Henshaw (with sub.) 19.00 Mr M Cripps (with sub.) 85.00 Easyfundraising 43.31 Mr R J Fenton (with sub.) 30.00 Mr D J Carden (with sub.) 25.00 Mr P D Wall 50.00 Miss J M Burton (with sub.) 25.00 Mr J I R Horton (with sub.) 44.00 Mr S J Wain 30.00 Mr M J Baldry (with sub.) 50.00 Mr R W Lloyd-Hart (with sub.) 24.00 Cut Both Ways Autumn 2014 6 DONATIONS TO THE TRUST We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st July to 30th September 2014.