The Magazine of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Issue No. 86 - Winter 2015/16 RIP - Brian Kingshott 1938 - 2016 ay Wha eeth rf L tr Lichfield td S Heart of the Coventry Canal . TEL:01543 414808 MOBILE:0782 4848444 FAX:01543 414770 www.streethaywharf.co.uk 7-DAY CALL OUT SERVICE GEN SETS FITTED DIESEL AND SOLID FUEL STOVES FITTED BOTTOM BLACKING REPAINTING AND SIGNWRITING NEW BOATS FULL & PART FIT-OUT SUPPLIED ALL MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL WORK FULL CHANDLERY STRETCHING AND REBOTTOMING GAS SAFE. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ALL STEEL WORK AND TANKS Support the boat yard on the “Lichfield Ring” Boat Transport, England, Europe Cranage Arranged Site Surveys Complete Service for DIY Repairs Boat Hire Boat Fitting Diesel Pump Out Mooring Boat Sales Laundry Trent & Mersey Canal V.A.T No. 133609427 Chairman’s Column For those who have not already heard the sad news, our Chairman Brian Kingshott died peacefully on 9th January, after he suffered from very poor health since the ay Wha autumn. His contribution to the Trust’s activities has been huge, in particular during eth rf his fifteen years in the chair. A full appreciation will be published in the next edition re Lt of Cut Both Ways. t d As Vice-Chairman it has fallen to me to stand in for him, which I will do to the best S . of my ability until a successor is chosen at this year’s Annual General Meeting in June. We have had only two Chairmen guiding the Trust’s activities since it was set up, so one of my most important tasks is to lead the search for a worthy third. We first have to be clear about the qualities we are seeking; inevitably we should be looking for someone younger than most of the existing directors, possible an “early retiree”. Any thoughts from members on this subject are welcome, as well as the names of anyone who might come to mind. Like all our director and officer posts it is unpaid, but a very important and worthwhile task. It is ironic that, just two days before his death, we were formally offered satisfactory assurances by HS2Ltd which enable us to withdraw our petition against the Bill, five days before we were due to appear before the Select Committee of the House of Commons. In brief, if the high-speed railway goes ahead the contractors will build a diversion of the canal past the present route of Cappers Lane, as our existing route will be taken by the line. The new section will join the existing section occupied by Lichfield Cruising Club (but owned by the Canal & River Trust) to the section below lock 30 bought by the Trust a few years ago. After completion the new length will be given to Canal & River Trust who will thus own and maintain it from a structural point of view. We will “adopt” the section, and look after its day-to-day wellbeing, on the basis established elsewhere on the canal network. Our various activities have continued unabated during the autumn, with some excellent weather between the poor summer and the wet December. The new site at Summerhill is transformed from this time last year, though completion of the walk from Walsall Road to Barracks Lane has been delayed while the responsibility for granting access over the aqueduct as between the M6 Toll operators, Highways England (formally the Highways Agency) and the Department for Transport is resolved. Equally frustrating has been trying to resolve the administrative arrangements for removal of a further section of the “big pipe” laid in the canal paralleling Tamworth Road, with the Environment Agency, themselves much in the spotlight recently with the floods in Cumbria and elsewhere. Perhaps I shouldn’t tempt fate, but both these issues seem closer to resolution at the time of writing. Cut Both Ways Winter 2015/16 3 Chairman’s Column Other recent dealings with public bodies include a planning application by WCL Cranebrook Quarries Ltd for further extraction beside the canal near Summerhill, and planning policy consultations by South Staffordshire (in whose patch most of the Hatherton Canal lies) and Walsall Councils. The impact on the canal of proposed housing developments in Lichfield, and of the Lichfield Southern Bypass extension under the Cross-City railway line, are continuing sagas. In all cases the Councils concerned are well aware of our projects, and their staff helpful in trying to avoid problems for canal restoration. It does sometimes seem that what our splendid volunteers achieve on the ground is only the tip of the iceberg of the work we have to do. One subject requiring more scrutiny recently is to ensure that our policies in regard to health and safety of our volunteers, and the conditions under which under-18s work on site, are up-to-date and are carried out correctly. H & S is sometimes derided by the public, but the reduction in accidents since comprehensive legislation was enacted in the 1970s is remarkable, and in my view wholly beneficial. We provide excellent opportunities to those who want to help with digging, bricklaying, concreting etc; it is vital that these tasks are done sensibly and safely. We are always facing new challenges, the biggest just now being the task of raising funds for the canal tunnel under the Cross-City railway south of Lichfield, in conjunction with the proposed bypass extension. Our Vice-President David Suchet will be supporting us again – for details of the “Tunnel Vision” appeal see the Money Matters on page 20. Despite occasional frustrations, our volunteers (including the Trust Council) remain cheerful and committed to the cause of reopening the two canals, and we get great satisfaction from doing what we do to help move our projects forward. Keep up the good work in 2016! David Dixon (Acting Chairman) Our Vision To reinstate the historic Lichfield Canal and Hatherton Canal for the benefit of the community. The natural wildlife corridor from Huddlesford to Hatherton will provide a valuable amenity for walkers, cyclists, boaters and visitors to use and will bring prosperity to the area. This project will also provide an opportunity for young people to learn about our history, our heritage and our environment. Back Copies of Cut Both Ways available at £1.00 Each Copies of issues 1 to 85 are available from Bob Williams Norfolk House, 29 Hall Lane, Hammerwich, WS7 0JP Cheques made payable to LHCRT Ltd. Cut Both Ways Winter 2015/16 4 (advertisement) Michael Fabricant MP Member of Parliament for the Constituency of Lichfield. If you live in the Lichfield Parliamentary constituency, and you require assistance and think your MP can help, you can either write to Michael Fabricant at the House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA; or you can email him by using the webform at www.michael.fabricant.mp.co.uk/cont act.html or telephone his office at 01543 419650 where you can also make an appointment to see him at one of his regular surgeries. (advertisement) Cut Both Ways Winter 2015/16 5 Donations to the Trust We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st October to 31st December 2015. Suchet, Trust & Restoration Feet of Clay Name ( in order of receipt ) Marketing and Land Fund Appeals Mrs K M Stanier (with sub.) 44.00 Mr A J Marr 65.00 Mr R T Willis (private talk fee) 35.00 Rugeley Regnal, St Pauls Church (talk) 27.00 Mr S T Boddington (with sub.) 40.00 Mr R A Smith, 500 Club prize returned 51.24 Mr M D Neill (with sub.) 100.00 Anonymous 20,000.00 Easyfundraising 26.71 Ashby Canal Association (talk) 50.00 Mrs D Thorpe 250.00 Mr A D Brookes 1,000.00 Mr A White 1,000.00 Dr P F Cann (with sub.) 55.00 Great Wyrley Local History Soc. (talk) 50.00 Railway & Canal Historical Soc. (talk) 50.00 Walton Homes Ltd 500.00 Mr B R Humphreys, part draw 1st prize 100.00 Mr K R Jackson (with LM sub) 50.00 Mr & Mrs D E Cooper (with sub.) 25.00 Mr A Gulvin (with sub.) 50.00 Mr & Mrs J Horton 25.00 Rev A J G Cooper 25.00 Roses & Castles Boaters’ Lodge of Mark 200.00 Master Masons Mr & Mrs D Gray 90.00 Mr David Stanistreet 120.00 Mr J Moody (returned property rent) 300.00 Cut Both Ways Winter 2015/16 6 Donations to the Trust We gratefully acknowledge the following donations for amounts over £20 from 1st October to 31st December 2015. Suchet, Trust & Restoration Feet of Clay Name ( in order of receipt ) Marketing and Land Fund Appeals Mr R O Williams (returned expenses) 44.10 Regular donors to appeals and 759.32 431.88 238.50 aggregated amounts up to £20.00. We also thank the following for their generous support:- WCL Cranebrook Quarries Ltd, site occupational support. Clarke Construction Services Ltd, Summerhill works and seasonal goodwill. “Oddfellows in the Boat” restaurant, Muckley Corner, volunteer support. Walton Homes Ltd; 5 men for a day + £500 gift. Beautiful Gardens Ltd, supply of environmental materials. ********************************************************************************************* Bradley Workshops Open Day - 10am 2nd April 2016 To draw awareness to the Bradley Canal Restoration Project BCNS are organising their next Spring Cruise to the end of the navigation of the Bradley Canal. CRT have agreed to hold an Open Day at the Workshops to coincide with our cruise so we can all visit to see how each individual lock gate is made for the canal & river locks. We are encouraging as many boaters to join our cruise & to allow a couple of passengers to join each of them.