Issue 326 - December 1998
November 1998
This month's Newsletter
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January 1999
Issue 326 - December 1998 |
November 1998 |
This month's Newsletter |
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January 1999 |
World Heritage Waterways |
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The IWA, which suggested to Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, that all Britain's inland waterways should be considered for nomination for World Heritage Site status, has met to discuss the proposals with senior officials at the Department. IWA was also joined by representatives of British Waterways and the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council, who had made similar recommendations.
At the meeting, it was made clear that for a number of reasons that the Department could not accept such a large nomination as IWA has proposed. Nor would they accept the "narrow canal system" as BW had proposed; but they agreed there was merit in our persuasive argument that a greater length of waterway might be appropriate for consideration, rather than limiting the nomination to the few structures or short lengths of canal which had originally been short listed.
There is a need to ensure adequate protection, both in a legal and planning sense, is in place for sites nominated in order to satisfy the international judges. Also, the provision of an adequately reasoned and acceptable case is necessary to support the content of such a nomination. There appears to be agreement amongst all parties that protection, provided it is handled sensitively, could bring considerable benefits to the country's waterways - irrespective of World Heritage Site inscription.
Nomination of the inland waterways for World Heritage status is based upon the way that British canals were financed and developed as a major contributor to the industrial revolution, together with their subsequent maintenance more or less 'as was'. This is an economic phenomenon which has considerable merit for inscription. IWA understands that a linear site (ie a string of waterways) will be seriously considered by the Department and its advisers.
IWA believes that there is a need for the right protective mechanism to be in place for Britain's inland waterways to identify components, patterns, and protect both individual items and the totality. It is accepted by all parties that there is an active management system in place for the waterways, that they are now heritage sensitive and that there are already elements of listing, scheduling and also conservation areas.
At her final IWA Council Meeting as National Chairman, Audrey Smith said, "I am pleased that this final initiative in my period as Chairman is already beginning to bear fruit. I look forward to hearing of the benefits which the Association is able to bring to the inland waterways by using this consultation exercise as a starting point."
IWA hopes that the Secretary of State will make known his decision early next year. Meetings so far have provided a focal point for those concerned to work together to consider enhancing the appropriate protection of the waterways and waterside.
IWA Press Release - 19 November 1998
NEW IWA NATIONAL CHAIRMAN |
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Last month, the IWA announced the election of its new National Chairman, Richard Drake, who takes over from Audrey Smith who has retired from the role after 4 years.
Richard Drake has been an active member of IWA since 1978. One time Chairman of IWA's Chester and District Branch, he was later appointed as Western Region Chairman. In 1997, Richard became Deputy National Chairman of IWA and, having recently retired from his career as a computer manager, was ideally placed to take over the National Chairman's role and devote more of his time to the Association.
Coventry & Ashby Canals |
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The new map from GEOprojects covering these two canals, plus the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, has at last arrived. In the Spring, the publishers announced the map would be in the shops shortly but it took until October before supplies reached the Society. At the same time, a map of the Trent & Mersey Canal was also announced but this is unlikely to be seen before next Spring.
Despite this, the new map is up to the usual high standards to be expected from GEOprojects. Get your copy (or a Christmas present for someone special) from the stand and, at the same time, help the Society.
November Meeting |
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Although the Society is concerned with canals, and hence boats, the November meeting was surely the first to feature a boat that has travelled some of our inland waterways actually "in the flesh" (so to speak) at the front of the hall. Peter Glover entertained us, and even educated us, with stories about his boats and his travels in them as a sailor and oarsman.
We learnt how he has designed various small boats over the years and he showed us some of the models he had made to "prove" his ideas before moving on to building them. The boat on display could even be taken apart into two pieces so that it could be fitted into Peter's Volkswagen van - a feat that was demonstrated after the meeting. We also saw how, with a canvas awning, it was possible to sleep aboard the boat.
Although Peter does not take slides, he was able to project pictures of some of his adventures onto the silver screen with the aid of John Silman's epidiascope. His trips have included an 11-day journey, in the company of another small boat, down the Thames from Lechlade, the usual upstream limit of navigation. They travelled through the centre of London and on to Benfleet in Essex. The Thames Barrier looks very big from a small boat. But Peter has also journeyed upstream from Lechlade to the legal head of navigation at Cricklade; only just possible, even in a boat as small as his.
Peter's passion for small boats has taken him to all our local waterways, including the Titchfield Canal and even seen him rowing across the Solent to the Isle of Wight on a number of occasions.
It really was an excellent idea for Peter to bring one of his boats along to the meeting. It enabled everyone to see at first hand what was involved and to appreciate the problems and delights of constructing your own small boat and using it for pleasure. I am certain that everyone present found the meeting most enjoyable. Thank you, Peter.
Joan Reed |
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It is with the deepest regret, I have to announce the death of Joan Reed who passed away, at the age of 83, on Thursday 26th November after a short illness. Joan, and her husband John, joined the Southampton Canal Society in its very early days and took part in many of its activities. In 1971, when John retired, the couple moved up to Braunston to live near the canals they so enjoyed. They were often to be seen around the system with their boat, the Braunston Mayfly, or tied up at their mooring at Braunston Stop. Although I did not know them well, I remember John and Joan always making me most welcome whenever I passed through Braunston.
Joan always maintained her membership of the Society and took an interest in all the news. It was very good to see her in June last year when she made the long journey to Southampton in order to attend the Society's 30th birthday party. She obviously enjoyed the occasion and meeting so many friends again.
The funeral will take place at Braunston Church on Saturday 5th December 1998 at 11.00am when Joan will be laid to rest beside her late husband.
Peter Oates
Members' Slides Evening |
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Please remember that you will have the opportunity of showing some of your slides at the March meeting. You should put together between 10 and 20 pictures that might be of interest to other members. To help with the organisation, please let Eric Lewis know your intention by the February meeting.
Membership Recruitment |
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The Society has been approached by the IWA who are looking at ways of strengthening their links with waterway groups. One of these ways has been to encourage IWA members to join their local group, and likewise to encourage members of that group to join the IWA. Some months ago, they undertook a mailing exercise with a canal restoration group, whereby they wrote to each other's members in the area near to the restoration scheme to encourage supporters to be members of both organisations. It was claimed to be a very successful exercise for both parties.
IWA would like to repeat the exercise with this Society. Before agreeing to give any names and addresses to IWA, we wish to be certain that there would be no objections from our members. Laura Sturrock, our membership secretary, has also written to IWA seeking assurances that names and addresses would not be forwarded to any third party.
To help keep track of our members and in order to print address labels for sending out copies of the newsletter, names and addresses of members are kept on computer.
Please ring or write to Laura if you have any objection to your name and address being given to IWA or to them being kept on computer. If Laura has not heard from you by the next meeting (7th January 1999), she will assume that permission has been granted.
Wilts & Berks Canal |
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In 1996 the then Thamesdown District Council made a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant to restore a length of canal in Swindon and also to create a wetland and children's play area. The bid encompassed a 2 km stretch of canal, half to be dredged or excavated and the other half subject to an interpretation trail.
A year later, the interpretation aspect was dropped but the remainder has been accepted for a grant by the Fund. The developer of an adjacent housing estate has provided a large donation, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has offered a contribution and the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group has pledged an amount of volunteer labour. A grant covering 76% of the total project cost of £484,475 was finalised earlier this year.
Swindon Borough Council (as successors to Thamesdown) have decided to use the services of the chairman of Swindon branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group to co-ordinate the £350,000 canal aspect of the scheme.
The project comprises a 1km length of canal between a main road in Swindon and a 0.7 km length of canal previously restored, on farmland. The 1 km section consists of
Also included in the project is the reconstruction of a stone farm bridge and a spill-weir. Work on the project has now started and should be completed by summer 1999.
IWA Head Office Bulletin - November 1998
Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal |
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Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust have secured ownership of a 250 metre section of canal at Over, near Gloucester, from Gloucester Health Authority, in a deal whereby a contractor building houses on the adjacent plot of land will pay for the complete restoration of this section of canal. The length of canal had been completely infilled over the years and recent trial digs have shown the location of the former lock at Over. The restoration work is to be carried out in a nine month period by workers employed under the Government's New Deal, and includes a lock cottage, which along with the length of canal will become the property of the Canal Trust. The lock cottage is likely to be used as a visitor centre.
IWA Head Office Bulletin - November 1998
Lichfield & Hatherton Canals |
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Opponents of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road suffered a set back in mid October after the High Court dismissed claims by the Alliance Against the BNRR that Government consent for the road was unlawful. The road building, which will make both the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal restorations more difficult, is expected to start in about 18 months time.
IWA Head Office Bulletin - November 1998
IWA Web-site |
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An error has crept in to the web-site address on some of the change of address notices for IWA's new head office. The correct web-site address is:
http://www.waterway.demon.co.uk/index.htm
New IWA e-mail addresses |
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A new e-mail system has been installed, at no cost, in Head Office. As well as providing internal e-mail for Head Office staff, the new set up also expands our internet e-mail facilities and the following e-mail addresses are now in use:
| General enquiries: | iwa@waterway.demon.co.uk |
| Membership: | membership@waterway.demon.co.uk |
| Mail Order Sales enquiries: | sales@waterway.demon.co.uk |
| Web site enquiries: | webmaster@waterway.demon.co.uk |
Heritage Expenditure and Visits |
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In a recent consultation response to Government, IWA made the point that an element of grant to navigation authorities should be coming from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, in addition to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in acknowledgement of the heritage, recreational and educational benefits to the population at large.
An analysis of the latest available (1996/7) Annual Report and Accounts from English Heritage, showed a total income of £133.7 million, of which £108.9 million was government grant aided. A simple analysis shows that:
Overall, English Heritage spent £48 million on its 409 historic properties (the rest being grants given, research and administration, etc.). The Report reveals that there were 5.9 million visits to English Heritage's 119 staffed properties and 5.4 million to its free sites. The average government grant per visit works out to £3.46.
It is the comparison with visits to BW's waterways which is interesting. Here the government grant is about £50 million per year and there are 159 million visits. The average government grant per visit works out to 31.4p - less than one tenth of the support for English Heritage visits.
IWA Head Office Bulletin - November 1998
Routine Maintenance on BW's Waterways |
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IWA Head Office Bulletin - November 1998
True or False? (Answers to last month's questions) |
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Send your comments to the Web Site manager (Peter Oates) © Southampton Canal Society 1998 - 2004. Except where otherwise indicated, information on these pages may be reproduced provided permission is obtained from the Web Site manager beforehand and due acknowledgement made to the Society. Page created 10 June 2003 - layout changes 11 January 2004. |
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