IWA Middlesex Matters Autumn 2012

Inland Waterways Association Middlesex Matters Autumn 2012 1

Middlesex Branch

Newsletter

email: [email protected]

No. 30 Autumn 2012

nb President at the IWA Canalway Cavalcade

mailto:[email protected]


Diary Dates 2012-13 social evenings

13th November – 2012.

Roger Squires presents an insight into

‘Waterways of Bohemia and Saxony’

8th January - 2013 Speaker tba.

12th February – 2013 Speaker tba.

12th March – At Hillingdon Canal Club - London

Region AGM and Middlesex Branch AGM.

9th April - 2013 Speaker tba.

14th May - 2013 Speaker tba.

11th June - 2013 End of season indoor skittles evening.

10th September- 2013 Speaker tba.

8th October - 2013 Speaker tba.

12th November - 2013 Speaker tba

Please note that the Middlesex Branch does not hold social meetings in July, August or December.

For more information contact the Social Secretary Lucy Smith on,

[email protected] or 07947 451376

Middlesex Branch social evenings are held at Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Rd, Uxbridge UB8 2QX

Entrance is free and all are welcome including non members.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS OF THE INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION

MIDDLESEX BRANCH AGM followed by the

LONDON REGION AGM

will be held at the

HILLINGDON CANAL CLUB HQ UXBRIDGE WHARF WATERLOO ROAD

UXBRIDGE UB8 2QX

Tuesday 12 March 2013 at 8pm - Bar open from 7.30

Nominations for election to the Branch Committee and/or the Region Committee

must be received by the Secretary by 12 March 2013.

Secretary:- Robin Bishop, 11 Lichfield Road, Cricklewood, London NW2 2RE.

email:- [email protected]

New gates for Norwood Top Lock Photo: Stephen Bray


From the Region Chairman Paul Strudwick

With the nights drawing

in it’s time to reflect on

what we have achieved in

London over the past year

and to look forward to next year. 2012 has been

a busy one for all the branches in the London

Region, as well as for IWA nationally. In July

we saw the launch of the new Canal & River

Trust. IWA’s campaign certainly ensured that

their financial settlement is more generous than

it could have been.

This year London Region has, as it does

every year, held the largest IWA rally of the

year at Little Venice. It has had a successful

campaign to keep Commercial Road Lock open

throughout the Olympic period. This was

followed up by using our volunteers, who were

originally intended to act as harbour masters for

the expected hundreds of visiting boats, to

assist in manning the lock as well as the control

points around London. The efforts by IWA

volunteers have been well received by CRT and

all the boaters they came in contact with.

Finally we have hosted the National AGM at

Chelmsford with members coming from all

over the country to visit our region.

With so much going on across the region it is

always difficult to pick out the highlights for

my report to you. Your branch has had a busy

summer culminating in the Slough Festival in

September. I had intended to join you there but

a problem with my boat forced me to turn back.

I will try again next year. London & North

East Branch have, with The Friends of Regents

Canal, persuaded Starbucks not to remove the

visitors’ centre in the Camden Lock house.

Whilst other branches have been running

successful boat festivals, working parties and

fundraising events including a classical music

concert!

So much for the past, what have we got

coming up next year? Actually it is already

looking as though it is going to be another very

busy one. IWA Festivals have decided to use

the boating events in the region, Cavalcade,

Rickmansworth, Ware, Angel and Slough

festivals along with the National Boat Festival

at Cassiobury Park, to create an IWA summer

campaign throughout the capital's waterways.

They will be looking at our branches to help

run, linked events, talks and displays, theatre

performances, discovery tours, sponsored

walks, clean-ups, pub tours and brewery trips,

street parades and anything with a theme, or a

location, or a story around the London

waterways.

During the next year we will need to engage

with CRT to try and find a solution to the

problem of the Non-Compliant Continuous

Cruisers who are so common on the canals of

London. Your region committee is already

working on this and we are engaging in

meaningful dialogue with CRT. The trick will

be for us to help CRT to do this in such a way

that it does not just spread the problem over an

even wider area. This is on top of our on-going

campaigns, supporting the Festival of London

Waterways and the new problems that will

inevitably come up and will require our

attention. If you think you have some time to

help us next year, please give your chairman,

Keith Clayton, or any member of your

committee a call.

Paul Strudwick

London Region Chairman


First trip for new owner ends in disaster

An evening trip on the River Thames quickly turned to disaster for five adults and a

dog. On the 24th August the narrowboat, Mini Moo was delivered to South Dock

Marina in London for a new owner. They requested to lock out of the marina into the

Thames for the short trip across the river to Limehouse Marina.

The vessel departed

the lock at 17:00 and

as they left the lock

keeper commented

that they should have

lifejackets on board

as they appeared to

be missing.

Shortly into their

passage the crew

noted a change in the

engine note and

opened the engine

room hatch to find

the engine half

submerged. All aboard quickly moved to the stern to try and bail out the engine

room, but were unable to cope with the ingress of water.

The engine room continued to fill with water and then flooded into the main cabin,

resulting in severe flooding of the vessel which sank within seconds.

All of the crew and the dog were then in the water without lifejackets, but were

rescued by a nearby London RIB Experience boat and a police launch. They were

taken to hospital as a precaution and later discharged. The dog, called Gus, was also

uninjured.

The hull of the vessel had been completely double plated, and the increase in weight

resulted in a reduced safety clearance; with the bottom of the engine room vent

being positioned approximately two and half inches above the waterline.

With three people positioned on the stern, the engine room air vent became

submerged beneath the waterline allowing water to flood in, and sinking of the

vessel was inevitable.

The Port of London Authority has issued a statement about lessons to be drawn

from this incident. See p12.


National Festival 2013 to be held at Watford IWA's 2013 National Festival is to be held at Cassiobury Park on the Grand Union

Canal in Watford over the weekend of 19th to 21st July. IWA intends that this will

form part of an IWA Summer Festival of London Waterways.

Check the IWA website for further information on:

http://www,waterways.org.uk

Booking forms for boaters, campers and exhibitors should be available before the

end of November.

Allied to this IWA are hoping to help stage a celebration of London’s Waterways in

2013 to mark the re-opening of the Bow Back Rivers and waterways around the

Olympics area in East London. The intention is to promote the festivals throughout

the year across London including those currently at Little Venice (Canalway

Cavalcade), Rickmansworth (on the Grand Union Canal), Ware Boat Festival (river

Lee), Angel (Regent's Canal) and in Slough (Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal),

but perhaps centred and highlighted by some form of boat gathering in the North

Olympic Park when it opens to the public on 27 July 2013.

Branch social evenings The branch social evening on

9th October was held as usual at

the Hillingdon Canal Club. We

were pleased to welcomed Eileen

Bowlt from the Ruislip, Northwood and Eastcote Local History Society who gave an

illustrated talk on “200 Years of the Ruislip Reservoir”.

The picture right: Eileen Bolt

with Chairman Keith Clayton.

November social

For the 13th November social we have Roger Squires giving us an insight into

“Waterways of Bohemia and Saxony”. Roger always gives an interesting talk, so be there if you can.


Photo by Simon Bell

President and Kildare ascending Hanwell flight after the

Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Photo by Simon Bell

Open Day at Hanwell There will be an Open Day at Hanwell Lock 97 on Sunday 25th November. Members of

the public will be allowed to go down into the lock to view the work being carried out.

Winter stoppages for London area Hanwell lock 97. New top and bottom gates. 5

th November to 7

th December 2012.

Hanwell lock 92. New top gates. 7th

to 18th

January 2013.

Ware lock 2, River Lee. 5th November to 10th

December. Re-sheeting top gates.

Old Ford lock 19. 5th

November to 7th

December. Refurbish gates.

Enfield lock 13. 7th

to 18th

January 2013. Various general works.

Stanstead lock 4. 28th

January to 1st February 2013. Repairs to lock ladders.

Dredging planned for the Slough arm Slough arm dredging will be done in April 2013. The survey has been completed to

highlight the worst affected areas. This will be spot dredging at the worst points.

There is a new national policy that more spot dredging will be carried out to improve

matters on more canals around the country.

Volunteering Debbie Vidler, for the C&RT, reported at a user group meeting that there had

been 21 volunteer lockkeepers during the summer. The ‘Towpath Tidy’ has been

given a make-over and relaunched as ‘Towpath Taskforce’. Events were taking place

around London at different locations on two Saturdays and two weekdays in each

month.


Middlesex Branch Sales Stand events 2012 Report by Robin Bishop

The Branch Stand has attended several events this year and the first of

these was Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice, London over the May

Bank Holiday weekend, 5th - 7th May. The Branch Stand was located in

the IWA Marquee up on Warwick Crescent pavement along with the

Head Office sales stand.

The next event was our attendance at the Ruislip Woods Trust Day at

Ruislip Lido on Sunday 13th May. Despite it being mainly an afternoon

event the sales were very good.

The Ware Boat Festival on the River Lee was next on the calendar on

the weekend of 7th – 8th July. As last year we were located in a good

position on a grass site close to a footbridge that crosses over the river from a car park.

The early rain on the

Saturday put paid to many

of the public turning up.

There was an additional

feature this year as the

Olympic torch was also

passing through the town

on the Saturday morning.

This was followed by

attendance at the Hayes

Carnival in Barra Park,

Hayes on Saturday 14th

July. We were located in

an area where all the

charity stalls were set out.

The final event of this

year’s calendar was the

Slough Canal Festival at

Bloom Park, Middle Green

Road, Langley on 8th - 9th September.

Some of our Branch Committee members were also involved with the towpath walks up the

Hanwell Locks in conjunction with the Open House Weekend on Saturday 22nd September. We

also had a display set up.

Robin Bishop

Sales Officer

London Region 200 Club Why not join the 200 Club? For just £1.00 per month you’ll be one of 200 that stand a chance

to win cash prizes every two months. The prizes are £100, £50, £25 and £25. See page 14.


Pictures from the Canalway Cavalcade 2012

Wall to wall boats in Little Venice

Two crew members check if there’s any tasty tit-bits going.


Pictures from Docklands

Maintenance is suspended on the clipper Stad Amsterdam in London for the Olympics.

MS Deutschland, 22,400tons, moored in West India Dock during the Olympics,


Boat Licence fees: 2013 and beyond

On Thursday 27 September, the Canal &

River Trust held its first, well-attended, public

meeting. A day later its Trustees met and

decided to limit private boat licence fee

increases, for three years from 2014, to

inflation only. At the same time, the decision

was made to endorse the third and final year

of British Waterways’ planned licence prices

which will see licence fees rise from 1 April

2013 by 4.6% (2% above inflation).

Simon Salem, marketing director of the Canal

& River Trust, said: “Whilst boaters alone

can’t be expected to pay the full cost of

looking after the waterways their boats are

integral to the appeal of the canals and rivers

and therefore to the ability of the Trust to win

support from other sources.

“In making a three year decision to peg

private licence fees to inflation, we have

listened to boaters’ clearly expressed desire

for certainty over future fees. We have also

done what we can to limit increases

recognising that the number of boats on the

waterways has remained static and that

boaters face significant financial pressures as

part of the wider effects of recession.”

Non Compliant Continuous Cruising

CRT gives their assessment for mooring rules

At meetings in September, the Canal & River Trust's governing Council and Trustees agreed its

interpretation of the law relating to continuous cruising. They also gave backing to a number of

new initiatives designed to address misuse of the licensing and mooring rules. These include

specific proposals for two hotspot areas on the Kennet & Avon Canal and in London.

Simon Salem, marketing director of the Canal & River Trust, said: "The number of people

opting to license their boats without a mooring on the basis that they will continuously cruise has

increased by 37 per cent since 2007 to 4,400. Most enjoy the waterways and use their boat `bona

fide' for navigation in the spirit of the legislation. However, our regular boat sightings give us

reason to believe that up to half of people opting to continuously cruise are not currently not

doing so within the terms of their licence."

The Trust's policy and plans include:

· greater clarity for continuous cruisers on how to comply with the licence terms, backed by

sufficient enforcement to avoid continued growth of non-compliance;

· stronger enforcement of maximum time limits at visitor moorings, including new signage

showing a limit of total days per month as well as the maximum stay time for a single visit;

· the introduction of extended stay charges to deter overstaying, backed by more frequent site

visits by the Trust's enforcement team; and

· a strategic role for the Trust's Waterway Partnerships in identifying priority areas for action.

At hot spot locations on the western end of Kennet & Avon Canal and within London, the

Canal & River Trust is already discussing local solutions in collaboration with local boaters.

Nationally there will be more focus on validating new applications for boat licences from boaters

without a home mooring, and strengthening boater education in respect of boat licence terms and

conditions.

Cont.>>


>>Cont from p10

Simon concludes: "The initiatives being

announced are good news for the

overwhelming majority of boat owners who

should not be deterred from exploring parts of

the network currently popular with non-

compliant continuous cruisers. It is also good

news for those continuous cruisers who,

although they may have been long-established

and have set up home in a particular area,

wish to work with the Trust to comply with

the terms of their licence.

"Those who live aboard at their home mooring

and those continuously cruising within the

spirit of the legislation will not be adversely

affected by the new initiatives."

Alan Wildman, chair of the Residential

Boat Owners Association (RBOA),

comments: "The Residential Boat Owners'

Association welcomes the commitment to

tackle the question of non-compliant

continuous cruising patterns. RBOA

recognises that Canal & River Trust is making

a commendable effort to assist those whose

present lifestyle falls outside the present

Continuous Cruising licence terms. In line

with our own policy, RBOA urges those who

are non-compliant to work with the Trust and

RBOA to resolve this issue once and for all.

There is certainly no desire to drive anyone

from the inland waterways, only to find a way

of us all to work and live together in harmony

and within the rules."

Paul Roper, Chairman of IWA's Navigation

Committee, comments: "IWA has been

concerned about this issue and so welcomes

the acceptance by the Canal & River Trust

that something needs to be urgently done

about the problems caused by non-compliant

continuous cruisers, and in fact any one over

staying, especially on visitor moorings. We

look forward to a prompt resolution of this

matter for the benefit of all users, whilst

having proper regard to applying sympathetic

transitional arrangements for any residential

boaters who may currently be in default."

The briefing and policy paper agreed by the

Canal & River Trust Council and Trustees at

their September meetings is available to view

at: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/council-papers.

Lidoline on the Regent’s Canal

Y?N studio has proposed if you are tired of public transportation or bored of walking or

cycling to work why not try swimming to work along one of London’s canals. The ambitious

project was runner-up in the 2012 Landscape Institute Ideas Competition of London organised

by the mayor of London. During winter boaters would not be allowed to use the canal as the

plan includes having a thin membrane along the entire route promoting it to freeze for ice-

skating. Being a bit far-fetched, the design has rallied a few criticisms.

Narowboat fire A narrowboat on the river Lee sank after a fire in the early hours on 12 October. It was

around 1.40am that the fire on the narrowboat at Dobb's Weir moorings was reported, and

was well alight by the time fire crews arrived. Crews from Hoddesdon, Hertford, Hatfield,

Welwyn Garden City and Essex all attended the blaze.

Surrounding boats were moved away as crews tackled the blaze for over an hour. No one was

injured but the boat sank just before 2.40am.


SAFETY BULLETIN TO NARROWBOAT OWNERS NAVIGATING ON THE TIDAL THAMES

As issued by the Port of London Authority

The hull of the

vessel had been

completely

double plated

and the increased

weight of this

plating had

resulted in a

reduced safety

clearance; with

the bottom of the

engine room

vent being

positioned

approximately

65mm above the

waterline.

With 3 persons positioned on the aft deck the bottom of the engine room air vent became

submerged beneath the waterline by 50mm, the resulting down flooding and sinking of the vessel

was inevitable.

The following safety lessons should be carefully considered by narrowboat owners before

venturing onto the tidal Thames.

1. The tidal Thames is considered to be a Category C waterway, where wave heights of up to

1.2m may be encountered and vessels should be suitably prepared to meet these conditions.

2. Through hull fittings, vents and exhaust outlets should be positioned as high up as practicable

on narrowboats to meet the conditions likely to be encountered. Where through hull fittings, vents

and exhaust outlets cannot be moved to a safe location consideration should be given as to

whether the vessel is suitable to navigate on the tidal Thames.

3. Where modifications have been made to a vessel, such as the extensive use of double plating,

it is important to check that sufficient safety clearance remains for the vessel to safely navigate in

the intended waterway.

4. Lifejackets and other safety equipment should always be provided on board vessels

navigating on the tidal Thames and it is strongly recommended that Lifejackets are worn at all

times when on deck.

5. When purchasing a vessel it is essential to have a pre-purchase survey undertaken by a

competent surveyor ensuring the surveyor is aware of your intended use of the vessel.

12.09.12


MIDDLESEX MUSINGS

Narrow Escape

Narrow Escape seems to be one of the most popular names for a

narrowboat although not much thinking involved when choosing it. But

for the new owner and crew of nb Mini Moo their first trip was

indeed a very narrow escape.

As reported on page 4 the new owner and

crew took delivery of Mini Moo, boarded

and set off across the Thames heading for

Limehouse Marina. The boat sank shortly

after leaving the lock.

Safety lessons Assuming the reports published are

correct then it occurs to me some

fundamental safety measures seem to have

been forgotten by all those on board. The

PLA issued a statement (on page 12) about

the safety lessons drawn from the incident.

Extra weight added The tidal Thames is no place for a new

owner to try out for the first time an oldish

narrowboat. What’s more the hull had just

been replated, adding about 5 tons to the

boat’s weight. The replating procedure is

usually accompanied by the removal of an

equivalent weight of ballast. It sounds as if

the ballast was left untouched resulting in

the boat sitting too low in the water.

Lidoline I see reports that the Lidoline was

awarded the position of runner-up in the

2012 Landscape Institute Ideas

Competition of London organised by the

mayor of London. If this one was the runner

up, sounds like there were only two entries

to the competition. I wonder what the

winning entry was.

Licences above inflation - again Once again the boat licence fees are going

up with an above inflation rise. I’m thinking

of re-running the same article about it in

the Newsletter every year in order to save

time

Wouldn’t it be nice if the licensing people

realised that boaters can’t pay for the

whole canal infrastructure and, just for a

change, give them a below inflation increase.

Dream on, bargee!!

Another boat fire Once again I report another boat catches

fire and totally burnt out. It must have

been a quiet night for fire-fighters in the

surrounding area; the blaze was attended by

crews from Hoddesdon, Hertford, Hatfield,

Welwyn Garden City and Essex.

It makes me wonder how the boat

managed to sink after only 1 hour. Maybe it

was because the five fire crews combined

all their hoses on the blaze at once.

Terry Liddle

Editor.


LONDON REGION 200 CLUB Rules of the 200 Club 1 Name: The name of the club is "The Inland Waterways Association London Region 200 Club" ("the Club"). 2 Object: The object of the Club is to raise funds for "the Inland Waterways Association London Region" ("IWA London"). 3 Membership: Membership of the Club shall be limited to 200 persons; each person must be over 18 years of age and a member of the Inland Waterways Association. 4 Officers: The Club shall be administered by three officers appointed annually by the committee of IWA London. The officers shall select one from amongst their number to be responsible for keeping the accounts of the Club and arranging for the payment of prizes and the transfer of surplus income to IWA London. The decision of the officers in any matter relating to the operation of the Club shall be final 5 Subscriptions: The annual subscription to the Club shall be £12 payable either on admission to the club or by monthly payments of £1 paid by standing order. The annual subscription may be paid by cheque or standing order for £12 annually. A member may hold more than one membership of the Club. 6 Prizes: 6.1 A draw shall take place on six occasions in each year. There shall be four prizes in each draw in the amounts of £100, £50, £25 and £25. 6.2 In the event that the membership of the Club is fewer than 200 members in any year the officers shall be entitled to reduce the amounts of the prizes or the number of draws (or both) provided however that the ratio of prize money to subscriptions shall not be affected. 6.3 Each draw will be made by or under the direction of the officers. The results of each draw will be announced in the issue of the journal of IWA London next following the date of the draw. 6.4 Prize winners will be notified in writing of their entitlement to receive a prize and payment will be made by cheque posted to the address shown on the membership form or to such other address as the member may subsequently have notified to the officers. 7 Accounts: The accounts of the Club shall be kept by the Officers and shall be examined annually by a suitably qualified person.

The Officers shall keep a roll of membership and each membership shall be allocated a roll number Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham. HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342

*************************************************************************************************************** APPLICATION FORM

To the Officers, I wish to become a member of The Inland Waterways Association London Region 200 Club. I have completed and enclose the standing order / enclose a cheque as payment for membership(s) at £12 per year (annual option) or £1 per month (monthly option).

Full Name.............................................................Address...................................................

....................................................................................................Postcode........……........... Tel (day)...................................................Tel (eve)................................................ Email address …………………………………………………………………………………… I am a member of the Inland Waterways Association and I agree to be bound by the rules of the London Region 200 Club.

Signed............................................................... Date..................................................

Cheques should be made payable to:- IWA London Region 200 Club Please send completed forms, cheques and standing order mandates to: Vernon Draper, IWA London Region 200 Club 12 Chipperfield Close, New Bradwell, MILTON KEYNES MK13 0EP 01908 312 239. Email: [email protected]


AND FINALLY Proposed dates for our committee meetings for 2013 are given below. Members are welcome to attend. Meetings start at 7.30pm at the Hillingdon Canal Club, Waterloo Road, Uxbridge UB8 2QX.

22 Jan 26 Mar 28 May

30 Jul 24 Sept 26 Nov

YOUR BRANCH COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN Keith Clayton 020 8573 0883 [email protected] VICE CHAIRMAN SECRETARY Robin Bishop 020 8452 2632 [email protected] TREASURER Lucy Smith [email protected] PLANNING/NAVIGATION MEMBERSHIP Keith Clayton 020 8573 0883 [email protected] SALES Robin Bishop 020 8452 2632 [email protected] SOCIAL MEETINGS Lucy Smith [email protected] NEWSLETTER Terry Liddle 020 8863 2551 [email protected]

PUBLICITY Mike Timms 01753 651975 OTHER MEMBERS Stephen Bray Michael Phillips

The newsletter welcomes communications from readers. If you have a point to make, a

question to ask, or an interesting picture or article worthy of publication send it to us at

Middlesex Matters, 39 Hillview Gardens,

Harrow, Middlesex HA2 6HJ

Email to: [email protected].

NEWSLETTER EDITOR Terry Liddle

Middlesex Matters is produced using MS Word 2007.

The next publication will be the spring 2013 edition, issue number 31.

The views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of its London Region or of its Middlesex Branch. They are however published as being of interest to

our members and readers © IWA Middlesex Branch 2012

The Inland Waterways Association is a charity campaigning for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways and is a non profit distributing company limited

by guarantee registered in England number 612245 registered as a charity number 212342 whose

registered office is at:

Island House, Moor Road, Chesham. HP5 1WA. Tel. 01494 783453

http://www.waterways.org.uk




Kingston Royals dragon boat in the Jubilee Thames Pageant.

Below: Dressed for the occasion, two more participants in the pageant.

For spelling mistakes etc call 0800 121 8735?

When I was a kid I used to pray every

night for a rowing boat. Then at church

I realized, God doesn't work that way,

so I stole one and asked him to forgive

me.

I was in a cafe that serves 'breakfast

at any time'. So I ordered french toast

during the Renaissance.

I asked a man recently why he was

painting his boat whilst standing

dangerously on a step-ladder.

“I don't get on with my real ladder.”

Date post:	06-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	the-inland-waterways-association
View:	218 times
Download:	1 times

IWA Middlesex Matters Autumn 2012

Documents