www.waterways.org.uk/lichfield Issue 13 Autumn 2015 The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or as an official pronouncement, unless specifically identified as such. Lichfield Lines AGM Awards—See Page 6 The newsletter of IWA Lichfield Branch The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342
Transcript
Page 1
www.waterways.org.uk/lichfield
Issue 13
Autumn 2015
The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a
matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or as an official pronouncement, unless specifically identified as such.
Lichfield Lines
AGM Awards—See Page 6
The newsletter of
IWA Lichfield Branch
The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no.
612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342
Page 1
Branch Chairman’s Report
By now you will have read in the national IWA newsletters that Lichfield Branch has been
awarded the IWA Branch Achievement Award. The citation states “Among many other
activities, such as responding to a staggering number of planning applications every year, this
busy branch has this year completed exceptional towpath improvements in Rugeley alongside
the new visitor moorings created by the branch and been recognised for its work on HS2,
especially at Fradley. In addition, Lichfield Branch holds well attended branch meetings, has an
excellent programme of walks and fundraising activities and makes regular donations to
waterways groups”. The branch’s newsletter was also commended by the judging panel.
Congratulations are due to all members of the branch who have worked so hard to achieve this
award. Thank you all.
I should also like to congratulate Phil Sharpe for being awarded IWA's premier award, the Cyril
Styring Trophy. Some very eminent IWA members have been awarded this trophy in the past
and their names are all engraved on the trophy. To receive this award is a huge honour. See the
official Press Release and photos on Page 6.
You may also have seen that IWA has been named as
winner of a 2015 Living Waterways Award (Natural
Environment category) for our work on combating the
spread of Himalayan Balsam nationally. Our own
attempt here at Wychnor needs to be repeated next
year, hopefully with more people and whilst there are
flowers on the plants. We pulled huge quantities of the
stuff this year but due to other commitments we were
unable to repeat the exercise during the flowering
season. Without a major concerted effort, this
pernicious but pretty weed will continue to spread. Do
we have a volunteer to organise and spearhead our
next year's attack on it, please? I will bestow the title of
“Himalayan Balsam Tsar” on the lucky candidate!
Since the IWA AGM at the end of September, the post
of Region Chairman has been vacant. According to the
Articles of the Association, no one may sit on the board
of Trustees for more than 12 years in any 15 year
period. As a consequence of this, our former region
chairman, Vaughan Welch has stood down as a Trustee although he remains in post as
Chairman of IWA's Restoration committee. I should like to thank Vaughan for his work during
his time as West Midlands Region chairman.
We (all of us) have until the end of November to nominate a new Region Chairman to become
a Trustee. He/she will represent the four branches of the Region on the IWA Board of
Trustees. If anyone has any idea as to who they feel we should nominate, please
would they contact me to discuss this. If more than one candidate is nominated, a postal
ballot will be held. Our rules state “In the event of there being no valid nominations for
candidates to serve as the chairman of any region, the Board of Trustees shall invite further
Page 2
nominations and arrange for the Ballot to take place again as soon as practicable, and to have
concluded no later than six months from the date of the Annual General Meeting. If there are
no candidates for this further ballot then the Board of Trustees may give notice to members of
the Region of its intent to dissolve the Region and divide its constituent branches amongst
adjacent regions, or howsoever the Board of Trustees may think fit”. It is obviously very
important that we find a suitable candidate for the role of Region Chairman! The post is for
three years initially and no region chairman should retain the post for longer than six years.
Our Christmas meal will again be held on a Sunday lunch-time, on December 13th. We were
made very welcome at Oddfellows at the Boat following our July walk along the Lichfield Canal
at Summerhill and the food was excellent. We have therefore decided to have our Christmas
meal there this year. The venue is easily accessible by road from all parts of our branch area.
Please be sure that you book your place (and menu choice) in good time and certainly by
midday on Friday, 4th December. See details on Page 11.
Whilst thinking about Christmas, may I remind you that the full range of IWA Christmas cards
and the 2016 calendar are available from the sales-stand at branch meetings?
It has recently been announced that the next IWA Festival of Water will be held at Pelsall over
the 2016 August Bank Holiday weekend. Planning by the IWA national events team is in its very
early stages but they have invited a representative from our branch committee to attend their
meetings. It is anticipated that volunteers from our branch will be invited to help the organisers.
I cannot stress how much fun it is to have such a prestigious event come to our branch area and
I do hope that many of you will offer your help once the call for volunteers is issued. Please
keep the date free in your diaries.
All that remains is for me to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year!
Helen Whitehouse
Committee Vacancy
Unfortunately Christine Watkins our Minutes Secretary is having to relinquish her post. In the
relatively short time she has been in the role she has done a great job in recording our
committee meetings and publishing the minutes. If anybody is interested in taking up this role
please see any member of your committee. The meetings are monthly, light hearted and the tea
and cake are good as well.
Forthcoming Events
Tuesday 3rd November 2015 - Walk
Polesworth and the Coventry Canal. This is an easy, 5.5 mile circular walk, with 3 stiles, along
quiet country roads, green lanes and across fields. Shortly after leaving the Red Lion public
house we proceed through Polesworth gently uphill (100 foot of climb in total) towards
Dordon. From here there are extensive views of the hills of north-west Leicestershire. We
then proceed north-easterly before descending downhill to join the Coventry Canal at Grendon
Bridge from where we return along the towing path. Shortly before the finish we pass by
Polesworth Abbey, a 12th century church with a grade II listed gatehouse. Meet at 10:15 for a
10:30 am start in the car park of the Red Lion, Bridge Street, Polesworth, Warwickshire, B78
1DR. There is a free public car park opposite the pub. Contact Clive Walker on 07866 201873
“The Residential Boat Owners Association” an illustrated talk by Ivor Caplan about the
challenges and light-hearted experiences of living afloat. 7.15 for 7.30 pm at Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 8AY
Wednesday 17th February 2016 - Branch Meeting
An illustrated talk by Ian Lane, Waterway Manager for the Canal & River Trust’s West Midlands
Waterways, covering their local activities and plans. 7.15 for 7.30 pm at Martin Heath Hall,
Christchurch Lane (off Walsall Road), Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 8AY
For further information about our meetings please contact John Stockland on 0121 308 0293 or
intrepid band of volunteers worked some 28 boats through the lock and received over £40 in
donations. We also took over £70 in sales, mainly of cakes which had been home baked for the
occasion and were very popular, with all being sold by mid-afternoon. All the work on a hot day
had definitely worked up a thirst so the group retired to the Barton Turns pub near the lock for
a well earned drink and barbecue food.
Not bad for our first attempt. Thanks to everyone who worked the lock or contributed cakes,
and to Helen for having the idea and providing the refreshments.
Report from notes by Helen Whitehouse, photo by Margaret Beardsmore
September 8th 2015—Walk Shareshill and the Staffs. and Worcester Canal
Ten walkers, many of whom were regular attendees but non-IWA members, met up in the car
park of The Fox and Anchor pub, Cross Green, near Wolverhampton. There was a hint of
drizzle in the air, but the weather forecast had promised sunny spells.
We set off at a strong pace eastwards along the towpath, following the contours of the Staffs.
and Worcs. towards Moat House Bridge, where we would leave the canal for a detour into
Shareshill. On the way we passed the remains of a wharf between bridges 72 and 73. This had
been formerly used to supply coal to South Staffordshire Waterworks Co's Slade Heath
Pumping Station. The local towpath guide states that the steam engine was replaced by electric
pumps in 1969 although coal deliveries by canal had finished earlier, probably in 1966 when the
Littleton Colliery Basin was destroyed
by construction of the M6.
A group photo was taken at Moat
House Bridge (no.74) and we
continued along a farm track and
quiet country road slightly uphill
towards the village of Shareshill. This
village will be familiar to users of the
busy A460 which connects the M6
with Cannock and Wolverhampton.
However, we were visiting the more
picturesque half of Shareshill. Our
destination was the historic church of St Mary & St Luke, which is "half
medieval and half 18th Century" and
whose most prominent feature is a
"semicircular porch resting on four
columns". A bell tolled languidly as we approached - a funeral was taking place - and we decided
it would have been inappropriate to venture any closer. We therefore skirted the church and
proceeded along Latherford Lane before picking up a green track back to bridge 74.
It had been intended to rejoin the canal at The Laches Bridge (no.73), where the OS map shows
a bridlepath crossing the canal, but access has been clearly barred off, and so we returned along
the same stretch of towpath to the pub. On the way back several of our party helped push off a
hire boat that had run aground on a tight bend.
A good deed done for the day and with six miles of walking under our belts, we retired to the
Fox and Anchor for a hearty lunch.
Page 5
It was good to visit one of the less frequented parts of the branch network. Hopefully we will
return one day and get another opportunity to visit Shareshill church.
Report Clive Walker Photo Phil Sharpe
Wednesday September 16th 2015—Meeting
The branch season of meetings started in September with a presentation by Tony Condor,
former curator of the Gloucester Waterways Musuem, on “The History of Gloucester Docks”.
This was a fascinating presentation covering not only the Docks but the construction and
history of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal (or the Gloucester and Berkeley as it was
originally known). A brilliant start to the new season!
Saturday October 10th 2015—Skittles Evening
Teams from the Lichfield, Shrewsbury & North Wales, and North Staffs & South Cheshire
Branches met at Stafford Boat Club for an evening of skittles. We borrowed a member of the
Shrewsbury & North Wales party to enable us to enter two teams in the competition, one
ladies' and one men's. The standard of playing from the branch teams was variable, but no-one
scored a “duck”! There was a brief respite during which we had a very good Fish and Chip
supper, from a local fish shop, followed by pudding. Our men’s team did very well finishing joint
second – the ladies came a little lower down, but were not last. It was a very good night and
everyone enjoyed themselves.
Wednesday October 21st 2015—Meeting
We continued our season with a presentation by Peter Brown, Heritage and Planning Officer
for IWA Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch about Thomas Telford. I don’t think many in the
audience appreciated the breadth of his achievements—from canals and bridges to churches and
harbours. A fascinating talk followed by a lively question and answer session.
Branch sales and Recruiting stand
If you attend branch meetings, you will be aware that we have a small sales stand present.
We sell waterways books, maps and
guides as well as IWA Christmas
cards and calendars. Most of our
stock is new but we will happily
receive second hand waterways
books in good condition to sell on.
We often attend outside events with
the stand most recently at the
Tamworth Cruising Club open day
and the Huddlesford Heritage
weekend. Besides raising funds for
the waterways and recruiting new
members, it can be most enjoyable
talking to members of the public. If
you would like to be part of the team
which mans the stand at outside events, please speak to Helen Whitehouse.
Page 6
IWA Press Release
Local Waterways Campaigner Receives National Award
A waterways campaigner from Rugeley has been recognised by a national charity, The Inland
Waterways Association, by being awarded its premier award. The trophy, which is awarded
annually to an IWA member who has made an outstanding contribution to the Association’s
campaign, was presented to Phil Sharpe of the Association’s Lichfield Branch recently at the organisation’s national AGM.
Phil, who has volunteered with the Inland Waterways Association since 1988, was given his
award particularly for his recent work in campaigning
to protect a local canal that would have been severely
affected by proposals for the HS2 high speed rail line.
Phil identified an alternative route which would avoid
the originally proposed multiple crossings of the Trent
& Mersey Canal close to Wood End lock near Fradley
Junction. Phil spent many hours, working with others
in IWA, and attending and negotiating with local
authorities at County Council, District Council and
Parish Council level. An engineering report was
commissioned which confirmed the viability of the
alternative route and this was presented to the House
of Commons Select Committee. The Government
subsequently announced its decision to adopt the
proposed re-alignment.
Twenty years ago, Phil also led the combined IWA and
Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust teams
at the second M6 Toll Road (Birmingham Northern
Relief Road) Public Inquiry to fight successfully for
navigable crossings for the Lichfield and
Hatherton canals.
Phil has carried out this work in his
role as Planning Officer for the Lichfield
Branch of The Inland Waterways
Association, and in this capacity he
regularly deals with about 200 planning
matters each year. He has also been a
chairman, secretary, and website editor
for the Association, as well as several
years as a trustee.
Les Etheridge, National Chairman of
Phil Sharpe with the Cyril Styring
Trophy
Members of the Lichfield Branch Committee with the
Branch Achievement Award
Page 7
The Inland Waterways Association, said “Phil has been an active member of IWA for over 35
years and it is for his many years of contribution, as well as his more recent role in successfully
campaigning to reduce the impact of HS2 on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Fradley, that he is a
worthy recipient of the Cyril Styring Trophy, IWA’s premier award”.
Phil’s local branch of The Inland Waterways Association, Lichfield Branch, were also award
recipients at the AGM, when they were presented with the Branch Achievement Award, awarded annually to an IWA branch that has made the greatest progress and achievement in
promoting the Association’s aims and objectives during the past year.
Planning Matters
Phil Sharpe—Planning Officer
This report covers some of the 40 or so planning matters covered between mid July and mid
October, which are all summarised in monthly notes on the Planning page of our website. If
anyone would like further information, please contact me.
On the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal the existing stables alongside Otherton
Lock are to be replaced and the floodlit ménage retained.
On the Trent & Mersey Canal the previously refused 196 berth marina between Shirleywich
and Pasturefields has been resubmitted, with evidence that it would not affect the groundwater
source of the nearby Pasturefields Salt Marsh SAC. However, our concerns about the road
access, disposal of excavated material and location of the pump-out station remain.
In Rugeley we have enquired why the long delayed development of the former garage site on
Armitage Road differs from the 2007 approved plans, with houses of different design, nearer to
the canal and very close to the canalside trees.
Another marina is proposed adjacent to Common Lock between Fradley Junction and Alrewas.
This would have 60 berths and a substantial workshop building able to accommodate 2 full
length narrow boats side by side. IWA’s policy is to generally support new off-line moorings
subject to good design, congestion, access and other considerations. But there are concerns
here that any more marinas
close to Fradley Junction can
only add to congestion and
queuing at the locks at popular times, and about the road
access from the very narrow
Daisy Lane.
On the edge of Alrewas two
applications for housing
development have been made
on either side of Bagnall Lock.
The earlier application for 10
houses in the ‘doctors field’
adjoining the towpath above the
lock has been reduced to 8, but
their height increased to 3 Common Lock at Alrewas with proposed Marina site
Page 8
storeys which would still be visually intrusive. The proposed 15 houses in the ‘horse field’
between the lock and the bypass are of reasonable design but the road access is wholly
inadequate along a narrow track and over the historic hump-backed canal bridge. Meanwhile,
the Alrewas Neighbourhood Plan that effectively promoted these sites has been heavily
criticised by the Examiner and extensive deletions recommended.
Alongside the Birmingham & Fazeley at Fazeley Mill Marina the proposed office and stores building was reduced in size before being permitted.
On the Coventry Canal by the former golf course east of Amington the removal of a rather
unsightly pipeline which arches over the canal and its replacement on a different underground
route has been approved.
Close to the Ashby Canal a solar
farm has been proposed at Basin
Bridge near Stoke Golding and we
have suggested it should be
conditional on extra planting to fully
screen it from the canal.
On the Daw End Branch Canal
the plans for a solar farm around
College Farm near Aldridge have
been amended to remove the field
adjacent to the canal, as we
requested.
And finally, along the Wyrley &
Essington, Daw End Branch and
Rushall canals all of the 7 large Green Belt housing sites and 3 other canalside open spaces
that we objected to in the 2013 Walsall Site Allocation consultation have now been excluded,
and we are pleased to see a policy on canals that supports good design, provision of moorings,
improved access and towpaths, retention of heritage and protection of restoration routes.
HS2 High Speed Rail Update – October 2015
Phil Sharpe, Planning Officer
Following publication in July of the Additional Provision 2 plans and Environmental Statements,
detailing the changed alignment for the Handsacre Link lines and the Wood End Lane diversion,
we finalised IWA’s Petition welcoming the former and objecting to the latter. Our alternative
proposal taking Wood End Lane under the tracks would avoid the large embankments and
constant traffic noise alongside the Trent & Mersey Canal below Wood End Lock. The Petition
also supported Lichfield Cruising Club’s requirements for replacement moorings and slipway
provision, as well as covering noise impacts on residential boats on the Slough Arm of the
Grand Union Canal from a new rail depot.
These objections were then further detailed in IWA’s response to the Environmental
Statements, with the addition of some concerns about access to the agreed replacement section
of the Lichfield Canal, issues on the Oxford Canal and Birmingham & Fazeley Canal and route-
wide noise issues. We have worked closely with Lichfield & Hatherton, Lichfield Cruising Club
Field at Aldridge removed from Solar Farm Plan
Page 9
and Canal & River Trust to ensure mutual support in all our petitions and ES responses. HS2
Ltd has since given additional assurances about the Lichfield Canal diversion construction and
undertaken to cover the design costs for the LCC mooring basin etc.
Discussions with HS2 indicated that they would be prepared to alter the Wood End Lane
diversion route if the concerns of Staffordshire Highways about road alignment and drainage
could be overcome. So in October IWA and CRT met with Staffordshire County Council to better understand the issues on both sides, and we confirmed that IWA and CRT are both
prepared to take this to the Select Committee for resolution if necessary.
Additional Provision 3 was issued in September, although affecting only the London end of the
route, and AP4 has just been published mainly affecting the Chilterns. News about the much
delayed Phase 2 decision is sparse but some form of announcement about the Phase 2a
extension to Crewe at least is now anticipated before the end of the year.
Navigation Report 19/10/2015
Mike Bending, Navigation Officer
We have discussed a number of issues with CRT over the past year, some of which have been
reported in previous Navigation Reports. It now seems a useful time to summarise the current
situation.
Fradley Swing Bridge
About a year ago notices appeared at the swing footbridge at Fradley Junction indicating that for
safety reasons the bridge would be kept locked closed. Passage would require the use of a
Waterways Key. Both we and CRT management believed that this would cause significant delay
resulting in congestion at the junction. CRT have now decided not to lock the bridge but rather
to install a damping mechanism on the bridge pivot discouraging misuse by children and
minimising any hazards. This seems to us to be a sensible resolution of the problem.
Rugeley Moorings
For several years we have been pressing both British Waterways and subsequently CRT to
repair the moorings in the centre of Rugeley and make other improvements in the area. CRT
have recently obtained sufficient external funding for work to be done and we hope to see their
implementation plans at the start of next year.
Dallow Lock Burton
We received a report from a member that their boat had run aground entering Dallow Lock in
Burton. This was reported to CRT who investigated but could not find any fault. However,
they told us that a large piece of industrial fencing had recently been removed from the
waterway. If you experience any problems here or elsewhere please could you let me know.
Cat Gallows Footbridge, Nuneaton
Steps have now been installed allowing local residents access to the towpath. A ramp would
have been more convenient both for disabled users and for people with pushchairs but this was
not possible because of cost and practical constraints at the site.
Barton Turn Lock
The downstream bank collapsed a couple of years ago and the towpath and much of the lock
landing moorings were fenced off. Although repair was planned for last winter it was found to
Page 10
be a larger job than originally thought. CRT have confirmed that they are talking to their
contractors and that the work will be completed this winter.
Graffiti
You may have noticed pink arrows appearing on the historic bridges between Fradley and
Rugeley, which it seems had been painted by the organisers of a long distance event. We
discussed these with CRT to understand their policy on the general topic of graffiti. There is funding for its removal, so please could you report any new instances to CRT or to myself.
Visitor Moorings—Central Shires Review
CRT are currently undertaking a review of visitor moorings in the Central Shires area. We
hope to be be able to discuss the results with them before Christmas.
Removal of Permit Holder Only moorings
CRT have a policy of reducing the number of permanent towpath moorings as new marina
moorings become available. It would clearly be very helpful for boaters if such decommissioned
moorings were reclassified as visitor moorings particularly where the permanent sites are in
desirable locations. We await a response from the CRT central moorings team on this
proposal.
Editorial Notice
Lichfield Lines is the newsletter of IWA Lichfield Branch, it is produced 4 times a year to keep
members informed about our forthcoming public meetings, walks, work parties and other
activities, to provide reports on recent meetings and events, and to include articles of general
interest to our members.
The editor, Peter Gurney, welcomes articles, letters or photographs of waterway activities in
our Branch area which can be emailed to [email protected] (Please note there is a
10MB limit for emails with photos as attachments sent via this address).
The copy date for the next newsletter is 15th January 2016, for publication in February.
Advertising
Lichfield Lines is posted or emailed to about 300 addresses covering about 440 Branch
members. It can also be read and downloaded by anyone from the Branch website pages.
If you would like to publicise your waterway related business to our members, and others that
read the newsletter online, we can offer advertising space at the following rates:
Full Page - £20 per issue
Half Page - £10 per issue
Please contact the editor to discuss artwork and layout.
By advertising you will help to sponsor IWA's charitable activities and reach potential customers
who are all committed to the waterways.
Email Copies
If you currently receive Lichfield Lines by post but would be happy to have future copies sent
instead by email link, please inform our Secretary at [email protected]
This saves IWA printing and postage costs and enables the Branch to do more to support local
![Thought Lines Autumn 2011[1]](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/577d22551a28ab4e1e971775/thought-lines-autumn-20111.jpg)
