iwa chelmsford magazine october 2010

IWA Chelmsford Branch October 2010

1

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October 2010

IWA Chelmsford Branch October 2010 2

Committee Members Wendy Hodkinson [email protected]

01371 876383

Stuart Thurston [email protected]

01702 529553

Paul Strudwick [email protected]

01245 358342

Chairman Jan Thurston (as below) Webmaster & Catering Stuart Thurston [email protected]

01702 529553 Planning and Essex Waterways Ltd Roy Chandler [email protected]

01245 223732 Chris Chandler Secretary [email protected] Molly Beard [email protected]

01702 554992 Treasurer John Gale 01376 334896 Social Secretary Janine Studwick [email protected] 01245 358342

Images in the magazine are taken by the writer of the associated article unless otherwise stated.

Distribution

Other Committee members

Publicity

Features in this Edition Page 3 Editors Comment

Page 4 Social Details

Page 5 Chairman’s Chatter

Page 6 Region News

Page 7 AGM Proprietors of C&BN

Page 9 Volunteering

Page 12 Braunston Festival

Page 13 Foxton Festival

Page 15 Sleaford Navigation

Page 17 Chelmsford Raft Race

Page 18 Wheelbarrows

Page 18 Tesco Shopping

Page 19 The C&B Navigation

3 Paper Mill

Page 25 The National

Page 27 Tools of the Trade

Page 29 Fiskerton Fen

Page 31 Headquarter Bulletin

Page 32 WRG

Editor


As you can no doubt spot this edition is a little smaller than usual. as there are no meeting reports for July and August

HELP NEEDED

We urgently need someone to

take over the task of

organising some speakers for

our meetings. You do not need

to be a committee member, or

even attend meetings! This can

be just for a few months to

tide us over until a longer term

person becomes available –

though of course you might be

able to carry on once you have

given it a trial. Unfortunately

Janine feels she is unable to

continue doing this job so we

need a replacement who can

begin to organize speakers for

next year. Please contact Jan

if you can give us any help.

Suggestions of names of people

who would give talks at our

meeting would also be very

helpful.

When previously getting the printing organized I was told there was likely to be a rise in price as the cost of paper had increased. However, printers Mail Boxes of Chelmsford have kept our costs the same for the present. However, very aware that costs are likely to rise it has been decided that advertising should be kept to a minimum unless the organization can contribute a donation that will at least cover the cost of their entry. Once again, I hope you enjoy this edition. The next edition will be January 2011 Wendy Hodkinson (Editor)

Disclaimer: 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 official

announcement unless stated otherwise.

The IWA accepts no liability for any

matter in the magazine.

Apology to Roy Cox who was

mistakenly not named as the

actual person who made the

bench now in Heybridge, in

remembrance of Don Hair

Editor’s Comment


New Members Update

We welcome the following new members:

Richard Forsyth and Jill Howes

South Woodham Ferrers

Michael and Janice Pegley Great Totham

Peter and Mo Moule Chelmsford

Charles Ryan Billericay

R and P Willsher Sandon

If you are on facebook why not join the Chelmer and Blackwater Enthusiasts page – especially as there are not many signed up for it. It was begun by William Marriage and could be a good way of informing people about events etc on the Chelmer. To reach it try keying in „facebook Chelmer and Blackwater Enthusiasts‟ into google and it should provide a link.

Social Meetings

are held at Moulsham Mill

7.45pm for 8.00pm start.

Everyone is very welcome.

Don’t know where this is? – find the

Chelmsford side of the flyover on the

A1060 and the Tesco Homestore plus on

your left going out of Chelmsford. Turn

as if going to the store but drive

straight ahead of you – ample parking.

October 14th Ivan Cane, Chairman of The North Walsham and Dillon Canal Society is giving a talk about their canal. November 11th River Canal Rescue Limited will give a free talk to our club about their work and boat maintenance.

December 9th Banny Banyard will give his own humorous insights regarding life jackets and there will be Christmas party & food

Janine Strudwick

SOCIAL DIARY


Dear Members, At the committee meeting during our summer break a motion was passed unanimously to pursue our changing from the Eastern Region to the London Region, where we felt our contribution to the IWA aspirations would be better served, due to WRG and our volunteers that work regularly on the Essex waterways attending mainly from the London to Essex borders. I didn't realise how much time in detective work, to find contacts to this end would have to be taken! Eventually I managed to contact Clive Henderson, IWA Chairman, Alastair Chambers, Eastern Region Chairman and James Kennerley, who was the newly elected London Region Chairman, Thank goodness all agreed that this would be a beneficial move for all concerned. I am just waiting for James to verify our acceptance to London Region once he has contacted all the London Region Chairman to ascertain their acceptance, and hope I will be able to verify this in our next magazine. On Saturday, 4th September, I attended the Chelmer and Blackwater's Trust, AGM and annual inspection of the Navigation (Essex Waterways).

We were blessed with fine weather and after the AGM, with the proprietors led by Chairman William Marriage and Secretary Richard Porter, our Roy Chandler gave an excellent presentation on work that had been carried out on the Navigation since the last AGM.

This was held at Paper Mill lock on board Victoria and all friends then joined us for the „Inspection Cruise‟.

The first evidence we saw was the restoration being carried out near

Chairman’s Chatter


Papermill Lock and we continued to the turning point just after the newly painted Rushes Lock and back again.

Chris Chandler has produced a more in depth report of the day in an article in this magazine. I hope you all managed to cruise on your boats; or visit the waterways, during the summer break and had better weather than we did. I think I must have chosen the wettest week to have annual leave from work as by Thursday we were so wet we returned home to dry out and of course the weather was then brilliantly sunny!! Jan Thurston Chairman Images Stuart Thurston

The meeting of the Eastern Region IWA was held on 22nd April in Cambridge. At the meeting the state of the membership numbers was discussed. This is a cause of general concern as there is a need for a far greater influx of new members than we are having at present. Those who are members are predominantly male and over 50 and we are not attracting the younger element. The IWA is committed to the Waterways Conservancy being set up. Further information about this is someone lacking at present and the details regarding funding are vital so that the work being done at present by BW and others is supported adequately. There were a number of items linked with developments on the Cam and elsewhere in the region. Please remember, that if you have a change of e-mail address or a new one since giving in your details then let [email protected] have them as soon as possible. Editor

Regional News

mailto:[email protected]


A.G.M of THE COMPANY

OF PROPRIETORS OF THE

CHELMER & BLACKWATER

NAVIGATION LIMITED

On Saturday 4th September Roy and I attended the Annual General Meeting of The Company of Proprietors of The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. Each year the AGM is held on the boat “Victoria” at Paper Mill Lock, Little Baddow. (The images – right – supplied

by Roy Chandler. The early "inspection" is an IWA trip possibly 1950's (very rare) rather than a Proprietors Inspection, but the early inspections followed the same pattern in one of the lighters. Also horse drawn barge on the Chelmer The Company still owns the Navigation and since 2005 Essex Waterways Ltd has had a Management Agreement to maintain and operate the river navigation from Springfield Basin to Heybridge Basin. The Meeting was held by the Chairman William Marriage and the Secretary Richard Porter. Those attending

the meeting were other proprietors and visitors. Following the AGM Roy gave a short power point presentation to show the Company the extensive work that has been undertaken by Essex Waterways Ltd during the last twelve months. Grateful thanks were offered by Richard Porter on behalf of the Company. The meeting over, the boat layout was made more informal, and a buffet lunch, supplied by The Tea Rooms, was laid on board. Additional paying visitors arrived for a trip to Ulting and back. This shortened version of the Proprietors Annual Inspection Trip


keeps alive a tradition of the Navigation. It is hoped in future years that adequate ticket sales will allow the longer inspection to return. We left Paper Mill Lock in glorious sunshine and passed the extensive piling work being carried out around the weir by Land and Water for Essex Waterways Ltd. On the trip down towards Rushes Lock we were able to see wide open spaces of farm land and distant farm houses. Many walkers were enjoying a stroll along the tow path which is bordered by tall willows, some already marked up for cropping and turning into cricket bats. The visitors watched our crew, Del and Eve, work us through the lock, whilst also admiring the well carefully managed by volunteers. The journey down to Ulting Church has to be one of the prettiest stretches on the Navigation. The banks are lined with wild flowers, rushes, swaying grasses and reedmace and interspersed with the autumn colours seen on the blackberry bushes and hips on the dog rose. We reached Ulting Church all too soon and this was the spot suitable for turning “Victoria” round. We left this beautiful scene behind us and as the sky had now clouded over it was a good time to enjoy our super buffet lunch. Chris Chandler.

A Date with Susan Susan is the sole surviving timber Chelmer & Blackwater lighter which is now in the care of The Susan Trust. As several weeks had elapsed since Susan moved to St Osyth, it was time to visit her and inspect the progress of her repairs. The visit was rewarding as the new centre keelson has been installed. Rot in the old keelson had meant that this was no longer holding the alignment of the hull in place and there was a real fear that if left unchecked, she would break her back. The new keelson has kept area around the lock pulled the hull back into shape and made from greenheart timber, this will have a much longer life expectancy than the previous softwood replacement. The inside of the hull has been cleaned and treated with tar. Timbers are now being cut roughly to shape and left to season for the next stage of the restoration. Meanwhile Susan has been moved to a mud berth so as to prevent her existing timbers from drying out.

Photograph front page showing

Susan with the new centre keelson

in place.

Roy Chandler


SPECIAL FEATURE

ARE YOU UP FOR IT?

VOLUNTEERING

Essex Waterways Ltd (an arm of the IWA), has made volunteering one of the central planks of its successful operating strategy. From the time of the setting up of the EWL when „The Company of Proprietors of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation‟ went into administration in November, 2005 volunteers have played a key role. There are very few paid positions on the Navigation: Manager, Mooring Manager, Lock keeper (Heybridge) Lengthsman and some part time posts mainly of a caretaking nature. Everyone else give their time freely, including Roy Chandler, Chairman of EWL. Any time spent by volunteers can be match funded, which means that when another organisation offers money they can agree to fund something to the amount that has been accrued through volunteer work. The tasks completed by volunteers vary, depending on peoples‟ skills and abilities, but there are many different tasks and there is very much a „learn on the job‟ mentality. The IWA believes in the importance and value of volunteer

Life on the open navigation

labour and this has been a difference between us and British Waterways, who, despite a very impressive web site about volunteering, has been perceived by many as paying lip service to the concept and making it „difficult‟ for volunteers to be organised and used. One of the hopes of the IWA is that changes in BW and the setting up of some form of conservancy type organisation will mean there is a more flexible approach to volunteering on the waterways country wide. There are signs that BW is already working to increase the use of volunteers and make more links as seen on the Kennet and Avon and elsewhere in the last three years. Volunteering on the C&BN comes in two main types, a small team in weekdays, normally a Tuesday and Wednesday who complete a


variety of tasks, and occasional weekend visits by WRG (Waterway Recovery Groups) including of course the Essex WRG. The Chelmer Canal Trust volunteers also contribute by once a month clearing bindweed and litter picking. Other volunteers sometimes appear from organisations such as Royal Sun Alliance, Ford and Essex and Suffolk Water. Over the year volunteers have successfully tackled bank building, tow path grass cutting, painting, building landing stages, cutting overhanging vegetation, litter clearance and general cleaning and tidying jobs, removing old and replacing new electric and water cable and associated sockets, making and erecting flag pole, erecting a lamp standard, moving

Preparing to move sleepers used to rest

boats on from the work boat using the

newly acquired crane at Heybridge

boats, maintenance work on small craft, making a display flower boat

erecting information boards and making steps and small bridges moving equipment and more. We have the use of workboats, tools and mowers. There were a few strange looks when we used one workboat to push another workboat and carry a boat all at the same time! Some people did not believe what they were seeing!

Layers of the staging ready to position

and place boards on to replace old

landing stages. A good indoor job

when rain stops play! WRG is a country-wide organisation set up since the 1970‟s, and has taken part in a vast range of restoration work. Work is generally organised for one weekend each month by each of the groups. Essex has its own group and either works alone or does joint „digs‟ with one of the others. It began back in 1993, when Essex Wild Life Trust needed help at Chigwell to fix in posts. Volunteers


who had worked on the restoration of Springfield Basin went along and it was decided to set up an Essex WRG. In that year the group went to Stowmarket and Wendover Arm, The following year they returned, but also had digs on the Thames and Severn, Wey and Arun and Wilts and Berks. Since then there have been return digs and others including Foxton. WRG also have week long work camps, and often undertake a major project; like when they demolished the old Hall Bridge across the Chelmer. Another major task is the restoration of locks and this can include building work and clearance of the site. Path laying, building walls and walkways are also often part of the remit.

Essex WRG gets a helping hand from

Chairman and Director of EWL building

landing stages for installation along the

navigation.

The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation is a unique enterprise for the IWA, which is a charitable organisation, and relies on

members to support the restoration and maintenance work in anyway they can. You have made one move by joining the IWA. We need more members however, and hopefully as many as possible active members who in some way contribute to the work that is being done. So what should you do if you or someone you know is interested in helping? One way to find more information is to go to either the WRG web site and or the IWA website go get a feel of what is going on. If you have a lot of questions such as times, dates, costs, where and when, flexi working, overnight stays etc then see the web site and if you still need to know more then contact Colin Edwards. We are always looking for more volunteers, both weekday and for the Essex WRG and if you think you can help then please contact us. The IWA and the WRG have been instrumental in saving our waterway system for us to enjoy today. It still is under threat from apathy and lack of funding and what you can do all helps to make a difference.

How To Find Out More

John Gale EWL 07961947360

www.waterways.org.uk/wrg

Editor with some help from John

http://www.waterways.org.uk/wrg


Historic Boats at

Braunston

Entertainment at the Braunston Historic Boat festival

Braunston was again the venue for the rally and canal festival held on the weekend of 26th-27th June. It is a great place to visit for anyone wanting to see a huge collection of working boats, some historic and some more recently commissioned. The twice daily parades mean that no one needs miss the action even if they live a distance from Braunston and are not early birds. The commentary was excellent as each boat passed the winding hole at the marina entrance. This meeting was the

40th anniversary of the last of the long distance runs known as the Jam „Ole Run, last made in October 1970. This was the run

from Atherstone to Brentford carrying coal to the Kearly and Tonge jam factory using pairs of narrow boats. The round trip used to take a week as the boatmen were paid based on the load, not the time taken, and so for them

it could be a 17 hour day. For anyone interested and who could not attend you can get the flavour of the occasion by going to Google, key in Braunston Historic Boat Rally 2010 and select videos www.youtube.com. and/or try workingboats.org.uk.

The Historic Boat Owners Club (hnboc.org.uk) was formed in 1966, anyone can join and they have an excellent website.

Editor


Foxton Festival The Foxton Festival, held for the first time in this form took place adjacent to the Foxton locks on the Grand Union Canal, over August 14-15th. It was hoped by the organizers to raise funds towards the 11 million estimated to be the cost of restoring the inclined plane. WRG (Waterway Recovery Group) members from Essex provided 3 days of help in the setting up, security and clearing up of the site. This mainly involved laying straw for vehicles so as to avoid their becoming embedded in mud, staying, in the case of two stalwarts overnight, to provide site security selling programmes and helping to clear the site at the end. Some help was needed with managing the traffic and parking. The marquees were erected by the professionals (I am glad to say) and the exhibitors not in them brought their own tents. We, that is, the WRG had our own gazebo, which sad to say was considered beyond being used again but it held out over the weekend and we displayed pictures to show the work being done and people were there to answer enquires. The weather was less than kind on the Saturday and numbers were

disappointing but the weather improved on the Sunday and with it the crowds turned up to enjoy a good variety of stalls, mainly crafts and some food. There were also birds of prey, alpacas, rescued rabbits and canal stories and songs.

The famous flight of locks

The Inclined Plane Boat

Lift’s remaining tracks


Model showing what the inclined

plane looked like.

The inclined plane site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In 2008 the site was cleared. The cost was partly funded by the Lottery Fund and is the first stage in the restoration which is estimated to cost something in the region of £11m. The Foxton Inclined Plane Trust is working hard to raise the money needed for this restoration.

The structure was designed by Gordon Cale Thomas and was built in 1900. There were two tanks (caissons) each one able to hold two narrow boats or one barge.

There was a winch using a 25hp steam engine (very low powered) as not much is needed as one tank is balanced by the other one). The winch raises and lowers each tank at the same time. Both tanks are full of water and only a very small amount is lost each time. This was much better as it was difficult to provide water for a further set of locks (as is the same problem today). The whole process of moving 4 boats took 12 minutes. Unfortunately the lift was only in use for 10 years as at that time it was not used as much as was envisaged. It was dismantled in 1926.

Websites: www.fipt.org.uk www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton_locks

http://www.fipt.org.uk/

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton_locks

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton_locks


Another Restoration Success Sleaford, in Lincolnshire, is the head of the Slea Navigation and July 3rd saw the opening of a new slipway and the official opening of a new 2008) lift bridge.

Both stand by The Hub, the arts and craft centre in Sleaford. This opens up the route between Sleaford and Cogglesford Mill. The IWA, Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership were represented.


Originally there were 18 watermills (1086 Doomsday Book) and seven of these still remain along the six miles between Sleaford and Ruskington. Cogglesford Mill is open to visitors. The mills wooden water wheel dates from approximately 1860, and weighs 3 tons dry. With the sluice gates open water drives the wheel and via two cogged wheels, the pit wheel

and the wallower, rotates the main shaft that turns the mill stone that grinds corn. Alongside the mill is Cogglesford Cottage that is now used as a very

attractive tea room.


CHELMSFORD RIVER

LITTER PICK

9TH OCTOBER 2010 Organised by Chelmsford

Borough Council

9.00am to 1.00pm starting

from the Essex Record

Office as far as Bunny Walks

Free parking at

Wharf Road Car Park for

volunteers and refreshments

in the Sea Cadet

Headquarters

Chelmsford Raft Race

It all seemed to be over in a flash or maybe a splash or two, as the participants headed for the finishing line. This years Raft Race, run in conjunction with the Lions Club, was on the18th July.

The race is sponsored by Chandler Material Supplies and aided by the Canoe Club and the Sea Cadets. Donations have been given to: St John Ambulance, Chelmsford Sea Cadets and Chelmsford Canoe Club

Results: Barrel Class 1st No 10 "STONEHOUSE 2" Chelmsford Sea Cadets (£100) 2nd No 14 "TERMINATOR" Danbury Roofing (£50) Others Class 1st No 16 "VAN RAFT" Chelmsford Canoe Club (£100) 2nd No 13 "FERRAFTI" Jessica Kallager (£50) Best Raft No 16 (as above). (£50)

Below, is the winning boat in the Best

Boat Class. It was certainly very swish

and moved well through the water. I

think the designers must have been at

the last meet when it was raining and

were determined not to get wet!


Wheelbarrow Saga

Continuing our occasional series featuring wheelbarrows,

we illustrate Essex Waterways Ltd. latest additions to their customer services provision at Heybridge Basin. These wheelbarrows are available for moorers use to carry their possessions to their boats. They are finished in Navigation blue and green. For the enthusiast, their fleet numbers are: HB 2 and HB 3. It is also rumoured that they may be fitted with Tracker devices to keep an eye on their movements.

Tesco Shopping

Image of new landing stage

When Tesco proposed extensions to their Fullbridge, Maldon store which is alongside the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, Essex Waterways Ltd. pointed out that many boaters using the Navigation visited the store for shopping and to buy fuel for their boats. Basin Pleasure Boats also provides a service to take yachtsmen visiting Heybridge Basin to the store to restock on provisions. EWL therefore suggested that Tesco install a landing stage for these shoppers using the Navigation. This suggestion was followed up by Maldon District Council with the inclusion of a condition on the planning permission requiring that this facility should be provided before the new extensions were opened. The extended store is now open and the new landing stage facility is available for users of the Navigation. Roy Chandler

Director and Chairman Essex Waterways Ltd The body responsible for maintaining and operating the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation


Members’ Meeting

9th September Report by Editor

Roy gave a talk backed up by slides on the topic of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. It is just over three years since he has given such a talk and interesting that it falls on the fifth anniversary of the formation of the EWL. The navigation falls inside a designated conservation area and the locks and bridges are all listed and open to the public. IWA began in 1946. Problems began on this navigation after the commercial trade ceased and the navigation fell into serious disrepair. There were lots of campaign rallies and out of them came a developing interest which led to the restoration of Springfield Basin. The lock was falling apart and the whole area was derelict. The IWA agreed to organise the restoration as long as there was support. A two week work camp restored the lock feeder and felled oaks which were pulled off by Shire horse and taken to Paper Mill to make the gates. A grand opening followed. The whole area was redeveloped with a lock side marina and flats and shops gave public access to the area for the first time. The toilet/office in the black shed was initially sold to pay debts but was bought back when it was pointed out that boaters had a right to use it!

Springfield Basin and the black shed

Through 1993 to 2003 partnership agreements were made. Despite this by 2003 the navigation company was taken into administration and after a lot of discussion and alternatives being proposed but not taken up by anyone else, IWA agreed to take control. In 2005, the Administration Order ended and it was arranged to sell off assets not immediately required to run the navigation. In the next few months these agreements set in place at the time come to an end. The old company has the rights by Act of Parliament but IWA actually run


the navigation. This was to be done using volunteer labour as much as possible and all money raised was to be spent on the navigation. The hire fleet on the navigation „Narrow Escapes‟ sums up just what the navigation had! The company, EWL, set up to manage proceeded to start on the tasks of updating records, collecting fees, chasing poor payers, planting some 2000 willow trees (crop) and carrying out repairs and improvements. Tree felling involved newly learnt skills, like knowing what to do to close roads, use traffic lights and stop boards for controlling traffic. Repairs took place at Sandford , Cutton Springfield and, Stonhams locks. Following the improvements programme, new mooring were installed at Sandford, bringing in revenue, and for the boaters electricity and water supply to moorings, Hoe Mill sewage cesspool was sealed, and an anglers platform was built. Sandford moorings were especially designed to account for the possible rise in flood water in winter, and much to the surprise of some boaters proved their worth. Also at Sandford a new hedgerow was planted using volunteers from Essex WRG.

Caretakers at moorings were employed to do some maintenance tasks, deal with security and be a contact point for boaters. At Heybridge the toilet block was underpinned: repairs were carried out on the gate mechanism. The electric gate means that the lock can be used for a great number of boats. Elsan facilities and pump out were provided and many landing stages were replaced. At Heybridge landing stage replacements have and continue to be completed, either developed on the job or using previously constructed stages. At Paper Mill a new footbridge was built, the navigation bank was reinforced, and the Bothy building used as an office was in poor condition and one wall was rebuilt. At Beeleigh work on eroded banks near the lock has been piled to try to stop this, and new landing stages have been built and the steps to them were built by Essex waterways volunteers.

Sluices have needed attention, both at Little Baddow Mill and Heybridge Mill. Chapman‟s Bridge has been resurfaced with an earth covering which protects the brickwork.


The biggest project has been the Elm Farm chunker. A whirlpool was spotted within days of the company take over and for a while the discussion revolved round who should take charge of the work and provide money. The whole navigation had to be damned and the old chunker removed and replaced with a concrete pipe. This with a new sluice and culvert cost £750,000 and the Environment Agency has paid for it.

At the same time Wave Bridge was repainted and refurbished and EWL with money from Redrow replaced Hall Bridge, using volunteers to demolish it. It was in a terrible state of repair with rotten

wood in many places. Local oak has been used and the bridge, in kit form was installed on site. The design copies timber bridges on the navigation. Just a few small details to the brickwork and footpath need completing. IWL asked Tesco to provide moorings for boats, including the trip boat and it was added to the planning when the store was extended and the car parking improved.

image above Stuart Thurston

Paper Mill is undergoing work at present to install new pilings. A fair old amount of equipment turned up at Paper Mill and the organisers put up with no messing around from anyone who turned up at the wrong time. Everything had been pre-planned so the right equipment and materials were unloaded in the right order for the job. This was very necessary as road access is limited and huge queues onto the site could have


caused a big headache for other motorists. The Treasure Island bank also needs to have pilings placed there.

Images of Paper Mill piling work: Stuart Thurston

In the second half of the meeting, after refreshments Roy spoke about the work of volunteers. At the Bonfire Bash there were 100 plus volunteers along the navigation. He told about the contribution they have made. He also spoke about the Chelmer Canal Trust and their work to clear the navigation of pennywort. We have a variety of equipment to use, including a wood chipper, wacker plate, work boats and Buddy. Julie, the workboat is really useful, as is the replacement crane now at Heybridge, the old one being given to the Mid Norfolk Railway. He spoke of what sort of things had to be dealt with. When a dead horse was reported then Roy consulted a wide range of possible sources of help, but in the end the

horse was collected and taken to the knackers! When someone asked Roy what he had been doing that morning he had to admit that he had been „flogging a dead horse‟ Sinking boats have been dealt with and there is the feeling that there is growing knowledge and skill and a belief that we can cope with the unexpected. We have been visited by Clive Henderson, National Chairman, IWAC, have had boat gatherings organised by the boaters and Farleigh Hospice Walk had 2000 walkers along the tow paths. Roy spoke about the importance of our partners: Essex Environment Trust Essex and South West Water Essex County Council Chelmsford Borough Council Maldon District Council Chelmer Canal Trust Paper Mill Lock Company Inland Waterways Association Waterway Recovery Group River Care Throughout Roy credited these organisations for the support both financial and practical that they give. Editor.


Essex Waterways

Update Paper Mill No major lock refurbishments were planned for 2010 on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, instead Essex Waterways Ltd. proposed that its major works would be bank repairs and the long negotiated projects assisted by others. These projects at the Elms Farm chunker (Environment Agency), Beeleigh Locks (Essex & Suffolk Water), and Hall Bridge (Essex County Council - Section 106 funding) have been described in previous editions. The only closure of the Navigation for these works would be prior to Easter. The major EWL project for the year is bank piling at Paper Mill Lock. This had to be undertaken during the summer when the risk of flood conditions was (hopefully) at its lowest. The poor condition of the lower bank between the two weirs was quite evident when seen from the mill pool below the lock. Here the plastic and timber piles were obviously failing with the risk of further bank collapse. If left unchecked, this would result in failure of the weir structures which are especially prone to heavy flood flows. Less obvious was the weak condition of the upper bank adjoining the weirs at Treasure Island, as this is on the backwater. Erosion here had reduced both the

bank height and bulk and during last winters flooding the bank was close to a breach situation. This would have had dire consequences upon the moored boats at Paper Mill and therefore repairs needed to be implemented. While piling schemes for these two banks were being evolved, the island bank below the lock began to show signs of collapse with sections falling away. Once the adjoining piling work was underway, the deterioration of the island bank became more rapid and the decision was taken to re-pile this whilst the contractor was on-site. One of the prime difficulties with such work on the Navigation is the lack of land access and thus the need to bring in specialist floating equipment. This obviously comes at a cost, although use of plant specifically suited to the work can of course be cost effective. In this instance Land & Water were appointed as specialist contractors, having considerable experience of this type of work. “Mobilisation”, that is bringing the plant and equipment to site and setting this up, was an impressive operation. This involved a convoy of large HGV‟s being brought to site one at a time, in a pre-arranged order so as the equipment they carried was that needed for the current assembly


operation. It was interesting to learn that the person responsible for this part of the contract was also a Director of our associated Waterway Recovery Group!

The work between the weirs and to the lock island required the use of 7 metre long piles with a cost of over £35,000 for these piles. The piling rig was placed on a large pontoon which was assembled from twelve sections which were transported on two large articulated vehicles.

Backfilling of the newly piled areas was from gravel gained by dredging out a shoal from the mill pool, thus removing an obstacle to navigation whilst also being a very sustainable operation. The excavator used for this was placed

in a wide beam purpose made barge that was delivered in two sections, so as to be road transportable, and assembled once placed in the river. The smaller section piles to the upper bank were installed with this equipment. A motorized tug was available to assist with the operations.

Essex

Waterways Ltd has

been particularly successful

over the last five years in

obtaining grant funding towards the four major lock restorations on the Navigation. In the current financial climate it is much more difficult to achieve funding assistance, and it seems that works to pile banks, however necessary, are perhaps less glamorous than refurbishing listed lock structures! We were therefore especially pleased to receive a grant of £10,000 from Essex Environment Trust (courtesy of Essex landfill operators namely Lafarge Aggregates Ltd., Cory Environmental Ltd. and Veolia Environmental Services) towards these works.

Roy Chandler


The National At

Beale Park 2010. This is the third time that the National has been held at Beale Park on the River Thames near Goring. The site is huge with a large lake area to one side which is used for the floating exhibits. Indeed this years event, which was smaller than last time, presumably as fewer traders wanted to come, due to the recession, was rather lost in the middle. The weather this year was rather mixed with some very heavy showers interspersed with periods of warm sunshine. Fortunately the opening ceremony was held during one of the sunny periods. The guest arrived from Pangbourne by vintage steamer was greeted on the landing stage and escorted to a replica old wharf for the ceremony.

Councillor Graham Pask opened the festival.

Like most nationals there were lots of wonderful entertainment; for me the highlight being the return of the Day Star Theatre to the entertainment tent on the Saturday and Sunday.

This year the Trustees held an event to allow members to have an opportunity to quiz them about their views of the future for the first time. Unfortunately this was not well attended hopefully due to the poor advertising and not apathy.


The other highlight for me was the show put on by the Newfoundland Dog Display Team. These massive animals obviously enjoyed every minute of their display which gave them the chance to rescue people in the water and in broken down boats. Even a ten week old puppy could hardly contain its excitement when given the chance to swim. Children very much enjoyed the WOW activities. Brick laying, truck driving, brass rubbing and lace plate making were on offer.

The festival is also celebrating the centenary of

one of the IWA founders, Tom Rolt whose book

„Narrow Boat‟ published in 1944 is credited with kick

starting the interest in restoring the canals.

Finally next years‟ National will be at Burton on Trent on 29th-31st July See you there!

Paul Strudwick Walking on Water


Do You Know Your Tools e-mail editor with their names, even varied local names and comments about them and you might find your information in the next magazine. A

B

C

D

E

F


Easy up to now? Then try these! G

H

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Tools supplied from the WRG trailer and Edd Mitcham‟s collection


Fiskerton Fen

Nature Reserve Fiskerton Fen Nature Reserve is well worth visiting. It is situated in the huge pit made when the clay was dug out to use to reinforce the banks of the River Witham. Now it is a wild life habitat. The River Witham is downstream of Lincoln. The embankments are maintained by the Environment Agency as part of flood protection for the surrounding agricultural land. The nature reserve was paid for from the European fund. It is a wet lands and reeds have been planted to encourage the settlement of wetland birds The area has been populated since 8500BC by hunter gatherers. Later in the Neolithic and Bronze age the people cleared woodland and used it to farm.

The bird hide at

Fiskerton Fen is

designed like a

Bronze Age hut.

At the beginning of the 20th century, as elsewhere, there was a thriving trade along the Witham but with the coming of new forms of transport that trade declined. Nearby are the Lincolnshire Limewoods, ancient woodland and home to rare plants and animals. They are a National Nature Reserve managed by the Forestry Commission. There is a visitor

centre and butterfly garden.


One and a half miles travelling by river is Bardney. Both here and at Fiskerton Fen moorings have been built.

The River Witham is navigable for the 36 miles from Lincoln where it joins the Foss Dyke Canal and ends at the mouth of the river, just beyond Boston Grand Sluice Lock. Boston Grand Sluice lock

Picture of the Fiskerton

Fen Mooring

Moorings, near Bardney

Lock.

If you like the outdoors then this

fenland is a place to visit and then

revisit to compare developments

later.


IWA Bulletin from Headquarters

IWA Chairman appointed as

'Observer' to BW boardMid

July 2010

British Waterways and Defra are considering the creation of two new positions of Special Advisors to the BW Board in order to support the proposed transition of British Waterways‟ canals and rivers in England and Wales into the third sector. The unpaid positions will have full Board Member status and would advise and support British Waterways as it works out arrangements for transfer to the new organisation. While details of the new positions and selection process are being considered, British Waterways has invited Clive Henderson, IWA national chairman, to take on the interim role as Observer to the Board, attending all Board Meetings until the final selections are made.

Volunteering opportunities –

BW launch new Web site

August 2010

British Waterways has launched an online service for people wishing to undertake volunteering work on the waterways. The site

advertises opportunities and allows individuals to register for certain types of work in a variety of fields of work, including office based, not just manual labour. The introduction of the service is a radical signal of the willingness of British Waterways to embrace volunteering and we welcome the initiative as a practical demonstration of a changing attitude.

http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk

/be-part-of-it/volunteering/what-

you-can-d

IWAC to be Abolished by

Government

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has announced reforms to more than 30 of Defra‟s arm‟s length bodies The arm‟s length body review will make Defra a leaner, stronger department – with a renewed and clearer focus on its key priorities and a simplified structure for delivering those priorities; underpinned by a robust, credible and efficient science base

American red crayfish ‘scare’

Sightings of an invasive species of crayfish have prompted concerns by ecologists over its potential spread in the Red swamp crayfish, a native of the south-eastern United States, have been spotted in London's Regent's Canal.

http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/be-part-of-it/volunteering/what-you-can-do




WRG

2/3 October Foxton

6/7 November Chelmer & Blackwater 5/6 December Foxton - Robert

Monk Hall is back in use with new heating, posh light wood, new lighting and a much bigger committee room. Xmas Celebration dinner.

John Gale 07961 947360

Mandy Morley 07976 287543

If you do not receive the WRG

Bulletin and wish to then get in

touch essexwrg@ gmail.com

London WRG are due to have a weekend dig over the weekend of October 2/3rd. They are regular visitors and are going to be based at Heybridge. It is likely that they will make an important contribution to the next stage in bank building. The degree of erosion on the route beside the moorings is still cause for concern and though much has already been done there is still a lot to do. A new landing stage has been installed this week and the area below and alongside it needs to be built up. The area has been cleared of vegetation to allow the work to be done. Colin muttered something about needing to get some more clay so there should be no shortage! Once the bags are filled and flattened they are carried by work boat across the navigation to the site. This was also a task carried out during the weeklong camp last month. Apparently filling clay bags is quite a competitive activity and certainly those on the camp enjoyed their work. Editor

iwa chelmsford magazine october 2010

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