Registered Charity No. 702429

CUT BOTH WAYS WEBSITE ARCHIVES The Magazine of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Issue No. 53 - AUTUMN 2007

Opening of Huddlesford Boat Gathering 22nd Sept 2007
On board nb Daysy are Trust Chairman Brian Kingshott, our newest Patron - Michael Fabricant MP, Trust President Eric Wood
Chairman of Lichfield Cruising Club Frank Weetman and Rob Davies of the L&H Marketing Team
The boat was kindly donated for the day by Ray Bowern of Streethay Wharf and skippered by Paul Wood of the Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust
(Photo by Bob Williams)

In late July I delivered my boat to Canal Transport Services at Lime Lane, Pelsall. I last used the route between Wolverhampton and Pelsall two years ago and was well prepared for any difficulties and slow progress. I have been boating this way intermittently for over 30 years and have witnessed its steady decline since it became a remainder waterway in the late 1960s. However, the conditions I experienced caused me great dismay. I was pleasantly surprised that there were no excessive concentrations of weed which I know have been a major problem in recent summers but progress was heavy and difficult for the entire distance between Heath Town and Sneyd.

The major problem was the lack of water depth. This has deteriorated over the last two years. If the rate of decline of depth continues I doubt if I would be able to force a passage by this time next year. There were also the usual problems in bridge holes (fridges?, minis?, Lord Lucan?). The depth problem was especially severe at the rear of the shopping centre in Wednesfield and the stretch between the M6 crossing and Sneyd Junction. The floating/submerged derelict furniture seems to be just a fact of life in the area. There is no way in which one could encourage visiting boaters and certainly not hire craft to come this way. Thus we end up with Catch 22 – no boats = no depth/no depth = no boats. The dilapidated housing at Goscote has gone but the stone-throwers have not and every bridge has to be seen as a possible source of menace.

I fully understand the constraints placed on BW by the current funding situation and the Remainder Waterway classification but the Wyrley and Essington Canal remains part of the waterways network and is apparently available for cruising. Unless urgent action is taken to improve water depth and up-rate the general waterways environment full abandonment by default seems not very far away. Not only did I not meet any other boat moving but also that no boats, no matter how dilapidated, are kept west of Sneyd. There is no waterways-related economic or retail activity with even the few pubs being easily approachable while mooring to shop or drink/eat would be hazardous. The sole exception is the retail park cinema and pub at Bentley Bridge but I am not sure I would risk an overnight stop. I normally try to make my journeys in the very early morning to avoid the stone-throwers, drunks and bold youths.

I had five hours at the tiller to reflect on all these problems and the ways in which they interact with the Lichfield and Hatherton project. We were founded in 1988 to rejuvenate the Northern BCN but nearly 20 years on we seem to be slipping backwards. The Wyrley and Essington is in even greater need of help now than it was when we organised big Pelsall rallies in the 80s and 90s. The need to reopen our two canals is clearly more urgent than ever before. The introduction of an economic impetus is the only way to draw in the big funders. We have recently met officials and councillors in Walsall who are very keen to get things moving but, like everyone else, have no money to put in the pot. I know the current economic climate is not conducive to creating funding packages for canal restoration but unless we can put a partnership of some kind in place we will be limited to our current low-level rebuilding activities. It is heart-breaking to see so many miles of neglected and almost unused waterway gong to waste when it could be acting as a driver of regeneration and, providing BW with the potential for marina creation and the opening of waterside pubs and a wide range of business opportunities.

However, the fact remains that the current condition of the Wyrley and Essington, especially but not exclusively, west of Sneyd, is a cause for major concern. I also fear for the viability of the two boatyards on the Cannock Extension. As a boater, with business at Pelsall, my journey was difficult and sometimes stressful. I am sure that a less experienced boater would have abandoned the attempt after a few yards. The average licence payer has a reasonable expectation that canals advertised as open will be usable without stress and serious difficulty.

Brian Kingshott

Visiting Groups
We have been well-blessed with visitors this summer and some excellent work has been done. In September alone we have welcomed Essex wrg, KESCRG and Jaguar/Land Rover (three times). This latter team has turned its skilful hands to many projects and we look forward to seeing them again next year. I am always struck by the happy atmosphere on site and by how much we owe to Bob Williams for organizing things. We have been able to budget £7000 for restoration work in the year ahead, exactly the same as in the current year. Much of what we do is labour rather than cash intensive.

Our own Teams on the Lichfield
Brian, Barry, Keith, George (and the dog) and co seem to be on site day and night. Progress on the Lock 26 bywash channel has to be seen to be believed. They now look forward to getting on with the long wall down to the A38. We are grateful to Roy Sutton, John Langley and Lindsay Barnard for their engineering advice. We are now investigating the building of a footbridge across the tail of Lock 25. Meanwhile Mike Battisson’s landscaping of Pound 25 is taking shape. What we now need (and always need) is to recruit more volunteers, especially bricklayers. Please encourage anyone to come along and see if they can help: training can be given if needed. Spread the net ever wider!

Donations
We are always happy to receive cash – of course - but you may have items lying around which our team could use. Spare tools, tins of paint, bricks (old and new), a cement mixer, and a strimmer can all be pressed into service. Likewise, we are always gathering bric-a-brac which we can sell at shows and events. Please contact Bob Williams or David Moore.

Grant Success
SCC have advised Bob Williams that we have been awarded the Aggregates Levy grant of £36,000. This applies to parts of the Tamworth Road project that can be completed in the grant year by 31 March 08. However, in anticipation, much enabling work for the most costly items of installing a permanent footbridge and preparing to construct as much as possible of the Pound 27 towpath wall have been done. Additional landscaping advice would be helpful for the Lock 25 area. The Attwood garden wall is funded separately and should become possible in the coming weeks under contract when the retained ERDF grant monies are paid.

Northern & Southern Canals Associations
On Sunday 7th October we hosted a joint meeting of the Northern and Southern Canals Associations at the Guildhall in Lichfield. It was a great pleasure to welcome the representatives of so many restoration projects from right across the country and to be able to show them some of our work both through a presentation and a site visit. We appreciated the talks from Charlotte Atkins MP, John Fletcher, National Chairman of IWA and representatives of The Environment Agency and the Cotswolds Canals Trust. As ever on these occasions the networking during the breaks was invaluable. We are highly indebted to our own Marketing Team for arranging the day and providing excellent and highly praised catering.

LHCRT host joint meeting of Northern and Southern Canals Associations in the Guidhall, Lichfield, 7th October 2007.
(Photo by Bob Williams)

For Sale
BMC 1.5 diesel engine recently removed from a boat. £500 ono viewable at Denis Cooper’s boatyard.

Directors and Officers
Vaughan Welch has joined the Trust Council to represent IWA. Vaughan is Chairman of IWA Restoration Committee, Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire IWA and holds several other posts in the voluntary sector. David Dixon is being briefed by Mike Smith on the duties of Land Officer and we are hopeful that he will take over some of Mike’s former portfolio. We still have several other duties which need further volunteers.

The Big Pipe Mystery
We asked in the last CBW for information on the big pipe which runs through the bed of a considerable section of the Lichfield Canal. Several members contacted us with some useful background and we can now focus more closely on 1967/68 in our researches. The next stage will be to visit the BW archives at Gloucester.

Huddlesford Gathering
We had another excellent day at Huddlesford on 22nd September. Our own team excelled themselves to put on a first class day. As ever, we are indebted to our friends at Lichfield Cruising Club for providing the venue and looking after us so well. It was good to be able to welcome Michael Fabricant MP who performed the opening ceremony and stayed with us for some time. Tony Harvey from BW also came to give his support.

Land Purchase
The Trust operates a land fund in which we keep reserves for the purchase of land which is vital to our work as it becomes available. We have always enjoyed an excellent relationship with Mr Jack Moody who owns the field alongside our Pound 27 at Tamworth Road. His kindness has allowed us to establish an impressive maintenance and building yard alongside Lock 26. We have now shaken hands on a deal which allows us to purchase a strip of land parallel with the A38 and which will take us almost to the A51. We can now progress environmental work and extend the footpath from Lock 25. Local people should welcome this extension which will keep them away from the busy Tamworth Road.

Land being purchased from Mr Jack Moody

Little Wyrley Estate
We are continuing to explore routes across the Estate acceptable to the owner. As the local authorities continue work on their Local Planning Framework we appreciate the need to get our line into this important document.

Brian Kingshott

ERDF grant Keen readers will have followed the saga of the long-awaited release of the remaining 10% retention from our total grant of £779,580 agreed several years ago which is needed to pursue our restoration programme. In particular, it formed part of our plans for the final payment of £50,000 to Staffordshire County Council for the Birmingham Road culvert (depicted in CBW 51). Thanks to the Council taking a more relaxed approach to the contract stage payments, and new income adding to our resources, the bill was paid on time. Just as well as we still await the funds from Government Office: bureaucracy has a mysterious life form of its own!

SCC Aggregates Levy Grant for Borrowcop Locks Canal Park
Better news is that our application to Staffordshire County Council for a new grant to assist with development of the Lichfield Canal at Tamworth Road succeeded in getting approval for £36,000. However, it has to be spent before March 2008! The Trust has taken the view that it is likely to be several years before the section at Tamworth Road can be completed as a water channel. To avoid a continuing “brownfield” appearance, an interim scheme is being adopted to expand and develop the site as an amenity area branded as “Borrowcop Locks Canal Park”. The former Green Arc Partnership commissioned Fira Ltd, landscape specialists in Birmingham, to assist the Trust with a professional design which would enable the Darwin Walk footpath to be extended along the canal towpath past Lock 26, connecting with the Tamworth Road by the A38 bridge. This entails installing a new permanent footbridge by Lock 25, suitable for disabled users, which is now close to final design stage with an imaginative approach to integrating various features of the site for public enjoyment. Please refer to the design reproduced below.

IWA grant
A large part of the above work will be rebuilding the towpath wall below Lock 26. We have the specification, and funding, but will need brick-layers and labourers. To assist them, the Inland Waterways Association West Midlands Region Committee has kindly agreed to donate some funds held since the 2004 National Festival at Burton-on-Trent for the Trust to purchase new equipment to mechanise that effort. If you can lay bricks, or want to be taught the skill, please call me: 01543 671427.

Great Barr Science College
Further to the report in the last issue, they’ve been back to do more. Funded independently for out-of-classroom studies, students put in a lot of effort preparing the ground and planting daffodil bulbs in the area above Lock 24. Arranged by Mike Battisson and Geoff Crook for the Trust, supervised by Andrew Williams, Head of Environmental Science at the College and Education Officer for the Trust, the students learned the correct way of planting and will now look forward to returning in the Spring to see the result of their labours.

Great Barr Science College students planting daffodils above Lock 24 as part of their environmental studies

Lichfield Canal land purchase
Funding is not just incoming, but also outgoing. Mr Jack Moody, the principal behind the ownership of the field between Lock 26 and Tamworth Road (see CBW 52, page 8) has kindly agreed a sale of the part needed to divert the Lichfield Canal channel alongside the A38. This is most fortuitous and timely as it forms part of the landscape scheme described above. The Trust has a restricted Land Fund to which many members have contributed to meet such outlay. “Don’t you love it when a plan comes together”. If you have felt like joining the work parties at Tamworth Road, there is a lot to do, money to spend quickly. Whatever your skills, come along and be part of this wave of success. NOW is our time of need. Here it is again, 01543 671427.

Bob Williams Director (Finance)

We are very grateful to the following:-
- Jaguar & Land Rover Group [JLR] Corporate Citizenship Scheme participants for 33 man-days work on five separate Lichfield Canal projects in September.
- Anonymous donation of a new brush-cutter / hedge-trimmer machine.
- IROBB Ltd, Nether Whitacre for materials to support a JLR project.
- Murray & Willis Ltd, Cannock for materials to support a JLR project.
- Essex waterway recovery group volunteers week-end visit.
- Kent & East Sussex Canal Restoration Group week-end visit.
- Chase Demolition Solutions Ltd for supply of reclaimed bricks.
- Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd for materials transport.

Become a member of our 500 Club for the chance to win prizes of up to £400 every three months! 50% of the 500 Club income will be retained for capital expenditure essential for restoration of our two canals… and 50% paid in prizes to its members. The “500 Club” could contribute up to £3,000 a year - or even more - whilst, for just £12 a year, Club Members get four chances of winning prizes of up to £400 - or maybe more each time!

The “500 Club” now has 211 members and the Trust would like to thank them all for their support. The winners of the September draw are:

The “500 Club” Capital Fund has been established to raise funds for capital expenditure on land purchase and rebuilding structures on the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals.

For an annual subscription of £12 Club Members are allocated 1 chance in each of 4 successive quarterly draws. Based on a membership of 500, the maximum prizes will be:

The Trust has just had a very successful Boat Gathering at Huddlesford Junction, organised jointly with Lichfield Cruising Club. For once we had an outdoor event with favourable weather; no rain, a good deal of sunshine and on Saturday, not much wind. However, strong winds on the Friday and following Monday meant that we had some problems erecting and dismantling the large BCNS marquee.

I don’t intend to list all who helped over the weekend as it will probably take up much of the magazine, and I would be sure to miss out someone. So can I just say a very big and sincere thank you to all who helped in any way, either before, during or after the event. It would not have been possible without you. My thanks also go to the members of Lichfield Cruising Club, the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society and the Coventry Canal Society whose members turned up in force to swell our boat entries. It was the Society’s 50th anniversary and they chose to come to Huddlesford as part of their celebrations.

A good selection of working boats provided an attraction for our visitors as did the model steam lorry and showman’s engine. The Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry also proved to be a winner. All the traders I spoke with expressed satisfaction with the day. The evening entertainment with Bernie Howdle and Braunston Pickle was a sell-out. I have to mention the excellent supper on Saturday evening and the Sunday breakfast provided by the ladies of the Cruising Club.

At this point I must also thank Nuttalls, the contractors responsible for the four tracking work on the West Coast main line, who agreed to reopen the towpath a week ahead of schedule to enable our visitors easier access to the site. Streethay Marina very kindly provided their day boat DAYSY for trips on the canal; it was crewed by members of the Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust.

   

So what else have the Marketing Group been up to since the last newsletter. We had our usual charity stall at Walsall market in July which produced £250 – thanks to Mike Brown and his team. At the same time we also took a stand to Harveys Boatbuilders for their second Open Weekend of the year. Not as successful as the first one but we did raise £35 and Harveys decided to take a stand at the Huddlesford Gathering. Lichfield Medieval Market provided an opportunity for some members of the team to dress for the occasion; observant members will remember the photo in Cut Both Ways No 52 of Terry and Jean Brown with MP and Trust Patron Michael Fabricant, who helped us to raise a further £680.

Our local Whittington Countryside Fair was held on 1 September and raised £125 for the Trust. Lichfield Running Club’s 10K Road Race takes place in September each year and as usual, the Marketing Group manned the drinks station in Darnford Lane. The Club are very appreciative and a donation of £100 is our reward.

As ever, a very busy year and so far it has been financially rewarding, thanks in no small way to the success of the ‘500 Club’. To date members have taken out over 210 subscriptions.

Last weekend the Trust hosted a joint meeting of the Southern and Northern Canals Alliances, the first time the two organisations had met in this way. Members of the Marketing Team proved that their talents also run to catering as we provided coffee, lunch and afternoon tea for the 60 or so delegates. It was agreed by all that the meeting and the refreshments were a success and worthy of repeating.

David Moore

LICHFIELD CANAL
To find our usual work site at Lock 25 on Tamworth Road (Grid ref. SK 130 083) take the A51 out of Lichfield and the site is on the right about 300 metres after Cricket Lane. Look out for the yellow sign.
Our own work parties are supplemented by WRG and ‘Dig Deep’ weekend visits. We generally work from about 9 am to 4 pm and more help is always welcome, even if you can spare only a few hours. Check for additional dates or the latest plans with Bob Williams on 01543 671427 (Email: Bob Williams) or keep checking this web site where any changes will be shown.

Work Party Dates:
September:	Sunday 1, Essex WRG Sat/Sun 1/2, KESCRG Sat/Sun 15/16
October:	Sunday 7
November:	Sunday 4
December:	Sunday 2

ALL SITES: Bring old clothes, stout footwear, work gloves, and refreshment. Hard hats and basic working tools can be provided as necessary, although you are welcome to bring your own.

For details of Waterway Recovery Group Subscribe to Navvies (minimum (£1.50) from Sue Watts 15 Eleanor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ

Work Party News
“Count your blessings, name them one by one” is a familiar hymn whose theme we might apply when we had the benefit of five different volunteer groups, not to mention fine weather, for Lichfield Canal visits during September. See the photographs in this issue.

1-2. Essex waterway recovery group of eight spent two useful days at Tamworth Road on tree and hedgerow management, brick laying and preparing Pound 25 for seeding with grass as part of the interim landscaping scheme.

4-5. Jaguar & Land Rover [JLR] brought the first group of five from the Manufacturing Engineering division under their Corporate Citizenship Scheme to work on three projects relating to the Lichfield Canal at Darnford. The brook needed flood relief pipes laid across the access track; the heavy grille over the inlet to the siphon culvert needed a lifting mechanism; the lift bridge badly needed thorough repainting, all presenting challenges that tested their skills.

11-12. JLR fielded a second group of six to follow on from the previous week and start two more demanding projects at Tamworth Road; rebuilding a derelict trailer and using it to move tons of donated stone (see CBW 52, page 24).

15-16. Kent & East Sussex Canal Restoration Group [KESCRG] brought a strong team of fifteen to undertake additional projects, particularly Lock 26 bywash at Tamworth Road, designed to integrate with the JLR work.

18-19. JLR made their third visit with eight more work-hungry volunteers to complete the earlier projects and continue work done by KESCRG. One took on the job of improving our old dumper, and might even bring his “big crawler digger” to work on site!

Throughout all this, the “home team” made considerable advances with setting out the more exacting parts of Lock 26 bywash to a specification advised by Severn Trent to cope with future flood flows when the land drain is eventually removed.

It was pleasing to welcome back our friends from “Essex” and “KESCRG” - not all of them from so far away – who put so much effort into working with our own regulars. “Many hands make light work” runs the saying, but equally we could say they get so much more done!

Also, we are very grateful to the Jaguar Land Rover Group organiser Owen Pontin for devoting so much preparatory time to organising the teams. It must be said the “engineers” are a fantastic bunch of very willing workers who will tackle almost anything, but agreed beforehand as distinctive projects they could call their own. Integrating these with ongoing activity worked well and together great strides were made with the Trust’s programme of work. It was said you all enjoyed yourselves, so can you please come back next year?

Essex WRG work on preparing Pound 25 for seeding with grass		Essex WRG busy with tree and hedgerow management above Lock 24
JLR engineers bring a derelict trailer to good use on the Tamworth Road site		Refurbished trailer used by JLR team to move tons of donated stone
Darnford Brook culvert inlet grille in need of attention to provide access		JLR team install Darnford Brook grille counterbalance frame made by IROBB Ltd
Brian Kingshott appreciating JLR team repainting Darnford Lift Bridge		Completed refurbishment of Darnford Lift Bridge & its surroundings by JLR team
JLR team install pipes to relieve Darnford Brook flood overflow		KESCRG team leader Eddie Jones helps with tree relocation at Tamworth Road
KESCRG team consultation during work on Lock 26 bywash		KESCRG help with organising masonry stock at Tamworth Road
Brian Davis designing a new outfall from the Lock 26 bywash		L&H brick-laying team build up Lock 26 bywash to flood dimensions
Chase Demolition Solutions Ltd donating bricks from an old Cannock building		Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd delivering the bricks to Tamworth Road
(photos by Bob Williams)

HATHERTON CANAL
Our regular date is the third Sunday of each month, from 10 am, with some occasional extra days as required. Contact Denis Cooper on 01543-374370 (work) for details of meeting places.

Monthly work parties: Sundays; 16 September, 21 October, 18 November, 16 December.

ALL SITES: Bring old clothes, stout footwear, work gloves, and refreshment. Hard hats and basic working tools can be provided as necessary, although you are welcome to bring your own.

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