Registered Charity No. 702429

CUT BOTH WAYS

CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN

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

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