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IWA Welcomes Pre-Budget Report £5 Million Stimulus for British Waterways.
The Inland Waterways Association ( IWA ) today welcomed the announcement in the Chancellor’s Pre- Budget Report that British Waterways would be getting a £5 million capital injection to spend on network infrastructure as part of a £535 million ‘green stimulus package’.
The capital is to be brought forward from 2010/2011 to 209/2010 budgets and will be part of the Grant in Aid that British Waterways receives from Government.
Speaking on behalf of IWA, Dr Roger Squires, Chairman of Navigation Committee, said:
“ This is very welcome news, IWA has been lobbying hard recently within Government to get British Waterways considered as a suitable candidate for additional funding to help stimulate jobs and local economies, we are pleased to learn that our efforts have been successful.”
He continued:
“ However, whilst this helps towards the current budget deficit, we must not forget that British Waterways is still grossly underfunded and is still in need of a further £25 million on top of this cash injection just to maintain the existing network. IWA will continue to press home the case for improvements in navigation authorities’ funding, unabated and with renewed vigour.”
IWA Press Release
Release date: 25 November 2008
IWA Steps in to Save Woolsthorpe Top Lock
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has stepped in with a £175,000 funding plan to save Woolsthorpe Top Lock on the Grantham Canal from closure, following the partial collapse of the offside wall to the lock last year. British Waterways had decided that they could not afford to rebuild the wall and proposed that the lock would be filled in.
John Baylis, East Midlands Region Chairman of the IWA made the rescue proposal to British Waterways, for IWA to fund the rebuilding of the damaged wall of Woolsthorpe Top Lock utilising a legacy given to IWA from the estate of Mr. Fredrick Charles Woodman.
IWA had to offer further guarantees that sufficient money was available to complete the rebuilding, which meant that an additional joint campaign between the Grantham Canal Society and IWA was necessary to raise additional funds. Additional grants were obtained from Lincolnshire County Council through the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership and the East Midlands Development Agency.
IWA, through its Honorary Consultant Engineer Roy Sutton, also undertook to produce extensive drawings and calculations to demonstrate how the work could be done.
Following further discussions and agreement with British Waterways, quotations were sought from several contractors and Morrison Construction’s proposals for the method of rebuilding have been accepted. Morrison Construction, part of the Galliford Try Group of Companies, has now been engaged to start work shortly.
Speaking on behalf of IWA, John Baylis said:
‘I am very pleased that after much work and negotiations, we have persuaded BW to allow us to fund the rebuilding of the Lock. I must thank Roy Sutton, IWA Honorary Consultant Engineer, together with John Brydon and Mike Stone of the Grantham Canal Trust, and John Moulsher, the local land owner, who is providing access, for their help in achieving what we hope will be a satisfactory solution to Woolsthorpe Top Lock’.
IWA Press Release
Release date: 12 November 2008
IWA WELCOMES WIDERANGING PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT FOR INLAND WATERWAYS
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) today welcomed the support that a large number of MPs gave for the waterways in an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 28 October.
Charlotte Atkins MP, IWA Parliamentarian of the Year, had called for the debate on the future of the inland waterways, focusing on restoration and funding of the network. The debate was extremely well attended, with 22 Members of Parliament present, 18 of whom spoke in support of the waterways.
Huw Irranca-Davies MP, the new Minister for the Waterways said that: "It is one of the best attended sessions that I have seen in Westminster Hall for quite some time, and that reflects the passion, commitment and knowledge that people have displayed in their contributions."
Charlotte Atkins spoke eloquently about the heritage of the waterways and how IWA had done so much to save them, through its vision for the waterways and the work done by its volunteer working parties since the 1970s. She spoke about how restored waterways can lead to real opportunities for development, boosting visitor numbers. The MPs who spoke supported these views, giving examples from their own constituencies about restored canals and how they have contributed to regeneration and tourism. Many congratulated the IWA on its direct contribution to restoration over the years. However there were also examples given of concern that similar opportunities for improving the environment and commerce for local communities will be lost without funding for the navigation authorities and restoration work.
Charlotte Atkins specifically raised the issue of funding by central government for British Waterways and the Environment Agency saying that:
- for British Waterways, after the peak in funding in 2003-04, at more than £76 million, "grants have been severely reduced" and "inevitably that has impacted on British Waterways works programme, and it must have jeopardised its target of a vibrant expanded network by 2012."
- for the Environment Agency, "It is handicapped by a large maintenance and navigational improvement backlog. [It] receives some £14 million in grants, but the estimated cost of completing the backlog of capital work is said to be £30 million". She went on to say that this meant that structures had not received routine maintenance.
The Minister responded, saying that it was good for him, so early in his Ministerial career, to address some of the issues raised, and recognised the contribution made by waterways to economic, social and health benefits, as well as social inclusion, conservation of heritage, the environment and regeneration. He also praised the work of volunteers in restoring waterways and acknowledged the benefits that restoration can deliver in public benefits. He assured MPs that he had note their concerns.
Speaking on behalf of IWA, Roger Squires, Chairman of Navigation Committee said:
"It is rare indeed for an Adjournment Debate to be attended by quite so many MPs, who all wanted to speak, and I
congratulate Charlotte Atkins on securing the debate. The Minister can now be in no doubt about the strength of feeling
which MPs have for waterways all around the country, recognising only too well the benefits that accrue to their
constituencies when waterways are restored and existing waterways kept in good order. The message is clear. Even in times
of austerity there are some works which deliver such great public benefits that money simply must be found to invest in
them. The waterways clearly fall into that category. If the Government is looking for public works to invest in as part of
its strategy for combating the effects of the recession the inland waterways has a proven track record for being an
extremely good candidate."
IWA Press Release
Release date: 30 October 2008
THE DIRTY DOZEN
Public called to help vanquish waterway invaders
These include: the seemingly harmless weeds released by people when clearing out their garden ponds; the mink let out of fur farms; and even a rash of Red-Eared Terrapins released after the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle" craze of the 1990s.
Dealing with problem species costs British Waterways in the region of £1million each year and its ecologists, in conjunction with other organisations, monitor the impact of invasive species on native wildlife habitats.
How you can help
British Waterways is encouraging people to:
BW Press Release: "The Dirty Dozen"
Release date: 14th August 2008
Photographs and descriptions of the "Dirty Dozen" can be found on our Pests web page
As part of a continuing focus on events to be held in the East Midlands in 2009, The Inland Waterways Association’s National Campaign Festival for 2009 is to be held at Kiveton Park, near Rotherham, on the summit level of the Chesterfield Canal.The Festival will be held over the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend 23rd - 25th May 2009.
IWA wants to build support for the work of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership in its plans to replace the collapsed Norwood Tunnel with a surface route and thereby reconnect Kiveton Park to those parts of the canal that are already restored, and the parts of the canal that are currently under restoration in Derbyshire. IWA also hopes to spur on the Partnership’s plans for a new navigable link between the Chesterfield Canal and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation in Rotherham.
The Festival organisers also hope to encourage visiting boaters to use the beautiful Chesterfield Canal and other lesser frequented waterways of the lower Trent.
The Festival location is at the limit of British Waterways’ ownership of the Canal, and within a few yards of Norwood Tunnel whose collapse caused the closure of the Canal beyond this point in 1908. The Festival is being jointly organised by IWA together with the Chesterfield Canal Trust, The Chesterfield Canal Partnership, and the Retford & Worksop Boat Club.
The Chesterfield Canal is one of the county’s earliest canals, and was the last to be designed by James Brindley. Within its 46 miles it traverses widely different urban and rural landscapes and has a wide range of heritage features, many unique to the Chesterfield Canal.
Substantial progress has been made towards full restoration. In addition to the physical works carried out on the ground, there has been major progress on the range of studies required to support a major funding bid. The importance of this canal was confirmed by The Inland Waterways Advisory Council in their December 2006 report, which classes the Chesterfield as being of ‘national importance’ and in ‘Category 1’ (i.e. ready for funding).
John Fletcher, IWA national chairman, said: ‘IWA is delighted to be able to use the Campaign Festival to highlight the work of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership and to help mobilise even further support for a scheme of national importance’.
‘The Chesterfield Canal Society (now the Trust) was formed in 1976 as a result of IWA’s decision to hold its 1977 Campaign Rally in Worksop, which was then the limit of navigation. We are delighted to be able to return and continue our support for the Trust’.
‘Although the aim is to restore the entire canal on as near as is practical to the original line, it is also proposed to create a new length of canal in the Rother valley. “The Rother Valley Link”, will create a new “North Notts & South Yorkshire Ring”, and thus extend the cruising network within the region and bring a positive increase in visitors and significant economic benefits to North Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire’.
IWA Press Release: Chesterfield Canal to Host IWA 2009 National Campaign Festival
Release date:
18 June 2008
As part of a focus on events to be held in the East of England in 2009, The Inland Waterways Association’s National Trailboat
Festival for 2009 is to be held on the restored length of the Ashby Canal at Moira, which is at the very northern end of the
canal in Leicestershire.
The festival will be held over the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend 23rd- 25th May 2009.
The canal through Moira was restored between 1999 and 2005 following its previous progressive abandonment due to mining subsidence,
and which is part of a longer-term scheme to restore the canal from Snarestone to its original terminus at Moira. By featuring the
festival at the recently restored section at Moira, IWA Festivals hopes that the event will show-case the work done by the Ashby
Canal Trust and raise awareness for the continuing restoration. The festival site includes the includes the only lock (so far) in
existence on the Ashby Canal, and is set adjacent to the impressive Moira Furnace, a grade 2 listed building in the heart of the
National Forest.
The featured restored length of canal is approximately 2000m long and includes two permanent slipways. There is good parking
adjacent to the site, and water and toilet facilities are available.
The event will be organised by the Ashby Canal Trust who along with members of IWA’s Lichfield branch and Ashby Canal
Association will provide much of the assistance over the festival period.
Speaking on behalf of the IWA Festivals’ Committee Derek Smith, Trail Boat Director, said: "IWA is delighted that the 2009
Trailboat Festival is to be held at Ashby. It is a brilliant opportunity to showcase the exceptional work achieved by the Ashby
Canal Trust and its supporters, and we hope that the festival will raise further awareness for the remainder of the scheme."
Ashby Canal Trust usually holds an event at Moira each year, and will be holding a Moira Canal Festival from 7th- 8th June 2008,
It is hoped that the Trail Boat Festival can capitalise on this always popular event.
For more information on the 2009 Trail Boat Festival please contact Geoff Pursglove of the Ashby Canal Trust on 01530 273956
www.Ashbycanaltrust.co.uk
IWA Press Release - 4 June 2008
The Friends of the Cromford Canal (FCC) are pleased to announce that the actor, adventurer and personality, Brian Blessed
has become their President of the FCC. Brian was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, but has strong connections with Derbyshire, in particular
the Peak District National Park. He is quoted as saying, "For me the beautiful landscapes of the Peak District are the centre of the earth."
He is delighted to be able to head our great restoration project especially at this time. Formerly he was President of the Council for
National Parks (CNP) 2001 to 2007.
Brian Blessed, has been one of Britain's favourite actors for many years; a true national treasure with one of the most recognisable
voices in television, film and theatre and has performed many roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Best recognized on the screen by
his booming voice, when not acting, Blessed is an intrepid alpinist, having scaled such peaks as Mount Everest (attempted three times,
has yet to succeed) and Kilimanjaro, as well as being the oldest person to have trekked to the North Pole.
Mike Kelley, Vice Chair of the Friends said, "Brian is just the personality we need to head this wonderful Derbyshire project of ours.
We already have Julian Richards, Archaeologist, Writer and Broadcaster as our Patron, so now with Brian as our President we have a
complete and balanced team to help us move ahead. We welcome Brian aboard."
FCC Press Release - 21 April 2008
The Friends of the Cromford Canal have gained planning consent to turn a river diversion channel, created during surface mining on
the Smotherfly site, into a waterway just over one kilometre long, to link with the existing Pinxton Arm of the Cromford Canal.
The channel was to be filled in, but the Friends have lobbied to use the channel as part of a restored canal, and Derbyshire County
Council allowed an extension to UK Coal’s restoration plans so that the application could be determined. There are some sensitive
environmental issues involved, but also some flood relief benefits expected from the scheme. It took 20 months to secure consent for
the scheme which crosses local authority boundaries and varies a restoration plan agreed some years ago. The Friends of the Cromford
Canal aims to restore the whole canal from Langley Mill to Cromford including the arm from Ironville to Pinxton.
IWA Head Office Bulletin - April 2008 - Issue 135
The Inland Waterways Association announced today that its 2009 National Festival & Boat Show would be held at Red Hill, near Ratcliffe on Soar, on the Soar Navigation, close to its confluence with the river Trent, and the junctions with the Erewash, and Trent & Mersey canals, just south of Nottingham.
IWA hopes to encourage boaters visiting the Festival to try the Erewash and Chesterfield canals and other lesser frequented waterways of the East Midlands. The Festival also intends to raise the profile and give support to waterway societies in the area, including the Derby, Cromford and Grantham canals all of which are currently under restoration.
IWA's National Festival brings hundreds of exhibitors and visiting boats as well as thousands of visitors to an area, offering a great day out for families as well as raising the profile of the waterways with local authorities and business communities. In 2007 the Festival was held in St Ives, Huntingdon and the local authority estimated that the event brought over a million pounds into the local economy as a result.
Announcing the location of the event, John Fletcher, IWA national chairman
said:
" I am delighted that we are able to announce the venue for the 2009
National festival at Red Hill on the River Soar. In choosing this location,
we want to encourage visitors to explore and use the lesser frequented
waterways of the East Midlands, such as the Erewash and Chesterfield canals.
We also want to highlight the importance to the waterways movement of the
waterway restoration projects in the area notably the Derby, Cromford and
Grantham canals."
Cllr Neil Clarke, Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council said:
"Our waterways attract local residents and bring tourists to the area which
is a great boost for the rural economy. We are looking forward to welcoming
this prestigious event to the area and know that it will put Rushcliffe and
the East Midlands firmly on the tourism and boating enthusiasts' map."
Mark Ellard, Manager of the adjacent Red Hill Marina, which is helping to
support the event, said:
"I am delighted that the National Festival is coming to Red Hill. We think
it will be one of the best Festivals ever as we have very good access to
public transport, with a railway station right on the doorstep, a 30 minute,
24 hours a day, bus service to Nottingham as well as great road links with
the M1 and the A50 close by, even East Midlands Airport is just a bus ride
away."
The Festival launch meeting will be held in October, details to be arranged, when local people will be invited to hear more about the Event and how they can become involved.
IWA Press Release: River Soar Navigation to host IWA's 2009 National FestivalToday Defra announced its grant to British Waterways for 2008/09. The grant is £56.624 million (like for like comparison
2007/08, £56.4 million), once repayment of £1.024 million of National Loans Fund is excluded.
Responding to the announcement Robin Evans , British Waterways chief executive said: “In the current difficult
government funding climate this is a reasonable settlement and in line with our expectations. It shows that Defra
has listened to the arguments that further funding cuts would be very damaging. I would like to thank our minister,
Jonathan Shaw and his team of officials, for all the hard work they have put in to protect waterways funding. I know
they recognise the value of maintaining the integrity of the canal network for delivery of a wide range of public benefits,
including regeneration and public enjoyment of the environment. This can only be a positive development as Defra completes
its planning for the remaining two years of the Comprehensive Spending Review.”
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) welcomed the announcement by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs ( DEFRA) yesterday confirming that the settlement for British Waterways of grant-in-aid of £57.64million would be inline with expectations, as promised by the Minister, and not subject to any further cuts.
DEFRA also announced that the Environment Agency grant would amount to £796million, although the Agency has yet to announce what proportion of this it will allocate towards navigation.
Speaking on behalf of IWA, John Fletcher, national chairman, said;
“IWA is acutely aware that this flat cash settlement is really a cut, once the level of inflation is taken into account.
Whilst we are disappointed that the current financial climate and previous mismanagement of DEFRA’s budget have made it
impossible to reinstate the previous levels of grant-in-aid to the navigation authorities, it could have been much worse.
We are, however, pleased that all of the hard work put in by our members in lobbying their MPs to protect what funding was
available, in the immediate period before Christmas has paid off. I would like to personally thank everyone for the tremendous
effort that was put in to protect the allocation, during the department’s budget review process”.
“We welcome the positive influence of the new Waterways Minister, Jonathan Shaw MP and the hard work of his officials in ensuring
British Waterways’ budget has not been yet further reduced after the major cuts experienced last year, despite the Department’s
difficult financial position”.
“If IWA has a criticism in all of this, it is that we are disappointed at British Waterways’ lamentable lack of visibility in
fighting for its share of grant, and thus failing to champion the waterways in this process. It appears to IWA, that this
passivity is the principle reason that caused British Waterways to have to withdraw from the Cotswold Canal partnership.
British Waterways appears to have abdicated its leadership role in the development of the waterways and seems to be leaving
the voluntary sector to take up the yoke. Notwithstanding 60 years of campaigning by IWA, some things don’t appear to have changed.
The need for an active waterways campaign movement today is a great as ever.”
Derbyshire County Council has secured a grant of £417,500 from East Midlands Development Agency, as part of a £800,500 package of funds, to improve the 5.5 mile northernmost section of the Cromford Canal that it owns, and thus encourage economic development to the area. Other funding has been agreed with Network Rail and Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership, with the balance coming from Council funds over a three-year period. Work to be financed with the money includes:
The Friends of the Cromford Canal have joined forces with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to protect the industrial and natural heritage of one of the Trust’s nature reserves.
The Friends have organised a series of weekend volunteer work parties to remove small trees and saplings that are growing out of the canal walls and stonework. Kate Lemon, the Trust’s Reserves Officer, explains: “If the trees continued to grow unchecked they would take over the canal, dry it up and cause irreparable damage to the physical structure of the canal. The Friends are also helping to clear litter from the water, including some large items such as sofas.”
Erewash Meadows is one of 42 nature reserves looked after by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Grass snakes, amphibians and dragonflies are among the creatures to be found on and around the disused canal, while other parts of the reserve are well known for bird species such as lapwing, snipe, wigeon and teal.
Friends of the Cromford Canal work parties take place on Saturdays, and dates planned are 12th January, 9th February and 8th and 9th March; all dates depend on availability of volunteers.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s own Midweek Volunteer Team will also be carrying out some work on the reserve over the next few months to remove some of the larger trees. Kate commented: “By having two teams of volunteers working on the site we are really able to make an impact. The work the Trust’s team is doing compliments the Friends’ work perfectly.”
Pat Morriss, Chairman of the Friends of the Cromford Canal agreed, and added: "We are delighted to have got together with the Wildlife Trust in order to preserve this important piece of historic infrastructure in an environmentally friendly way for the benefit of all".
To find out more about joining a Friends of the Cromford Canal work party, contact Dave Tinkler on 0115 963 5113 or Tony Brookes on 01332 514548, or visit www.cromfordcanal.org.uk
For more information about Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves and Midweek Volunteer Team, contact the Trust on 01773 881188.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Press Release (13th December 2007)