Canal News – Attractions for Easter

Canal News

Attractions for Easter

 

Ellesmere Port ‘Then and Now’ Exhibition at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port

05 Mar – 29 Apr 2014
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Address
National Waterways Museum, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. CH65 4FW

Rare images go on view at the National Waterways Museum.
A six week exhibition, commencing Wednesday, 5 March, on Ellesmere Port will include both old and new images of the town, hence its title ‘Then and Now’. It’s a major fringe event of the new and exciting Port Arts Festival and will give locals, and others with a knowledge of the town, a chance to reminisce. It’ll also help newcomers understand a bit more about this fascinating industrial town with its many phases of development.
The exhibition includes photos of the Beatles, Joe Mercer, Pat Phoenix, various pubs and clubs, stories of its development (e.g. why did the town centre keep moving?), industry and many other fascinating aspects. Alongside these rare images will be new ones taken by students from West Cheshire College and members of the Ellesmere Port Local and Family History Society plus a good selection of previously unseen images from the local community.
The exhibition will be open daily at the National Waterways Museum at no additional charge to the normal admission fee. Please contact 0151 355 1936 for further details or, for additional information about the exhibition, celiawebb@aol.com, on behalf of the Ellesmere Port Local and Family History Society, who are curating the exhibition.

 

Oxford Canal art exhibition

02 – 27 Apr 2014
11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Address
The Jam Factory Restaurant and Bar
Hollybush Row,
Oxford,
OX1 1HU

Enjoy an exhibition of art related to the Oxford Canal.
Visit Oxford’s Jam Factory to see the winning entries from the Oxford Canal Heritage project’s art competition. The entries will sit alongside professional artists work in the ‘Inspired by the Canal’ exhibition at the Jam Factory.
The Oxford Canal Heritage art competition attracted over 70 entries from retired people to children in Oxfordshire schools and include paintings, sketches, textiles, collages, pottery, photographs and models.

 

 

Canal News – Experts sought to help steer future of canals and rivers in the Midlands

Canal News

Experts sought to help steer future of canals and rivers in the Midlands
People living in the Midlands are being called on to help guide the future development of the waterways at the very heart of the nation’s historic canal and river network.

Lock 6, Atherstone, Coventry Canal

This is a tremendous opportunity for people with ideas and energy to play a leading role in bringing others together to embrace their local canal or river”
Charlotte Atkins, chair of the
We are calling for people in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and north Warwickshire to come forward and help shape the future of their local waterways.
The Trust is recruiting three new members for its Central Shires Waterway Partnership, which plays a key role in getting more people involved in these vital green spaces and ensuring they boost tourism and employment.
Nine people currently sit on the Partnership, drawn from different interests such as boating, canoeing and angling, as well as wider regeneration, media and community engagement backgrounds. The three new members being sought will ideally have experience and expertise in the areas of health and well-being, local authority, social enterprise, volunteering and the natural environment.
Charlotte Atkins, chair of the Central Shires Waterways Partnership, said: “Our waterways are at the very heart of the nation’s historic canal network and as a result they’ve been instrumental in shaping our towns and cities and they remain an enduring reminder of our thriving industrial past.
“As a partnership we believe that it’s now time to put the waterways back at the heart of our communities and use them as a means of tackling some of the great challenges that our region faces. Our waterways have huge potential to boost the Midlands’ economy and to help people lead healthier lifestyles, to gain new skills and simply just to feel a sense of pride in where they live.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for people with ideas and energy to play a leading role in bringing others together to embrace their local canal or river and help create better waterways and closer, healthier, communities.”
The roles are voluntary with agreed expenses reimbursed, and will involve approximately two days a month. Appointments are for three years. For more information please contact waterway manager Darren Green on 0303 040 4040 or darren.green@canalrivertrust.org.uk
Find out more about these partnership vacancies

We want your views on our towpaths
We’re currently consulting on how towpaths are shared to make visiting waterways more enjoyable for everyone.

Apsley, Grand Union Canal

Our aim is to improve people’s experience of using towpaths in England and Wales by gaining a more detailed understanding of the ways towpaths are used – whether by boaters, walkers, joggers, cyclists or anglers – and to attract more visitors to regularly use and enjoy the waterways.
We’re inviting people to share their views through an online survey, on anything from signage and behaviour to suggestions for access and surface improvements.
Sharing
The National Towpath Use Policy will set out our approach to managing safer sharing of towpaths including what we will do and what visitors can do. For example, it will balance the needs of people with the need to conserve and protect heritage and the environment; also how to encourage visitors to better understand the range of towpath activities, be considerate of others and make a difference to these shared spaces.
To find out more about our proposals and give your feedback please visit http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/consultations/current-consultations

 

Canal News – Fazeley Junction & Brecon Canal Aqueduct

Canal News

Fazeley Junction & Brecon Canal Aqueduct

press release  Issued: 20 January 2014

 Canal junction transformed by giant kingfisher

The Midlands’ historic canal network has a striking new landmark after a giant kingfisher and robin appeared on a canalside wall in Tamworth.

The giant mural was created as part of a Canal & River Trust project to transform a run-down canal junction. The Trust has been working with volunteers for over a year to breathe new life into Fazeley Junction where the Coventry Canal meets the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal.

The junction was looking a bit tired until the Trust enlisted the help of its Tamworth Towpath Taskforce group of volunteers. The team quickly got to work tidying the junction, clearing litter, removing graffiti and putting up new fences. Over time the team hope to do even more and create a canalside garden.

To complement the team’s efforts local arts group New Urban Era have now created a wildlife-inspired mural on what used to be a graffiti blighted wall. The wall, which belongs to H & G Gould Timber Merchants, has been entirely repainted and detailed paintings of a kingfisher and robin added by freelance artist Steve Edwards.

Tom Freeland, volunteer coordinator for the Canal & River Trust said; “This is the culmination of a volunteer-led project to reclaim and restore busy Fazeley Junction for the benefit of the local community.  Over the last year, our volunteers have weeded, mulched, cleared rubbish, put up a new fence and removed graffiti from the site, and this mural will really set off their efforts.  We look forward to maintaining and enhancing it as we continue our plans to create the Junction Garden and if anyone wants to help us we’d love to hear from them.”

New Urban Era founder Vic Brown said; “We are delighted to have worked with the Canal & River Trust on this Fazeley project. Not only is the mural visually pleasing but also educates visitors about the wildlife that can be seen and heard along the regions canals and rivers. We hope the project will positively inspire the general public and further organisations to engage in the arts.”

The Tamworth Towpath Taskforce is open for anybody to turn up and join in. Activities take place every other Wednesday from 10am until 1pm. No experience is necessary and all equipment is provided. For more information contact Tom Freeland on 01827 252010 or go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer/ways-to-volunteer/towpath-taskforce

PRESS RELEASE Issued: 20 January

 Vandalised Brecon aqueduct repaired

A Grade II listed aqueduct on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in Pontymoile has been repaired, after vandals caused thousands of pounds of damage by hurling its 200-year old stone masonry onto the banks of the Afon Lwyd below.

Glandŵr Cymru – the Canal & River Trust in Wales – has invested £45,000 in the project, which also restored 19^th century railings on either side of the aqueduct and gave engineers the chance to repair long term damage caused by growing ivy and tree roots. The work took over four weeks, having started just before Christmas.

David Viner, heritage advisor at Glandŵr Cymru, said: “We’re really pleased to get these repairs done. The damage appeared quite blatant. We suspect some larrikins hurled sections of the masonary onto the banks below, and quite a bit was carried off down the river. It just shows how much this sort of stupidity can end up costing.

“Because of the age of the aqueduct, and the Grade II listed status, it was specialist work. The location, effectively suspended above the river, also meant that quite a lot of effort had to go into getting the engineers in a safe position to do the job. The aqueduct is a very important piece of Welsh waterway heritage, so it’s great to see it back in top condition.”

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is a 35-mile canal that runs through the Brecon Beacons and dates back over 200 years.

Canal News – IWA Lichfield Branch & HS2 High Speed Rail

Canal News

IWA Lichfield Branch – Decking Preparation and Strimmer Training

A very brave eight volunteers from IWA Lichfield Branch arrived at St Augustine’s Firld on the Trent & Mersey Canalon Sunday 27th October, which had the worst weather forecast seen for a long time. As it happened, the only rain the group faced was during the break for tea and cake, so the volunteers managed to complete most of what was set out to do.

The main job of the work party was to clear the decking area again, which had become badly overgrown during the summer, and to start clearing the canal bank.

IWA Lichfield Branch is only at the beginning of what is quite a complicated project. The next stage will be to replace part of the decking, which is rotten, and begin to sandbag the canal bank.

IWA Lichfield Branch Work Party – Friday 8th November

The branch’s Friday work party saw a lucky thirteen volunteers working in the Brindley Bank area by the aqueduct on the Trent and Mersey Canal in Rugeley.

The footpath from the bottom of the ‘Bloody Steps’ to the aqueduct was finished in quick time, so the team started to fill in behind the piling at the far end of the moorings.

The grass had the last cut of the year, with the footpath from Wolseley Road having the side vegetation strimmed. The steps were cleared of leaves and accumulated moss to make them safer during the winter months.

Meanwhile, work to rebuild the wharf wall continued, although hampered by the persistent rain. The team was joined by a Police Community Support Officer, who advised that reported incidents of anti-social behaviour are well down since IWA started the renovation work, and that some offenders had been caught. Anyone observing anything untoward on the waterways should call the ‘101’ telephone number to report any incidents.

The branch’s volunteers are of all ages, and many wear different ‘volunteering hats’. On this occasion the branch members included volunteers and visitors from the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, Stafford Riverway Link, Rugeley Lions, CRT, the Police, and local residents.

 Photo courtesy of Margaret Beardsmore.

HS2 High Speed Rail, Phase 2 route affects several canals – January 2013

The Government announced its preferred routes for Phase 2 of the High Speed Rail (HS2) network on 28th January. Phase 1 was from London to Birmingham and onto Lichfield (see January 2012 report below) and Phase 2 extends the line to Manchester and to Leeds. The plans show several canal crossings in IWA’s Lichfield Branch area, including the Trent & Mersey Canal at Fradley and Great Haywood, the Coventry Canal at Polesworth, and the planned restoration route of the Ashby Canal at Measham.

The Lichfield to Manchester section starts from the Phase 1 link to the West Coast Main Line (WCML) near Streethay. This link already crosses the Trent & Mersey Canal twice, at and near Woodend Lock. The new line adds a further bridge over the canal between Woodend and Shade House locks, creating three canal crossings in close proximity above Fradley Junction. Further north it crosses the T&M again right alongside the marina at Great Haywood, on a viaduct about 10 metres high, although the plans don’t even show the marina.

 Shade House Lock, Trent & Mersey Canal. HS2 will cross through the woods in the middle distance. Pooley Hall Colliery Basin moorings, Coventry Canal.

The HS2 bridge will cross right over this point.

( Photos by Phil Sharpe)

The Water Orton to Leeds section crosses the Coventry Canal at Polesworth, by a bridge about 10 metres high, after cutting through the canalside Pooley Fields Heritage Centre. At Measham where it runs close to the A42 it crosses Burton Road, but with no bridge shown over the adjacent Ashby Canal line where proposed for restoration.

Numerous alternative alignments were considered at the planning stage and are detailed in the documents now released. A public consultation on the preferred options is promised during 2013. IWA will seek to minimise the visual and noise impact of the three new canal crossings and to ensure proper provision for the Ashby Canal restoration. We also continue to challenge the alignment of the Phase 1 WCML link with its 2 avoidable crossings of the canal, which threaten destruction of the lock cottage at Wood End Lock and would seriously damage the historic canal environment. With construction of Phase 2 expected to closely follow on from Phase 1, the need for this temporary link to be built at all is now very questionable.

North of the Lichfield Branch area, the Manchester route of HS2 and its link to the WCML near Wigan also crosses the Middlewich Branch and the Trent & Mersey again near Bostock Hall, the Bridgewater Canal at Agden Bridge and the Manchester Ship Canal. The Leeds route crosses the River Soar at Redhill, the River Trent’s Cranfleet Cut, the Erewash Canal (twice), the Sheffield Canal and the Aire & Calder Navigation three times between Wakefield and Leeds. All these crossings have adequate headroom, but there is no indication of any bridges to allow for the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal between Staveley, Renishaw and Killamarsh where the main route and a branch to a proposed Maintenance Depot cross the original canal line in several places.

All the plans and supporting documents can all be seen at:

https://www.gov.uk/hs2-phase-two-initial-preferred-route-plan-and-profile-maps

 

Forthcoming Canal Attractions – Canal News 4-12-2012

Canal News 4-12-2012

IWA morning walk near Atherstone

06 Dec 2012

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join the IWA Lichfield Branch for a morning walk near Atherstone.

A circular walk of about 5½ miles including Baddesley Common, countryside and the Coventry Canal towpath at Atherstone Locks. Rising to the common, then gradual descent to canal and return uphill. There are 3 stiles en route so this walk may not be suitable for larger dogs.

Meet at 10am for a 10.15am start at St Nicholas Church Hall car park. Turn off A5 at the Black Swan roundabout at Grendon (between Tamworth and Atherstone) and follow road up Boot Hill to the church hall. Free parking.

Optional lunch on return at Rose Inn, Baxterley (a short car journey).

Leader: Ed Rule.

Organised by the Inland Waterways Association, Lichfield Branch; non-members welcome. Further information from Margaret Beardsmore on 07581 794111 or email margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk

 

Christmas concert at the National Waterways Museum

Father Christmas at the National Waterways Museum

07 Dec 2012

19:30 pm – 22:00 pm

Join the Wirral Singers in our lovely waterside café for a traditional choral concert of Christmas favourites.

What better way to celebrate the start of the festive season than with a good old sing song in beautiful surroundings?

Book your ticket for the Chistmas Concert at the National Waterways Museum from mid-November.

Visit Santa in Dudley Caverns

Dudley No.1 Canal Tunnel

Completed in 1792, the Dudley No 1 Canal provided one link between the Stourbridge Canal & the Birmingham Main Line. The tunnel is 2888 metres long, extremely low and narrow, and contains a network of natural caverns, basins and branch lines, serving the old quarries and mines. There are believed to be some 4500 metres of waterways which were at one time connected inside the tunnel, some of which are still accessible. Picture taken from SO 93267 89233.  Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved] © Copyright Martyn B and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

08 – 09 Dec 2012

10:00 am – 17:00 pm

Take a magical illuminated boat trip through Dudley Caverns and meet Santa in his underground grotto.

Carols, mince pies and hot drinks will help everyone get into the Christmas spirit and of course there will be a gift for every child.

Trips depart every half an hour from 10am to 5pm.

Early booking is recommended as places are limited. Contact Dudley Canal Trust for more information. Tel 01384 236 275.

Why take the kids to Lapland to see Santa this Christmas when they can visit him by boat in his underground grotto deep in the Dudley Caverns?

Just imagine your children’s faces as they visit Santa on a magical illuminated journey that truly brings the festive season to life with fun and excitement. It’s a dramatically different way to get into the festive spirit. There’ll be carols, hot drinks, mince pies, seasonal entertainment and, of course………gifts for all the kiddies.

These trips last an hour, and they will run at weekends throughout December.

These events are always very popular and places are limited, so early booking is strongly advised.

8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd & 23rd December 2012

FROM 10AM UNTIL 5PM EVERY 30 MINUTES

Dudley Canal Tunnel

Run by the Dudley canal trust, there are/were many caverns created when mining limestone. The trust run daily boat tours.  Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved] © Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

   Bedford Street Staircase, Caldon Canal, 8 December

Bedford Street Staircase Lock, Caldon Canal

We’re draining three locks on the Bedford Street Staircase on the Caldon Canal and inviting you to take a look around.

We’re draining three of the 17 locks on the Caldon Canal, so that we can carry out a full inspection of the lock chambers and replace the 26 year-old gates at lock 3.

Due to extensive coal mining over the years, the depth of Lock 1 and 2 has increased by a few feet due to mining subsidence, making it essential to keep an eye on the structure of the locks with regular inspections. Engineers will check the brickwork, timber work, lock gates and lock gate furniture such as paddles and gearing.

Once the lock has been drained the team will also be using their heritage skills to carry out other repairs to the brickwork in the lock chamber.

Visit us

On Saturday 8 December we’re inviting you to venture into the deep lock, walk along the lock bottom and ask our experts about their work. You’ll also get the chance to meet the Etruria Boat Group Volunteers, who are bringing along one of their heritage boats.

No pre-booking required.

Location: Bedford Street Staircase Locks 1 & 2, Caldon Canal, Off Lower Bedford Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4BT

Time: 10am – 4pm, last entrance into the lock at 3:30pm

Parking: Etruria Vale Road at Etruria Locks, ST1 4RB. Follow the signs for the Etruria Industrial Museum (over the white bridge)

Canal News – waterscape.com

Canal News

waterscape.com

Stoppage – Caldon Canal

Caldon Canal south of Milton, Stoke-on-Trent.  Looking north.

 The seventeen mile Caldon Canal was opened from Etruria to Froghall in 1779, and extended to Uttoxeter in 1811, though this extension only operated until the late 1840s. The canal has seventeen locks and the 69 metre long very low Froghall Tunnel, unusable by many narrowboats.

© Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Monday 9 January 2012 – Friday 17 February 2012
These works have been planned to coincide with the winter navigation closure for delivering the Ivyhouse Embankment Works between 09/01/12 and 17/02/12.

Towpath & Navigation: 09/01/12 to 10/02/12 – Contractors working for Stoke City Council are to undertake essential works to strengthen the deck of Botteslow Street Bridge.  These works will require access to the underside of the bridge and will involve hot welding works.  It is therefore necessary to close the towpath and navigation.
Towpath: 13/02/12 to 17/02/12 – National Grid is to undertake works to cap off redundant gas mains at this location and towpath closure is necessary.  Pedestrians please follow the diversions posted by the contractor.

Towpath only will be re-opened for the weekend of 11th and 12th February 2012.  At all other times please follow the diversion information posted on site.

British Waterways apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The towpath is also closed

Enquiries: Telephone 01827 252000 during normal office hours.

IWA walk and work site visit on the Coventry Canal

12 January 2012

Atherstone Locks No 8, Coventry Canal, Warwickshire

This is the eighth lock in the flight of eleven lowering the water level by eighty feet (24.4 metres) over about two miles (three kilometres). Detailed information regarding the flight and this lock in particular can be seen here: SP2998 : Side pond at Atherstone Locks

© Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 Old Coal Yard

Off Coleshill Road

Atherstone

Warwickshire

CV9 2AU

Coventry Canal »

Join the IWA Lichfield branch for a guided walk on the Coventry Canal to see the repair work at Atherstone Locks. British Waterways will be working on the lock flight, and locks 3 and 9 will be dewatered for brickwork repairs and gate relining.

Meet 10.30am by Atherstone Top Lock for 10.45am start. Total walking distance from Lock 1 to Lock 9 and back is about 3 miles. Optional meal afterwards at the Kings Head, Watling Street (near Lock 5). Parking available at the old coal yard.

Places limited, so please book – contact Pat Barton on pat.barton@waterways.org.uk or 01785 824012.

  New boats and a new base for Drifters

5th Jan 2012

Drifters Waterways Holidays has announced that its business will be expanding in 2012 with 30 new narrowboats and a new hire boat base.

The new boats will join the company’s existing fleet of almost 500 narrowboats and will provide holiday makers with even more choice of boat size and location. The boats are fully equipped with all the essential mod cons including central heating, hot water, TV, DVD players, showers and flushing toilets.

Wider choice of boats

Spring will also see the hire boat company open a new base on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire. Based at Stockton Top Marina between Warwick and Braunston the base will offer a choice of six boats ranging from two to 10 berths.

The new base is ideally placed for the Warwickshire Ring on a week’s break, travelling through Warwick and Birmingham. Alternatively if you’re planning a short break it’s the perfect launching point for trips to the canal-side village of Stoke Bruerne or historic Warwick with its castle and waxwork museum.

If you’re thinking of taking a boating holiday this year take a look at waterscape’s guide to hiring a boat on Britain’s canals.

Foxton Locks Festival dates announced

Grand Union Canal – Foxton Locks

A view of the 10 locks near the village of Foxton. Now a tourist attraction with a café and two pubs as well as a museum and country park. Link

© Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 4th Jan 2012

The popular canal festival at Foxton Locks in Leicestershire will take place on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July 2012, organisers have confirmed.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the spectacle of Viking re-enactments, admire the historic vehicles and meet the animals in pets’ corner. There will also be live music, craft stalls, a real ale tent and children’s rides. Narrowboats from across the country will gather for the event.

Family day out

This will be the third consecutive year of the festival, which takes place on the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line. It attracted thousands of visitors in 2011, despite the dry summer.

All the money raised from the festival will go to the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, which works to preserve the historic Victorican Inclined Plane boat lift.

Festival Director Ann Bushby said: “This is a great event that is quickly gaining in popularity. We organise the festival, not just to raise money for the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, but also to make the public more aware of the glorious canal heritage we have in this country.”

For full details, visit http://www.foxtonlocksfestival.co.uk. For boat bookings, contact Andrew Shephard at andrewshephard@madasafish.com. For stall bookings, contact Ann Bushby on festival@fipt.org.uk.

Canal News – IWA Call to Arms and Waterscape News.

IWA Call to Arms

Things are at a critical juncture for the transfer of British Waterways’ managed canals and rivers into the Canal and River Trust. The money is everything. A good deal from Defra will deliver a significant Big Society project, and secure the future of a national asset. IWA is concerned however, that Defra is playing hard ball, and trying to impose a lean deal just to get BW off its books.

IWA is asking all waterway supporters to urgently:

1. Write to your MP drawing their attention to the fact that the waterways are being transferred over into the charitable sector, and that it is vital that the funding package is sufficient that it allows them to be maintained in a sustainable condition. Let them know that you don’t want to see the waterways become another Defra inspired  ‘forestry’ type disaster.
2. Please also ask your MP to contact the Waterways Minister Richard Benyon MP, directly, to register their concern, and to ensure that he knows that there needs to be more money put on the table.

Here are IWA’s Key points:

• Government has initially offered to transfer the British Waterways (BW) property portfolio to CRT and to provide a 10 year funding contract indicated at cash £39 million per year. (so no index linking with the consequence of erosion in value over time by inflation). This is just not enough.

• BW has thoroughly updated its financial projections. It says that for its waterways to be reasonably maintained, with an acceptable level of risk, it has an annual funding deficit of £20 million. The CRT would inherit this annual deficit. The BW new projections do not appear to embrace the remedy of a repairs deficit which was already significant and has been growing in recent years [in 2007 reported to EFRA Select Committee as being an accumulated figure of  £107million].

• British Waterways also has a pension deficit of £65 million. Nearly three quarters of which is in respect of previous employees. Ought this huge state incurred liability be transferred over to the new charity?

• The revised annual deficit does not take account of a large dredging backlog incurred as a result of chronic underfunding, that requires £8-12 million per year to stabilise, and ensure drainage, navigation and environmental requirements are properly supported.

Don’t let the proposed transfer of BW assets become another ‘forestry’ debacle for Defra through underfunding!

Please act now – Please write today.

You can find out who your MP is and write to them directly by using this link http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

A downloadable template letter for your MP is available here http://www.waterways.org.uk/documents/dear_mp

Thank you.

Jo Gilbertson
IWA Campaigns Team

ENDS

For more information please contact Jo Gilbertson or David Padfield on 01494 783453

© Inland Waterways Association 2011

 Waterscape.com

Between Atherstone Lock No 1 and Atherstone Lock No 11

Wednesday 24 August 2011 – Wednesday 2 November 2011
UPDATE (02 November 2011): The navigation will resume normal passage from 16:00 hours today; due to recent rainfall the water levels have improved sufficiently to allow unrestricted passage.

(But not enough to fill Chasewater yet!!)

Canal News – Volunteers needed to ‘make a difference’ on Coventry Canal

Volunteers needed to ‘make a difference’ on Coventry Canal

Posted by Waterway Watcher on October 20th, 2011

19 October 2011

Local volunteers are being called upon to help make the Coventry Canal a cleaner, greener place to visit by taking part in a canal clean-up.

Potential volunteers are being encouraged to give up just a few hours on Make a Difference Day on 29th October to help make the canal a more welcoming place for people and wildlife.

The activity, organised by Voluntary Action Coventry and British Waterways (BW), will see volunteers clearing litter from the towpath and even taking to a BW workboat to clear litter from the water and areas not accessible by foot.

Make a Difference Day is organised by CSV, the UK’s leading volunteering and training charity, and provides thousands of people across the country with the opportunity to try out volunteering. More than three quarters of a million people have taken part since the launch of CSV Make a Difference Day in 1996, and thousands more are expected to give time rather than money to improve their local community this year.

Stuart Collins, volunteer leader for British Waterways, said; “We’re looking forward to taking part in Make a Difference Day. We’re keen for local communities to play a more active role in caring for their local canal and hopefully this event will give them a taste of the great sense of achievement at improving their local environment as well as the opportunity to meet new people and hopefully have some fun”.

Chris Clough, Volunteer Centre Support Officer, said; “This is a great way to get involved and ‘make a difference’ in Coventry. We are hoping that this event will lead to more regular events, especially in the run-up to the Olympics coming to Coventry next year. We’re hoping that volunteers can play a big part in making the towpaths more accessible for cyclists and walkers”.The canal clean-up will be taking place between 10am and 3pm on Saturday 29th October at the Canal Basin, Coventry and Swan Lane. Anyone wishing to take part in the clean-up can do so by contacting The Volunteer Centre Coventry who are located at 26 City Arcade, Coventry, CV1 3HW (opposite Argos) on 024 7622 0381 or volunteering@vacoventry.org.uk or register online at http://www.do-it.org.uk.

Via Newsroom – British Waterways.