Boaters' Update August 2007

• The National Festival & Boat Show

The Inland Waterways Association’s (IWA) National Festival & Boat Show is just around the corner, taking place over the Bank Holiday Weekend 25 – 27 August in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

There’s a welcome boost to boaters making their way to the festival - Ely rail bridge is open to navigation. This means that boaters can choose between navigating the tidal Hundred Foot River, which starts at Denver Lock and rejoins the Great Ouse at Earith, or taking the longer but more scenic route along the Ely Ouse.

And a note for your 2008 diary. The IWA has announced that Autherley Junction, where the Shropshire Union Canal joins the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, will be the site for the 2008 IWA National Festival & Boat Show, 23 to 25 August 2008.
More information about the IWA National Festival & Boat Show

• Floods

Britain was again hit by floods in July. This time it was the turn of the south to bear the worst of the rainfall following the devastation caused in the north in June.

Once again BW people worked hard to rescue stranded boaters and members of the public. The affected business units have received many thank you letters praising the efforts of employees who dealt with the floods.

In the South West, the River Severn was closed for two weeks and clearing up has been ongoing with debris such as trees, boats and caravans being removed from the water. Residents on the nearby lock islands had to be rescued by the emergency services with some being airlifted to safety. The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal had to be shut for six days and high water levels caused localised flooding. The extreme weather also caused localised flooding and stoppages along the Kennet & Avon Canal and Stroudwater Navigation.

In the West Midlands, the rain caused the River Avon to flood submerging Bancroft Basin and gardens by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at the height of the tourist season in Stratford upon Avon. High water levels in the Worcester & Birmingham Canal caused localised flooding in Stoke Prior and Bromsgrove, and the River Stour overtopped causing a large volume of water to surge down the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal resulting in the towpath washing away at Kinver in Worcestershire.

In the South East, widespread flooding caused parts of the Oxford Canal in the Banbury/Oxford area to be closed for five days. Braunston tunnel was closed for an entire weekend due to a landslip and damage to culverts but the team managed to keep closures on the Grand Union Canal in the Braunston area limited to just 72 hours.

Now that more detailed surveys of the flood damage to all our canals, rivers and reservoirs have been done, it is estimated that the total cost of repairs is approaching £8 million. Whilst BW does have a contingency fund, unfortunately this will still fall short of the money needed to meet this bill. Consequently an application has been submitted to the European Union Solidarity Fund for financial assistance.
Find out more about stoppages and restrictions on UK canals and rivers

• BW enforcement officers take technology to the bank

New hand held computers developed to help BW engineers better record the condition of the tens of thousands of locks, sluices, weirs, bridges and other 200-year-old structures, are now also being used on the bank by BW enforcement officers to help crack down on licence evasion. Sally Ash, BW’s head of boating development, explains: "Being able to refer to records and update data whilst out on the bank will save time and improve efficiency. Ultimately it is another useful tool for us to use to crack down on those who breach BW’s licence terms and conditions."
More information about how new technology helps crack licence evasion

• Mooring tenders update

Work is still proceeding well on developing the software on Waterscape.com to run the tender administration system and we expect to begin advertising vacancies for tender at the end of September. To stay informed, register your interest at www.waterscape.com/bwmooringtenders, where you’ll also find more detailed information.

• Encouraging new marinas in farmers’ fields

Since the launch in March 2006 of BW’s investment guide to encourage new marina developments, BW has helped private operators construct new boating facilities with capacity for some 1,600 berths. A further 500 new marina berths are projected for completion by private operators before the end of the current financial year.

To meet its target and to keep pace with demand, BW estimates that a further 10,000 new marina berths are required over the next nine years. As well as investors and operators, BW has been targeting waterside land owners, specifically farmers, who can benefit from the renaissance and growth in boating.

In addition to exhibiting at a number of farming and rural interest shows throughout the year, BW, in conjunction with the Country Land & Business Association, is inviting farmers to a specialist seminar on marina development. The seminar on 6 September is open to all those in the rural sector thinking of embarking on a marina development. It costs £20 and includes lunch. The seminar runs from 10am to 3pm and places are limited to 25.
Further information on marina development

• BW annual report & accounts

BW has published its annual report and accounts for 2006/07. The report demonstrates that although last year was a challenging year, it was also a year of considerable achievement in which the public received great value for money. To be sustainable BW is encouraging people to view the report online, but hard copies can be obtained from enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk .
More information about the BW annual report and accounts

• EFRA Report on BW

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee [EFRA] released the report of its findings and recommendations of its enquiry into the work of BW. The report acknowledges the commitment of Government, BW and individuals to the improvement of the waterways over the past ten years and identifies a number of areas where this revival might be sustained and boosted. The Government and BW will consider its recommendations as they work together to develop a long term strategy for the waterways.
More information on the EFRA report

• Barge Lock Appeal

A £100,000 appeal to restore the historic Barge Lock in Droitwich will be officially launched by The Waterways Trust and the IWA at the National Festival and Boat Show on Saturday 25 August. The funds are needed by summer 2008 when the restoration work is due to start. The appeal is part of a larger project to restore the Droitwich Canals to full navigation. Once restored, this gateway between two historic canals can be opened once again to create a new 21-mile (34 km) navigation ring, which will connect the River Severn with Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
More about the Barge Lock appeal

• Cast your vote

The Waterways Renaissance Awards for 2008 are open for entries. Now in their sixth year, they celebrate exemplary regeneration projects, successful environmental schemes and innovative community initiatives that are contributing to the renaissance of the UK’s inland waterways. Make your vote count - the closing date for entries is 21 September 2007.
More information about the award categories and how to enter.

• Register now for the Boaters' Update

To sign up for your free monthly e-newsletter, simply email your title, first name, surname and postcode to boatersupdate@britishwaterways.co.uk