Hereward Spring 2013

PETERBOROUGH BRANCH

SPRING 2013

www.iwapeterborough.org.uk The IWA charity registered number 212342

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the Peterborough Branch. They are, however,

published as being of interest to our members and readers

HEREWARD

The Nene in Flood…..

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Wednesday 20th February 2013

EA Annual Review

Irven Forbes will again come and bring us up to date on what is happening on the Environment Agency waterways. Wednesday 20th March 2013

Branch AGM

All meetings to take place at our usual venue, Peterborough Indoor Bowls Centre, Burton Street, Peterborough PE1 5HA commencing at 7.30pm. Members and Non-members Welcome

Cover Photos

Over the turn of the year the Eastern Counties experienced some dramatic weather with 2012 drawing to a close with heavy rain which led to extensive flooding across the Nene Valley. Our front cover picture shows Peterborough Embankment with a somewhat greater area of water than usual on a day when the rain had finally stopped and the river was bathed in pleasant winter sun-shine. The photos opposite give some impressions of the extent to which the river rose and some of the disruption this caused. As 2013 got underway the mild weather was quickly transformed as temperatures plunged to well below zero and the Nene Valley was hit by heavy snow falls and icy conditions. The photos inside the rear cover show some picturesque views of the river after the snowfalls. Water levels had subsided allowing access to the many riverside paths which had been underwater the previous week. At the time of writing the eventual thaw is causing river levels to rise once again!

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CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

I write this in a slightly strange mood, after two stints in the chair over more years than I care to remember this is my

final “Chairman’s Letter”. The old NRA have gone, replaced by EA, who are (possibly) going to be subsumed into the all new CRT, maybe for the better, maybe not. Only time will tell. I make no predictions on that one at all. Over the years I like to think we have done a little bit to make our water-ways better. We have had the benefit of excellent people on the Middle Level Users Committee, Regional User Group, and an assortment of Com-mittees and done our best to protect the local waterways and our usage of them. Relations with the Middle Level Commissioners are probably better than they have been for years, we have organised some awesome social events, at both Fox’s and latterly at Bill Fen, well supported and raising substantial sums, all of which were spent on our waterways. The biggest project was Ramsey Hollow Bridge, hopefully by the time we go out at Easter you’ll have the Three Holes moorings completed as well. Whilst I was Chairman I had the pleasure and privilege of heading up a branch committee that I can honestly say was always supportive, always enthusiastic and a real treat to work alongside. Whoever takes on the role will inherit an excellent group of people and I can only say ‘Thank You’ to them all, it seems a little inadequate really, but for once I’m being serious. Being serious leads me on to the subject of the AGM. It really is vital we have as many people attending as possible, because if no-one comes for-ward then it is doubtful if the branch can continue. The Chairman, Secre-tary and Treasurer are all standing down, all after long and stalwart ser-vice, if they can’t be replaced then its game over. Think about that please. Finally in this edition you will find details of the fabled Easter Cruise, which is planned to end up at Three Holes to celebrate the new moorings. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible, usual rules, entry form and details from me. See you at The AGM,

Alastair

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EA REGIONAL NAVIGATION GROUP MEETING

T he latest meeting of the Group took place on 23rd January. It was not one of the most informative of such meetings and little arose which would be of general inter-

est. I will however, pick out a few points:- a) The Future of Navigation Project: this is the name given to the process under which the Agency is reviewing all its waterways and their structures to assess what condition they are in and how possibly they might be split as between the Agency and CRT in the event of a take- over of Agency waterways by the Trust. The process continues but any firm decision on whether there will be a take-over or not seems to be a long way off. b) Volunteering: there was a report back on the progress which was being made in con-structing a scheme under which the Agency would use volunteers on its waters. It was clear that what was being pursued was a model under which the Agency would recruit its own volunteers which it would then direct. The use of a model under which the Agency would employ third party organisations which would provide their own volun-teers was not being explored. The meeting made it plain that in its view this was a mis-take and that at the very least both models should be explored and ultimately used in parallel. Whether there will be any change of heart on the part of the Agency is open to question. c) Strong Stream Advice: it was noted during the meeting that the Strong Steam Advice scheme which gives warning of dangerous conditions on local Agency rivers, while it applies to the upper reaches of the Ouse and to the Nene, does not currently apply to the Ely Ouse or the Cam. It was requested that the scheme should be expanded to include these rivers. d) Boat Watch: the well-known Boat Watch scheme has recently been relaunched. One of the main changes of which you need to be aware is that in the event of an incident you no longer have to telephone one of a series of local telephone numbers to call the police. The system has been simplified so that now all you do anywhere in the country is to tele-phone “101” and ask for “Boat Watch”. A detailed leaflet is being prepared and will be distributed automatically to those who will shortly be renewing their Agency or Cam licences. e) Denver/ The Great Ouse Tidal Strategy: many of you will be aware that last year the passage between Salters Lode and Denver locks was made very difficult by the deposit of silt outside Denver lock. Indeed, as has happened in some previous years we ended up with an island of silt outside the lock. The silt had come from the higher reaches of the Ouse/ New Bedford and had been carried by the flood conditions prevalent last year. The Agency Navigation department on two occasions last year had to pay to have silt islands removed. The floods at the very end of 2012 have led to the deposit of yet a fur-ther island. The meeting was told that the Agency intended to intervene to remove it in March/ April of this year. These developments have raised questions as to the validity of the Agency’s Great Ouse

Tidal Strategy. This, you may remember, was a strategy devised by the Agency’s Flood Department to combat flooding on the Ouse Washes and the New Bedford. So far as navigation was concerned boaters were assured that improvements in flow in the area of Denver and flood events would serve to flush silt away from the Denver area. Over the last year or so we have experienced flood conditions which have demonstrated not that silt is flushed away, but the exact opposite, namely that it is deposited by the floods out-side Denver lock. The meeting asked that the Navigation Department press for a review of the Strategy in the light of recent experiences. f) Agency Navigation Fees During the course of the meeting I tabled an update of a schedule which I have produced many times over the years and which seeks to compare the annual cost of licensing a narrowboat on the waters of each of CRT, Anglia and Thames. I set out the latest sched-ule below:

THE COMPARISON IS FOR PRIVATE CRAFT AND IS BETWEEN:

EA FULL 12 MONTH REGIONAL LICENCES FOR POWERED CRAFT [in case of ANGLIA powered craft over 4 hp], and

CRT 12 MONTH RIVERS AND CANALS LICENCE [prompt payment rate] NOTE: THE FIGURES ARE ACCURATE AS AT 1 ST DECEMBER 2012 The schedule I believe to be largely self- explanatory. There are perhaps three points to make:

in relation to craft 50 feet in length you could buy yourself access to the complete CRT waterways of 2000 plus miles for less than you pay for your Anglia li-cence

in relation to craft 60 and 70 feet in length you need only pay a modest extra sum to buy the same access

in the case of all lengths you could buy a Thames licence for much less than you pay for your Anglia licence – in one case you could save over £200 per year.

What do you think? Given the relative lack of facilities locally are you happy to continue to pay the current Anglia rates when you see what is available elsewhere? Let us know!

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Nigel Long

CRT Anglia Thames

30ft x 6ft 10in £537.25 £399.54 £299.88

40ft x 6ft 10in £622.44 £546.62 £399.84

50ft x 6ft 10in £710.24 £788.97 £566.44

60ft x 6ft 10in £796.75 £788.97 £599.76

70ft x 6ft 10in £884.52 £865.45 £699.72

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STUART HOLMESSTUART HOLMES

BOAT SAFETY EXAMINATIONSBOAT SAFETY EXAMINATIONS

PETERBOROUGH BOATING CENTRE

Chandlery Diesel - Calor

73 NORTH STREET

STANGROUND, PETERBOROUGH

Tel: 01733 566688

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Mill Drove, Ramsey

Cambs. PE26 2RD Tel: 01487 813621 [email protected] www.billfenmarina.com

Moorings occasionally available,

£11.60 per foot per year + VAT, if paid annually.

Slipway for bottom blacking from £120.00

Chandlery, Fuel, Gas, Toilets, Shower

We stock Rylard & Craftmaster Paints, Anodes, Coflex,

Rust Konverta, Incralac etc.

£7.95

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Nigel Long

EASTER CRUISE 2013

E aster is relatively early this year, Good Friday being March 29th, therefore we are more likely to be at the mercy of the weather than some other years, so the plan

may need to be a bit flexible. Good Friday we can meet at High Lode Lock at noon to run down to Holme Fen for Friday night with the remote possibility of a visit to ‘The Admiral Wells’. Departure on Saturday for a run round to Ramsey Forty Foot and a lunchtime pint at ‘The George’. Depending on the weather we can either stay all day or run up to the junction. How far we get on Saturday will affect Sunday, as the plan is to get to Three Holes and have a Boat Gathering and do it yourself social at the new moorings. How-ever if we are doing well then we can stop at Stonea for a pint at the ‘Golden Lion’, if not we press on without stopping. Monday all disperse full of jollity and camaraderie. This year we will be joined by the Watermans Club and I'm hoping for a good turnout for the last cruise I organise as Chairman. Usual rules apply, entry forms and IWA insurance (Covers IWA not individual boaters) from me. See you there, Alastair

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PROTECTIVE COVERS FOR ALL APPLICATIONS

Unit 3C

Cromwell Business Centre

New Road, St Ives PE27 5BG

Tel: (01480) 462150 Fax: (01480) 493309 E-mail: [email protected] Web:www.srobb.co.uk

Contact Ray Whitby

OUNDLE MARINA THE NENE BOATING CENTRE

BARNWELL ROAD, OUNDLE, PETERBOROUGH PE8 5PA

Tel/Fax 01832 272762 e-mail:[email protected]

BROKERAGE CHANDLERY

SERVICES & FACILITIES

Contact us for list of used boats currently for sale

Craneage, Slipway, Fuel, Repairs, Boat Covers, Transport, Servicing, Toilets, Showers,

BSS Certificates Moorings up to 19 metres —- Insurance

Diesel & Calor Gas

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK

CLOSED WEDNESDAYS Exit J13 off A14 follow A605 to Oundle

Opposite Barnwell Country Park

Stockist of

Bainbridge, Aquafax,

Blakes Paint,

International Paint

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‘Boaters pay the price for their Unregistered Craft’

W ith Licence Evasion being a topic often raised by members at our annual EA Review Meetings, the following EA Press Release from October 2012

may offer some comfort that action is being taken in the Anglian Region. “Three boaters have been prosecuted for keeping their craft on Environment Agency navigations without valid registration certificates. The boaters received fines ranging from £150 to £1000 as well as court costs and orders to pay compensation. Two of the boat owners appeared at Kings Lynn Magistrates’ Court on 11 October 2012 after being caught on the River Great Ouse in Norfolk without a valid registration certifi-cate. They were:- Mr Robert Crumish, boat name G001310 Little Noah’s Ark, of Church Road, Ten Mile Bank, Downham Market, Norfolk – fined £150, costs £287.50 and compensation £308. Mr Roy Brentnall, boat name G5990 Whimbrel, of Station Road, Ten Mile Bank, Down-ham Market, Norfolk – fined £200, costs £287.50 and compensation £308. Another one caught on the River Nene in Northamptonshire had their case heard at Cor-by Magistrates’ Court on 17 October. They were: Mr Kenneth Lewis, boat name G9963 Mardi Gras, of High Street, Thurlby, Lincolnshire - fined £1000, costs £230 and compensation £308. All boats kept, let for hire or used on Environment Agency waterways, including the main river, private moorings, marinas or backwaters, must be registered. Registration discs and numbers must be displayed on craft so they are clearly visible to the organisa-tion’s enforcement staff. It is the owner’s responsibility to inform the Environment Agency in writing of a change in ownership of the boat – until this is done, they remain the legal owner and responsible for registering it. All powered boats must also have valid third party insurance as well as a valid Boat Safety Scheme Certificate (BSSC) to be able to register. Irven Forbes, Waterways Manager, said: “Failing to register a boat just does not pay – not only do people risk being prosecuted and fined up to £1,000, but they still have to pay their registration charge and will end up with a criminal record.” For more advice on how to register a boat, contact the Environment Agency’s Boat Reg-istration Team on 03708 506 506.”

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Email: [email protected]

Shiny new boats on show at Crick

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PETERBOROUGH BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association will be held on Wednesday 20th March 2013 at the Peterborough and District Indoor Bowls Centre, Burton Street, Peterborough at 7.30 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Apologies for Absence 2. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2012 3. Matters Arising from those Minutes 4. Chairman’s Report 5. Presentation and Adoption of the Branch Accounts for the year to 31/12/12 6. Election of Committee Members (see notes below) Notes: There is no longer any limit to the number of members of the committee Under the 3-year rule Graham Baughn, Alastair and Carole Chambers, John Dudley, Nigel Long, Michael Slaughter and David Venn will retire at the forthcoming AGM. Although all are eligible for re-election Messrs. Baughn, Dudley, Long and Slaughter have indicated that they will not be seeking re-election.

CONSENT FORM I agree to stand for election to the Peterborough Branch committee at the 2013 Annual General Meeting. I am a member of Peterborough Branch. (Sign) ------------ Print Name --------------

It is no longer necessary for those who wish to be elected to the committee to be nominated and seconded but all who wish to stand must agree to do so. Consents from members of the Branch who wish to stand for election at the AGM 2013 must be deposited with the Branch Secretary [Nigel Long 7 Georgian Court, Peterborough PE3 6AF or by email at [email protected]] before the start of the Annual General Meeting.

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Brian W. Smith Marine Surveyor

Pre-Purchase Surveys

Valuations—Insurance Surveys

CE Compliance for Home Builds

Boat Safety Examinations

Engine Evaluation & Condition

Ultra-sound

Osmosis Assessment

Gas System Surveys

Member of the Association of Boat Safety Examiners - Gas Safe Reg. YDSA

Contact Brian on:

Tel: 01354 680341

Mobile: 07887 781649

E-mail:

[email protected]

The Middle Level Commissioners have issued the following Suspension of Navigation Notice under the Middle Level Acts 1810-1874:- “Navigation of or through the below mentioned structures and waterways forming part of the Middle Level system will be closed from Monday 28th January 2013 to Friday 8th March 2013 inclusive:- 1. Marmont Priory Lock and the Well Creek/River Nene (Old Course) for a distance of 100m either side of the Lock. The closure is necessary to investigate and as necessary repair a damaged penstock. 2. Benwick Foot Bridge (NGR 534109 290574) and the River Nene (Old Course) for a distance of 100m either side of the Foot Bridge. The closure is necessary to allow Cambridge County Council to replace the Bridge structure. Other parts of the Middle Level navigations will remain open and if the above works are completed before 8th March 2013 the navigation will then be re-opened. It is at present anticipated that the works to Marmont Priory will be completed by 18th February”.

MIDDLE LEVELS

Suspension of Navigation Notice

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EASTERN REGION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Region of the Inland Waterways Association will be held on Wednesday 20th March 2013 at the Peterborough and District Indoor Bowls Centre, Burton Street, Peterborough PE1 5HA at 7.30 p.m.

AGENDA 1. Apologies 2. Approval of the Minutes of the AGM held on 14th March 2012 3. Matters Arising from those Minutes 4. Chairman’s Report 5. Election of Committee Members (see notes below): The Chairman of the Region is elected in a separate ballot and the Chairmen of each of the branches within the Region are members of the Region committee ex officio. This is an election for the remaining members of the Region committee. Under the 3 year rule the period of office of those elected at the 2010 AGM comes to an end at the forthcoming AGM. Those elected in 2010 were: John Hodgson, David King, Nigel Long and Peter Webb. All of those individuals are eligible to stand again for elec-tion [although Nigel Long has indicated that he will not be standing]. There is no limit to the number of members of the committee and therefore no limit to the number of those who may stand for election.

CONSENT FORM I agree to stand for election to the Eastern Region committee at the 2013 Annual General Meeting. I am a member of Eastern Region (Sign) ----------------------------- Print Name ------------------------

It is no longer necessary for those who wish to stand for election to be nominated and seconded but all who wish to stand must agree to do so. Consents from mem-bers of the Region who wish to stand for election at the AGM 2013 must be deposit-ed with the Region Secretary [Nigel Long 7 Georgian Court, Peterborough PE3 6AF or by email at [email protected]] before the start of the Annual General Meeting

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INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION Peterborough Branch

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN: Alastair Chambers 52 Hereward Way, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8QB

Tel: 01778 344438 e-mail: [email protected]

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN & SALES OFFICER: Graham Baughn PO Box 15, 10 Marina Drive, March, Cambs PE15 0AU

Tel: 07578-753558 e-mail: [email protected]

SECRETARY: Nigel Long 7 Georgian Court, Peterborough PE3 6AF


TREASURER: Michael Slaughter 45 Elstone, Orton Waterville, Peterborough PE2 5JZ


MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: Carole Chambers 52 Hereward Way, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8QB


EDITOR: Philip Halstead, 20 Cane Avenue, Peterborough PE2 9QT Tel: 01733 348500 e-mail: [email protected]

John Dudley, 1 Bellmans Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough PE7 1TY

Tel: 01733 202581

Roger Mungham Boatmans Cottage, Workhouse Lane, Upwell, Wisbech PE14 9ET


Roger Sexton, 2 Shaw Drive, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 9TB Tel: 01354 652329

David Venn, Bruffs Lodge, High Street, Nordelph,

Downham Market PE38 0BL Tel: 01366 324102 e-mail:[email protected]

Richard Fairman, The Old Railway House, Cowbit,

Spalding, Lincs PE12 0XD Tel: 01406 380575

….. and Snow!

Hereward Spring 2013

Documents

Transcript of Hereward Spring 2013