NEWSLETTER
Issue 339 February/March 2008
David Hutchings Memorial Steps
A planning application has been lodged with Stratford-on-Avon
District Council and will be going to planning committee on 6th
March. All members in favour of this fitting memorial are urged to
write to the Council in support of the application - the easiest way
to do this is on-line:
http://apps.stratford.gov.uk/eplanning/AppDetail.aspx?appkey=JNYDVTPM04TOO
Pinder Plaque
As many of you will know, John Pinder presented the carved wooden
plaque to the Society in 1996 and it was agreed that it would be presented
annually to the person deemed to have given the best efforts to the Society
during the previous year. Nominations for the most suitable recipient
should be sent to the current holder of the Plaque, Clive Henderson, at least
a week before the AGM.
Chairman's Address
There is no Chairman's Address for this issue, for which I (the editor) humbly
apologise. Dusty did write a page for me some time ago, which I have unfortunately
mislaid. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible, as you will read in the
Editors Mutterings elsewhere in this issue.
Dusty will, of course, be reaching the end of his second three-year stint as Chairman
at the AGM this year. Society rules mean that we must find a new Chairman_to
replace him, so if you have any ideas on this front, please contact a committee
member to discuss them.
Likewise, any prospective committee members are most welcome, and if you wish
to join the committee may I suggest that you speak to a committee member before
the day of the AGM. There is nothing to stop nominations being taken from the floor
during the AGM itself, but it makes things easier if people are prepared in advance.
Our society relies on its members to run it, and duties are not usually onerous -
unless you really want them to be!
Dan
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
As outlined in the last Newsletter the last AGM approved that membership, whether
single or joint, would be increased to £10 per annum with payment by standing order
on 1st September annually. These arrangements were set up to try to make my job
easier. However, there have been some teething problems. We changed to September
renewals some years ago but some members who had set up standing orders some
years ago had not changed the amount or the payment date. I will include a statement
with your newsletter if this applies to you.
We were delighted that 13 new life memberships were taken out in September. This
brings the total life memberships to 34 with 10 of these being Honorary Life members.
Other problems were caused by both the Bank Sort Code and Account Number being
incorrect in the last Newsletter. The correct details are:
Bank details: Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, Bootle. Sort Code: 72-00-01 Account
Number 80998307. Account name: Stratford Upon Avon Canal Society.
So, if you have yet to set up your Standing Order please do so now whilst it is fresh in
your mind. Perhaps an immediate payment re September 2007 if you are overdue and
the next payment in September this year please. Thank you all for your co-operation in
making the Membership Secretary's and Treasurer's tasks easier to perform.
If you have any queries or problems with these arrangements please contact me. Clive Henderson.
Waterways News
Boat Licence Fee Consultation
BW has published the results of its Boat Licence Fee Consultation. As a
result of responses from a range of boaters and boating organisations,
together with acknowledgement of a downturn in the wider economy,
BWwill introduce lower than anticipated licence fee increases, and from
April 2008 private boat licence fees will increase by 8.3% (rather than
the proposed 12.4% increase).
The 10% prompt payment discount which benefits many fully paid-up
boaters will also be retained, whilst further measures to crack down
on licence evasion, including a new penalty for late payment, will be
introduced.
The consultation ran for three months up to 7 January 2008 and
attracted over 100 written responses including 21 responses from
boating organisations. In addition to the written submissions, over 200
people took part in a number of discussions held around the country
with BWs chief executive and marketing & customer service director.
New mooring prices for 2008
BW completed its annual review of long-term mooring fees. The prices
of managed moorings will increase by an average of 7.4 per cent, whilst
end of garden moorings will increase by an average of 6.7 per cent.
These prices take effect on mooring renewal on or after 1 April 2008.
BWs mooring price decisions are based on a range offactors, including
supply and demand, occupancy levels, location, mooring type and the
level of services and facilities provided compared with other moorings
provided by the private sector. It is required by government to charge
a market price for products and services provided including moorings.
There is also a legal requirement that prices do not represent unfair
competition for other moorings operators.
Waterways News
BW Mooring Vacancies Update
Since BW launched its mooring vacancies trial at the end of October 2007 it
has offered 73 mooring vacancies attracting 971 tenders from 1,545 registered
users. Whilst some of the moorings tendered have been allocated above their
'guide' price, others have gone for less than expected. There are also indications
from the early data that some existing BW mooring customers (whose prices
were set using the accepted pre-trial method) could be paying too much for their
moorings.
BW's head of boating development, Sally Ash, comments: "It's still early days,
but we've already had some interesting results which could completely throw
out conventional thinking about moorings demand. One particular site that
previously had a waiting list of almost 40 people didn't attract a single tender, but
we've had others, including all the sites where there were no people on waiting
lists, that have all attracted tenders."
Cotswold Canals Partnership (standard text from BW, italics from IWA)
BW announced its decision to withdraw from the Cotswold Canals Partnership
from April 2008. The move follows a review it's funding commitments for the
next financial year and the diversion of significant funds to progress the urgent
first phase of a repair programme for the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in
Wales, which is expected to cost in the region of £15 million over four years.
Announcing the news, Robin Evans, BWs chief executive said: "We have
thought long and hard over this decision and know it will disappoint our partners
in the project. Ultimately, however, we have a finite pot of money and the needs
of our existing waterways must take priority."
British Waterways had previously committed to fund £6 million towards the
restoration project, following the announcement of £11.9 grant by the Heritage
Lottery Fund in July 2004. In 2007, BW had made it known that it had concerns
about its liability for cost overruns from the original cost estimates. However, in
late 2007 BW announced that the funding position had been resolved following
Stroud District Council's agreement to take responsibility for works around
Brimscombe Port and that BW would contribute matching funds to the financial
package to restore the canals between Brimscombe Port and Stonehouse,
which is also being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, regional and local
authority funds and the voluntary waterway sector.
IWA believes that the decision to withdraw is a short-sighted reaction, and not
fully thought through. Whilst IWA understands BWs tight financial position
and the need to undertake unexpected remedial work on the Monmouthshire,
Brecon & Abergavenny Canals, IWA believes that more should have been done
to secure new funds for these canals from other sources rather than cannibalise
a strategic restoration scheme that had momentum and secure funding.
IWA is very concerned that BW's surprise withdrawal will give excuses to other
funding partners to pull out or reduce their commitments, but is urging others to
retain confidence in the project whilst alternative funding solutions are found,
even if slight scaling back of the project must be considered.
IWA understands the financial demands and the necessity of early repairs so
that the Brecon & Abergavenny Canal can be reopened as soon as possible.
We also sympathise with BW in the constraints that have been caused to it by
a lower Grant-in-Aid settlement from Defra than it needs. However, robbing
the Cotswold Canals restoration to meet these obligations is strategically a bad
decision, and for BW to break its promises at this stage reflects very badly on it.
IWA is also very disappointed at the manner of BWs announcement, and the lack
of prior warning to funding partners and members of the Partnership. We would
much prefer to have been given time for the parties to find a solution, and for
BWto have been more open with us, rather than just making the announcement
and dumping the problem for everyone else to sort out. IWA will do everything it
can to try to ensure the restoration proceeds as promptly and as fully as it can,
including through its Restoration Committee and Waterway Recovery Group;
but however pleased we are with the quick announcement of funding for the
Brecon & Abergavenny Canal repairs, we believe that BW has gone about this
in entirely the wrong way and are lobbying BWto reconsider its decision.
Minister Expects Flat Cash Funding For British Waterways
IWA Press Release: 12 December 2007 (part of)
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is pleased to report that following
extensive lobbying of MPs by IWA members around the country, Michael
Fabricant, Conservative MP for Lichfield, secured an adjournment debate in
Parliament on the future funding of canals in the UK on Tuesday 11th December.
The debate was answered by Jonathan Shaw MP, the Waterways Minister at
the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. The debate was well
supported and 12 other MPs participated.
In answer to the many comments directed at the Department's funding allocations
for British Waterways and the Environment Agency, the minister reported that he
was actively engaging with delivery partners in the process of setting budgets.
The minister also reported that despite allocations not being announced until the
end of February 2008, he expected the budget for British Waterways would now
be broadly around flat cash for a three-year period.
The minister commented on the proposed licence fee increases and indicated
sympathy for vulnerable boat owners, but argued that boat owners only
contributed 10% of the total cost of the waterways and the rest was already
borne by the taxpayer. This was despite IWA arguments in support of the fact
that boaters only constitute 3% of users and provide the intrinsic interest in the
waterways scene; including provision of waterside property development;
a significant premium, and creating a major tourist attraction for the UK
WELL DONE ON THE MONTY
I am pleased to report that the Shropshire Union Canal Society
(SUCS) with British Waterways have won a prestigious award from
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for their work on the
Montgomery Canal.
The SUCS work party led very ably by Mike Friend, restored Newhouse
lock culminating in its official reopening on the 25th June 20~TBy
Lembit Opik MR Newhouse lock is the last lock to be restored on the
Montgomery Canal that is in British Waterways ownership. The lock
restoration was funded by SUCS together with various grants and
awards obtained by SUCS, together with work done by BW funded by
SUCS. The enthusiastic work group worked mainly over weekends
for several years with a fantastic turn out of around twenty people.
The group are now working to restore the Crickheath section of the
canal still led by Mike and still achieving the fantastic turnouts each
time.
SUCS had entered Newhouse lock for awards in two categories, i.e.
Conservation and Regeneration, although short listed for both they
did not win either, however the award ceremony then went on to
award "The project of the year for Wales" to the Society and BW.
The prize is a piece of designer glassware together with a certificate.
SUCS understand that they should also receive a great deal of
publicity as a result of this award. It is very satisfying to note that
it was a unanimous decision by the adjudication panel, who were
highly impressed by the amount of volunteer input into both the lock
and also the rest of the Monty restoration project.
I am sure we all want to congratulate those who have worked so hard,
sometimes in adverse weather conditions to achieve the restoration
of this lock, and in particular for their achievement in winning the
award.
WELL DONE THE SHROPSHIRE UNION CANAL SOCIETY and
BRITISH WATERWAYS.
David Stevens
THE VOLE
Aware that I have taken on this role, I emerge tentatively from my
warm, safe hole in the bank. My cousin has moved on after so
usefully filling this slot for some time. There has been a few months
space in both these articles and the issue of a news letter. We
hope to get back on track (towpath?) from now on.
Thrown in at the deep end I attended the B.W. AG.M. held this year
in Birmingham. I felt out of my depth but had Clive to figuratively
hold my hand. I arrived early, and mouse like, found a quiet seat on
the periphery of the room where I could watch the delegates arrive.
First, grey suits, carefully chosen ties and shiny shoes, all who
appeared to know each other. I was just thinking how predictable
this was when the women started to arrive, dressed brightly,
ethnically and casual, some with large floppy hats, they brought
life to the throng. I was too far away to read the name labels and
did not feel confident enough to wander about reading them.
After an excellent buffet lunch came the meeting, conducted with
efficiency - time was obviously money. After various addresses from
the platform there was plenty of time for questions and concerns to
be aired from the floor. All of this was ably handled by the platform