Million pound make-over for K&A Canal locks

British Waterways is working on a million pound lock gate replacement and maintenance programme on the Kennet & Avon Canal this winter.

A lock gate being craned into position 

on the Devizes Flight last Winter.

Picture by Bob Naylor

In the canal's 200th anniversary year, which has had a high number of unscheduled stoppages because of lock problems, BW is working on much-needed maintenance to ensure that the canal can be protected for future generations. 

BW are  replacing 12 sets of lock gates along the canal, including seven sets of gates at Caen Hill, where the flight of locks is a scheduled ancient monument. 

Gates will also be replaced at Wootton Rivers, Heathy Close, Dunmill and Cadley Lock.

The gates are hand crafted at BW's workshops and when the lock gates are craned into position on-site, the local BW team will install them and make final adjustments to make them fit perfectly.

There will be open days on the Caen Hill Flight so that people can get a closer look at the hidden workings of the waterways and to see the massive task that maintenance of the canals is.

Vince Moran, British Waterways’ operations director, said: “The recent announcement that England and Wales’ canals and rivers are to become part of a new ‘national trust’ for the waterways will give the public a much greater role in looking after this important part of the nation’s heritage.  I hope opening up some of our lock gate replacements and other repairs will give people along the Kennet & Avon Canal a chance to see the scale of the work we do to ensure that the waterways are preserved for today’s users and future generations, as well as gain an appreciation for the magnificent industrial heritage in our care.”

  

Kennet & Avon Canal Winter Works

Other maintenance works that will take place this winter include work at Martinslade Embankment (between Sells Green and Foxhangers), installation of weir booms on the River Avon, dredging work around Hungerford and Newbury and works to the iron bridges and chimney in Bath. 

Winter Works Open Day at Caen Hill

Saturday 12^th February 10.30am – 3.30pm, to include walking tours. More details to follow.

Lanterns for Devizes Wharf

The annual Devizes town lantern parade is being re-routed this year to visit the town's wharf to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Kennet & Avon Canal. 

Earlier this week Dave Buxton the lantern parade organiser held a workshop at the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf to make lanterns to decorate the wharf area on Friday 26 November.

Previous story on this — including a link to film of last years parade at: Lantern Parade

Wilts & Berks -v- K&A skittles challenge

The annual skittles match between the Melksham, Calne & Chippenham Branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal and the Devizes Branch of the K&A Canal Trust starts at 7pm at the Cross Keys at Rowde on Friday 19 November 2010 at 7.00pm


Places are limited to 44 — so book early — and pay £10 for food (£9 for veggies) in advance. Bookings must be in by Friday 12 November 2010 so please send cheques payable to B Wright with your choice of food to: B. Wright, 9 Ludlow Close, Chippenham, SN15 3UG (with a contact phone number).

The menu options can be seen if you click on the 'SKITTLES MENU' link below and you will need to make your choice before booking.

For more information contact Brian or Sandy on 07778 124716 or e-mail ju0104@btinternet.com 

For the menu go to: skittles menu

Mother and daughter rescued from River Kennet bog

The Chiltern Air Support Unit were there overseeing the rescue 
and there is a link to their film of the rescue below.

A mother and daughter were rescued after getting into difficulty in a bog beside the River Kennet while walking their dog at the weekend.

They were walking near the river close to Rose Kiln Lane in Reading when the mother fell over in the mud. Her daughter went to help her and rapidly began to sink.

She was up to her chest in the mud with her mother lying next to her when the emergency services got to them after they were located by the police helicopter.

Because of the immediate danger the daughter was in a firefighter and a policeman went into the bog to rescue her at once.

The water rescue team from Caversham Road Fire Station was called in and they used an inflatable rescue sledge to rescue the mother. The mother and daughter were checked out by paramedics and then taken home.

The daughter, who did not want to be named, said, "I thought we were going to die, without the police helicopter, the police, the firefighters and medics I don't think we would have made it. We are so grateful to everyone who helped to rescue us."

View film of the rescue from the Chiltern Air Support Unit at: Dramatic film from Chiltern Air Support Unit

Boat-rage attack at Bristol Harbour Festival

A drunken yachtman who was said to have repeatedly tried to ram a man in an inflatable dinghy at this year's Bristol Harbour Festival pleaded guilty to using threatening words and behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress when he appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court.

During this year's Bristol Harbour Festival on the 1st of August Bevis Musk was travelling in the harbour in his inflateable dinghy. He saw a white yacht heading straight for him and he thought the man at the helm was not paying attention. He took immediate action to avoid a collision and as the vessel passed him the helmsman, Paul Johnson, 47, shouted and swore at Mr Bevis saying, "Come here and I'll sort you out."

Bevis said that Johnson then tried to ram him again and threw a can at him. He took to shelter among some mooring buoys to avoid being hit as Johnson continued to shout and wave his fist — at which point the Harbourmaster intervened.

Johnson's Defence Council, Gayna Ibe, told the court that Johnson had been drunk at the time and although he admitted the offence he did not think that he had aimed his boat at Mr Musk.

Sentencing Johnson to a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months plus 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of education, employment or training, District Judge, Martin Brown, said, "This is a very serious public order case because you were in control of a large boat which could well have caused a great deal of harm." 

Johnson, who the Judge said appeared to be a Jekyll and Hyde character and very polite when not drunk, was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation and £85 costs.

KA Canal - Oakhill Down Lock now open - but by appointment only

Oakhill Down Lock (68) near Froxfield on the K&A Canal has had temporary repairs and can now be operated under controlled conditions.

BW staff will operate the lock on an appointment only basis until further notice.

Lockings will be available daily at 9am and 2.30pm. Bookings should be made at least 24 hours in advance, by calling 01380 722859. 

Bookings for weekend passage should be made by 12 noon on Friday.

K&A Canal information - on the move

KAcanalTIMES is offering a new service to people on the go — because getting information from websites can be a slow and costly business when you are travelling.

If you would like to get the latest stop-press news from the Kennet & Avon Canal direct to your email enabled mobile phone — or computer — as an email as soon it is posted to the web (with no pictures unless you choose to download them) — then send your email address to:  news@kacanaltimes.co.uk

We will send you the latest news items as they are posted to the web — direct to your phone or computer and you will have the choice to download pictures  ... or wait until you have an internet connection. 

KAcanalTIMES website online

KAcanalTIMES.co.uk — the independent website that is 'all about the K&A Canal' is online now at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

Bath Valley towpath tidy

Bath Valley boaters are planning to clear the towpath of litter between Bradford on Avon and Dundas this Saturday (13 November 2010).

Meet at 11am outside the Canal Tavern in Bradford on Avon and bring protective gloves, wheelbarrow, bike trailer, or boathook if possible. 

Bin bags, litter picking spikes and some extra gloves will be provided and there will be handwashing facilities at Dundas. Most of the rubbish will be loaded onto a boat along the way to be offloaded at Dundas. 

Everyone is welcome to join in.

For more information contact: info@boatingcommunity.org.uk

       

Cold comfort at the K&A Canal Trust

To add to the financial woes of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust the radiators in the heating system are now failing and with the prospect of a bleak winter the Trust is appealing for help with the problem.

The General Manager, Mike Rodd says that over the past few weeks both radiators in the Trust Shop have failed along with one in the main meeting room and there is also a problem with the valve on a radiator in the main office.

Mike Rodd said,  "We have  a very serious problem with our heating system, the radiators are failing again — we lost six towards the end of the last season, and we simply had to replace them at a cost of about £500 each. Some are large doubles and in most cases the system had to be drained down to do the job. We, Ian Sharp and me, tried to do temporary repairs but the rust is such that as soon as you expose the hole, it starts getting larger – the paint having largely been plugging the holes.

"Given the present financial situation, we need to find a friendly, competent person to help – maybe with some voluntary help. Any thoughts or contacts would be most appreciated." "But," he concluded, "I have to move fast on this – we are keeping the volunteers and our staff warm with electrical heaters – at enormous cost."

Offers of help to: Becky Wells Email: beckywells9@hotmail.com

or Phone 01380 721279

Links to recent K&A Canal Trust stories:

Trust needs media manager

Trust seeks treasurer to see it through 'financially difficult times' 

Continuing cuts and departures at troubled K&A Canal Trust

K&A Canal Trust cash crisis

Resignation setback for BW's 'Third Way' plans

BW announce head of Waterways Partnership Board for the Kennet & Avon Canal

Landscape with Canals - The Legacy of Tom Rolt

You can listen to the BBC Radio 4 programme Landscape With Canals and Machines: The Legacy of LTC Rolt on BBC iPlayer. Available to listen to for 7 days.

Go to: Landscape with canals

Firework fundraiser at Bridge Inn Horton

Canalside fundraising fireworks at the Bridge
Inn at Horton. Picture by Bob Naylor

The free firework party at The Bridge Inn at Horton near Devizes on Friday 5 November was a successful fundraiser for the the K&A Canal Avon Vale Workboat Group. 

The event was organised by Landlord and Landlady, Adrian and Nikki Softley who with members of Devizes Boat Club and the Avon Vale Workboat Group spent the evening flipping burgers and serving soup.They raised more than £250 towards the boat's funds.

The boat has been used for bankside work on Mondays since early this year and now the group has recruited a second team so they will be out working on Wednesdays as well.

If you would like to help with the Avon Vale and its bankside work get in touch with:

John Kirby: 

Tel. 07748 873280  or email: jhkoneandonly@aol.com

Adrian Softley: adrian.softley@bridgeinnhorton.co.uk

Wiltshire Industrial History Day - today

Today (Saturday November 6th 2010) 

St Margaret's Hall, Bradford on Avon, 10.30am to 2.30pm

Admission is free

For further details contact Andy Newman on: 07764 563855 

Related story about this event: Wiltshire History Day

More about Thomas Hellicker: Thomas Hellicker the Trowbridge martyr

Armed raid on K&A Canalside pub

The Rowbarge Inn beside the Kennet & Avon Canal at Woolhampton near Reading was robbed at gunpoint shortly after midnight on Sunday.  Two men armed with a handgun threatened a member of staff and took money from the safe. 

The two robbers are described as white men about 6 feet tall and they were wearing blue overalls and masks.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Brown through the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. 

Bradford on Avon lockside clean-up this Sunday

This Sunday (7 November 2010) is the second clean-up in the quest to restore the glory of the area around Bradford on Avon Lock organised by the K&A Canal Trust Bradford on Avon Branch.

Pictured at last month's clean-up

 are, from left to right, Dave Wells, 

Isobel Geddes, Pete Dunn and Derrick Hunt.

Picture by Edward Ody

All are welcome to join in — meet at the Tea Rooms by the lock on Bradford on Avon Wharf at 10am — for what Derrick Hunt describes as 'mostly light gardening'. 

For further information contact Derrick Hunt on 01225 863066 or email:

derrickjohnhunt@btinternet.com

Previous stories:

BOA clean-up planned

Wharfside clean-up

KA Canal boater's bulletin Friday 5 December 2010

Stoppages:

Oakhill Down Lock (68) near Froxfield is closed until further notice because of a damaged lock gate. 

Wootton Rivers (Locks 51-54) closed until  Friday 17 December for new lock gates to be fitted. (Scheduled winter stoppage)

The George Inn at Bathampton closed until Monday 11 November 2010 for refurbishment

Navigation Restrictions: 

From the west of Hungerford at Cobblers Lock (72) to Wire Lock (76) on the eastern side of the town there could be delays of up to 30 minutes and occasional drops in the water lever for dredging and bank protection work.

Caen Hill Flight — boaters are asked to share locks where possible to save water.

Water levels:

BW have managed to raise the level on the Long Pound between Devizes and Wootton Rivers and boaters with linear moorings who have been stuck fast on the bottom in recent weeks should be able to move their boats now.

There are no reports of low water levels elsewhere although it taxed the ingenuity of BW staff to keep traffic moving on the Bath Flight last weekend. 

Boating facilities

BW report that all of their pump-outs are working (including Kintbury).

Notes

There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

The Bath Flight is open — the stoppage start has been postponed until Monday 22 November 2010 but it is still expected to finish on Friday 10 December 2010.

K&A Canal: Padworth swingbridge (27) now working normally

The power supply problem that led to Padworth Swingbridge (27) having to be operated manually each day at 12 noon and 3pm by British Waterways staff has now been resolved. The bridge is working normally.

Anger at damage to historic Purton shipwrecks

Only days after the enveilling of the monument to mark the 50th anniversary of the Severn Bridge disaster that cost the lives of five boatmen a boat has been seen at the site removing parts of the wrecks. 

The crew of the Larkham Ships vessel, MV Riparian, removing material from the wrecks.

Paul Barnett, of the Friends of Purton was distrought to hear of this activity on the wrecks and said, "Just days ago I said to a group of grieving people that Gloucestershire does care about its heritage as we unveiled the plaque and now this happens.

"At a time like this, on the anniversary of this disaster where five men died, this is so insensitive."

The vessel removing parts of the wrecks is MV Riparian that belongs to Larkham Ships. Fred Larkham told The Gloucester Gazette that he recognised that he had gone out at an insensitive time but he believed that people had been taking parts of the vessels and he wanted to save some of the remaining parts of the ships. He went on to tell the paper that he intended to offer the parts he had removed to a museum.

An application has already been made to list the two vessels and English Heritage have said that they are considering the application at the moment.

The incident has prompted an angry reaction and a large number of 'comments' to the story in the Gloucester Gazette.  You can have your say at: Historic wrecks 
Previous stories: 
Bells toll for Severn Disaster victims
Severn Railway Bridge disaster victims remembered
Contacts:

Friends of Purton

K&A Canal images in ILLUMINATE BATH festival finale

The ILLUMINATE BATH festival concludes on Saturday 13 November with 'Lights Out' — a dazzling collection of sound and light performances in Southgate Place by students and staff from Bath Spa University. 

It will include Rolf Pilarsky’s 'Open Channel' — a projection on the walls of Bath's new shopping centre that reflects the energy of water and its natural relevance to Bath — featuring images of the Kennet & Avon Canal and the enhanced geothermal system that feeds the hot springs of Bath.

Experience interactive sound works developed specifically for the event by creative music technologists.

Encounter short performances by students combining sound and movement to create a powerful presence.

You can choose to experience LIGHTS OUT for a few fleeting moments as you pass through, or stay for the duration and soak up the atmosphere.

Sat 13 November 2010 from 5pm to 8pm – 20:00

Southgate Place, Bath

For information on other events during the two week festival go to: www.illuminatebath.org

K&A Canal ammended stoppage: Bath Flight Locks

The stoppage affecting the Bath Flight of locks from Widcombe Lock (7) to Bath Top Lock (13) that was to have  have started last Monday (1 November) for refurbishment  work on the iron tail bridges over the locks has now been delayed.

Work will now begin on Monday 22 November 2010 and is expected to finish on Friday 10 December 2010

K&A Canal Stoppage: Oakhill Down Lock (68)

Oakhill Down Lock: Picture by Bob Naylor

Oakhill Down Lock on the K&A Canal near Froxfield will be closed from today (Wednesday 3 November 2010) until further notice because of severe damage to a lock gate. 

Wiltshire's industrial history day at Bradford on Avon

The Kennet & Avon Canal brought the industrial revolution to the rural Wiltshire towns of Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge and the local Trades Union Council has organised a day when speakers will give an insight into the impact that mechanisation had on the lives of working people — and the discontent and troubles that resulted.  

Talks will be given on: “Thomas Helliker and the Wiltshire machine-breakers” by Prof. Adrian Randall, Birmingham University, “Captain Swing rioters” by Nigel Costley Secretary, South West Region Trades Union Congress, “Chartism in rural Wiltshire, 1838-1842” by Steve Poole, Principal History Lecturer, University of the West of England, “Strikes and Socialism in Swindon in the 1960s and 1970s” by Derique Montaut, Labour Party Leader, Swindon Borough Council and “Phyllis and Idris Rose: Trowbridge communist councillors” by Dave Chapple, CWU and Rosie McGregor, UNISON.

Thomas Hellicker, an apprentice 

mill-worker, was hanged in Salisbury 

for a crime he did not commit. At the age 

of 19 he went to the gallows refusing to 

give evidence against his fellow workers. 

Evidence that would have saved his own life.

Wiltshire History Day

Saturday November 6th 2010

St Margaret's Hall, Bradford on Avon, 10.30am to 2.30pm

Admission is free

The event is organised by Wiltshire (White Horse) TUC

For further details contact Andy Newman on: 07764 563855 or email him at: andyd1961@yahoo.co.uk

Related story about this event: Wiltshire History Day

More about Thomas Hellicker: Thomas Hellicker the Trowbridge martyr

K&A Canal stoppage: Bradford on Avon Lock

Monday 29 November 2010 - Wednesday 1 December 2010

Bradford on Avon lock will be closed from 8am on Monday 29th November to 4pm on Wednesday 1st December for urgent repairs to the lock structure and sluices.

Wildlife is thriving on the Kennet & Avon Canal says BW survey

If you want to see otters, water voles, red kites, kestrels and slow worms, — then the Kennet & Avon Canal is the place to go and this year's British Waterways Wildlife Survey proves the point.

Picture by Darin Smith

Wiltshire Wildlife

Leela O’Dea the British Waterways’ environment manager said, “The survey really shows just what exciting, unusual and sometimes rare creatures live on our local waterways.

"And with recorded sightings of otters on the Kennet & Avon Canal it really is a positive sign that our waterways are clean, have a good food source and provide suitable habitats for them to live.”

Picture by Darin Smith

Wiltshire Wildlife

"We have seen an increase in the number of water voles sighted compared to 2009.”British Waterways’ national ecology manager, Mark Robinson, said,  “Following last winter’s harsh weather we were concerned that some species, and in particular kingfishers, could suffer. I’m delighted that we’ve had so many records of kingfishers from across the country this year. The results really show the resilience of nature and the importance of our canal and river network in providing vital shelter and food for a wide variety of wildlife.

"That these four species in particular have been sighted more than in previous years is a testament to the huge improvements in water quality and habitat management that we, along with local communities and partner organisations, have worked hard for. They are all great indicators of a healthy and thriving ecosystem."

Alan McFady's picture of a Kingfisher won for him 

first prize in the British Waterways Wildlife 

Photography Competition.

More than 40,000 sightings were recorded this year by canal users with encouraging sightings of house sparrows that are vanishing from our towns and cities. An increase of 23% over 2009 makes it the fifth most sighted species.  

Of course, inevitably, other popular species that have made the top of the 'most sighted' list are British water birds including mallards, moorhens, and swans. 

Each year as part of the survey BW runs a photographic competition and this years competion produced some truly amazing pictures — a few of them are reproduced below.

K&A Canal Winter stoppages start today

Monday 1 November 2010 - Friday 10 December 2010

Bath Flight (locks 10 to 13) for refurbishment  of the iron tail bridges over the locks. Works require temporary support to the bridge structures and working platforms to be erected in the tail of the locks.

Monday 1 November 2010 - Friday 17 December 2010

Wootton Rivers (locks 51 to 54) near Pewsey (the towpath will also be closed) for fitting replacement of lock gates on locks 51, 52 & 54.