British waterway press release,updates, news,current events

06 September 2007

£4M CANAL PROJECT WILL MAKE THE ‘SHROPPIE’ PLAIN SAILING

Thousands of visitors to bustling Shropshire Union Canal will benefit from an extensive piling project by British Waterways that will improve the quality of its infrastructure.

The work, at Shebdon Embankment three miles north of Norbury, starts on Monday 10 September. It is the fourth and final phase in a £4m project due for completion in March 2008.

Wales & Border Counties Asset & Programme Manager Mark Duquemin said the Shropshire Union Canal forms a vital link in the national waterway network.

“The Shroppie is a key component in a main navigational ring, with over 8,000 boat movements every year. It also provides a major route for water transfer across the network, so its maintenance is of strategic importance,” said Mr Duquemin.

“We’re keeping the canal open while we carry these works out, although there will be some navigational restrictionals during this period,” he added.

The work is necessary to address subsidence in the canal embankment, which was constructed in the late 1790s and is part of a British Waterways commitment to restore and regenerate over 300 miles of waterway across the Wales & Border Counties region.

“By first identifying then repairing timeworn infrastructure, we are constructing a waterway system for the 21st century. This work will safeguard the canal’s integrity, enabling thousands of customers including boaters, walkers and anglers to continue enjoying this picturesque amenity,” he added.

The subsidence has caused movement within the canal structure, which led to increased leakage. The works address the canal’s long term stability with a series of structural repairs to the 1.2km embankment, which towers up to 15 metres above the surrounding land.

TEES PLAYS HOST TO JET SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALE

The Tees Barrage will play host to the final round of the British Tour of the Jet Ski Championships this weekend in what is building up to be a hotly contested competition with some of the country’s top performers challenging for top honours.

Qualifying for the event is being held on Saturday with race day on the Sunday where spectators can get the chance to experience the thrills and spills of jet ski racing on what is sure to be a spectacular and hard fought contest.

Alan Slater, River Manager on the Tees, said: "The River Tees is an ideal venue for all water sports. The jet ski championships is a stunning event on the waterway with some of the sport's top competitors showing how skilful the sport is.

"This is a great event for spectators too, so it would be great to get as many people as possible down to the event to support the competitors."

Completion of the Tees Barrage in 1995 limited the Tees' tidal reach, and created upstream an exciting new wetland sports and leisure area for Teeside. If it's on water, you can do it here: windsurfing, water-skiing, sailing, rowing, angling - even powerboat racing and white water rafting. Also at the barrage are a David Lloyd Health & Sport Club, Beefeater restaurant, hotel and caravan site.

The barrage itself is an impressive structure and includes a fish-pass (with viewing area), navigation lock and canoe slalom. There is no access to the barrage itself, although a visitor centre is planned.

LONG WALK HOME TO WHERE THE HEART IS.....

This Saturday 1st September a young couple from London will take on the biggest challenge of their lives! A 230 mile canal walk from the capital to their family base in Huddersfield, west Yorkshire, to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

Richard Hakier and Rebecca Sellens will do it in memory of their grandmothers, who both died from cancer.
So far they've raised nearly £3,000.
"When our grans were ill, we travelled from London to Huddersfield to visit them as often as possible. This time that same journey will take on a whole new significance" said Richard, who is a presenter on LBC radio, and who lost his gran in October 2000.
Rebecca lost her gran, Pam, last year after a long fight with breast
cancer. "My gran was the type of lady who didn't talk about her health, mainly because she was scared to. When she found a lump, she hid it and it cost her dearly. Breast Cancer Care do a great job in getting the message out
There that help is available, and we shouldn't be scared to get it.
The pair aim to finish in just 10 days, walking the equivalent of a marathon each day. they will follow canals all the way.

"Thanks to British Waterways, we have a beaten track all the way, and a pretty one at that. We've trained hard on the towpaths, and have been more than impressed by what we've seen", said Richard.
Richard and Rebecca will be available for photo calls/interviews en-route.
Their stop over points are as follows:
Saturday 1st September - START, Uxbridge, Greater London.
Saturday 1st September - Tring, Hertfordshire.
Sunday 2nd September - Great Woolstone, Milton Keynes.
Monday 3rd September - Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire.
Tuesday 4th September - Brownover (Rugby), Warwickshire.
Wednesday 5th September - Mancetter (Atherstone), Warwickshire.
Thursday 6th September - Handsacre (Kings Bromley), Staffordshire.
Friday 7th September - Barlaston (near Stoke-on-Trent), Staffordshire.
Saturday 8th September - Bosley (near Congleton), Cheshire.
Sunday 9th September - Ashton-Under-Lyne.
Monday 10th September - FINISH - Tunnel End, Marsden, Huddersfield.

5 September 2007

HELP US KEEP BOATS SAFE AND CANALS OPEN

British Waterways North West are reminding boaters to be extra careful whilst entering locks following a high number of boating incidents reported in the North West this year.

Some reports of incidents included:

§ A narrow boat ascending a narrow lock was not secured using the bollards. As the lock filled the boat moved forward in the lock and the bow got caught underneath a gate cross beam. The boat began to list stern to bow.

§ A boat ascending a narrow lock became caught beneath a cross beam on the gate as the lock filled. The boat began to sink. The boater tried to correct this by opening the tailgate paddles, this caused the boat to come back into trim and the force lifted the headgate out of the pot, snapping the collar and damaging the anchor plates.

§ A narrow boat descending a broad lock was not secured using the bollards. The boat began to drift backwards in the lock. As the lock began to empty the rudder caught on the cill and the boat began to list stern to bow. Water pouring onto the boat, displaced the boat from the cill causing the boat to rock violently within the lock and the helmsman was thrown into the water.

§ A narrow boat ascending a broad lock used ropes around the bollards but did not keep them taught enough to steady the boat. The boat twisted within the lock and became caught up within the chamber at three different points. As the lock filled the boat began to sink. On this occasion the emergency services had to attend the scene to free the boat with the assistance of British Waterways staff..

Accidents and injuries are rare, but every year a few people do get hurt – usually through inexperience or not paying attention. If you do have an accident or near miss, you should report it to the Wigan office on 01942 405700 or a member of staff on the bank. Your report could save others.

There have also been several other reported near misses, particularly of boat rudders getting caught or scraping on cills. Other cases of damage being caused to lock gates by boaters which have not been reported to BW causing problems for other waterway users.

Incidents put the people on the boat and other waterway users at risk. Carrying out remedial work where damage has been caused also puts a strain on the resources of British Waterways and takes them away from other important works.

Helen Cooper, Health & Safety Adviser, British Waterways North West said: “Boating on canals is a real pleasure, most of the time there’s no safer way to travel. However, in the last few months the North West have received an unusually high number of incidents on our waterways with boaters obtaining injuries and our structures being damaged. We want to remind even our highly experience boaters of dangers of boating on the canals.”

Information regarding boat safety is included within the Boaters Handbook. The handbook provides good practice guidance on boating on our canals.

Remember - Take care when you are boating. Look after yourself, your passengers, passers-by and the waterway and its historic structures.

If you would like a copy of the Boaters Handbook or if you would like to report an incident please contact our North West office on 01942 405700, or write to us at British Waterways, Waterside House, Waterside Drive, Wigan, WN3 5AZ. The handbook is also available online at www.waterscape.com