| Welcome
to the first edition of the NRRG Newsletter, something which will become
a regular quarterly feature to keep us all up to date with developments
as the restoration plan progresses. With the huge success of the
‘Unlocked and Unlimited’ British Waterways launch, where the Northern
Reaches were highlighted as next in line for restoration, the campaign
finally becomes reality. As
Marketing Officer for the Lancaster Canal I am producing this
newsletter, but I’m keen that it represents all that is going on
throughout the restoration, not just British Waterways viewpoint. To
that end I would like to encourage anyone with an interesting story or
update to contact me at the Galgate Office so I can include it in this
publication.
To start the ball rolling, below you’ll
find details of the recent IWAAC report, and an update on the excellent
Change Bridge restoration which has been undertaken in Kendal.
I wish you all a pleasant summer, and
may the waters of Lancaster Canal flow freely once more.
Claire Chapman |
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Hincaster
Tunnel home to the stars!
I spent a pleasant day recently traipsing the Northern Reaches in
search of film locations to promote the Lancaster Canal.
Ended up with a couple of shots of Hincaster Tunnel (lovingly
cleared by the LCT good job well done by the way) and have sent the
application to head office.
Lets hope Brad Pitt turns up to star in some swashbuckler….
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Search
for a Patron
The NRRG is currently searching for a famous patron to stand as a
figurehead for the group. If anyone has any ideas of a well known
individual with a link to the area and preferably also to the
waterways, then I’d be interested to hear about them. |
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Waterwitch Trip Boat
The trip boat ‘Waterwitch’ will operate from Crooklands on Sundays
and Bank Holidays from 5th May to 29th September 2002, between 11am
& 4pm. In addition there will also be sailings on Saturdays from
20th July to 10th August.
Trips last approximately 30-40 minutes, and whilst free, a donation
to the LCT would be appreciated. |
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Navvies
Wanted
Part of the IWA, the Waterway Recovery Group runs annual volunteer
projects on restoration sites. Called ‘Canal Camps’, groups of willing
slaves become navvies for the week, bunking in village halls and
carrying out tasks within the project. We are hoping to run a camp when
our restoration begins, but if you would like details now, look at the
www.wrg.org.uk website. |
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Spotted Lancaster Canal Trust members on their hands and knees!
While our roving reporter gallivanted round with a camera, it was
reassuring to see that some people were hard at work. Along with
others, Bob and Angela Seed were seen putting their backs into it to
build a sturdy looking landing stage at Crooklands. The Lancaster
Canal Trust do a lot of valuable restoration and maintenance work
along the Lanky, and if you would like to be involved with their
projects you can have a look at their website at
www.thelanky.co.uk
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A day on the
Northern Reaches with British Waterways
Awareness of the imminent restoration project is growing, including
within British Waterways itself. Liz Waddington, editor of BW Monthly
(our staff magazine) came to visit us recently and spent an action
packed day being shown the sights north of Tewitfield. The ensuing
article she produced highlighted the work which is carried out daily on
these unnavigable sections of water.
Within British Waterways there is one team
of operatives who have sole responsibility for the maintenance of the
Northern Reaches. Brian Pennington (pictured) and his team of Bob Horn,
David Dixon, Paul Metcalfe and Mark Smith are based at Tewitfield, and
look after the 9 watered miles to Stainton. This work also includes
maintaining the feed waters from Killington lake which are vital for the
flow of the Lancaster Canal, and which will be become even more so when
the Millennium Ribble Link operates from this summer. Major issues for
this team are weed problems due to lack of traffic, which constrict the
water flow. Many people visiting the Northern Reaches are surprised at
how clear the lengths look, with weed removal, dredging work and
leakages closely monitored. The importance of the Northern Reaches is
often understated, yet they are integral to the Lancaster Canal and
should be respected as such.
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Fleet Street
comes to Kendal
Well, perhaps not quite, but there’s certainly been a great deal of
media interest stirred up around our two press launches, the opening of
the newly dredged section of canal at Crooklands by Cllr Bingham of
South Lakeland District Council, and the restoration of the Change
Bridge in Kendal (see below) recently opened by Dr Satchell of Kendal
Civic Society.
On the radio front, the airwaves have resounded recently to the dulcet
tones of our Chairman Hal Bagot, David Slater (LCT) Lancaster Waterway
manager Debbie Lumb and yours truly... |
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| Change Bridge Work
sets the pace for Restoration
At Parkside Road in Kendal an important
restoration project has been completed. The Change bridge on this site
is an important listed structure, being one of only two bridges along
the Lancaster canal which allowed horses pulling boats to change from
the towpath on one side of the water to the other whilst still attached
to the boat, hence the name ’Change Bridge’.
These bridges make an unusual and attractive addition to the canal, as
well as being an important part of our heritage.
The recent opening was supported by a huge amount of local interest and
the day, despite the weather, was a resounding success, with Gus the
horse taking centre stage!
The work was grant aided by the Lottery Fund, South Lakeland District
and Kendal Town Councils, and the Civic Society as well as United
Utilities. |
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RA step closer to
reality for Northern Reaches
The Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Committee report, ‘A Second
Waterway Age’ indicates that the Northern Reaches restoration plans are
in the ‘Advanced’ stage, and places the project in the prestigious
Category 1 ’Nationally Significant’ section, stating that restoration
should be achievable in the next few years and is ‘a priority for
funding’. This is brilliant news for the Restoration Group and as our
Chairman Hal Bagot put it, ‘I am delighted that this highly influential
Council recognises that the restoration of the Northern Reaches is
vitally important to the people of Lancashire and Cumbria, and that it
is seen as a priority for funding.’
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