IWA HEAD OFFICE BULLETIN PART 2 - LONG
Justin Taberham
This is the second and final part of the May 1998 IWA Head Office
Bulletin
Landfill Tax
In November 1997, IWA sent a formal response to the team reviewing the
operation of Landfill Tax. The outcome of the review was published on
18th March, immediately after its principal recommendations had been
implemented in the budget. It was briefly referred to in the April
Bulletin as part of the budget announcements.
The main recommendations are:
The standard rate of tax is increased to 10 per tonne from 1st April,
1999.
The 2 lower rate of tax will continue to apply to inactive waste; but
inactive waste used for sealing and landscaping landfill sites will not
be taxed from October 1999.
Dredgings remain exempt
Exemption of material from historically contaminated sites remains,
but will be reviewed in 2000.
The Environmental Bodies scheme remains unchanged; but there will be
consultation with ENTRUST and other interested parties to see if the
scope of the scheme could be improved, and in particular to bring
recycling within its scope.
As more landfill operators are becoming committed to schemes, finding
new sources of tax credit will become more difficult. It may assist
some schemes to know that ENTRUST has formally advised that, whilst it
is still necessary for Environmental Bodies schemes to be in the
vicinity (i.e.: within 10 miles), such schemes can receive contributions
from other landfill sites outside the ten mile radius.
Mikron Theatre Company
IWA is to sponsor two performances of Imogens War by Mikron Theatre
Company from national funds. The performances will be on
Monday 10th August, 7.30 p.m. at the Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne, and
Friday 28th August, 7.30 p.m. at the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port.
Millennium Festival Grants
100 million has been set aside by the Millennium Lottery Fund to help
local organisers arrange events to celebrate the Millennium. Objectives
for such events which qualify for funding include
n understanding and preserving our inheritance
n giving time to community projects, and
n protecting and sustaining the environment
There would seem to be considerable scope for waterway activities to
take advantage of such funding.
Guidance notes and a Millennium Festival grant application pack can be
obtained by calling 0870 600 2000. Applications for grants over 5,000
ukp should be made between May and August 1998 (decisions by December
1998). Applications for smaller amounts should be made between January
and March 1999 (decisions by June 1999).
Millennium Time-bomb
The Charity Commission have issued guidance to all registered charities
as to the steps that trustees should be undertaking now to ensure that
their charities are not caught out by the millennium time-bomb. This
is the name given to the problem caused by computers which store dates
using two digits only and will be unable to cope with the year 2000.
As well as the more obvious problems caused by PCs which are not year
2000 compliant, the Commissions advice suggests less obvious problem
areas such as franking machines, faxes, telephone systems and reliance
on other parties or contractors who may suffer from the problem.
A copy of the Charity Commissions leaflet is available from IWA Head
Office which gives a wide range of additional sources of assistance for
the problem.
National Waterways Festival
The 1998 IWA National Waterways Festival and Inland Boat Show at Salford
Quays (28th - 31st August) will feature a parade of historic boats on
each of the four days. The Festival organisers are determined that
there will be a good spectacle for the visitors at the Festival and the
parade will highlight one of the major attractions of the Festival - the
boats themselves.
A record number of over 2,000 requests for boat entry forms have been
sent out by the Festival organisers, but a less than average percentage
have been returned. There is concern that many boaters may be leaving
their entries until the last minute because of the complex choices of
routes to the Festival site and the different discounted licence fee
options on the waterways approaching the site which need to be decided
upon.
The unusual circumstances of the site mean that there is restricted
space this year with an exact number of pontoons having to be ordered by
the organisers in advance. Boaters intending to come to the Festival
are therefore urged to submit their entries as quickly as possible, as
unlike some previous events, it will not be possible for boaters to turn
up at the last minute and join the end of the moorings.
Newsletter and Magazine Awards
Entries are invited by 30th June, 1998, from editors of newsletters and
magazines for the following categories in the Canal & Riverboat Tom Rolt
Awards:
Category A - IWA Branches and Regions
Category B - Canal Societies and Trusts
Category C - Boat Clubs
Judging criteria will broadly cover editorial content and overall
presentation, frequency of publication and range and scope of topics
covered. The judges will consider details of production and funding in
making their decision.
Four copies of each of the two best issues in the previous 12 months,
together with supporting details, should be submitted to the National
Awards Officer, c/o IWA Head Office.
Northern BCN Campaign Rally
The 1998 Northern BCN Campaign Rally takes place at Pelsall on the
Wyrley & Essington Canal over the Late May Bank Holiday weekend (23rd to
25th May). More than 150 boats are expected for the weekend and a full
programme of entertainment has been laid on. With free entrance to the
Rally and easy car parking, the event is likely to attract good crowds
to help support IWA and BCN Canal Societys joint aim of attracting more
attention and visitors to the Northern BCN.
The Braunston Boat Show and the National Trail Boat Festival at Wootton
Bassett on the Wilts & Berks Canal both take place on the same weekend
and having been well promoted with lots to see and do, both are expected
to attract good crowds.
Regional Planning Guidance
IWA has made a submission to the Governments review of Regional
Planning Guidance, and has also responded to the Countryside
Commissions document Planning for Countryside Quality.
A stronger focus on regional planning is seen as a good thing for the
inland waterways because it aids a more consistent policy for canals and
river navigations which fall across more than one local planning
authoritys area.
We have broadly supported the Countryside Commissions document as well
since it favours recreation and countryside access which include inland
waterway activities. We would, however, have welcomed a greater
emphasis on the benefits of waterways recreation and transport.
Copies of both IWAs submissions are available from Justin Taberham at
IWA Head Office.
Review of Environment Agencys Legislation
Environment Minister Michael Meacher has announced a review of how the
Environment Agency could take a more integrated approach to
environmental protection. The terms of reference of the review are:
to investigate the possible rationalisation of the regulatory mechanisms
which the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency operate, and the opportunities for integrating regulatory regimes
which currently operate on a similar basis, but under different
legislation, so as
to identify any significant barriers to integration within each of the
Agencies, whose removal would improve the quality of regulation by
producing worthwhile improvements in environmental, customer service and
business efficiency,
to establish whether such barriers could be overcome by administrative
means or management action by the Agencies; and
insofar as this is not the case, to recommend legislative changes to
enable them to be removed.
The Environment Agencys flood defence functions are included within the
scope of the review although the special arrangements for flood defence
funding and committees are outside the scope. Navigation and recreation
are not mentioned at all in the review announcement, but it is hard to
see that they would remain entirely unaffected by any changes that might
take place.
Rural Development Commission
The work of the Rural Development Commission is to be split into two,
with the regeneration functions going to the new Regional Development
Agencies and the remaining functions being combined with the Countryside
Commission to form a new, as yet unnamed, rural agency.
The new agency will start work in April 1999 and will advise Government,
local authorities and the Regional Development Agencies on matters
relating to conservation and rural development.
Towing Paths
Following detailed consideration by IWAs Navigation, Technical and
Amenity Committee of the submissions made in response to the
Associations consultation on its Towing Path Policy paper, a revised
policy paper is to be put to IWA in Council. It is anticipated that the
new Policy document will be published in June.
Transport & Works Act
The Chartered Institute of Transport have published a detailed report
Promoting New Transport Projects - the role of the Transport & Works
Act 1992, being the findings of a working party of the Institute. The
report advocates a number of amendments to the Transport & Works Act,
primarily to encourage the construction of new transport infrastructure.
The working party reports that "it has not received any substantial
criticisms or comments on the operation of the Act from a waterways
perspective". This is because it did not consult IWA, nor indeed it
would appear, other waterway interests.
A detailed submission has been made on the Institutes Report which
rejects some of its recommendations relating to works which could affect
waterways and Rights of Navigation. Of particular concern to IWA are
proposals which would enable works promoters to apply for Orders under
the Act that could threaten Rights of Navigation in a greater range of
circumstances than at present.
Copies of the Institutes Report can be purchased from The Institute of
Transport, 80 Portland Place, London, W1N 4DP and copies of IWAs
submission can be obtained from Head Office.
Waterway Codes
BW have embarked on a complete revision of their Waterway Codes which
will see them combined into a single relatively simple folded A4 size
document for all waterway users along with a more detailed code for
boaters. There will also be a summary poster for waterside notice
boards.
The purpose of the amalgamation is to provide a single relatively
straight forward leaflet that can be widely distributed to all users and
should enable boaters, cyclists, anglers, walkers and other waterway
users to appreciate each others needs and to know the code that
different users have been asked to abide by.
BWs aim with the Code is to reduce conflicts and tensions on the towing
path which is becoming an increasingly important issue as use of the
towing paths is increasing year on year, especially from cyclists who
have a major impact on other users. The separate Boaters Code is needed
to provide a more lengthy explanation of the working of locks and other
navigation equipment which does not affect other users.
IWA is working closely with BW on the production of the new Codes and is
supportive of their publication. The opportunity has been taken to
reinforce messages to anglers not to fish adjacent to navigation
structures and for cyclists to give way to other towing path users.
BW have promised widespread distribution of the revised Codes, which
will include the waterway and angling press, all boat licence holders
and hirers, angling clubs and visitors and enquirers to BWs offices.
Copies of the draft documentation are available from IWA Head Office.
Anderton Boat Lift
Cheshire County Council are organising an Anderton Boat Lift
Extravaganza at Anderton Nature Park, beside the Lift, on Sunday 31st
May. The event is designed to attract a wide range of interests from
the locality, with an emphasis on countryside management, and should
help to boost local support for the Lifts restoration.
BW, with the Anderton Boat Lift Trust, are currently in the process of
submitting a revised Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Lifts full
restoration. The Lottery Fund have given an indication that a revised
bid that concentrates solely on the repair of the Lift will fit their
criteria.
Forth & Clyde Canal
A combination of support from local authorities and British Waterways
has saved Scotlands Millennium Link project to restore the Forth &
Clyde and Union Canals from collapsing with a 7.8 million ukp funding
shortfall. The missing money to complete the matching funding, for the
Millennium Lottery Fund grant, arose through a shortfall in anticipated
European funding and has been the subject of speculation and concern in
Scottish newspapers in recent months.
The new funds have been found using bank loans set against land which
has been provided for development from local authorities along the line
of the canals. Once the land is developed, the income from it will
realise funds to repay the loans taken out to complete the matching
funding. British Waterways have also increased their input into the
project to help bridge the gap.
The 78 million ukp project to regenerate the Forth & Clyde and Union
Canals received an offer of 32 million ukp funding from the Millennium
Commission in February 1997. The project will reconnect Glasgow and
Edinburgh and create sea to sea connections at Bowling in the west and
Grangemouth in the east. The Forth & Clyde Canal was abandoned in the
early 1960s to save costs on a road crossing, but the connecting locks
between the two canals had already closed in the 1930s.
Llangollen Canal
Allmans Lift Bridge on the Prees Arm of the Llangollen Canal, which
collapsed last summer, has now been replaced by BW. The new bridge has
been set back about a foot at the request of IWA Shrewsbury & Border
Counties Branch to reduce the danger of a boat or body being trapped
under the raised bridge. Starks Lift Bridge on the same Arm is also in
poor condition with evidence of rot in the support beams. The bridge
is, however, the responsibility of the County Highways Authority, rather
than BW, and is scheduled for repair.
Montgomery Canal
Burgedin Locks, near Ardleen, on the Montgomery Canal are due to be re-
opened on Saturday 6th June after ten years of work led by Shropshire
Union Canal Society. Funding for the lock restoration has come from the
Heritage Lottery Fund, Prince of Wales Committee, ERDF, local
authorities, Shropshire Union Canal Society and from the proceeds of
postage stamp sales via the IWA/WRG Stamp Bank.
The restoration work was partly carried out by Shropshire Union Canal
Society on a voluntary basis and partly by BW under contract. The two
locks have been completely re-furbished with brickwork repairs, new
gates and paddle gear, the channel between re-lined and dredging works
undertaken.
Overall restoration of the Canal is being co-ordinated by the Montgomery
Waterway Restoration Trust, which is a partnership of BW (who own the
canal), the local authorities along the line of the Canal in England and
Wales, SUCS, IWA, WRG, nature conservation and other local interests.
On Sunday 7th June, the annual Montgomery Dinghy Dawdle takes place at
the Newtown end of the Canal (the date in Waterways is incorrect). The
Dawdle is a trip along the canal in portable craft able to negotiate
obstacles such as lowered bridges which lie in the way of navigation.
Over past years, it has attracted good support, both locally and from
further afield, and has been an excellent publicity exercise in
campaigning for the removal of blockages on the canal. In previous
years, the Dawdle has been held further north on the Canal but, aided by
the publicity, many of the blockages have now been removed and the
Dawdle has moved south where some serious problems remain. Further
details are available from Colin Venus (tel 01974 272628).
The booking system for passage through Frankton Locks, at the junction
with the Llangollen Canal, has been revised. Instead of having to book
in advance, there are now fixed times when passage is allowed through
the locks (9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. weekdays
and Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons during the Summer).
The lock keeper will remain in attendance until all boats waiting within
those times are through. The reason for the locks having to be manned
is that getting the levels wrong results in the flooding of a
neighbouring property. It is intended that this problem will eventually
be resolved to allow user operation.
River Nene
Following the much publicised proposals for a Chinese Junk styled
floating restaurant to be constructed in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham,
a planning application has been submitted to Peterborough City Council
for a similarly sized floating restaurant, in the style of an
Elizabethan Galleon to be constructed by the Embankment on the River
Nene at Peterborough.
The planning application is made by private developers, Messrs Calitri &
Bianchi and is for the mooring of the vessel at the North East side of
Town Bridge between the Grain Barge, an existing floating restaurant,
and Key Ferry. From the application, it would appear that the proposed
vessel would be of a scale not dissimilar to a full sized Galleon and
would therefore dominate the landscape of the river through
Peterborough.
IWAs Peterborough Branch have submitted a strong objection to the
planning proposal having noted that the vessel would be completely out
of keeping with the river landscape and would result in a sacrifice of
public amenity to private commercial gain.
Norfolk & Suffolk Broads
The Vessel Registration Byelaws on the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads came
into effect on 1st April. These complete four sets of byelaws which
replace those previously made by the Great Yarmouth Port and Haven
Commissioners. The other byelaws are Speed Limit Byelaws (1992),
Navigation Byelaws (1995) and Vessel Dimension Byelaws (1995). Copies
are available from the Broads Authority at 18 Colegate, Norwich, NR3
1BQ.
Paisley Canal
Members of the Paisley Canal and Waterways Society undertook a cruise on
one of the remnant sections of the Paisley Canal on 4th April. The
majority of the canal has been out of use, having been filled in and
lost many years ago, but this particular part, which lies within the
bounds of the demolished Anchor Mills (Coats thread mills), has been
cleaned up and landscaped by house builders who have redeveloped the
site.
The length remaining for navigation is nearly 1 km long, but bisected by
a low bridge and with a depth of about 2 foot. Use is by permission of
the housing developers. The cruise was undertaken on trail boats
launched over the bank of the canal. The Society hope to repeat the
cruise later this year, to increase awareness of the canal as an amenity
and to prevent it becoming a linear tip.
The principal waterway of Paisley is the White Cart Water which flows
into the Clyde and which was navigable into the town, up until the
1950s. It supported several shipyards, specialising in dredgers, tugs
and similar craft. With the closure of the yards, the river has
deteriorated and one of the Societys interests is to assist in the
improvement of the waterway up to and through the centre of town.
River Severn
Severn Navigation Restoration Trust have appointed Posford Duvivier to
undertake a detailed survey of the effect that the River Severns low
flow conditions during most of the year are having on the wildlife of
the river upstream of Stourport.
Arguments against restoration of the River Severn to navigation above
Stourport have mostly centred around unsubstantiated claims that it
would be damaging to wildlife, but the Navigation Trust believe these
claims to be false and aims to put them to rest with this survey.
Increasing water abstraction above Stourport has reduced the depth in
some places, including at Bewdley, to a level where it is possible to
wade across the river. Restoring the river for navigation would involve
impoundment and the Trust believes that this would increase depths to a
more natural level and so benefit wildlife.
The Navigation Trust has now abandoned previous plans for particular new
navigation structures on the river and whilst its aims remain the same,
the current strategy is based on a holistic approach to the overall
management of the river and its resources within the concept of
sustainable development. The Trust hopes - dependent upon the results
of the Posford Duvivier study - to demonstrate the potential for
navigation as a usage to contribute towards the better management of the
river and its resources.
Yorkshire Ouse - Linton Lock
After excellent progress with good weather in the Autumn, the recent
heavy rains have obstructed the completion of works to repair and re-
open Linton Lock. The original target of Easter has been passed and the
Lock is now expected to re-open in mid May.
Summary of Current Consultations
From Subject Submission Date
British Waterways Licence and Mooring Charges 1999 29thJune
Dept Environment T&R Opportunities for Change 29th May
Dept Environment T&R Access to the Countryside 4th June
Environment Agency River Cam LEAP 5th May
Environment Agency River Lune LEAP 15th May
Environment Agency Warwickshire Avon LEAP 31st May
Environment Agency North Essex LEAP (incl. Chelmer & Stour)
1st June
Environment Agency Upper Ouse LEAP 1st June
Environment Agency West Midlands Stour LEAP 15th June
Environment Agency Enforcement and Prosecution Policy 1st June
Responses to LEAP consultations have recently been submitted for the
River Wey area, (which covers the Wey & Godalming Navigations and parts
of the Wey & Arun and Basingstoke Canals) and for the Derbyshire Derwent
(which includes parts of the Derby and Cromford Canals.
IWAs main areas for concern on the Derbyshire Derwent LEAP were issues
associated with lack of support for the built environment and recreation
and in particular a lack of recognition of and encouragement for
restoration of the Derby Canal and work to preserve and extend the
navigable parts of the Cromford Canal.
The River Wey LEAP document contained a number of complex management
issues affecting the three navigations. IWAs submission encourages the
Agency to work closer with the National Trust (the navigation authority
for the River Wey) and the Basingstoke Canal Authority and to take a
more encouraging stance towards waterway restoration and improvement
schemes. In particular IWA suggests the Agency should provide greater
assistance to the National Trust with dredging and bank maintenance
works. The usual points of greater emphasis on recreation and regard
for the built heritage also needed to be made.
A Statement of Consultation for the Staffordshire Trent LEAP (which
includes parts of the Staffs & Worcs and Trent & Mersey Canals amongst
others) has been received and IWA has made further representations to
the Agency as a number of our original concerns have been omitted from
the consultation statement (i.e.: they appear to have been ignored).
IWA is particularly concerned at the apparent bias against restoration
of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals within the Agency in this area.
The LEAP Action plan has also recently been received for the River
Welland catchment (which covers the Rivers Glen and Welland and part of
the Leicester section of the Grand Union Canal) and for East Suffolk
area (which includes the Ipswich & Stowmarket Navigation). The Action
Plans are the Agencys response to earlier consultation plans and set
out the Agencys plans for the given areas over the next five years.
They are a useful opportunity to see if earlier comments have been taken
on board, and indicate where further lobbying or persuasion may be
required.
At the beginning of April, IWA received a copy of the Corporate Plan for
the Countryside Council of Wales. This is currently being studied to
see whether any of the issues contained therein require representations
from waterway interests.
Further details on any of the above consultations are available from
Justin Taberham at Head Office.
--
Justin Taberham
Operations Manager
Inland Waterways Association
Registered as a Charity No. 212342
Colin Shepherd
unsubscribing as off tomorrow and going boating for a week after
that.
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*
Colin Shepherd *
*
Finance Officer *
London Business School *
*
Tel (44) 0171 262 5050 *
Fax (44) 0171 724 7875 *
E-mail C.SHE...@lbs.lon.ac.uk *
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