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Characters of the Cut: Lazydays – Colicia Summers

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October 16, 2023

Alice Griffin reports… FOR actress and photographer Colicia Summers, canals and water have always been part of her life. As a teenager she performed in a narrowboat musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre, and her all-time favourite job was a 2019 feature film shot in Switzerland on Isole Di Brissago, Lake Maggiore. Not only that but…
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Good Energy volunteers boost Wilts & Berks work

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October 14, 2023

THE restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal received a welcome boost after a team of Good Energy volunteers swapped deskwork for digging. Staff from the renewable energy company in Chippenham lent their support to the creation of a new woodland and wildflower meadow alongside the nearby waterway. They helped with protecting hedgerows and sowing…
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River health: Joining forces to tackle pollution

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October 12, 2023

River health is more than a talking point, as Sally Clifford finds out. WHEN it comes to looking after our rivers, actions speak louder than words. “The health of our rivers is a key national conversation, and we have a lot to do to deliver investment in the areas that will make improvements to water…
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Canal appeal raises nearly £100,000 in first quarter

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October 10, 2023

ORGANISERS of the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal are delighted with generous donations from many supporters in the canal area and across the country. Of the target of £250,000, more than £95,000 has been raised already with donations online, cheques by post and cash and notes in collecting buckets, all boosted by a substantial donation…
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Swansea Canal 225th anniversary exhibition heads out on tour

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October 9, 2023

A special exhibition looking back on 225 years of the Swansea Canal is going on tour throughout the Swansea Valley after a successful six-months on display at the National Waterfront Museum Swansea. The exhibition is a partnership project with Glandŵr Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales, and Swansea Canal Society, which looks back…
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IWA branch to join key River Dee committee

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October 7, 2023

THE Inland Waterways Association (IWA), Chester & Merseyside Branch, has been invited to take a seat on the Dee Estuary Consultative Committee by the Environment Agency for Wales. The agency manages the basic navigation structures such as moorings, navigational aids etc in the area covered by law for the estuary. This area is basically from…
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North Cheshire Cruising Club celebrates oak anniversary

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October 6, 2023

THE North Cheshire Cruising Club launched its 80th anniversary celebrations on September 9, when Rt Hon Lord Andrew Stunell cut a red ribbon on a rare surviving exhibit, recently dredged out of the Macclesfield Canal High Lane Arm. This historic relic, a significant section of tram rail that can be dated to 1922, is part…
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Canal & River Trust Shares Structure of Boat Licence Pricing

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October 5, 2023

Following the announcement on 19 September about changes to future boat licensing, the Canal & River Trust is today giving further details about the increases in licence fees to be applied from 1 April 2024 for boats without a home mooring and wide beam boats. Licences for all boats on the Trust’s waterways will increase above inflation…
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Tribute paid to WACT stalwart

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October 3, 2023

THE Wey & Arun Canal Trust is mourning the loss of its vice-president John Wood MBE who died on September 5 in Didcot, Oxfordshire, at the age of 85. John was truly a key figure in the early history and development of the trust. He joined the Wey & Arun Canal Society (which later became…
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Marina nets garden centre cup hat-trick

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October 2, 2023

Words & photo: Tim Coghlan BRAUNSTON Marina was recently awarded the Dennett’s Garden Centre Cup, presented annually to local businesses to encourage floral displays on their premises. Since the cup was introduced in 2015 by the Daventry-based garden centre, the marina has now won it three times taking on the likes of local canalside pubs,…
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Winter works programme on the non-tidal Thames

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September 30, 2023

THE Environment Agency is investing up to £8 million as part of its annual programme of essential works to maintain key navigation structures along the non-tidal River Thames. This is part of a long-term programme to replace or keep maintained 45 locks and their associated structures, towpath bridges and pleasure navigation facilities in a reliable…
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Tackling one of IWA’s Silver Propeller challenges

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September 27, 2023

IT IS rare to have a passage enquiry more than 60 days ahead requesting a specific day and time – it has sometimes been less than 60 hours, writes IWA and River Foss Society member Peter Hopwood. However, on May 17 skipper Mike Wright confirmed his 57ft long, 6ft 10in wide narrowboat, Uz Boat, would…
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New guide to electric boats published

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September 26, 2023

IWA is pleased to announce the publication of its new guide An Introduction to Electric-Drive Narrowboats. It believes that it is vital for members of the inland waterways community to make their contribution to a more sustainable environment. IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group has been looking at how inland waterways leisure boating can become more sustainable…
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Boat licence fees to rise for next five years

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September 22, 2023

THE Canal & River Trust has announced that boat licence fees will need to rise above the baseline inflation rate for each of the next five years. It will also introduce a surcharge for boats that continuously cruise and an increase for wide beam boats to reflect the greater utility they receive. The above-inflation increases…
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