News

Health check for ‘stream in the sky’

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 29, 2024

THE Canal & River Trust recently emptied Pontcysyllte Aqueduct of water to check that the 307m long structure is in good working order. Nicknamed the ‘stream in the sky’, the aqueduct was built in 1805 by Thomas Telford to carry the Llangollen Canal across the Dee Valley 38m below and was granted World Heritage Status…
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Restoration team springs into action

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 26, 2024

THE eagerly awaited start of lining and blocking the Montgomery Canal route at Crickheath South got off to a flying start. Tom Fulda, restoration project manager for the Shropshire Union Canal Society, said that the team had been delayed by the wet weather over the winter but pumps were being used to reduce water levels…
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Have a quacking time at Droitwich

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Janet Richardson

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April 25, 2024

THE annual St Richard’s Canal Festival will be taking place in Vines Park, Droitwich Spa WR9 8LB, from the evening of Friday May 3 until late afternoon Bank Holiday Monday May 6. Now in its 12th year, attractions include daytime canal boat trips aboard Pamela May 2, and live entertainment, food stalls and children’s activities each…
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Experts to help trust with climate challenges…

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 24, 2024

WITH the canal network facing the growing challenge of climate change driven storms and floods, the Canal & River Trust will bring in technical experts to make sure its waterways are safe and open. The charity’s in-house team can now call for specialist support to help look after the network’s reservoirs, embankments, cuttings and other structures.…
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Conference to celebrate life of preservation pioneer

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Janet Richardson

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April 24, 2024

TO MARK the 50th anniversary of the death of the writer and biographer L T C Rolt, the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust has partnered with academics from Keele University to host a conference on Friday May 10. Celebrating his life and continuing legacy of his work. It will examine the full diversity of his written…
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Canal Boat Diaries moors up for a new series

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 22, 2024

STARTING weeknights in June there are 10 new one-hour episodes of the popular Canal Boat Diaries with Robbie Cumming, as he offers a personal take on life aboard his narrowboat home the Naughty Lass. The filmmaker and waterways enthusiast explores the landscapes, towns and cities of the Midlands before heading south down the Grand Union…
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Boat owners warned: pay up or face a fine

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 19, 2024

A READING-based boat owner has been convicted and fined for failing to register his cruiser for use on the River Thames. Environment Agency officers discovered the unnamed boat moored opposite Reading Marine Services during routine checks last year, Reading magistrates were told. The owner Michael Toner did not attend the hearing. As the boat was…
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Clocking up the miles ahead of London Marathon

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Janet Richardson

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April 19, 2024

LAST year 1.4million people ran or jogged next to the canal on average twice a week, according to new towpath figures compiled for the Canal & River Trust ahead of this Sunday’s TCS London Marathon. As 50,000 competitors prepare to take to the streets of the capital the trust’s waterways and operational assets around Docklands…
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Celebrating re-opening with free festival

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Janet Richardson

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April 18, 2024

A FREE canalside neighbourhood festival will take place on Saturday May 18 at Middlewood Locks in Salford to celebrate the re-opening of parts of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal for the first time in 15 years. ‘Middlewood Locks Fest’ promises an action-packed fun day for all the family, including boats, music, art workshops, a…
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Getting set for lining and blocking

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 12, 2024

DELIVERY of building blocks and various liner materials will signal the start of work on the next section of the Montgomery Canal south of Crickheath Tramway. The second Shropshire Union Canal Society work party of the year saw a variety of activities including channel profiling and hedge laying in readiness for the resumption of work…
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Black Country event appeals for help

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 10, 2024

ORGANISERS of the popular Black Country Boating Festival are appealing for participants and volunteers to help out. The annual event is being held this year over the long weekend of September 13-15 at Netherton. Co-organiser Ross Harrison, 31, outlined the challenges of running such a large event: “This will be our 38th festival at Windmill…
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Birmingham moorings trial prompts boater stay time changes

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 8, 2024

AFTER a successful six-month trial, the Canal & River Trust is implementing changes to the mooring stay times along the canals in Birmingham city centre. The new times, which were put out to consultation and trialled between July and December 2023, will standardise the stay times at popular mooring spots across the city centre and take…
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Upgrade for sliding canal bridge

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 5, 2024

ENGINEERS from Network Rail recently completed nine days working on the UK’s only sliding canal bridge at Keadby. Keadby Canal’s walls and remove rails and track equipment that had been in place for many years, to install new replacements. Scheme project manager Sean Ellerby said: “The last nine days have seen an incredible amount of…
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Election address from Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign

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Janet Richardson

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April 5, 2024

THE Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign has issued a statement in the run-up to the local elections in England and Wales on May 2. Describing the network of 5000 miles of canals and navigable rivers as a unique national asset, it states: “Almost 80% of local authorities have a navigable waterway or a waterway under restoration,…
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