Towpath Talk

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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Before you make that journey

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 3, 2024

The team at River Canal Rescue helps to get you ready for the first cruise of the season with some useful tips and advice… WITH an early Easter this year, you may have already cranked up your engine and undertaken the first cruise of the season. If that’s the case – how prepared were you…
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IWA campaigns to save Welsh aqueduct

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Scootering Web Editor

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April 1, 2024

A MOVE to demolish Aberdulais Aqueduct, which carries the Tennant Canal over the River Neath, has prompted an angry reaction from the Inland Waterways Association. It has sharply criticised what it calls ‘a lazy proposal’ by Welsh Government quango Natural Resources Wales (NRW) that says it is considering demolishing the scheduled ancient monument. It described…
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Dunsfold Park desilting extends navigable canal

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Scootering Web Editor

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March 29, 2024

THE Wey & Arun Canal Trust has started the year with the completion of desilting work on the Dunsfold section. This has resulted in a fully navigable unobstructed wide and deep channel for nearly 2km from Fast Bridge in Surrey down to Tickner’s Heath and a canalside path. Trust chairman Sally Schupke said: “We are…
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Work set to start on new canal bridge

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Scootering Web Editor

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March 27, 2024

CHESTERFIELD Canal Trust has appointed O’Brien Contractors Ltd to build and install a new bridge over the soon-to-be-restored route of the canal at Staveley, Derbyshire. This will be the first stage of a £6 million restoration project, the bulk of the money coming from the Staveley Town Deal, a government levelling-up project. Describing it as…
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Lock closure cuts off boaters’ link to national canal network

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Scootering Web Editor

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March 25, 2024

BOATERS have been left on the wrong side of access to 130 miles of navigable waterways in the Anglian region due to a failure to remove a build-up of tidal silt. Navigation authority Middle Level Commissioners is responsible for the Fen waterways between Stanground Lock in Peterborough and Salter’s Lode Lock near Downham Market in…
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Flood defence gates out of action

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Scootering Web Editor

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March 22, 2024

THE sluice mechanism which helps prevent flooding along the Rivers Wissey and Little Ouse in Norfolk and Suffolk is currently not working to full capacity. Levels in the relief channel are remaining higher than usual due to reduced discharge into the tidal river at Tail Sluice. In a recent briefing, the Environment Agency acknowledged that…
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April 2024

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Alex Bestwick

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March 21, 2024

Towpath Talk features everything you need to know about boats, marinas, wildlife, conservation, heritage and superb days out. If you like the look of the April edition, we’re certain you’ll enjoy reading every issue, so why not take a look at our latest subscription offers? Remember Towpath Talk is a FREE publication, so you’ll only be paying…
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Volunteers needed for Cotswold Canals project

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Scootering Web Editor

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March 19, 2024

RESTORATION of the ‘Missing Mile’ of the western section of the Stroudwater Navigation has been given the thumbs up by Stroud District Council planners. Securing planning permission was a critical step in the Cotswold Canals Connected Phase 1B Project plan to restore the Stroudwater Canal linking the Cotswold Canals to the national waterways at Saul…
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We Don’t Go Far, But We Do See Life

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Keith Harris

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March 15, 2024

In this excerpt from his book, We Don’t Go Far, But We Do See Life, Keith Harris tells how he acquired his replica Dutch Luxemotor, Saul Trader, the characters he came to know, and putting on Folk On The Water festival.
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Tickets now on sale for Crick Boat Show

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Scootering Web Editor

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March 8, 2024

ADVANCE tickets are now on sale for the 2024 Crick Boat Show which begins with a Trade & Preview Day sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston on Friday May 24. Showcasing the inland waterways industry with over 200 exhibitors, there will be more than 30 new boats to view. Show director Peter Johns said: “Our ‘Trade &…
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Survey Launch: IWA Campaign Seeks Boater Input on 2023 Cruising Experience

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Scootering Web Editor

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March 4, 2024

As part of IWA’s work in support of the multi-organisation Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW)campaign, a comprehensive survey has been launched aimed at gathering crucial insightsfrom boaters regarding their experiences while cruising in 2023. This initiative is a vitalcomponent of FBW’s ongoing campaign to secure funding for all waterways and navigationauthorities across Great Britain. Boaters are…
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