Towpath Talk

  • CRT endeavours to aerate canal

    CRT endeavours to aerate canal

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    A number of dead fish can be seen floating on the canal’s surface close to the locks at Knowle. The sad sight provides graphic proof of the lack of oxygen in many canals due to the record-breaking temperatures recorded in June. CRT are trying to increase the level of oxygen in the water by setting…

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  • Monty’s Brewery step up to support the Monty Canal

    Monty’s Brewery step up to support the Monty Canal

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    Monty’s Brewery has launched Navigation Pale Ale to support the ongoing restoration of the Montgomery Canal, which recently celebrated the opening of another restored section to Crickheath Basin. At the same time, Schoolhouse Bridge, another 300 yds along the canal’s course, is currently being rebuilt – so it’s all going down on the cut. Russ…

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  • Glastonbury Festival fire kept alight by Bevere Fish Pass debris

    Glastonbury Festival fire kept alight by Bevere Fish Pass debris

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    Over 50 tonnes of wood debris from the Canal & River Trust’s Bevere Fish Pass on the River Severn made its way to this year’s world-famous Glastonbury Festival. The wood, which collects in the fish pass when the river floods, was used as firewood for the event’s stone circle, which stays alight across the five…

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  • Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals

    Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals

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    As a result of continuing dry weather, the Canal & River Trust has announced plans to temporarily close lock flights on the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals to navigation from 10 July until water supplies recover.  With the ongoing repair works at Toddbrook Reservoir meaning this key source of water for the canals isn’t available,…

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  • Brilliant Braunston

    Brilliant Braunston

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    On one of the hottest weekends of the year so far, our senior contributor Phil PIckin brings us a taste of the annual historic rally showing the opening parade and VIP guests including Pete Waterman and David Suchet as well as Dory which went on to be judged best boat. Have a watch!

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  • Fund Britain’s Waterways calls on Government to stop inland waterways falling into disrepair

    Fund Britain’s Waterways calls on Government to stop inland waterways falling into disrepair

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    Britain’s unique and well-loved network of canals and navigable rivers is deteriorating because of inadequate funding. At a time of unprecedented challenges caused by the climate emergency and high inflation, the government is failing to respond. Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW), a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways,…

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  • Locking Ahead – the future of maintenance planning

    Locking Ahead – the future of maintenance planning

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    In the third article about how the Canal & River Trust maintains its 200-year-old system, national boating manager Matthew Symonds looks at some of the challenges that lay ahead. THE canal network is one of the nation’s greatest regeneration stories. From losing many hundreds of miles of waterways in the last century as canals stopped…

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  • CBOA Names new president

    CBOA Names new president

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    THE Commercial Boat Operators’ Association has elected Mike Garratt as its new president. He succeeds long-serving David Quarmby, who has agreed to become one of two vice-presidents. Mike is chairman of transport economists MDS Transmodal Ltd and has spent over 50 years in the sector. He has a long history of support for inland waterway…

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  • North West Canal Restorers Free Exhibition on Steamship “Danny”

    North West Canal Restorers Free Exhibition on Steamship “Danny”

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    The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) are delighted to be holding its second “Waterways Restoration Showcase” on board the steamship “Danny” at Sutton Weaver on the River Weaver on Saturday and Sunday, 29th and 30th July. The event, which has free entry, will have exhibition stands from 12 of the leading waterway restoration society from the…

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  • West Midlands mayor opens Whitehouse Wharf

    West Midlands mayor opens Whitehouse Wharf

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    Report & photos: Phil PIckin WEST Midlands mayor, Andy Street, helped by children from the Tiverton Junior and Infant School, has unveiled an information board to officially open the refurbished Whitehouse Wharf in Selly Oak, Birmingham. The opening attracted significant attention from both members of the Lapal Canal Trust, Canal & River Trust and the…

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  • ​Vandal attack on canalside sculpture

    ​Vandal attack on canalside sculpture

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    THE Canal & River Trust is appealing to people living in Wolverhampton for information after a public art sculpture was vandalised and almost sawn in half. Part of a series along the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, the wooden hand-crafted sculpture was created by local artist Robot. Wolfie, so-called as it depicts a wolf, has been…

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  • Fund Britain’s Waterways

    Fund Britain’s Waterways

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    BIRMINGHAM CAMPAIGN CRUISE. 12/13 AUGUST 2023 A steering group representing IWA, NABO, AWCC, RYA BM and RBOA is progressing this campaign and, in support of it, is organising a campaign cruise to Birmingham on the weekend of 12/13 August.  A formal notice is being delayed awaiting the Defra announcement on the CRT grant settlement. Still, in…

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  • Beware! Kegworth Lock Cill Warning

    Beware! Kegworth Lock Cill Warning

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    This just in from Les Heath: ANOTHER narrowboat has recently been added to the long list of vessels to become submerged after being ‘hung up’ on the cill at Kegworth Deep Lock on the River Soar. A board indicating the number of boats to be ‘hung up’ over a certain period has been replaced by…

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  • Public Consultation on the introduction of revised Canals and Shannon Navigation Bye-Laws

    Public Consultation on the introduction of revised Canals and Shannon Navigation Bye-Laws

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    This just in via our Irish Waters correspondent Alison Alderton: 19 June to 02 October 2023 Waterways Ireland is inviting members of the public and interested parties to have their say on proposed revisions to the Shannon Navigation and Canals bye-laws by making a submission to a public consultation, which opens on Monday 19 June…

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