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Category: NN Chairman's Column
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Chair, Mike Rodd is concerned by what he sees in his crystal ball.

In these strange times that we’re living in, our thoughts and prayers are with those tragically affected by Covid-19 and we feel for those who have lost a family member, friend or colleague, or whose livelihood or mental health has been seriously affected.

Nevertheless, even on a smaller scale, I am sure that you are all, like me, totally frustrated by the unfortunate delays in being able to get back on our boats – made worse for those of us who boat in Wales, where the Assembly seems to be continually slightly out of phase with the situation in England. I am looking forward to be able to go and check that our boat is still floating!

Read more: Hard times ahead?

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Category: Issues
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Mark Tizard celebrates their essential service to boaters.

As a boater with some 35 years’ experience, I have never known a situation where coal boats have been so essential. Whilst all around them movements ground to a halt and marinas closed as the pandemic tightened its grip, it’s the coal boats that kept the system going. These boats have always been the eyes and ears of the waterways, reporting infrastructure faults and dredging issues to CRT. In the pandemic, with the absence of CRT’s furloughed spotters, they were also able to identify vulnerable boaters.

Several of them continued to supply fuel, even though some of their customers suddenly found themselves unable to pay. Boaters remained a community and it’s pleasing to see that several customers contacted their local coal boat and prepaid for a bag of coal or a bottle of gas to be delivered to a boater in need.

Read more: In praise of the coal boats

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Category: NABO Regional Reports
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I am at Appley Bridge, a suburb of Wigan on the east Lancashire border. There have been signs put up about the limited use of the canal towpath close to me. They have had little effect on towpath footfall as, in my estimation, there is a three- to four-fold increase in its use. A policeman walked along the towpath last Sunday afternoon, but nobody was challenged about their presence on the canal. I have moved to a more secluded spot and I am now getting almost no people coming near the boat. There have been six boats that have passed me, but their direction of travel is possibly to return to their home moorings. I have had three emails from CRT, asking about my position and what services I need to be open. A CRT volunteer has called three times to see how I am. The local community has offered to help with a free electric hook-up and several local people have offered to shop for me (I must be getting old!), and I’m told that, if I need assistance, I should just ask.

Ken Hylins

 

David Fletcher adds: Following a wet February, both March and April have been very dry, particularly in the north. Due to this and some lower levels in reservoirs post-Toddbrook, the Peak Forest, Macclesfield, Huddersfield and Leeds & Liverpool canals are closed for the foreseeable future. The aim is to save water so that, when the system is reopened, we have some water to play with. There has been some comment on social media about a blockage on the feeder to the Peak Forest from Coombes Reservoir. I understand that, although there is a blockage, this is not the only problem and it could take some time to get this flow going again.  The stoppages mean that the coal boats cannot pass and support those liveaboards on these waters.

 

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Category: EA and others
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Five organisations representing recreational powered craft users on the non-tidal Thames have agreed to join forces to encourage greater engagement and co-operation with the Environment Agency who are responsible for managing the waterway.
The Association of Thames Yacht Clubs (ATYC), DBA -The Barge Association (DBA), the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO), the Residential Boat Owners’ Association (RBOA) and the Thames MotorBoaters Association (TMBA), are all members of the Thames Navigation User Forum and specifically represent recreational powered craft owners.

There are over 8,000 recreational powered craft registered with EA Thames and, by way of registration and other charges, they collectively contribute almost £4 million of revenue income to the annual budget for the maintenance and upkeep of the river. This is by far the largest contribution from all sources other than public funding. Joint action is already in hand to address the current issues regarding continued restrictions to navigation, particularly as they affect powered craft. Further details will be circulated by the individual organisations directly to their members.

Mike Rodd
16th May 2020