Chairman's's Notes
North and South
I have recently spent some time at the northern and southern extremities of the BCN. In the far north I joined about 1000 others to walk the Lichfield Canal on a Sunday in April. It was good to see the continuing progress being made along the route and particularly to inspect the recently installed culvert which will take the canal under the Birmingham Road; another step towards the ultimate opening up of the northern BCN.
Over the May Bank Holiday I attended the gathering at Anglesey Basin, organised as part of this year's Northern BCN Campaign, prior to the very succesful Explorer Cruise led by Brenda and Brian Ward, ably assisted by Barry and Ann Parkes. Upwards of 55 boats met at Anglesey Basin with a couple of dozen going on the ensuing cruise. Although unable to join them, I met up with the boaters at the Pumphouse on the Thursday evening where the Society put on a barbecue and bar and entertained the boaters with a show of some of our heritage slides. It is good to see numbers of boats on the northern BCN. It's what this part if the system needs. It was rather less good to see the BW weedboat tied up under tarpaulins at Sneyd wharf. While on the subject of the Wyrley & Essington, why did I read a piece in the Express & Star a couple of weeks ago with a sense of alarm ? Wolverhampton City Councillors have launched a campaign for the Great Wyrley and Essington Canal(sic) in Wednesfield to get official nature reserve status. As someone who tried to steer a full lenght working boat through the stop at Wednesfield Junction recently told me, it's like a nature reserve now. Is this some devious way of being able to give up all responsibility for doing anything about the waterway ? The small print makes even less heartening reading for if the canal is granted nature reserve status it would need to meet stringent requirements. We shall do our utmost to ensure that retention and improvement of the navigation is the foremost requirement.
In the deep south of the BCN, I attended the launch of the Lapal Canal Feasibility Study where consulting engineers Atkins presented their report about the restoration of the Dudley Number Two between Halesowen and Selly Oak. The proposal is a radical one which will not include the re opening of Lapal Tunnel. Instead it is proposed to seek funding to take the canal up and over the hillside alongside Manor Way, under the M5 and Quinton Expressway and through Woodgate Valley to rejoin the orginal route near Woeley Castle. This will mean that the canal can be restored in sections without the massive engineering problems likely to be encountered on the original, Lapal Tunnel route. Like any restoration scheme, the cost wuill be high but consider this. Last summer we were fortunate enough to take Marsh Harrier along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal which cost about £45 million to restore. - a huge amount of money. A scheme has been announced recently to develop Huddersfield Waterfront Quarter. The investment in the area is expected to be £175 million. Without the restored canal there would be no talk of a Waterfront Quarter in Huddersfield and no huge investment.
Whilst thinking about the southern part of the system, it was a splendid site to see five former Stewarts and Lloyds tugs on display at the Coombeswood Canal Trust open wekend in the middle of May. That stretch of the Dudley No.2. was certainly a hive of activity. Let's hope that the rest of it eventually becomes one and joins its northern companions of the Lichfield and Hatherton in making a couple of extra gateways to the BCN.
And in the Centre
The future is currently looking brighter for Tipton Gauging Station. Thanks to a vigorously fought campaign Sandwell MBC planning committee has rejected the planning application by Revurban Developments to convert the building into four dwellings. Dudley Canal Trust is in discussions with the developer to formulate a business plan which would restore the buildings to their former use and enable the docking of boats to take place. Thanks to all members who responded to the calls last year and more recently to write and make their feelings known about this unique building.
Council Changes
After four years in charge of the Society's purse strings, Tony Jones is standing down as Treasurer this year. Tony has prudently managed our financial affairs, always eager to collect and always reticent to disburse! We thank Tony for his work over the years and welcome Dave Dent who is to take over from the 1st August, the start of our financial year.
Anne Parouty, who has been involved with an exciting initiative on behalf of the Society recently, has indicated that she is willing to take on a role as our Heritage Officer. I hope to be able to say more about the work Anne has already done on our behalf in a later issue but in the meantime welcome her to the Council.
Best Wishes....Phil.
