the chester packet

`Chester Packet 1 January 2010

Editor: Margaret Pitney

Issue

No 54

January

2011

CHESTER & DISTRICT BRANCH

Disaster on the River Weaver—Mike Wilkinson’s picture shows some of the

devastation at Acton Bridge Cruising Club—more inside

Chester Packet 2 June 2010

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE President Richard Drake, BEM

Chairman Brian Phillips, Tel: 01244 300025 Email: [email protected]

Vice Chairman Bill Sinclair, Tel: 01244 319890 Email: [email protected]

Treasurer Ron Evans, Tel: 01928 788673

Email: [email protected]

Secretary Gillian Bolt, Tel: 0151 678 9300 Email: [email protected]

Minutes Secretary Helen Forkin, Tel: 01270 650054 Email: [email protected]

Membership Secretary Peter Bolt, Tel: 0151 678 9300 Email: [email protected]

Social Secretary Vacant

Newsletter Editor Margaret Pitney , Tel: 0151 608 6487 Email: [email protected]

Planning Officer

Geoff Gittus, Tel: 0151 605 1094 Email: [email protected]

Publicity Officer

Sales Officer

Jim Forkin, Tel: 01270 650054 Email: [email protected]

Lesley Taylor, Tel: 0151 342 6651 Email: [email protected]

Committee Members Jennifer MacGillivray, Tel: 07909 517051 Email: jennifer.macgillivray1@googlemail

Mike Sumner, Tel: 0151 4201460 Email: [email protected]


Branch Chairman’s Report This year, 2010, is coming to an end and it appears determined to leave just as it started— very cold. As I write it’s -7 outside although in January it dropped to -14. I like the blue skies, the clean crisp air, the clear light from the sun and the canopy of the moon and stars at night. As a boat owner I am concerned at the possible damage which may occur when the canal freezes over. In previous winters I have been very lucky, the only inconvenience has been when turning the tap on, and having to wait 20 minutes before any water came out. This year the boat is moored in a Marina so I have left a small heater on hoping to keep the inside of the boat above 0C. I am hoping for an early thaw. This time of the year is the start of BW’s maintenance programme so I have great respect for the crews working in these conditions. I appreciate that the winter is not the ideal time to do maintenance but just imagine the disruption if it was carried out in the summer, so a big thank you to those struggling to replace lock gates etc. Thinking of warmer times, the heat wave in June coincided with the Tom Rolt Centenary Celebrations held at Tower Wharf; it was wonderful to see all the boats and the crowds in the sunshine. The Branch was pleased to be involved in reviving the memory of Tom Rolt, a local hero as he was born in Chester and a founder member of IWA, without which the Branch would not exist. It was definitely the year of Tom Rolt as not only did the National Festival honour him but also many of the other Societies he had been involved with such as: The Talyllyn Railway, The Vintage Sports Car Club, The Newcomen Society (who also funded the Blue Plaque in Handbridge) the Cheltenham Literature Festival and a programme on Radio 4. Looking ahead to next year there are already many things for the Branch to be involved with, starting in January with a Branch Officers’ Workshop to discuss IWA involvement with BW’s move to the third sector. Also in January the Branch will be attending the BW Open Day at Northgate Locks; this initiative by BW is to be applauded and shows someone is thinking of ways to involve a wider audience in the waterways. Later on a new Boat Show is taking place in Liverpool, although not in the Branch area. They would like IWA involvement and wish to welcome visiting boats. On March 5th the Branch is hosting the Region AGM at Anderton followed on the 8 th March by our own AGM held at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port. The Branch web page has been updated; this is a vital tool for keeping everyone informed so if anyone would like to assist in keeping it up to date it would appreciated. I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Brian Phillips [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Region Chairman’s Report

Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find an open letter from Tony Hales reporting on the current state of play in British Waterways’ transformation into a third sector charity. I would like to give you my thoughts on this document and on the ‘official’ IWA reaction. This is a misnomer as the IWA is a member-based charity and therefore its view is that of its members, but you are aware that Trustees have given this matter great thought and in some cases have insights into the developments of the ideas and therefore I ask you to read what I have to say before you decide to disagree with it.

Our influence is obvious from the fourth line where he refers to Robert Aikman’s vision for a National Waterways Conservancy. Our initiative with DEFRA has been for a new body to replace BW and include EA navigations and potentially others as well so that there are not only economies of scale to help offset the impending cuts, but also a coherency of policy and management over the different navigations. In this context I am well aware in our region of the significant private enterprise player of Peel Holdings, owners of the Bridgewater Canal, and if I say that management of this is currently effective enough not to arouse major worries, I am sure many will disagree. We also have members in Scotland where the fate of BW Scotland will be decided by the Scottish Government. There are Scottish elections next May and I am tempted to be simplistic and say that a SNP government will be less inclined to retain BWS as part of the England and Wales restructuring than a Labour one.

In his fourth paragraph Tony Hales states there is a lot of work to do. This is perhaps an understatement. There are plans for governance which indicate a participation by stakeholders, including ourselves, at both national and local levels. The elephant in the room remains the funding, and the IWA have stated clearly and loudly that our support is dependent on a satisfactory funding model.

There is a matter that is not referred to but which arouses the interest and, in some cases, anger among many, with which I have great sympathy. The current Directors of BW in some cases enjoy benefits packages which are totally out of step with those applying to national charities. I would ask you to consider whether DEFRA and others with influence are aware of this problem and of the need to address it, just as they must address the significant pension fund deficit revealed by BW’s accounts.

So there is much to welcome in Tony Hales’s letter, just as there are many questions still to be answered and much still to do. Perhaps the most important in the long term in my opinion is the change of culture and cooperation necessary. BW must consult and listen more than they have done in the past. I think they have started this process, and note a more listening tone to user group and other meetings. If this is so, and I accept it is early days, then if we are going to weather the difficult times ahead, we the users must reciprocate and come to the table prepared to work together with them to achieve what we want—a well maintained system, our heritage and environment respected and maintained, and a future for our

waterways.

Alan Platt


ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

March 2011 seems a long way off, but we have no newsletter until May,

so details of the two Annual General Meetings are included in this

edition.

First we have the North-west Region AGM which is being held at the

Anderton Lift on Saturday 5 March at 2.00 pm. There will be a talk

given by Weaver historian Colin Edmondson at 12.00 pm followed by

lunch (£6) at 1.00 pm. For details and booking for lunch please contact

Gillian Bolt on 0151 678 9300 / 07855 968524 or email

[email protected].

Chester & District Branch AGM , as you will see from the programme,

is being held at our regular meeting time and place on Tuesday 8 March

together with a visit from BW Waterways Manager Wendy Capelle.

Wendy is giving a talk telling us about her job as a BW Manager.

Items for discussion must be sent to the Branch Chairman by 25 January

2011;—email [email protected].

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Several years ago a request appeared in this newsletter for members

to distribute IWA membership leaflets to likely sources in our area.

We received a very good response to this, but since then due to

various circumstances some of our volunteers have had to bow out.

We are now looking for distributors who may live, or pass by, such

venues as hire boat bases, canal chandlery shops, boat clubs or

anywhere else with an interest in waterways.

New leaflets are now available showing revised member rates for

2011. Also available are leaflet holders, legacy leaflets, WRG

Working Holiday brochure, boat insurance information (every

policy taken out and subsequently renewed helps IWA) and a leaflet

showing IWA waterway events around the country in 2011.

If you feel you can help please contact the Branch Membership

Secretary (details on page 2).


Below we have a letter from the Chairman of British Waterways,

Tony Hale CBE, addressed to all waterways users. In view of the

importance of this news to everyone concerned with the future of

British Waterways, it is reproduced in full.

Dear Waterway Supporter

GOVERNMENT GIVES THE GO AHEAD FOR A ‘NATIONAL

TRUST’ FOR THE WATERWAYS

The Government has today made an important announcement about

the future of the inland waterways in England and Wales, in

probably the biggest shake up of our canals and rivers since

nationalisation in 1948.

The plan, to move the waterways out of state control and into a new

independent national charity, builds on the proposals I launched at

the House of Commons in May last year and on Robert Aikman’s

vision for a ‘National Waterways Conservancy’ half a century ago.

When we called this proposal ‘2020’ we thought it would take a while

to achieve. The fact that the Government now wishes to adopt it as

policy, replacing British Waterways with the new charity by April

2012, is a tremendous achievement and I have congratulated the

waterways minister, Richard Benyon MP, on his imaginative and

positive response.

The waterways have been utterly transformed for the better in the

time since British Waterways was established in 1962 and they are

used and enjoyed by more people, in a wider variety of ways than

ever before. This transformation owes its success to the contribution

of countless staff, volunteers and enthusiasts. Moving the waterways

into a charitable body recognises the need to build on that enthusiasm

and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their history.

The Board and directors of British Waterways believe that this is

absolutely the right next step for the nation’s magnificent waterways.

The move will attract new funding for waterways maintenance,

safeguard investment and give everyone who uses and enjoys the


waterways a greater role in how they are cared for. I don’t

underestimate the challenges ahead in making it happen, but history

has shown that the waterway movement, when it pulls together, can

achieve great things.

There is still a lot of work to do to: develop the new governance

model; agree a long-term funding contract with government and;

put in place transitional arrangements. Defra will examine the

inclusion of the Environment Agency’s navigations, as part of a

coherent plan for the waterways it funds in England and Wales, and

the Scottish Government will decide whether Scotland’s waterways

will be in the new body. British Waterways will continue to work

with government officials and waterway stakeholders to ensure good

continuity, a smooth transition and a successful launch for the new

body.

The question for us all now is not whether we should form a new

waterways charity, but how we can do it. Open dialogue and

involvement will be vital to making this happen and I know that

Defre intend to consult with waterway stakeholders as they develop

the content of the Public Bodies Bill, through which the new charity

will be set up.

I cannot overstate what an enormous opportunity this is for the

waterways, and for all those who feel passionately about their

future. We must all make sure our views are heard and I look

forward to many interesting and constructive debates during the

next six months. With this in mind, please pass this letter on to any

colleagues, friends or members who you think will be interested and

feel free to reproduce it in your own publications or websites.

Yours faithfully

TONY HALES CBE

Chairman

It was stated at the User Forum that legislation is expected to be enacted

by March 2011 and new body to be in place by April 2012.


River Weaver Navigation Society

Re-Opening of Riversdale Bridge

The re-opening of Riversdale Bridge on 3rd

. December 2010, even after

interminable delays, is a source of great satisfaction to our Society.

The original swing bridge was built on the instructions of the Weaver Trustees, at Navi-

gation Yard, in Northwich, over a period of approximately six weeks in 1888, rebuilt in

c.1930, and obviously had deteriorated to such an extent that it was overdue for exten-

sive renovation when it was closed in 2004. It was heavily used as a short-cut through

the town.

The new bridge is slightly wider than the one it replaces, enabling wheelchairs and bicy-

cles to pass on the bridge. The new swing bridge is also electrically operated, actuated

by a plug-in controller, whereas its predecessor was operated by hand

The Chairman of the River Weaver Navigation Society, John Tackley, said, “We are

delighted that this bridge is finally restored. Our members battled long and hard to help

raise funds, by actively supporting and campaigning for a grant from Sustrans to assist

with its restoration. In this we were helped by votes collected from the local populace.

We also offered technical advice to the bridge consultants, which was taken on board.

Apart from the immediate benefits of better pedestrian access to Sir John Deane‟s Col-

lege and other local properties, with a consequent reduction in road traffic, our Society

has been instrumental in achieving better access to the river backwater, which will be of

undoubted future benefit to the town.

The new bridge offers an increased navigational headroom of approximately 7‟-00”,

which will enable canal craft to pass beneath it without opening the swinging span. This

means that an extra quarter of a mile of waterway will be readily accessible for visitors

to use as town centre moorings and give craft, including future trip boats, access to both

Weaver Hall Museum and the Bowling Green public house. Each of these properties has

garden access to this newly accessible backwater. This will undoubtedly improve North-

wich‟s facilities as a tourist attraction.

It is pleasing to record that a third sector organisation like ours, working in conjunction

with Cheshire West and Chester Council and British Waterways, can actually help

achieve real long term benefits for Northwich, despite the financial constraints that make

the revitalisation of the town, so long awaited, currently so difficult.”

CONTACTS:

Chairman John Tackley 01606 76204 07966 521273 [email protected]

Historian Colin Edmondson 07721 620747 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


BW LIAISON REPORT FROM BILL SINCLAIR

Our Vice-Chairman, Bill Sinclair, has regular meetings with BW to keep the Branch up to date with current events. Here is his latest report; Tony Hales’

letter on pages 6 and 7 explains the details of BW changes.

Although the replacement for BW should take place by April 2012 none of BW staff know much about any changes or what sort of budget they will have to work to, but hope that more information will be coming soon.

All lock gates at Hack Green are planned to be replaced in November and December as are the flood gates at either end of Nantwich embankment. Repairs are being made to the stop plank grooves at Anderton along with some structural repairs to the lift up to Christmas. In January gate repairs are being carried out to Northgate locks and these locks will be open to the public on 29 January—a good day out. New stop planks are about to be made for Barbridge and anywhere else in need of them. There is a need for more outlets for the sale of pumpout cards as people are having problems finding them.

Sutton Weaver bridge repairs and stoppage have been cancelled due to problems with traffic management in the area. BW is looking into ways of funding dredging on the Weaver, especially at the entrance to the Frodsham arm. They are hoping to get some help from local firms. There is also hope for more visitor moorings at Acton Bridge if they can afford them. There are no short term plans as yet to increase visitor moorings at Northwich where the Flotel used to be. The Vale Royal Barge lock bridge is in very poor condition and there is still hope of installing a temporary pedestrian bridge below the bottom gates this financial year.

The biggest problem affecting our Branch area concerns Williams moorings and the Dee Branch at Tower Wharf. The general consensus within BW is that the Branch is impassable and without any potential funding available they may have no alternative but to close the Branch. However, they have been meeting with Chester West & Chester Council and the Environment Agency to look for potential funding opportunities. They will contact local user groups to discuss any future proposals and potential closure. In the meantime they would like to

arrange a meeting with this IWA Branch to discuss the problems in more detail.

This sad picture is the bottom lock leading out to the River Dee.


Mike Wilkinson of Acton Bridge Cruising Club tells us of

THE DAY THE TIDE WENT OUT ON THE RIVER WEAVER

It was 8.30am on 27th October and I was very comfortable sitting up in bed reading the local paper and enjoying a caffeine fix prior to getting up. The phone call was short and to the point, ‘Better get down to the boat as the river level has fallen’. No alarm bells rang as this does hap-pen from time to time and only necessitates someone to go to the Club and loos-en the mooring ropes. Nothing however could prepare me for the sight which greeted me on my arrival. Many members had already arrived and were staring at a river which had shrunk to a tiny stream. Boats were everywhere, some broken loose completely and others were hanging at crazy angles from the bank. One cruiser had broken loose from further up the river and come to rest in our club.

Gradually we all got or-ganised and started to assess the situation. A number of BW staff also appeared to lend a hand. The major problem was that as the water level dropped, the weight of the boats had torn some of the moorings out of the bank. The lucky members were the ones

moored in shallow water, whose boats simply sat on the mud, and those with poor ropes which broke under the strain.

By 11am the river was rising and while members ensured that their boats re-floated safely BW set about taping off dangerous landing stages. Boats were


moved and double moored on secure moorings. Thanks to the sterling efforts of the ladies pre-sent, we were all fed and by 4 pm everything was as near to normal as it could be.

At this time it is still not clear exactly what hap-pened. At about 6 am the inhabitants of the cottages adjacent to the Club heard a loud noise and the crash of breaking landing stages. It appears that the computer which controls the

weirs had caused Dutton weirs to open fully and all the water had rushed through. The previous day workmen had been servicing the con-trols but it is too early to claim this as the cause. BW are carrying out a full investi-gation and Acton Bridge Cruising Club are in negotia-tions to facilitate repairs which are expected to cost

many thousands of pounds.

Every cloud does have a silver lining however. No-one was hurt, no boats were badly dam-aged and finally the force of the water flow-ing through our moor-ings removed quite a lot of the silt which has been a problem to us for many years.


Branch Waterway Walks January - May 2011

All walks take place on the 4th Thursday of the month

commencing at 10.15 am and are open to IWA members and

non-members alike. Each walk starts and finishes at a pub.

Anyone requiring lunch at the pub at the end of the walk can

book their meal just before we set out on the walk. Halfway

through each walk we stop for welcome ‘bring your own’

refreshments.

January 27th - Northwich—New Year, New Walk, New Bridge! The Bowling Green, London Road, Northwich (CW9 8AA) is the starting point

for this new walk. After leaving the pub garden, the walk crosses the brand new

Riversdale Bridge and Hunt‟s Locks before turning upstream to follow the

banks of the River Weaver, passing through the Marshall‟s Arm nature reserve

on the way. The walk crosses the river at Vale Royal locks and returns to the

pub after a distance of 3.7 miles. Map reference 657 732 OS Explorer 267.

February 24th – Chester

Telford‟s Warehouse, Tower Wharf, Chester (CH1 4EZ) is the starting point for

this 3.7 mile walk along the Shropshire Union canal, around Chester‟s city

walls, through Grosvenor Park, along the bank of the River Dee and across the

Roodee and Water Tower Gardens. Map reference 400 667 OS Landranger 117

March 24th

– Middlewich

The Big Lock, Webb‟s Lane, Middlewich (CW10 9DW) is the base for this

walk which follows the towing paths of the Trent and Mersey and Shropshire

Union canals and uses the lanes, tracks and footpaths in the valley of the River

Dane to connect the two canals. The walk is 3.4 miles long, the map reference

is 702 668 OS Explorer 267.

April 28th – Ravensmoor

The Farmer‟s Arms at Ravensmoor (CW5 8PN) is about

2.5 miles south west of Nantwich. From the pub this

4-mile walk heads west across green pastures before

turning north to follow the towing path of the Llangollen

canal. After roughly one and a half miles the route turns

off the towing path to cross undulating pastures before

heading south on quiet lanes to return to the pub. Map

reference 621 506 OS Explorer 257.


Support for the Branch walks is going from strength to strength. Two walks

have taken place this season which were attended by approximately 20 people—

some having read about it in their local press, some being regulars who started

coming out with us from the early days of Branch walking. Walks take place at

all points of the Branch boundaries and all include a waterway at some point.

Members of the public with no connection to the IWA are particularly

welcomed—they soon learn all about us and some join the Association. So come

along to the next walk—you will be very welcome.

The group pauses for a rest on the Shropshire Union Canal near Beeston Stone Lock

Nearing the end of the November 2010 walk from The Walton Arms


CHESTER CANAL HERITAGE TRUST

Chester Home Guard, Canal Street,

Chester, at 8pm, in the function room

Wednesday February 2nd 2011

The North West Transport Archive Charles Roberts - Lecturer from the Liverpool John Moores

University and custodian of photographic archive material of transport in the North West will reveal gems from the collection

Wednesday March 2nd 2011

Taylor’s Boatyard Two centuries of boatbuilding - Geoff Taylor, local historian

CHESTER BRANCH WELCOMES THE FOLLOWING NEW

MEMBERS:

Mr J Kummer, Ellesmere Port

Mr and Mrs R Nicholas, Birkenhead

Mr A Cross, Deeside

Mr D Haslam, Shotton

Mr N Payton, Connah‟s Quay

Mr A Ramsay, Prenton

We look forward to meeting you all at our monthly meetings at the

Ellesmere Port Boat Museum and on our Branch walks.


The Annual Inter-Branch Skittles Challenge is to take

place on Friday 1 April 2011 at the Bickerton Poacher,

Bulkeley, Near Malpas (on the A534). A lamb hotpot or

vegetarian option will be served at 7.30 pm (£7.50) and

the match will start at 8.00 pm.

Please ring Janet Farmer on 01270 811157, at least one

week before, to order your meal

COME ON YOU CHESTER MEMBERS—WE NEED YOU!

SKITTLES SKITTLES

BOAT MUSEUM SOCIETY—Diary Dates

Meetings are held in the Rolt Centre at the National Waterways Museum,

Ellesmere Port, 7.30 pm.

21 January Anthony Annakin-Smith—’Neston Collieries and the

Underground Canals’

18 February Annual General Meeting followed by presentations on

Museum progress

18 March Roger Wickson—’Working Boats and Working Boatpeople’

22 April (Good Friday) - Pat Crecraft—’A Special Kind of Traffic’

20 May Professor Ivor Harris—’Hydrogen, Magnets and Ross Barlow’

.


BW Licence Increase

It is important to realise that there is a consultation open until 31 January.

It is vital that everyone responds to this consultation because the increase of

2.5% in VAT will also come into effect resulting in an increase of over 7%

at a time when everyone is struggling with static of negative wage increases.

It is also important to note the changes to the terms and conditions of

licences and early payment dates. Further information can be obtained on

http://ww.britishwaterways.co.uk/listening-to-you/consultations-and-

reviews/current-consultations

Mersey Ferries Cruise from Boat Museum

It is reported in Friends of the Ferries newsletter that next summer, when adverse

tides limit access to the Manchester Ship Canal, a ferry will be based at

Ellesmere Port Boat Museum to provide truncated trips on the Canal, but

inclusive of admission to the Museum.

Tower Wharf Open Day

On Sunday 29 January from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm British Waterways are

holding an Open Day at Tower Wharf. This will give the general public an

insight into the work being done by BW on the restoration of the locks.

There will also be a presentation on Tower Wharf by Dr. Ray Buss of

Chester Canal Heritage Trust and Kate Lynch of British Waterways. The

operational team will be on site to discuss the work with members of the

public. Full details of this event will be on Waterscape early in January.

Other societies taking part include Shropshire Union Canal Society,

Waterways Action Squad, the University of Chester and Chester Canal

Heritage Trust.

£1 million HLF Project ‘Saltscape’

Cheshire West and Chester Council have commissioned a new project to

improve and create a better access to and appreciation of the landscape in the

Weaver Valley. This involves woodlands, wetlands and the River. Members of

the committee of River Weaver Navigation Society took Heritage Lottery Fund

staff and council officers on a boat trip from the Lion Salt Works to the Boat

Lift where discussions were held with Wendy Capelle and her staff. The

preliminary bid goes in in February 2011.


BRIDGEWATER CANAL USER GROUP MEETING REPORT

Branch committee member, Mike Sumner, represents the Branch at these meetings and sends this report to keep us up to speed with news from the Bridgewater Canal

Marinas The Bridgewater Canal Company is not permitting any private marinas on the canal. They do have 4 or 5 possible marina sites, but do not intend developing them all at the same time. They will build a marina and see what demand for moorings there is, then look at a second site and so on. Ownership Ownership of the canal has been transferred from the Manchester Ship Canal Company (51% owned by Peel Group) to Bridgewater Canal Company Limited (100% owned by Peel Group). When Peel Group sold 49% of Peel Ports (to which the Manchester Ship Canal Company belongs) to a third party, the Bridgewater canal was excluded from the sale, hence the need to change the ownership to a new Company— the Bridgewater Canal Company Limited. The powers are the same as before with the full ownership retained by the Peel Group as before. There were no negative comments from any parties present at the meeting. I consulted with IWA at National Level and they came back with no concerns as ownership will remain with Peel Group. Licences 1023 were issued during 2009, 962 were issued to the end of September 2010. Mooring 400 Permits were issued Stretford Marina has 6 births vacant for small boats. Edgerton Moorings (near Castlefields) will reopen soon, as the developer has delayed the completion of the site due to the economic situation. A revised planning application for the Edge Lane site in Stretford has been submitted. Other matters Worsley Delph ochre removal is the responsibility of Salford Council who are seeking funding; after this has been completed the ochre in the canal can be looked at. There are problems with the proposed picnic area at Lymm, an alternative site at George Cleaves bridge is being investigated. Barton Aqueduct is planned for a winter closure. New mooring rings are to be installed at the Old Number 3 The increase in bikes on the canal path is causing a problem, with a few cyclists speeding excessively on some stretches. A solution is being investigated. The 250th Anniversary of the Bridgewater Canal is next year. The Friends of the Bridgewater Canal (Sale) will be putting on a exhibition in Sale.

Mike Sumner


Five railway viaducts cross the River Weaver Navigation but only three lines of rails. In

order to meet the requirements of the Weaver Navigation Trustees who demanded that

the clearance between river and railway should be at least 61 feet, four of the viaducts

had to be expensively constructed using high embankments and multiple arches. The

fifth leaps across the river where it passes through a gorge below Vale Royal Locks.

Cheshire‟s first railways were the horse-drawn tramways. Like the Helsby Quarry

Tramway which from the early 1800‟s ran from Helsby Hill down to the River Mersey

at Ince, they served the mines and quarries in their areas. By 1820 there were extensive

plans for regional and national networks of horse-drawn lines. None of them crossed

the Weaver.

In 1830 the world‟s first passenger steam railway opened between Liverpool and

Manchester, passing through Newton le Willows on the way. Soon the railway system

was heading south towards the Weaver with the construction of the line from Newton le Willows to Warrington. Next came the Grand Junction Railway which was planned

to run from Warrington to Birmingham. It was authorized in 1833 and opened in July

1837. With its opening came the first two rail crossings of the Weaver, Dutton Viaduct

and Vale Royal Viaduct. In 1847 the Grand Junction became part of the London and

North Western Railway, later the London, Midland and Scottish (the LMS) and then

British Rail. It is now part of Network Rail‟s west coast main line.

The third and fourth rail crossings of the Weaver were built to carry the Birkenhead,

Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway. On the 18th December 1850 the Chester and

Warrington Junction section of this railway was opened and with it two viaducts at

Frodsham. The westerly viaduct crossed the River Weaver itself whilst the viaduct to

the east crossed the Weston Canal which had been opened in 1810 from the Weaver

Vale Royal Viaduct

RAILWAY CROSSINGS OF THE WEAVER NAVIGATION

by Ron Evans

Dutton Viaduct


above Frodsham Lock to the deep water of the River Mersey at Weston Point. The

purpose of the canal was to avoid the delays to Mersey and Weaver flats which

occurred on the Weaver below Frodsham lock at neap tides when sandbanks were a

hindrance to navigation The opening of the canal enabled the flats to do 25% more trade

in a given period.

The Frodsham viaducts had been in use for only four months or so when on 30 th April

1851 a tragic accident occurred less than a mile to the east in Frodsham Tunnel. The

accident started with the breakdown in the tunnel of a train carrying home to Manchester

racegoers from a day at the races in Chester. Before the alarm could be raised, a second

train came along and crashed into the back of the first one. Then along came a third train

which crashed into the back of the second. In total nine people died as a result of the

accident, five at the scene and four later.

Weaver Viaduct which crosses the river just below Hunt‟s Lock south of Northwich town

centre was the last of the Weaver‟s five railway crossings to be built. It forms part of

what was originally called the West Cheshire Railway and connects Northwich with

Helsby. The railway was opened in 1869 for goods traffic and in1870 for passengers.

Frodsham Viaduct West Frodsham Viaduct East

Weaver Viaduct


BW CUSTOMER FORUM 21 OCTOBER 2010

At each BW Customer Forum waterway users are invited to ask

questions with a guaranteed answer. I reproduce below some of the

questions and answers referring to problems in our Branch area.

Q. Lack of waste facilities near Middlewich towpath—small section

sinking and very muddy in Middlewich near to Wardle Lock

between first two bridges.

A. BW agrees there is some work to do on improving the length of

towpath referred to and are now looking at options to have this

section upgraded. Need more detail on lack of waste facilities.

Q. Narrowboats appear to be abusing moorings by 1) carrying out

extensive refurbishment work, 2) moving a short distance before

returning to start the cycle again. Unfair to anglers who are

denied access to some lengths e.g. at Henhull and to genuine

boaters.

A. Boaters are permitted to undertake works to their boats but must

not breach any of their licence terms and conditions e.g. noise,

nuisance and obstruction. Email details to

[email protected]. (01452 318059). If you

have examples in relation to angling access contact

[email protected], the National Angling Manager.

Q. Do cyclists have open, unrestricted access to towpaths and if so is

there any stipulation that they dismount or ring a bell when

approaching anglers? Their silent approach can lead to broken

tackle.

A. BW is experiencing difficulties with the increased use of our

towpaths by cyclists all across the country and a national review

on the subject has been instigated. We have attempted to educate

our cycling friends but will never be in a position to fully prevent

nor police this matter. BW has recently met with the waterway

users‟ special interest group to review the waterway code with

particular reference to cyclists with a number of proposals put

forward. Any amendments will be updated onto Waterscape; if

you do have any particular problems please do not hesitate to bring

them to our attention.


Q. Northwich Visitor Moorings. Any progress since April in

increasing the mooring space available?

A. The site that has now been made available after the removal of the

Floatel is a development area as part of the regeneration of

Northwich. It is anticipated there will be additional mooring space

available as a part of this development. We will consult with local

users to obtain their views on any proposals for the moorings/

facilities. In the meantime there are no short term plans to increase

the mooring space.

Q. Vale Royal Barge Lock. When do you expect the bridge over it to

be serviceable so that it can be swung and the lock used? Why not

use the existing lock gates as a means of crossing the lock rather

than build a special temporary bridge as is proposed?

A. Engineering inspections confirm the condition of the existing

bridge to be in very poor condition. As you are probably aware it

has now been closed to vehicles and is not operable. We are still

hopeful that we can install a temporary bridge crossing below the

bottom gates to enable us to keep the route open to pedestrian

traffic within this financial year. It is not an option to use the

existing lock gate walkways as we are obligated to provide a

wider access across the lock side.

Q. Now that the land below Vale Royal Lock has been returned to the

local angling club there is a problem if more than 2 or 3 boats

have to wait for the timed opening of the lock as there is nowhere

to go. Is there any reason the gates cannot be opened before time

and boats moored in the lock? When will the bottom paddle be

repaired?

A. As we are attempting to get the small lock operational again

imminently there is not a great deal of benefit in changing the

process now that the season is at an end. Hopefully we should be

able to give passage on demand once more in the coming season

so this particular problem should be removed.

The editor is pleased to receive contributions to the newsletter from any of our readers. Please

contact [email protected] or ring 0151 608 6487 or 07850 278719. Photographs are

particularly welcome. It should be noted that the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IWA.

They are published as being of interest to our members and readers. The IWA is a registered


LIVERPOOL BOAT SHOW at the Albert Dock, Liverpool

THIS PROMISES TO BE A SHOW LIKE NO

OTHER!!

29 April—8 May 2011

10.30 am—8.30 pm

Features include visit from the tall ships,

historic boats, steam boats, wake boarding,

power boat racing, water skiing championships,

sailing regattas, cultural and family activities

and MUCH MORE!

Special ticket offer for IWA members when

they quote IWA20

E-MAIL—[email protected] or

call 0844 809 4620 for tickets and your

Liverpool One discount card!

www.liverpoolboatshow.co.uk


Image of proposed bridge provided by Chris Taylor, DTW, Guisborough

RUNCORN LOCKS RESTORATION SOCIETY

LATEST NEWS

The Government spending review announcement on Mersey Gateway boosts

restoration hopes.

The society was delighted that there was a positive announcement about the Coalition

Government„s backing for the Mersey Gateway in the Chancellor‟s recent statement to

the House of Commons. The new crossing and eventual “de linking” of the existing

Silver Jubilee Bridge from the motorway feeder roads are an essential first step in any

restoration scheme.

There is still a long way to go before a full restoration takes place and many millions of

pounds will be required from the private sector to complete the Mersey Gateway

project; similarly funding for the locks restoration needs to be secured but this

announcement keeps the hopes and aspirations of our small Society alive.

We look forward to hearing the more detailed plans for the work in the next few weeks

and expect to continue with our discussions with the development team at Halton

Borough Council who continue to offer support to our eventual aims.

Graeme Bridge

Chairman R.L.R.S.

[email protected]

01925491743


CHESTER & DISTRICT BRANCH CALENDAR

JANUARY-MAY 2011

All meetings are held at 7.45 pm on the second Tuesday of the

month in the Tom Rolt Conference Centre at the Ellesmere Port

Boat Museum

11 January

‘A Look Backward and Forward’

Clive Henderson, National Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association

8 February

‘My Life of Bolinders and Sinking Assets’ Part II

Alan Jones, Boat Museum Society

8 March

‘A Day in the Life of a British Waterways Manager’

Wendy Capelle, Waterway Manager North Wales & Border Counties

followed by Branch Annual General Meeting

12 April

‘Barton’s Bridges Falling Down’

Glen Atkinson. The saga of how each of the 7 bridges built there between 1670

and 1960 fell down during building

10 May

‘Taylor’s Boat Yard, Chester’

Geoff Taylor. Geoff keeps his promise to come back with more fascinating stories

and history of this famous boatyard.

28 January, 25 February, 25 March, 22 April, 27 May

Branch waterway walks—details on Page 12

the chester packet

Documents