And we have news of our complaint!

 Saturday 26th

 Pushed FS's bow out without a backward glance. No need, you see, what with that tree down and this email from C&RT last night.

Unfortunately, our contractors have been unable to clear the tree tonight due to the size of the job.They will be on site tomorrow morning at 9am, to complete this task.We thank our customers for their patience during this time.

So Stenson lock, first broad lock in 3 months, would be ours for the taking.  

Jim took the lead and once more the sun was being a bit of a B. Blooming cold too; I needed woolly hat and scarf but how to stop the glare from the sun? Couldn't place my Jessie hat on top (Australian bush hat which I called Jessie after the cowgirl in Toy Story). But then a sudden brainwave, put on my hoody jumper and Jessie could be squeezed over that. Not a pretty sight and I probably looked ridicules but then again, when needs must...  

 Within 30 minutes Stenson came into view.

 

Jim chose to wait on the landing while I, on the other hand, decided to hold out. Bad move! Breezy conditions (not quite as bad as yesterday) and I fought to keep FS in the middle. Why was the lock taking forever to fill? Began to wish I had followed Jim onto the landing and was about to admit defeat when the gates swung open, phew!

Both boats safely in and Jenn was about to lift the bottom paddle when a shout from Ian, who was trying to close the top gates, telling her to stop. Something was wedged and the gates refused to close. Pole in hand Ian attempted to remove the object and I'm sure I didn't help matters when I picked up the camera and mentioned I was ready for when he fell in!

 

inde

Stenson bottom gate....now what can I say about that. For as long as I can remember the left-hand gate on the descent (right if coming into the lock to ascend) refuses to fully open. Many years ago I was wedged solid because of this problem. Fancy a read? click here. Will this lock ever have new gates fitted?

b

Still more evidence of the high winds yesterday.

Having had a towpath discussion with Jim and Jenn before setting off this morning, the plan was to get below Swarkestone lock and find somewhere to stop to see the weekend out.

On exit what should we see by the landing? A sunken boat. Not obvious at all from the lock, in fact I thought it to be coping stone damage.  Soon found out though when I nearly ran into it trying to pick Ian up!

Would you have identified this as a sunken boat?

Found a lovely rural mooring not far from Stenson. Great place to fish and plenty was had. Only downside was a slight noise from the A50 and the loads of cyclists speeding along the towpath!

 And what of my heading? In one of this month's posts I mentioned the email we would write complaining about the state of our waterways. Well last night Ian got a reply. First the letter of complaint.

Dear Mr Saif
I am writing this letter to complain about the poor state of the vegetation on the Coventry, Birmingham & Fazeley, North Oxford and Ashby canals. As a boater I have spent some time this year travelling in this region of the canal system and am dismayed to see the parlous state that these canals have been allowed to descend too. When C&RT took over the maintenance of the inland waterways in 2012, the vegetation problems that had blighted the waterways for years, had been resolved with the 2005 “veg pledge” agreed by BW. Since then you have successfully   managed to relapse the state of vegetation on the canals by decades in the space of 8 years.
Along the previously mentioned canals there are a multitude of instances where it is impossible to see oncoming vessels or indeed the outline of approaching canal structures such as bridges. These obstructions are caused by trees being allowed to grow in inopportune locations or bushes that have not seen a trimmer for years. On so many left-hand bends, oncoming boats are forced to negotiate the bend on the wrong side which obviously leads to problems. In a lot of cases the “line of sight” problem cannot be appreciated from the towpath and it requires C&RT to take a boat along these sections to appreciate the state of overgrowing vegetation.
 

These are a few examples:-
 

Also noticed on these canals is the number of trees that have branches overhanging the canal and drooping to the point where they are now an obstruction to navigation. These are on both the offside and the towpath side. There is no excuse for this problem not being resolved as C&RT personnel should be regularly patrolling the length of the towpath to check on boat licences and should therefore be reporting problems when they see them. On the subject of obstructions to navigation, the Coventry / Birmingham Fazeley canals have several areas of reeds that have spread to over half the width of the canal, presenting  another hindrance to boating, and prevent two-way passage by boats.
 

Again, these are but a few examples of the trees and reeds:-
  

 

Another worry concern is the number of, what appear to be, beech saplings being allowed to grow on the water’s edge of the towpath side. These should never be allowed to remain as they will eventually mature in to full-grown trees were the roots will damage the structure of the canal thereby costing C&RT valuable resources, whereas prompt action with a strimmer would remove the problem completely. Again, if not removed they will become another hindrance to navigation and to other towpath users. These are very prevalent on the section of canal between Fazeley and Fradley.

This is what has happened on the North Oxford near Stretton and highlights the problems of trees allowed to grow at the water’s edge!
 

On the Coventry canal on the section between Bridges 18 & 19, on the outskirts of Nuneaton, there is a tree that fell earlier in the year. Although some of it has been cleared away, there remains a substantial section still in the navigation. There is a branch, still attached to the base of the tree, that is standing proud of the water in the centre of the canal. This is totally unacceptable and constitutes a major obstruction to navigation. The fact that your contractors painted it in orange does not retract from the fact that it shouldn’t be there. No doubt you will have already paid a contractor to remove the whole tree, but they have not completed the task. Passage is only possible past this branch on one side, and being on a bend means that boats cannot navigate it safely in both directions simultaneously. The warning tape originally attached to the branch has now disappeared making the situation worse.
 

Another point of annoyance is the offside vegetation opposite moorings. The first picture below is a typical boater’s view of the approach to the Rugby moorings, on the North Oxford Canal, from the direction of Hillmorton. This shows the proximity of the trees to the moored boats making it impossible to see oncoming boats on this bend! The second picture is a similar view approaching a popular mooring on the Ashby canal between bridges 6&8.
 

Approaching Rugby from the Newbold direction under bridge 58 has the same problem with offside vegetation obscuring any possibility of seeing oncoming boats. These issues also exists at Hopwas, Stretton and Polesworth visitor moorings.

 It is a totally intolerable situation when C&RT think it is acceptable for boaters to drive their boats through this type of vegetation.  
The photographs supplied are only a small representation of the multiple instances of the neglect encountered within this region.
Your prompt action to resolve these issues would be much appreciated by those that believe your organisation is now guilty of failing to provide the ” duty of care” that the licence paying boaters are entitled to.

Yours
Ian Jameison
ECP&DA (Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association)
Cc: R.Parry

And the reply from Mr Saif

From: Adnan Saif [mailto:Adnan.Saif@canalrivertrust.org.uk] Sent: 25 September 2020 20:08 To: Free Spirit Cc: Richard Parry Subject: Re: Vegetation Complaint Dear Mr Jameison Thank you for the email and the valuable survey you have provided us of problems with vegetation you have encountered along some of the region’s waterways. The past six months, since the lockdown in March and as you have noted, have proved a challenge to keep on top of the usual maintenance regime. However, I can assure you that we are now back in force and dealing with any backlog that might have resulted. I will look into all the problems you have identified, and provide you with a response by the end of next week at the latest. Best wishes Adnan So it does pay to have your say! If more complaints were made by boaters with photographic evidence maybe, just maybe, our waterways will become once more the place to enjoy!