Trust Policies

Supporters' meetings

Health and safety

23rd October 2007.

Rotherham resume Partnership role

After almost three years without member representation at the Canal Partnership Executive meetings, Councillor Jenni Whysall from Wales ward, has joined the board. Jenni is a resident of Kiveton Park, the chair of the Rother Valley South Area Assembly, a member of the Planning Board and the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel. A long-time supporter of the canal’s restoration, Jenni is also keen to examine the potential of the Rother Valley Link. We welcome Rotherham’s return to participation, and hope that Jenni will also accept the rotating role of deputy chair of the partnership, Rotherham being next in line for chairing the meetings.

John Varley canal surveyor and engineer c1740 - 1809

With the motivation of 200th anniversary of Varley’s death and burial in Harthill All Saints graveyard on February 16th 1809, we have resurrected (for at least the third time!) the opportunity to commemorate his life. He has no marked grave at All Saints, so we are taking advice, with the help of Douglas Darlington, churchwarden, to find out how best we can do this. It is most unlikely that any plaque can be affixed to the interior of the grade 1 listed church, so we have been advised that the Old School House, next to the church, now a public meeting room, would be appropriate. This is passed by a frequently used public right of way, so will be very visible, and the school may have been attended by Varley’s children.

Varley lived in Pennyholme, a house now demolished, beside the eastern portal of Norwood Tunnel for about forty years. Permissions must be gained from the church authorities for the plaque to be fixed to their property, and Mr Darlington is putting our application to the Parochial Church Council. No doubt we shall be asking members to contribute to the cost of this at a later date, and hope for a good response. To my knowledge there is no existing public acknowledgement of John Varley’s contribution to the world of canal construction. Thanks to Christine Richardson for providing the historical details.

Illegal dumping above the Norwood Tunnel

Local residents in Kiveton Park are up in arms about the alleged illegal dumping of waste, including asbestos, on Tommy Flockton’s field above the eastern end of the Norwood Tunnel. The shallowness of the tunnel here has caused us to have some alarm about the potential for damage of the tunnel, which is in good condition almost up to Hard Lane, and we have written to BW expressing our concerns. It seems that, unbeknown to us, the tunnel was opened and inspected earlier this year, although we have received no report of its condition from BW. Rotherham Council and the Environment Agency have been informed by local residents of the dumping.

Chairman joins Rotherham’s Tourism Panel

Our chairman has accepted an invitation to join Rotherham’s Tourism Panel. We were concerned with Rotherham’s failure to promote the canal in their 2007 Attractions Guide and wish to help the borough bring the canal’s multi-user year - round free facility to a wider audience of both visitors and local residents. With one of the main problems - car access to the canal in Rotherham - now solved by the car parking available in the new angling facility off Hard Lane in Kiveton Park, visitor numbers should increase.

Thanks to Kiveton Park Steel

A big thank you to KPS who, through their managing director Bill Collington did a massive tidy up of their land and the approach road alongside the canal by Kiveton Park station for us to use as an assembly point for October 13th’s event.

Bassetlaw Fact Book 2007-08

The arrival of this is always welcome. In one concise A5 publication there is everything you could wish to know about the council - so much easier than being endlessly transferred around different town hall phone extensions or trawling through unfathomable websites! Why don’t all councils do this?

Doncaster’s Waterfront Renaissance

In Mexborough! A new shopping and apartment complex is likely to rise alongside the setting of the of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. Hitherto an unlikely location for such a development in what was previously industrial and mining heartland, the developers have grasped the potential of the waterside site with its views over ‘rolling countryside’. The 43 flat scheme will be made up of four blocks of between four and five storeys, with four two-storey ‘living and work’ units and three offices. The allocation includes affordable housing and office space. Access to ‘spectacular roof terraces’ will apply to some flats. Work on site clearance is hoped to begin this summer.

Wales Parish Plan

The plan was launched on May 1st at a formal event in the Festival Hall in the village. The late deputy mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Paddy Burke formally launched the plan, and mentioned the canal in his address. The event was attended by CCT planning officer Edwin Tomlinson, who had played a role in the plan’s development through his membership of the Community Development Trust. About 120 people attended the event, and much interest was shown in the canal exhibition. The Parish Plan is strongly supportive of the canal’s restoration.

Retford Heritage Trail

A new edition of this excellent leaflet has been produced by the Retford Civic Society, with help from Bassetlaw District Council and Alliance SSP. The trail explores the historic centre of Retford and includes a section of the Chesterfield Canal. Copies may be had from the Retford Tourist Information Centre in Grove Street. (Tel 01777 708724)

IWAC now

In a breathtaking new re-branding, IWAAC has become IWAC. The A for Amenity has been dropped and the quango now becomes simply the Inland Waterways Advisory Council. This allows the body a wider brief than simply commenting on amenities (which has never actually been the case). IWAAC was most recently responsible for the third review of waterway restoration and development projects, in which the Chesterfield was recognised as a ‘model’ restoration. Interestingly, IWAC has recently commissioned studies at Sheffield Hallam University into unravelling the economic benefits of waterways investments. Funding of the inland waterways is the subject of another study.

Buried lock unearthed

In a tribute to ever-changing fashions, and perhaps serving as a warning to those who too quickly write off canals, lock 3 on the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal has emerged into the light of day once again. Infilled and buried in the canal’s earlier demise, it has been unearthed prior to restoration of the canal in Salford. The restored canal will form the central feature in a showpiece development for the city.

Protecting waterside facilities

Recently we have seen boatyards closing with indecent haste as developers snatch up the lucrative waterside sites for housing and other developments. In London a recent survey has recommended protection for fourteen boatyards in order to prevent the loss of further vital facilities. Potential for freight traffic to return on the larger canals and rivers, including the Thames, has been severely compromised in recent years by the closure of wharves for redevelopment.

Freight to return to Birmingham’s canals?

A joint study is being carried out between British Waterways and West Midlands Freight Quality Partnerships to see if lock-free sections of the Birmingham canals can once again be used for freight. The study is driven by ever-increasing congestion on the local roads, and unpredictable journey times. Businesses based within 1km of the target waterways are being surveyed, and all of the local authorities are represented on the working group.

New marina for tiny canal

The popular, pretty but isolated Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, much shorter than the Chesterfield, is to have a new 60 berth marina to satisfy local demand. With demand for moorings at an all-time high on the Chesterfield, and new marinas springing up across the country, can we look forward to one on our canal soon? As a lightly used canal, would it not make sense for British Waterways to target marina developments to canals like the Chesterfield where there is still room for a few boats to move, rather than at sites on already crowded navigations?

Oxford City Council does U turn on canal

In a dramatic change of heart, Oxford Council has now included the reinstatement of the former canal terminus in its development plans. Following a strong local campaign, the canal basin will now be a centrepiece for a mixed use development.

Licence evasion

It’s not just tv owners who need a licence! Boats now working through the locks on the river Trent will be refused passage if they don’t display a current licence. Miscreants will either have to tie up and abandon their journey or complete an application form if hey want to proceed.

During 2006 134 boat owners nationally had their boats seized by BW for non-payment, and the annual survey in November 2006 revealed that 7.1% of boats were still unlicenced.

Now the ‘rocking horse’ lock!

Two massive 35metre high horse’s heads - mythical ‘kelpies’, will rock slowly to and fro, displacing water from underground chambers to fill lock chambers! This latest landmark waterways feature will figure at the entrance lock into the restored terminus of the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow. The kelpies are part of a £25 million water-based regeneration of the area.

Model for Norwood Tunnel?

A dramatic solution has been devised by consultants WS Atkins to solve the problem created by the long-collapsed Lapal Tunnel in Birmingham - go over the top! In a scenario which may be echoed by consultants engaged for our own Norwood Tunnel engineering study, restoring the original tunnel has proved more costly than building a flight of locks to the summit.

Towpath Code of Conduct for all users

This useful one page document has been drawn up by BW and Transport for London and is available on http://www.waterscape.com/Regent’s Canal/introduction/extra.64

Anyone interested without the technology to access the above can get a hard copy from CCT chairman by sending a stamped addressed envelope.

10th May 2007.

Death of Norma Swan

I have been informed of the sad news that Norma Swan, Landlady at the Mill Pub at Brimington passed away at Easter. I have phoned them up personally and passed on my own condolences and on behalf of the trust. (MH)

Death of Phil Fain

We were saddened to hear of the recent death of Phil Fain, who died in February of a heart attack while bringing his boat back to his mooring at Tinsley. Phil, only in his late 50s, and had been an active member of the Barnsley Canal Group. He was a planner who spent most of his professional career with Rotherham MBC. CCT chairman says "Phil was a great enthusiast for the waterways, with a sharp strategic view, informed by his years as a planner, of the best way forward for restoration projects such as our own. He was also a practical man, always at ease in the engine compartment, or tinkering with his collection of classic (and not so classic!) cars. I shall always treasure the week I spent with him on his boat last August, when, typical of Phil, rather than taking the direct route, he plunged into the backwaters of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, (something of an ‘African Queen’ voyage!), the journey punctuated with Phil engaging in his direct and friendly manner with locals on the towpath. Phil was equally at ease with strangers as well as friends, and was always good company, but you had to run to keep up with him!"

He will be missed by all who knew him. (KA)

Killamarsh Station Closes again!

The antiques etc business which has been run from the former Killamarsh Station for many years was recently noted to be closing down. Hope someone will put the interesting buildings to a suitable use and not simply pull them down to build yet more houses. DB (Is this the only remaining Great Central railway station still standing locally – it would form a great asset as part of the Trans-Pennine Trail and canal, Killamarsh could do with a "Tapton Lock"– ED)

Waste Recycling Environmental

June 2007 is the month which will determine whether the final piece in the funding jigsaw for the Renishaw Foundry Length Restoration will be put in place. The Canal Trust has submitted an application to Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN) under the Landfill Communities Fund, formerly Landfill Tax Credits, for £50 000 to fund the delivery of footbridge 18b. The bridge will allow access, including for the disabled, to the restored Canal and adjoining children’s play area from the recent housing development. Several funding bodies have already contributed to the scheme but the WREN decision is crucial as a successful bid will ensure the whole of the envisaged restoration project will be completed. The Landfill Communities Fund requires a Third Party Funder to provide11% of the amount applied for and North East Derbyshire District Council has agreed to undertake this role. (DT)

Free To A Good Home

I am spring cleaning my study and I wondered if anyone would be interested in back issues of Cuckoo magazine from Autumn 1996 to date.　 May be of interest to a newer member.

Robert Kenworthy, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, Tel:　01246 274889, e-mail: kenworthyrna@aol.com

Another New Dawn

No ! not a replica wooden boat but a new caravan! The old caravan used by the restoration work party has been replaced after many years of service. Originally donated by Jim Walker, it had reached the end of the road. The roof leaked, the floor was made of gravel and there was only one gas ring working. Watching Ron juggle boiling kettles on one ring was like watching a form of theatrical art. The new caravan obtained at a knock down price from Robinsons Caravans of Brimington is a great improvement. It has no leaks, a six seater dining table and THREE gas rings plus an oven and an eye level grill. So if you pop down to the canal one Sunday morning and ask for a baked potato or a bacon and tomato sandwich, I am sure that Ron will oblige. He will probably suggest that you go to Morrison's restaurant, (in the nicest possible terms of course ). (Tony Winfrow)

East Midlands Towpaths Spotless After Spring Clean

The East Midlands rivers and canals are looking their best after British Waterways staff and more than 40 volunteers recently joined forces to spring clean the River Trent, Chesterfield Canal and Erewash Canal. In just two days over 8km of towpath in Nottingham, Long Eaton, Ilkeston and Retford was cleared. In total almost 7 tonnes of rubbish was removed providing a more attractive place for the many walkers, cyclists, anglers and boaters that use the region’s towpaths each day. The effort will also benefit the wildlife that can be found by the water.

The Towpath Tidy events were in response to a call from British Waterways for the community to help look after their local waterway. The rubbish found was mainly small items, particularly cans, bottles and food packaging. More unusual items included a vacuum cleaner and a rather rusty toaster. On the Chesterfield, volunteers from Retford Lions club, Retford Civic Society, Retford Boat Club as well as local residents all gave their time to help. (BW)

Wales Parish Plan

We have recently received a copy of Wales Parish Plan. We congratulate the council on an excellently-presented document which sets out a vision of what the community would hope to achieve for its residents in the Kiveton Park, Wales and Wales Bar area. The document outlines ten themes ranging from Community Facilities to Advice Provision, and includes one theme on the Chesterfield Canal. Local residents have always been strongly in favour of the canal’s restoration, and their continued commitment towards this end is articulated in the Plan. Our own Edwin Tomlinson has been instrumental in contributing to the plan. With the £80k Kiveton Park - Killamarsh Engineering study now underway, a good beginning has been made in ensuring that Wales’ residents aspirations will soon be met. A copy of the plan can be viewed in the local library. Parishioners are urged to ensure that the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal remains on the local authority’s agenda.

Rotherham Council plans 1166 houses for Kiveton Park

Rotherham’s Local Development Framework Core Strategy Preferred Options document identifies potential housing land available at June 2006 as allowing for the possibility of 1166 new houses to be built at Kiveton Park, with 662 on Greenfield Sites. With the exception of Rotherham main Urban Area and Dinnington, this represents the largest allocation of new housing in the borough.

Rotherham Council in the past has steadfastly refused to countenance even minor developments for boaters and local people within the former Kiveton Park colliery site, arguing that it is allocated as greenfield. Although Rotherham consider the housing ‘a longer term proposition’ we hope that their more flexible attitude towards greenfield development may include the former colliery site.

Elsewhere in the document we hope that the council’s commitment that ‘Additional retail, leisure and service facilities will be provided at a scale commensurate with need ...’ will include the development of Rotherham’s town centre waterfront into a vibrant leisure destination, with similar appropriate waterside development supported at Kiveton Park.

Retford and Worksop Boat Club Annual Dinner

CCT chairman Keith Ayling was invited as Guest Speaker to the RWBC annual dinner dance at the West Retford Hotel on March 17th. Bravely developing the theme (albeit a little tongue in cheek!) that ‘Canal restoration has become less and less to do with boats and boating’, Keith described some of the complex range of considerations (and pressure groups) that need to be taken into account when restoring canals. Following his address, Keith presented the club’s annual awards. It was a most enjoyable evening, very well attended, and the requirement for formal dress allowed a rare opportunity to put on best bib and tucker! (Many years ago the Canal Society had an annual formal dinner, but this lapsed due to lack of support - pity). The Boat Club is to be congratulated on organising such an excellent event.

A heartening outcome was the general determination to work more closely together in the future on common causes, as both organisations have the same aims in mind. It was of course the RWBC who averted the closure of the entire canal in the 1960s, rescuing the section from the Trent to Worksop from abandonment, the platform that allowed the former Canal Society to continue the restoration work, a task that continues. We hope continued co-operation of these two proud organisations can hasten the time when the entire canal is once again available for navigation.

RWBC’s new website is at www.rwbc.org.uk

Boat trips into Sapperton Tunnel

The Cotswold Canal Trust’s long-established boat trips into Sapperton Tunnel will continue during 2007 following discussions with the resident bats (represented by English Nature). With this October being the 100th anniversary of the collapse of our own Norwood Tunnel, we are hoping that British Waterways will allow us access to the eastern portal, presently bricked up, which would allow several hundred yards of exploration before the collapse is reached. Second best would be a viewing of the video BW took when they last inspected the interior.

Next Years National Campaign Festivals

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) announced that the 2008 National Trailboat Festival will be held over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend of 24th and 25th May 2008 on the Grand Western Canal in Devon.

The 2008 IWA National Campaign Rally will be held on the Montgomery Canal between 30th August and 7th September 2008.　 The week-long event will be entitled Monty 08 and is being jointly organised by IWA’s Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch, the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and Shropshire Union Canal Society.

Grantham award

The East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), has confirmed a £350,000 grant to re-open a 3km un-navigable stretch of the canal in time for IWA’s 2007 National Trailboat Festival, which is being held from 26th to 28th May towards the eastern end of the canal at Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir. The grant will be used to fully re-open the canal between Woolsthorpe and the A1 near Grantham.

Wilts and Berks Canal

A £500k traffic survey commissioned by Swindon Borough Council, funded from central government, is studying the feasibility of restoring the Wilts and Berks Canal through Swindon as part of the traffic options. This would mean closing some of the existing roads to enable the canal to be largely restored along its original line, for the construction of a marina in Swindon, and for the canal to return once again to the centre of the town.

Aegre time again

The Aegre is a wave which runs up the tidal part of the River Trent, rather like the more famous Severn Bore

• August 30 08.12 Large
• August 31 08.50 Large
• September 1 09.30 Large
• September 28 07.44 Extra large
• September 29 08.25 Extra large
• September 30 09.07 Large
• October 27 07.20 Large
• October 28 07.05 Large

These times are for Gainsborough, but can be up to thirty minutes earlier. Stockwith should be about 20 minutes earlier. Last year I went to Stockwith, where it was a very modest affair, then drove to catch it again at Gainsborough where the effect was much more pronounced. (Taken from IWA magazine Aegre!)

Droitwich Canals final restoration phase begins

One of the canals sharing the IWAAC’s survey’s topspot with the CCT, the Droitwich, has begun the final phase of work which will lead to its complete restoration. Tree clearance work on a heavily overgrown section, west of the M5 crossing, began before Christmas. The short canal links the Birmingham and Worcester with the River Severn via Droitwich town centre. Although a small amount of funding still has to be found, the final phase has begun with full confidence that the remaining cash will materialise. The canal will bring back boats to Droitwich after a lapse of several decades, and is expected to provide a significant boost to local tourism. Restoration will be completed during 2009.

Waterway Recovery Group

Once again the WRG provides a full nationwide range of canal restoration opportunities (including one on the Chesterfield) for volunteers for 2007. For details of the year’s programme and booking form, phone 01923 711114 or see www.wrg.org.uk

The Waterways Trust Appeal

TWT continues its campaign to make entry to the National Waterway Museums at Gloucester, Ellesmere Port and Stoke Bruerne free of charge, thus bringing them into line with other national museums. You can support the ‘Free Entry for All’ campaign by signing the petition in person at any of the museums, or online at http://www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk/projects/museumfunding2.shtml

Boat missing

A hire boat below has been stolen. It was hired on 9th March and not returned. The boat name is Holly, she is a 47 foot trad with a cratch at the front, predominately green in colour with a red and white border. Any information, please telephone Middlewich Narrowboats on 01606 832460 or alternatively Cheshire Police on 01606 480000 quoting incident number 421 dated 24.3.07.

1st March 2007.

Canal facility lost

Another canal facility lost - the site of the demolished Riverside Inn in central Worksop.

The inn is being replaced by a two storey car park to serve the Priory Shopping Centre, which will form a barrier between the town and the canal.

Another reason for boaters not to stop in Worksop?

Bassetlaw planning decision fails to promote canal - a lost opportunity

February 17, 2007

In a dramatic reversal of Bassetlaw Council’s policy to promote and develop the Chesterfield Canal, Bassetlaw’s Planning Committee has agreed to marginalise the canal by hiding it behind the proposed car park in a revamped Priory Centre in the heart of Worksop. The canal, which is on the north side of this key town centre site, was previously promoted by the council as forming a major strand in Worksop Renaissance, (the Town Centre Masterplan). From potentially being the focus of this new development, it is now sadly consigned to become little more than a hidden ditch overlooked by a car park. The proposals agreed make the canal no more than a largely hidden site boundary, rather than utilising the waterspace boldly to fully realise the economic, social and recreational gains that the canal could offer.

Everywhere else in the country, developers are taking advantage of the waterside to create townscapes that maximise the potential given by canals, rivers and lakes to create attractive living and working environments. Locally, Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, and Nottingham for instance have transformed their canal corridors into vibrant, modern and exciting places. More locally still, a multi - million development is planned around newly-created waterspace in Chesterfield to create a 21st century terminus for our own canal. Clearly the developers and the planning committee in Bassetlaw are thirty years behind the times.These proposals repeat the errors of the 1960s and 70s by not recognising and capitalising on one of the town’s most exciting assets. This scheme fails completely to utilise the opportunities the canal provides for transforming a crucial site in central Worksop to something imaginative and distinctive. It is sad to see the council fall at the first hurdle in pursuing their policy to promote the Chesterfield Canal.

Bassetlaw’s own policy 6/13 in the Local Plan says ‘...that planning permission will only be granted for development that would not adversely affect the character, setting and recreational role of the Chesterfield Canal’.

This decision goes against all three of the council’s own criteria - the character, setting and recreational role of the canal will all be severely compromised. Officers informed the planning committee that the proposal was contrary to their own policy and would conflict with the objectives of the Local Plan, but nevertheless they went on to act contrary to their officers’ advice, and approved the development.

With Bassetlaw Council failing to adhere to its own policy, it seems that the many friends of the Chesterfield Canal in Bassetlaw have been badly let down. We had hoped that, with the formation of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership, of which Bassetlaw Council are members, such damaging and unimaginative decisions would be a thing of the past.

The Chesterfield Canal Partnership opposed the development. Meanwhile the Trust’s Planning Officer, Edwin Tomlinson, is trying to salvage something of this lost opportunity for the canal.

Keith Ayling.

BW safety backlog eliminated

Years of under-funding led to a massive backlog of maintenance on our waterways, which in turn led to long-term stoppages that severely restricted ‘out-of-season’ boating. These serious structural engineering problems amounted to about £90m of work. More generous government funding, added to BW’s pro-active approach in securing additional funding, has meant that the safety backlog was finally eliminated in March 2004.

However there still remains about £160m of statutory arrears of maintenance to be completed. It is hoped that, if funding continues at the present rate, these will be eliminated by 2012. Recent cutbacks in funding from DEFRA amounting to £2.5m in grant aid for 2003/04 however are not helpful, may result in up to 200 job cuts nationally.

Yangtze - size matters!

The new locks on the Yangtze river are large enough to accommodate 240 sixty-foot narrowboats. The queues must be enormous!

New canal for Daventry?

Discussions are afoot to build an entirely new three-mile canal from the Grand Union summit level to Daventry town centre, where it would form the centrepiece of a proposed leisure development. Rumours that a national DIY firm have expressed an interest in putting one of their sheds next to the development can be discounted. This link was proposed as far back as 1793 but never constructed. The new Canal Age may see this remedied.

Bingley five-rise stand the test of time

The first major engineering works since 1773 on this massive structure (on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal) took place during the winter. Even after this length of time, little more than grouting and repointing was needed to launch the locks into another two hundred years of service.

BW Newark win regeneration'Oscar'.

Newark's riverside regeneration was joint winner in the annual Waterways Trust Renaissance awards Partnership category. The former semi derelict area, now containing BW's Newark HQ, aas well as other attrctive developments, has significantly enhanced the waterside environment in the Trentside town.

CCT links with Waterscape

We have agreed to cooperate with British Waterway's website waterscape.com to share details about CCT and the Cuckoo Way. David Blackburn is dealing with this.

National Trailboat Festival on the Chesterfield again!!

Following the outstanding success of the Inland Waterways National Trailboat Festival on the Chesterfield in 2002, the IWA has agreed to locate it here again in 2005. We shall be needing A LOT of volunteers for this event if we are aiming to match the success of the last festival. Watch this space in future Cuckoos. Spring Bank Holiday is the favoured date.

Norwood Packet on summit pound

The Norwood Packet made the ten hour journey to the summit pound from its base at Ranby on 23 April to provide a taste of boat travel on the recently-restored summit in Rotherham for members of the Canal Partnership after their meeting at Harthill. The boat travelled from Dog Kennel Bridge to the tunnel entrance in glorious sunshine. Members were appropriately impressed (and I hope grateful!) for the experience, to which the crew members donated some three days of their time.

The experience reinforced one indisputable fact - from Shireoaks to the tunnel we have a section of canal second to none in the country! And the rest isn't bad either!

Walks packs nearly ready.....

The final chapter in the longest-running saga in the history of the Chesterfield Canal may finally come to an end soon ...even as I write! Priced at £1.99 this attractive pack of circular walks leaflets in Notts, Rotherham and Derbyshire should be available by the time you read this. I know you've heard this before (many times). Trust me. This time it WILL HAPPEN.

Tapton Lock
visitor centre

CCT agrees new statement of intent

In an attempt to raise the profile of the proposed Rother Valley Link, the trustees have agreed the following wording for future publications.

"The Chesterfield Canal Trust is a charitable company run entirely by volunteers, incorporated in July 1997. In 1998 it took over the assets of the former Chesterfield Canal Society (founded 1976). The aims of the Trust are to promote the full restoration and appropriate development of the Chesterfield Canal, and to campaign for the construction of the Rother Valley Link, a navigable waterway to join the Chesterfield Canal to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation."

We welcome comments on this. Please send any to the chairman.

Ecological Scoping Study

This is now published by the Halcrow Group after considerable revision, including writing it in comprehensible English. As expected, ecological concerns make the navigation of the River Rother a no -go area, but alternatives can be explored which do not rule out the possibility of a Rother Valley Link to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. This will involve further studies to explore mitigation measures which could include some combination of in-channel navigation and creation of new bypass channels. Further detailed ecological studies will enable the design and implementation of ecological protection, enhancement and (where necessary) mitigation/compensation during development and long-term management.

The next step is to find funding for these studies. Where this stands in the ranking of priorities is not yet confirmed.

CCT has a copy of this study, which can be loaned from the chairman on receipt of £2.50 in postage stamps, and the promise of a prompt return.

Killamarsh study

We should be in possession of another missing piece of the restoration puzzle by the end of the summer. For long we have agonised over the 'Passage of Killamarsh' and consultants Babtie have been engaged by the Partnership to recommend a route to be agreed by the Partnership and protected. Residents at a recent meeting in Killamarsh made clear their preference for as much of the canal actually in the village to be restored.

With the possibility of funding for a similar study hinted at from the Rother Valley Country Park to the eastern portal of Norwood Tunnel, the jigsaw would be complete. We would then be in possession of the information needed to bid for funds to do the complete restoration.

How long do lock gates last?

Quite a long time if you don't keep bumping your boat into them and they're properly maintained! The claim for the oldest lock gates still in daily use is presntly made for Chadbury Lock on the Lower Avon which were fitted in 1953, and still have several years life in them!

What shall we do with the drunken sailor??

Following a recent collision where a sea-going boat demolished a wharf ( admittedly a rather laarge boat than we will see on the Chesterfield!) while the skipper was considerably over the limit, consideration is being given to bringing in regulations about drinking and driving a boat. Regulations will be in place for leisure navigators by the 2005 boating season.

Retford Charter Day turns up historic documents

Our presence at major events like the Retford Charter Day on May 3rd can bring unexpected bonuses. Visitors to the sales and exhibion stand volunteered both an early leather-bound publication on the Chesterfield Canal and a collection of early photos of the canal. This complemented an excellent day for sales, a lot of good publicity, and new members recruited. All this and an excellent social day in the sunshine! With having five members at the event, more than usual, not only was the load lessened but it gave CCT reps the chance to tour the rest of the event.

Contact Andy Overton if you would like to discuss helping at similar events over the season.

Turnerwood tea break!

Jo Stevens at 8 Turnerwood has kindly offered walkers the use of her garden for a lunch/tea or rest break. The garden can be accessed from a small gate on the towpath. Please be sure to take your litter home and shut the gate behind you.

West Stockwith Lock benefits from 'Prompt" cement.

Andy Lawson from BW reports the successful use of a new 'natural cement' named Prompt at West Stockwith Lock. Prompt is added to the normal mix at only 10% by volume. The lock at West Stockwith is tidal, and the contractors were able to finish the work without worrying about the immersion of the cement by the rising tide.

Water quality success on the Rother - combined with navigation

Reports by the Environment Agency claim that the section of the Rother between Sheffield and Rotherham are transformed fom one of the most polluted waterays in the country into a well-fished river which supports large populations of chub, roach, bream and even trout. The navigation to Sheffield uses stretches of river interspersed with canal cuts. Presumably a model for our proposed Rother Valley link between Rotherham and Killamarsh?

Rotherham - an inland port?

Early May saw the resumption of large-scale vessels up to Rotherham from Hull when the Humber Energy, operated by John H Whitaker (Tankers)Ltd, docked at Rotherham. The 60 metre barge, carrying the equivalent of twenty lorry loads of base lubricating oils, will help reduce road traffic by the equivalent of 1,000 journeys annually.

Wild over Waterways re-launched for adults and kids

The Wow internet site at www.wow4water.net has been relaunched, with two distinct areas, one for adults and one for children. The section fo children includes over twenty waterways-based games, a message area, information about waterways past and present, personal homepages that show hat other have been doing n the waterways and waterways news and events, written for and aimed at children. The adult section includes a greatly enhanced search facility, with educators having various options for finding lesson materials all based on the National Curriculum. Check the site out yourself!

Bracebridge Pumping Station news

Work has started on this prominent landmark beside the canal at Worksop. Long empty, a Partnership of interested parties, including CCT, was assembled by the Prince's Foundation to ensure the future of the building and an acceptable use for it. However the works currently being undertaken are driven by the site's owner and not the Foundation, who are keeping an eye on things as they progress. The works are in relation to the owner's intention to turn the building into a nursing home, about which he is in discussion with Bassetlaw District Council.