Press Release

The Inland Waterways Association Peterborough Branch

www.iwapeterborough.org.uk

10 April 2007

THE CONTRAST OF CARE AND NEGLECT IN MIDDLE LEVEL NAVIGATIONS

This Press Release and photographs are also available on http://press.iwapeterborough.org.uk in html format.

A campaign cruise organized by the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association has revealed the stark contrast in the standards of maintenance of these fenland waterways between those under the care of the Middle Level Commissioners and those that are the responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA).

The first two days of this year’s Easter cruise took a convoy of boats from Ramsey to Holme in the south-western end of the Middle Level Navigations. On Sunday the 8th April the convoy started from Ramsey Forty Foot to cruise as far as possible to the south-eastern corner of the system.

On the way the boats stopped at Ramsey Hollow Bridge to mark its recently improved headroom, achieved by the efforts of the IWA Peterborough Branch and the Royal Engineers. Boats filled the river in front of the bridge while Branch Chairman, Alastair Chambers, “christened” the bridge, which was raised in December 2006. Fifteen boats passed under the bridge that had been a barrier to most of them until now.

The cruise continued on to Horseway Lock which marks the end of the waterways under the control of the Middle Level Commissioners. The approach to the lock showed signs of recent dredging and new fishing platforms had been installed. Beyond the lock the waterway is under the control of the Environment Agency and presented a very different picture.

The channel between Horseway Lock and Welches Dam Lock has been leaking for years so the water level was low and the channel so filled with reeds that even a canoe had difficulties in navigating this stretch. Even if it had been possible to reach Welches Dam the lock there has been out of commission for about a year and the Environment Agency still has no clear plan to reopen it even though it has a statutory obligation to do so.

The route from Horseway Lock to the tidal doors at Salter’s Lode was once the only route through the Middle Level to the Great Ouse yet it is currently impossible for boats to enter the route from either end. The problems with siltation in the Tidal Ouse [another EA waterway] have made it impossible to form a level with the water in the Old Bedford so that for the past year or so no craft over 19ft 6in in length have been unable to enter the Old Bedford through the Old Bedford Sluice.

It is ironic that the Middle Level Commissioners, who at present charge no fees to boaters, are able to maintain navigation while the EA, which is in the process of raising registration fees on its navigations by 12% a year for three consecutive years, is unable or unwilling even to carry out the minimum level of maintenance that the law requires.

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NOTES for Editors:

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity, founded in 1946, which advocates the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways for public benefit. IWA has over 18,000 members whose interests include boating, towing path walking, industrial archaeology, nature conservation and many other activities associated with the inland waterways. Information provided by 188 corporate members with their own membership structures has revealed that they, in themselves, have a combined membership of at least 59,500 in support of IWA's voice.

IWA works closely with navigation authorities, other waterway bodies, a wide range of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector organisations to raise funds, lobby for support and encourage public participation. The Association also supplies voluntary labour through its subsidiary Waterway Recovery Group.

More than 500 miles of canals and navigable rivers have been re-opened to public use since the Association was founded in 1946. Currently another 500 miles of derelict inland waterways are now the subject of restoration plans.

Further information can be found at www.waterways.org.uk and www.wrg.org.uk.

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