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19th April 2004
Fourteen boats cruised together along some of the less used parts of the Middle Level system this Easter and were undaunted by their failure to pass two low bridges. The whole purpose of the trip, organised by the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) Peterborough Branch, was to draw attention to the value of our neglected waterways and to some of the low bridges which prevent many boats gaining access to much of the extensive Middle Levels network.
The boats gathered in Ramsey Basin on Good Friday, to moor against some very dilapidated staging that had been provided new about 10 years ago. Unfortunately a dispute between the landowner and the local council has prevented much needed repairs to these moorings.
On Saturday the boats cruised down the Old River Nene to Exhibition Bridge which has very restricted headroom preventing all but one of the boats from passing. This was once a cruising route but changes to the water levels in the Middle Level system have made it impassable to most boats. Having retreated from Exhibition Bridge the flotilla then turned down New Dyke on towards Holme, which was to be the destination for the day.
The New Dyke takes boaters in to the heart of the Great Fen Project, a long-term plan involving the linking of Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen by connecting and enlarging these two existing vitally important National Nature Reserves. The project will combine nature conservation, tourism, education and local access. The IWA Peterborough Branch is active in promoting waterway access to the site. Many of the boats on the cruise travelled down Monks Lode, a waterway leading to Woodwalton Fen.
The Holme end of the New Dyke was dredged and cleared of rubbish by The Middle Level Commissioners, who also cut back branches overhanging the waterway to facilitate the cruise.
On Sunday the convoy made its way to the Forty Foot Drain where the low Ramsey Hollow Bridge restricts cruising for many craft. The IWA Peterborough Branch have plans to lift this mark 2 Bailey Bridge to open up another circular cruising route to many more boats.
This marked the end of an enjoyable trip through the under developed rural waterways of the Middle Levels which, with a relatively modest financial investment in the improvement of facilities, could offer so much to tourism and the local economy.
Photographs are available for publication with articles based on this press release by visiting Press Photos.
For further information please contact:-
Jim Shead me@jim-shead.com telephone 01733 312606
or
Alastair Chambers chairman@iwapeterborough.org.uk telephone 01778 344438
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The IWA
For nearly sixty years, The Inland Waterways Association and its thousands of members have campaigned for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and sensitive development of Britain's canals and river navigations.
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 river navigations have been re-opened to public use since the Association was founded in 1946. More than 500 miles of further derelict inland waterways are currently the subject of restoration plans.
The Peterborough Branch area covers from Thrapston in the west to the Old Bedford River in the east and from Spalding in the north to just north of Huntingdon in the south.
The Great Fen Project
The Great Fen project will restore over 3,000 hectares of farmland situated between Huntingdon and Peterborough to fenland wildlife habitat.
This will be achieved by connecting and enlarging, two existing vitally important National Nature Reserves. The project will combine nature conservation, tourism, education and local access.
This is a Partnership project run by English Nature, the Wildlife Trust, Huntingdonshire District Council and the Environment Agency.
For more information see www.greatfen.org.uk
END
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