stort_mark

We are letting a good friend and his family borrow our boat in a couple of weeks. We have spent time preparing a user manual and are quite proud of it. Photos, how-to's, etc. But.......and it's a big but...... we are massively anxious about locks. They have been with us on the boat and been taken through Hilmorton locks a few weeks back, but it was a busy time with lots of activity and the usual "peer pressure" to move along quickly. We are away overseas ourselves when they will be on the boat (they will be on the Oxford) so more anxious than might normally be the case. They are very sensible people, but I do need to have a simple 'chapter' on locks (This sounds very anal, doesn't it?!). Has anyone ever written a simple, but comprehensive, guide to using locks for people borrowing their boat? Or know of one? It's not just the mechanics but also the etiquette.....looking for approaching boats, taking everything at their own speed, not tying up in narrow locks, the rearward surge then the forward surge when going uphill, speeding up if they see Maffi's boat moored up..... yada yada yada. I know I'm being a bit paranoid, but it's our boat and the love of our life. We are more than happy for people to borrow her for a few days but want to make sure that they know what to do and don't inadvertently annoy other boaters. And I say, inadvertently, because these are really nice people. So...does anyone know where to find a simple, concise but comprehensive guide to using locks (The section in the Nicholson's doesn't quite 'do' it)?

Thanks for that. I assumed they were nothing to do with the background interview....although it was the latter that was intriguing.

There's a lot of choice in the area. We are at Lime Farm which is part of an old loop of the canal - just a dozen boats, trees and green all around, no real facilities, but peaceful, nice walks nearby, close to Newbold and Brinklow. Good value.

I have searched to see if these interviews have been mentioned before, but couldn't see any mention. Apologies if they are already known. A man from Bedworth - Allen Parsons - has put interviews of Bedworth people on YouTube. They appear to be radio interviews with (unconnected?) video footage as a backdrop. There is a ten-minute interview with Violet Stanley and then more interview and a lecture with contemporary footage. Fascinating. Finally, there is a general film about the canals. I hadn't seen it before, but I'm sure others have. Ironically, I was looking for video footage of Newdigate colliery.....and didn't find anything useful. Typical, eh?

On the same subject(ish), one thing that always gets me is when the powers-that-be tart up a bit of the canal and put in red building bricks on the towpath. These shatter, crack and generally deterioratewithin months, if not weeks. So instead of seeing decaying heritage, you see decaying crap. Except the decaying crap has probably cost the taxpayer a bundle and is totally inappropriate. You see it all over the BCN. <rant over>

We're at Lime Farm. It's small, friendly, cosy, off-line. Highly recommended.

Sorry to hear this. We were also recently broken into at Leamington Spa and have reason to believe the miscreants (or is it excrements?) were on the boat twice...yet didn't take anything at all, despite there being two laptops and a phone onboard. My father-in-law suggested we had been burgled by an Amish person.

I came across this thread once again by accident. Your explorations of this section is fascinating.....and I see someone else has added some extra snippets on your blog too. Several years ago I spent months using, scanning, copyin, tracing old maps of the area immediately north of the current end of the Cannock Extension and resolved to explore the area. I pass this area every second Saturday on the way to and from Molineux <sigh>. (My wife says I'd have a much happier life if I just stopped at the Cannock Extension Canal and frgot about the match.) Unfortunately, I've never yet managed to fnd the time to do the on-the-ground exploration though.

Range Rovers have indicators????!!! Well, you certainly learn something new ever day. Bext you'll be telling us Audis can travel on motorways more than 6" from your rear bumper!!

"Sadly no Wand'ring Bark this year. The preserve business has taken off and we will be exhibiting at Crick. http://wildsidepreserves.co.uk/ Andy" Chicken.

I was the forum member concerned.... The perp (watching waaaaaay too much American TV) gave a hard boot to the hatch and it sheared the bolts. Long story but we know he was on the boat twice yet failed to nick anything of value, which is weird. Even more odd is that the site is in full view, in full daylight, of maybe 10 flats on the other side of the canal. Warwickshire Police were incredibly helpful and followed up several times and asked for our advice on how they can improve security for boats in the centre of Leamington. I was reluctant to say much because I'm not a "regular" in the area, but did recommend they talk to local boaters. My son was also defrauded online of 800 quid that day - 2 years of part-time student bar earnings - so sad day for us all round. Thanks Richard and Sue for alerting others.

Which is why you wanted to do it in my boat! Anyway, don't you mean the Ridgacre? (Patiently waiting for 75 people to jump in like Jason Byrne and say "It's not the Ridgacre, it's the Wednesbury Old Canal")

Must admit I was under the impression that our boat was Shotbolt #29. Got that from Shotbolt's a year ago or so. Maybe I'm mistaken cos I can't find the e-mail right now. fwiw we had identical problem. 5.5 sq ft skin tank, BMC 1.5. We got Calcott to fit an external tank to extend it to 9.5. Works a dream. - Mark

I know, I know. I do know it's spelt Ridgacre. I was fooled by the incorrect spelling on the warning notice! I don't disagree with what you are saying, but I am concerned at the erosion of the network. The canal system is not just for boaters, but also for others, including anglers, walkers, cyclists, local residents and the network also has amentiy value simply for its heritage value. I am sure that BW arefully within their rights but I would like to verify that - and that is the purpose of the FOI request really. "Keeping the canal open for those who campaign for them" is not my intention, but I think it could equally apply to many other stretches....the Titford and Digbeth Basins in particular, spring to mind. The WOC is a bit unusual in that most other arms and loops that have survived, have survived with a purpose (Engine Arm for moorings, same for Oozells Street, even the Dudley No 2). The WOC is somewhat unique in that it was the first of the BCN canals, and most iof the remainder of that original BCN has been changed (level or route) and this stretch hasn't. The line up from Pudding Green to Swan Village is the original route and level. Personally, I believe that many stretches of urban BCN will face real threat of closure (or downgrading to non-navigable) very soon. I believe that there can be solutions to this. Perhaps free moorings could be created on these arms? Maybe the towpath could be closed off to allow linear moorings? Maybe there could be an effort to explain all the WOC, Ridgacre, Balls Hill, Halford, Dartmouth and Jessop branches as a linear museum of sorts. There are many former collieries also, that started the whole thing off! I don't believe it's so much survival of the network that is at stake, more that the canals are more than just a "ring" or a place for boats alone. It's part amenity, part heritage, part open space.

Looks like a return trip along the TV or up and down the Ryders Green flight would have done the trick then

I have wondered if there is mine outflow through the Ridgacre though. Might explain why it stays in water.

Actually, while this is correct, it is also a little misleading as it suggests that the WOC from Ryders Green has a different status from the canals nearby. In fact, most of the BCN is a remainder water (as defined by the Transport Act 1968, Schedule 12 and the British Waterways Act 1983). The only part of the "central" BCN that is NOT a Remainder Waterway is the New ML.

True about Sneyd..had forgotten that. But wouldn't dream of mooring up overnight at Bentley retail park. Others.....still wouldn't moor there, although I would consider the grass stretch before Sneyd if other boats there.

Sadly most of the stretch of the W&E through Wolverhampton until you get to Pelsall Common.

Just submitted an FOI/EIR request to BW, EA, Sandwell Borough and Highways Agency: Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, I would like to request information with regard to the lengths of canal and former canal in West Bromwich, collectively referred to herein as the Ridgacre Branch. This request is being made to multiple authorities, including British Waterways, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough, the Highways Agency, the Environment Agency and the central Department of Transport FOI unit as it is not entirely clear which of these entities has responsibility for the information requested. This information request refers to a number of different sections of this waterway: - the length of canal running from the top of the Ryders Green Locks, west of Phoenix Street, West Bromwich to the current terminus at a culvert under the Black Country New Road (referred to in this request as the "Wednesbury Old Canal") - the length of disconnected waterway running from a culvert under the Black Country New Road eastwards to its end on a ridge south of Denbigh Drive in West Bromwich (referred to in this request as "the Ridgacre Branch") - the length of disconnected waterway that runs from alongside the Premier Inn, New Gas Street, West Bromwich in two directions (collectively referred to in this request as "the Balls Hill Branch") - the abandoned and dewatered stretch of former canal running eastwards from the terminus of the Ridgacre Branch towards Cardigan Close and southwards from that same terminus between the former Vector Industrial Park and the industrial units of the Ridgacre Road industrial estate (collectively referred to in this request, for convenience, as "the former Halford Branch") - the abandoned, dewatered and disconnected stretches of the former Wednesbury Old Canal running from the end of what is referred to in this request as the Balls Hill Branch alongside Brickhouse Lane, towards and across Bagnall Street, alongside the Eagle Industrial Estate, through the Hill Top Industrial Estate to the canals former terminus at the northern end of Tunnel Road, West Bromwich (collectively referred to in this request as "the dewatered Balls Hill Branch") This FOI/EIR request contains multiple elements and is being made to establish what is being done, if anything, and by whom to remediate pollution and protect cultural heritage on an important heritage asset, the former Wednesbury Old Canal. The word "your" or "you" refers to the agency or entity to which this request is addressed. 1. Do you have any environmental reports, analyses, studies, assessments and/or measurements referring to the Ridgacre Canals, as identified above, and if so, please could you provide a listing of these reports? 2. Please can you make available an electronic copy of each of these documents? 3. Please explain your specific role in the operation or maintenance of each of these waterways and former waterways. 4. Do you still own the waterway, former waterway or land on which the waterway or former waterway was situated, including any towpaths, wharves, basins, bridges, other structures or access roads or paths? 5. If any of the waterways or former waterways including any towpaths, wharves, basins, bridges, other structures or access roads or paths were formerly owned by you, to whom were they sold or leased, when and for how much consideration? 6. If any of the waterways or former waterways including any towpaths, wharves, basins, bridges, other structures or access roads or paths were sold or leased to another party, are there any deeds, covenants, restrictions, obligations or easements required of the owner or tenant? 7. if there are any deeds, covenants, restrictions, obligations or easements required, noted as the answer to 6 above, please provide details of same. 8. What discussions, plans, concepts or debates have been held with regard to the continued operation of the Wednesbury Old Canal? 9. What discussions, plans, concepts or debates have been held with regard to the continued custody, maintenance, protection and any environmental protection, stewardship or remediation of the Ridgacre Canals? 10. Has any specific risk assessment been conducted with regard to the health or safety to boaters, walkers, anglers, other canal users, local residents, local business and their staff, and or your staff by continued use of the Wednesbury Old Canal by boats? 11. Has any specific risk assessment been conducted with regard to the health or safety to boaters, walkers, anglers, other canal users, local residents, local business and their staff, and or your staff by continued use of the towpath of the Wednesbury Canal for a variety of leisure purposes? 12. If the answer to questions 10 or 11 is "Yes", please can you provide the assessment or the outcomes of such assessment. 13. What plans, reports, discussions or debates have been held with regard to enhancing the Ridgacre Canals for the amenity value they present to local residents, businesses and leisure users of the canal system? 14. What sum has been spent in the last five financial years on maintaining these waterways or former waterways including any towpaths, wharves, basins, bridges, other structures or access roads or paths? 15. What sum has been spent in the last five financial years on managing the environmental remediation of any pollution of these waterways or former waterways including any towpaths, wharves, basins, bridges, other structures or access roads or paths?

Did it in 2010. Stayed one night and enjoyed it very much. Friendly pubs, and a lot of interest in the boat. Only complaint is I recall there is a lot of lighting in the basin so it was difficult to get to sleep. We were surprised there weren't more boats there as it is a little sterile. The cruise in was fine, but we did pick up a mattress on the prop a mile out, so didn't need to go to the Ikea. There is a small booklet on the sculpture trail that extends along the towpath for 5 miles. It's really interesting and unusual. Recommended

I think this could all be arranged. On reflection, this could perhaps be done by a flotilla with narrowboat support vessels. For sleeping and keeping beer and wine at correct temperature. It also might be something that could be done over a few weekends. I suspect that this will need to be done with boats with outboards...so the tunnels neednt be a huge problem. I wondered about a GRP boat but suspect that an aluminium boat might be easier.

This is interesting. What about a Challenge that lists all the isolated bits and offers a prize for navigating ALL of them. This would include bits like the disconnected Balls Hill Branch, Ridgeacre then the hard to get bits....like the Titford Pools, into the pools and under the M5 bridge, the Gospel Oak stub, in and out of all those stubs along the ML, through the rushes into the Anson, above Parkhead Locks, through Dudley Tunnels, Holly Bank.... The trickiest part might be identifying the arms that are hidden away but still in water! Boat would need to be powered but also movable with paddles or oars; it will need to draw only a few inches and be portable. Anyone up for the challenge?