Kez

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7656748.stm "Canal plan to power 45,000 homes Local communities will be consulted on possible turbine and generator sites Plans have been unveiled to power 45,000 homes with wind and hydro-electric turbines along Britain's historic canals and rivers. British Waterways want to house 50 wind turbines and additional small-scale hydro schemes on land it owns over the next five years. They say the scheme will raise more than £1m a year, which will be used for waterway upkeep. The exact locations of the turbines have yet to be decided. British Waterways, which is a public body in charge of the waterside land, was praised by its partner in the project for using its resources in an innovative and environmental way. Partnerships for Renewables said the navigation authority was a "torchbearer for others to follow". Yorkshire option The £1m that will be raised will be used to help maintain and repair some of the 2,200 miles of canals, historic locks, bridges and rivers that the organisation looks after throughout the UK. British Waterways' chief executive Robin Evans was delighted that the project will generate income and help with the government's renewable energy targets. PUBLIC SECTOR ENERGY CAPACITY The public sector could host around 3000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity That would supply energy needs of 1.4 million UK households Source: Partnerships for Renewables Mr Evans said that, whilst the authority is always protecting the canals and rivers' heritage, they are "proactively looking at how we can use this resource to make a contribution towards the fight against climate change. "If we successfully develop this resource it would mean that the nation's canal network would generate more than 10 times more electricity than it consumes," he added. The public corporation is now looking at potential locations for the turbines and generators. One suitable site could be on the banks of the Aire and Calder navigation in Yorkshire. A British Waterways spokesman told the BBC: "We are looking at radar and environmental issues first and then will engage with the local communities at suitable sites." Environmentalists 'delighted' Partnerships for Renewables, a privately-funded group that works with public bodies on renewable energy projects, will develop, construct and manage all the equipment at an estimated cost of £150m. The private company hopes to create the capacity to power 230,000 homes from electricity on public land within five to eight years and this project would contribute to a fifth of that target. Stephen Ainger, chief executive of Partnerships for Renewables, said, "It is great to see that British Waterways has demonstrated the vision to become a torch bearer for others to follow." Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Nick Rau was delighted by British Waterways' plans. Mr Rau said that "Community-scale renewable energy projects such as hydro-power schemes and wind turbines have a huge role to play in reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and helping Britain to develop a low-carbon economy." The government had pledged to generate 15% of the UK's electricity from renewable sources by 2015, although some studies have shown this target may not be reached by then." BW putting another strand on the noose. These things are not worth it! Take the set of turbines off of Barrow; they went in and broke because someone had put the wrong oil in and it had damaged the gearbox, so they had to send out for new gearboxes and they broke. The repairmen went out for new ones and got told those ones weren't made anymore and that they'd have to be replaced with a new type of gearbox. They were still replacing them when I was down there last and the damn things haven't made enough power to light half of what they're supposed to. The ones on the Robin Rigg site, delayed for over a year because of poor weather and a 'well, it was his job to get the cranes ordered' attitude. What does anyone else think of BWs plan?

I've looked on the internet, which turned up jack-all , and wondered if anyone had any old recipes? Nothing is to complicated for me; and I'm not to fussy either, so all ideas welcome!

Im glad 'Dont Panic' has a new owner, it was sad seeing her just sit there.. I hope she brings you many years of pleasure!

I think you've past me and your certainly getting boring now.... would you like me to get my longbow?

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and is allowed to do their own thing Some boats need others to pass slowly, mine did when we took her for her rebuild. I agree that some people do go past unnesessarily slow; but by the same token, some people go to fast. In the end it is the speed that causes damage, be it to an old boat or to the towpath.

When we moor up; we tie up correctly (and I know its correct as my dad has spent fifty odd years on all sizes of ship, and gets quite pernickity about mooring and knots) but when people roar past us, it still rams our boat into the bank. Once someone went fast enough that the stern rope snapped and Linnet swung out and blocked the canal. Probably cosmic payback though, 'cause she delayed the chap that had snapped it in the first place

In fairness, it wasnt an excuse; the tent was in danger of being ripped off the ground and vanishing into the distance. But most of the exhibitors in the tent were pretty pissed off by then 'cause it was full of holes and leaking like a granny...

I wish I could. I live there so anywhere within walking distance gets packed. I just wanted to see how many people are bothering with it this year. Although I will miss the cornish pasty van when it stops coming........

Sorry, i should have said. Boats mainly, although any locks would be useful

Im doing a second project (for the first one see the virtual pub 'canal books') and need to know whats going on in the restoration world. I know about the one at Malkins Bank, but what else is being repaired?

Anyone going? or bring a boat down?

I am proud to say that I have never lived in a house. I was born on a boat and the only way you'd get me of the canal is to fill it in! My parents tell me it was easier raising me on a boat as they always knew where I was and as an added bonus I learned to be very tidy early on.

My boats up there now If someone explains how you get pictures up, I'll show you her lines..

What did the wooden boat do?

I had a mate who fell in the cut and couldnt swim, and all the (drunken) passerby did was slur "well I can't play the violin, but I dont go shoutin' my mouth off 'bout it" True Story.

oh, I missed the 'recent' bit. Personally I feel they should be strung up; only upside down on a canal bridge, to be pelted with rotten tomatoes and dog food.