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Given the current state of the waterways, turmoil over licencing and moorings could there be a better choice of governing body?

Stephen Hardy press release 9 September 2015 VINCE MORAN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Vince Moran, Operations & Asset Management Director at the Canal & River Trust, has announced plans to retire in early 2016 after 18 yea ToStephen Hardy Today at 9:56 AM press release 9 September 2015 VINCE MORAN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Vince Moran, at the Canal & River Trust, has announced plans to retire in early 2016 after 18 years’ service. Vince said; “I’ve loved my time on the waterways and it’s been a great privilege to have helped with their development and improvement. The formation of the Trust is a particular source of pride and I look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength. “It’s always been my intention to retire at the age of 60 and, with that milestone coming up early next year, it’s time for me to move on. I’ve met and worked with many fantastic people, both within the Trust and beyond, and I wish them well for the future.” The Trust’s chief executive Richard Parry said; “Vince has fulfilled a range of roles and has contributed widely during his 18 years of service with BW and the Trust. In recent years he has been the driver of the significant improvements we have made in safety, asset management and condition, and day-to-day operations introducing numerous improvements to our ways of working. I wish Vince the best in his well-deserved retirement.” ENDS For further media requests please contact: Stephen Hardy, communications manager, Canal & River Trust T: 01636 675703 M: 07920 077190 E: stephen.hardy@canalrivertrust.org.uk Notes to editors: The Canal & River Trust is the guardian of 2,000 miles of historic waterways across England and Wales, caring for the nation’s third largest collection of listed structures, as well as museums, archives, and hundreds of important wildlife sites. We believe that living waterways transform places and enrich lives and our role is to make sure there is always a place on your doorstep where you can escape the pressures of everyday life, stretch your legs and simply feel closer to nature. www.canalrivertrust.org.uk / @CanalRiverTrust / @crtcomms Stephen Hardy Communications Manager Canal & River Trust 01636 675703 07920 077190 @CRTStephen Follow the Canal & River Trust on Twitter @CanalRiverTrust Please visit our website to find out more about our work www.canalrivertrust.org.uk The Canal & River Trust is a new charity entrusted with the care of 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales. Get involved, join us - Visit / Donate / Volunteer at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk - Sign up for our newsletter at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/newsletter Canal & River Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales with company number 7807276 and charity number 1146792. Registered office address First Floor North, Station House, 500 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB. Elusen newydd yw Glandŵr Cymru sy’n gofalu am 2,000 o filltiroedd o ddyfrffyrdd yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Cymerwch ran, ymunwch â ni - Ewch i Rhoddion a Gwirfoddoli yn www.glandwrcymru.org.uk Mae Glandŵr Cymru yn gwmni cyfyngedig drwy warant a gofrestrwyd yng Nghymru a Lloegr gyda rhif cwmni 7807276 a rhif elusen gofrestredig 1146792. Swyddfa gofrestredig: First Floor North, Station House, 500 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB.

Today at 11:58 AM 16 July 2015 Tony Hales, chair of the Canal & River Trust, is to retire from the charity after its Annual Public Meeting and meeting of the Trusts Council in London on 23 September. In line with the organisations Articles of Association, trustees duly elected the next chair from their number when they met on 15 July. Allan Leighton, chair of the Co-Operative Group, and formerly CEO of Asda Plc and chair of the Royal Mail, will formally take over as chair of the Canal & River Trust following the meeting of Council on 23 September. Allan joined the Board in September 2014. Lynne Berry, deputy chair of the Canal & River Trust and chair of the Trusts Appointments Committee, comments: Under the leadership of Tony Hales so much has been achieved for the nations waterways. He had the vision and passion to take the waterways out of state control in what was the largest ever transfer of state infrastructure into a charitable organisation. Since that remarkable achievement in 2012, he has set the path for a bright future for the waterways for generations to come. On behalf of everyone who cares for the waterways Id like to thank him for his tremendous leadership, personal commitment and unbridled enthusiasm. I am delighted to announce the appointment of Allan Leighton as the incoming chair of the Canal & River Trust. He takes on the role at such an exciting time as the Trust looks to build on the firm foundation that has been built under Tonys chairmanship. His vast experience and insight, combined with his belief in the importance of our canal system to public life, will give us further impetus as we continue to realise the potential of the Canal & River Trust to transform places and enrich lives. Although retiring from the Trust, Tony Hales will continue to be a non-executive director of a number of other organisations. Hell remain a passionate supporter of the waterways. Tony Hales comments: I have relished seeing how our once forgotten and neglected waterways have morphed into community hubs, bringing people together, improving lives, and providing new opportunities for all ages to experience their beauty and value. A really big thanks to everyone staff, volunteers, supporters and partners without you it just couldnt have been done. New people bring new experiences and fresh perspectives and I welcome Allan Leightons appointment as chair as he takes up the mantle at this important time in the development of the Trust. Allan Leighton, trustee and chair designate of the Canal & River Trust, comments: I am delighted to be chairing such an exciting charity. Anyone who has spent time on the waterways can testify what they have to offer the people across England and Wales from amazing wildlife and unparalleled industrial heritage to life changing opportunities to get out onto the water or onto the towpaths to improve our health and mental wellbeing. As a keen canal walker and towpath runner I have been passionate about these special blue places for years. Ive been impressed by the work of the Trusts staff and volunteers and am really looking forward to working with chief executive Richard Parry and his team to build upon the strong financial foundation and fantastic support that the Trust has to secure the waterways contribution for future generations. The Trustee Board is legally responsible for ensuring the Canal & River Trust works towards its Charitable Objectives. The unpaid posts set the overarching policy and strategy for the Trust, and provide oversight of the executive team. The Canal & River Trusts Annual Public Meeting will take place at 10am on 23 September at Church House Conference Centre, Westminster, London, SW1P 3NZ. To book a place visit: canalrivertrustapm.eventbrite.com. The Trusts Annual Report and accounts will be published on Tuesday 21 July. ENDS For media enquiries please contact: Jonathan Ludford: 020 32044420 Jonathan.ludford@canalrivertrust.org.uk

As I have said to many friends when my boat is sold I will no longer subscribe to CRT as a friend. Instead I have subscribed to another trust at twice what CRT were getting and I see in that venture an organisation which values and is more prudent with its finances gained. Its great to have "friends" like B&Q, Marks & Spencer etc but what do they really bring in? The paying boater and waterside user is the main source and in my opinion gets a raw deal. So goodbye CRT after 40 years with BWB, BW and you I no longer see you fit for purpose. This is the automated reply received: SupporterCare Finance To lhpvideo@yahoo...... Today at 9:12 AM Dear Laurence I want to thank you for the donations you have made to support the work of Canal & River Trust. I am sorry to hear from your bank that you have cancelled your direct debit with the Trust, as requested this has now been cancelled on our systems and no further direct debits will be taken. We will ensure that every penny you have given is spent directly and entirely on work to conserve, restore, enhance and educate people about the waterways. This means that you can be confident that your gift will make a real difference, helping to ensure that our precious canal and river network remains a haven for people and nature now and forever. Thank you once again for your kind support, it has been of great value to our work and I very much hope we can welcome you back as a friend in the future. Kindest Regards Joyce Atkins Supporter Care Administrator Canal & River Trust, First Floor North, Station House, 500 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1BB E: supportercare.finance@canalrivertrust.org.uk Tel: 0303 040 4040 (Option 2) Hmm, most trusts would have asked WHY? !!

Try this for being gainfully employed by CRT. Last Tuesday I got a call from "enforcement" complaining "my" boat was involved in late night partying and running its generator all night just north of Norbury on the Shroppie., I thought that's interesting, first I haven't been there for years and secondly I do not now own "Barnet" and CRT know that and have acknowledged change of ownership. I asked "Helen the enforcer" how many complaints there were, she said two. both had taken the name and number of the boat. Interesting I thought, I know where the boat is and we don't have a genny on board.... "Helen I don't own the boat now", her answer was astounding. "I know but we cant contact the new owner so I thought I would ring you".... err ok Helen wtf am I supposed to do?. "Helen, where are you calling from?" I asked, "The Wolverhampton office" she answered. Now I enjoyed the next part: I asked "Helen have you looked out of the window?" "No" she replies, "Ill get my glasses", Her next words, "Oh I am sorry Laurence, Barnet's outside in the basin" (someone had "cloned" the index number and name) Ask me if I was amused, yes I was. Ask me if the enforcers are intelligent defiantly NO, her car would have been parked facing my former boat!! As my dear old mum used to say "Just like Fred Carno's army, absolutely useless".

Yesterday I attended the Manchester & Pennine Annual 'outburst', where the council of middle aged men , (all white and only one boater) report back to 'stakeholders'. It was interesting, I have not been to one before. Towpath cyclists were discussed and signage along the Ashton Canal. The Transhipment Shed report is going to be showcased at Whaley Bridge this weekend and I would urge as many to attend as you can. It will be interesting to see if they took any of the points boaters made. Marple Aquaduct consultation is also to be published and although 69% of respondents rejected the idea; they may be forced to go ahead as England Heritage was written to regarding the 'lack of a safety rail'. Although, not the Peak Forest,, CRT has applied for the Macclesfield Canal to have Green Flag status. Anyone travelling down, or have helped on work parties, will know what a difference the trimming of the offside vegetation has made and the plan is to do the same on the Peak Forest in October. Mostly, the day was about partnership and getting everyone working together to benefit the cut. I was glad that I was able to go and put names to faces. One thing the head of customer services said to me was, please keep telling us when things aren't right, because if we don't know, we can't fix it. So, keep tweeting, facebooking and phoning them. I think they might actually be listening

9 January 2015 NEW HEAD OF CUSTOMER SERVICES AT CANAL & RIVER TRUST The Canal & River Trust has appointed Ian Rogers as its first permanent head of customer services. The new role supports the Trusts 10-year strategy to create stronger connections between the charity and the millions of people who use and enjoy its waterways each year, and is part of a renewed focus on improving the service the charity offers to customers. Ian, who will be starting his role on 2 February, comes from Aon, the large insurance broker, where he has been managing director of the Aon Affinity division working with SME (small anyd medium-sized enterprises) customers. Prior to that, he worked in senior customer service roles at Dataforce, Thomas Cook and Eurostar. Ians priority will be to lead the Trusts programme of customer service improvements, ensuring that all parts of the organisation put customers at the heart of what they do. He will assume direct responsibility for leisure boating, licencing and enforcement. Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, said: Im delighted to welcome Ian to the Trust. Our future success requires us to continue to change how we do things; to engage with all those who use or visit our waterways, or live alongside them, in a different way, and to make customer service and community involvement central to how we operate. Ians role will be vital in making these essential changes that will put our customers at the centre of our operation. As part of Trusts ten-year strategy, the charitys 11 waterway units will have greater focus on delivering excellent day-to-day customer service to boaters and other visitors, and working with their local Waterways Partnerships to create stronger relationships with local communities and stakeholders. ENDS For further media requests please contact: Fran Read, national press officer, Canal & River Trust m 07796 610 427 e fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Ever been annoyed by those Towpath Chuggers? well it seems they want more and they are paying £9.00 per hour, travel and accommodation expenses! Is this the way forward for CRT fundraising? putting it out to a third party fim "Inspired People" - What exactly will this achieve and what is the true cost in the first place to CRT. Maybe Ruth Ruderham can explain. http://www.gumtree.com/sellerads/1030390425?page=1 http://www.gumtree.com/p/general-jobs/footpath-fundraisers-for-canal-river-trust-london-%C2%A39-hour/1030390425

Ever since Tony Dunkley's first post, this topic, like topsy, has just "grow'd". I, like many others following this case, I suspect, find it informative and educational. At the moment we are all stuck in limbo waiting for the 24th. Hopefully this thread will keep us junkies satisfied till then. One thing that hasn't been covered, in detail, is the subject of injunctions. Nigel Moore Posted 22 October 2014 - 09:12 PM "Earlier in fact the time to initiate action was from the moment they revoked the licence in the first place. That took place months before he applied for a new one and was refused. The very first thing to do under those circumstances is to apply for an injunction against them acting on the situation. If nothing else, they dont care for that, and would probably offer an undertaking not to so act without at least initial discussion within the legal department at a higher level than is ordinarily indulged in." How would a person, in Tony Dunkley's situation, go about this? What does it involve? Could they get legal aid? As an aside may I ask Tony Dunkley why you didn't apply for one? All along I have thought it was out of ignorance, as it would have been for myself and, perhaps, many others. I'm not sure that this is correct though. Only yesterday it occurred to me that you had written some very knowledgeable and insightful posts. Tom

Canal & River Trust announces £3m additional investment in improving the nations waterways for boaters The Canal & River Trust has announced a £3m package of additional investment in the waterways to improve the experience for boaters and other visitors. Around £2m will fund dredging projects on the Erewash Canal, Trent & Mersey and a number of sections of the North Stratford Canal. This completes the full £7m dredging programme that the Trust will deliver this year, as part of its commitment to deliver £80m of dredging over the ten years from 2013. In addition, just over £1m of new money will go into a variety of other customer service improvements such as further vegetation management, repairing waterway walls and towpaths, improving sanitary stations and mooring locations and making lock operation easier. This additional investment is available because the Trust is anticipating that it will exceed its revenue target for the year and earn more money than originally planned. The investment will be targeted at specific projects across the network, identified locally from customer feedback. A breakdown of the additional work is appended; it will include: · improving sanitary stations on the North West and Midlands canals, the Kennet & Avon Canal and in London; · lock operation improvements on the Calder & Hebble and Huddersfield Narrow Canal · tackling more offside vegetation in the South West, London and on the Shropshire Union Canal; and, · providing better visitor moorings in Chester, Macclesfield, London, Birmingham and the East Midlands. The plans have the support of the Trusts independent Navigation Advisory Group a panel of boaters from a variety of backgrounds who provide advice and feedback on issues including safety, maintenance, moorings and licensing. Boaters are invited to send any further suggestions to their local waterway team. Richard Parry, chief executive of the Trust said: Its great news that, thanks to a lot of great work behind the scenes, were in a position to put this extra investment into improving things for our boating customers. Ive spent a lot of time listening to boaters, through my series of open meetings and elsewhere, and I know that these are some of the things that have a real bearing on their experience of our waterways. Thats why Im very pleased that, with guidance from our Navigation Advisory Group, we can target this investment at those areas we know will really make a difference. Weve made clear our commitment to improving things for customers as part of our strategy for the next ten years, and we want to maintain the dialogue with boaters to ensure that, when opportunities arise to increase our spending, we can be responsive and apply our resources to make a positive difference. Mike Carter, chair of the Navigation Advisory Group added: It is great to see the Trust delivering on its commitment to invest to improve those services that boaters value the most. My Group has appreciated the chance to input our experience into this process. The news comes shortly after the Trust announced a series of changes to its structure aimed at improving customer service and building closer links with communities and those that enjoy the waterways. The projects will take place between now and April 2015, and the breakdown of the additional investment is as follows: · North Stratford Canal dredging - £400,000 · Trent & Mersey Canal dredging - £200,000 · Erewash Canal dredging - £500,000 · National spot dredging programme - £900,000 · Towpath improvements including wash wall - £375,000 · Sanitary station improvements - £225,000 · Offside vegetation with access improvements - £225,000 · Visitor mooring improvements - £165,000 · Lock operation improvements - £55,000 ENDS

TRUST WELCOMES FREIGHT ADVISORY GROUPS RECOMMENDATIONS ON PRIORITY FREIGHT ROUTES The Canal & River Trust is today publishing a report from its Freight Advisory Group into the current and potential future role of commercial inland waterways to carry freight. The Group recommended further investigation into Priority Freight Routes (the designation of certain navigations in the North East that link to the Humber Estuary) where there is the opportunity for these waterways to be used for sustainable freight transport. The Trust welcomes the Advisory Groups recommendations and has established a director-led steering group to fully investigate the viability of the designated Priority Freight Routes, including exploring market potential with the major port operators. This work will also involve reviewing what infrastructure work might be necessary to remove obstacles to larger barges, so enabling larger payloads and the carrying of containers. The steering group will also look at what wharf and supporting facilities may be required and what support or grants could be available including from the EU and from local enterprise partnerships. Whilst concentrating on the Yorkshire waterways, the Trust will continue its support for freight on other commercial waterways at its present levels and will work with commercial firms wishing to develop new services. A conference in late spring to launch the report and seek a range of views will be organised in Yorkshire in partnership with the Freight Transport Association, to which the Local Enterprise Partnership, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, shippers, developers, operators, customers and logistics professionals will be invited. The Freight Advisory Group, chaired by David Quarmby, is made up of professionals from the waterways, transport and logistics industry. David comments: I am pleased that our report and recommendations have been welcomed by the Trust. What is clear is that the circumstances of each of the Trusts ten commercial navigations are unique and very different from each other different in their recent history of traffic and commodities, different in their connectivity to potential markets, different in the dimensions and draughts of vessels they can take, and different in the dredging and bank protections costs of making them fit for freight. There can be no one size fits all approach to formulating policy for the ten waterways, or even for all sections of the same waterway. The identification of Priority Freight Routes and a clear framework for exploring opportunities will provide focus and a sound framework for the Trust to operate within, and for planned collaboration with port operators. Where feasible and viable, the lessons and experiences can be adopted to other commercial waterways. David Lowe, chairman of the Commercial Boat Operators Association, comments: Carrying freight by inland waterways is no longer automatically on the radar screen of shippers, logistics companies and freight forwarders, except in one or two very niche markets. So exploring potential market demand is not just about analysing current freight movement by road or rail on the relevant corridors, and looking at how and where water can offer some competitive advantage; it also has to be about how to organise, modernise and present waterborne freight as a serious transport mode to a modern highly commercial logistics industry. Im pleased that the formation of a steering group will take this forward. Stuart Mills, commercial director at the Canal & River Trust, comments: Whilst most of our network is now used primarily for leisure, the larger waterways still have potential for sustainable freight transport. The advice of the Freight Advisory Group, including the potential for Priority Freight Routes, is well thought-through. The Group is made up of leading experts in the waterways, transport and logistics industry and is supported by preliminary discussions with port operators on the network. Id like to thank the Group for their diligent and expert report and recommendations which we look forward to following up. The full report is available to download from the Canal & River Trust website: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/6213.pdf

Canal & River Trust scoops Charity of the Year award Just over 18 months after launching, the Canal & River Trust has been unveiled as Charity of the Year by Peoples Postcode Lottery. The award was made this week at Peoples Postcode Lotterys annual Charity Gala attended by 500 people at the historic National Museum of Scotland. The Award was given in recognition of the way the Trust, through support from players of Peoples Postcode Lottery, had raised public awareness and support of a project to help save the nations historic hedgerows which, although so important for biodiversity, have declined by 50% since the Second World War. In making the award, players of Peoples Postcode Lottery gave a special one-off £50,000 cheque to support the Trusts work. It also committed to increase the Trusts annual grant by 25% to £125,000. Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, was on hand to collect the cheque for £50,000. He comments: We are so grateful to players of People's Postcode Lottery for their support. This is the second year they have supported us and to be selected as Charity of the Year from amongst so many good causes is a tremendous accolade and a fantastic vote of confidence in the Canal & River Trust. I am delighted that the support from players of Peoples Postcode Lottery has increased; this special one-off award of £50,000 provides vital funding which will give a tremendous boost to our efforts in 2014. We have already identified three very special projects that it will support. Clara Govier, Head of Charities at Peoples Postcode Lottery said: The Canal & River Trust does some amazing work - transforming places and enriching lives of people through living waterways. Were delighted that our players are able to support the work of Canal & River Trust and showcase the work that makes them worthy winners of Charity of the Year. The one-off award of £50,000 for being Charity of the Year will mean players of Peoples Postcode Lottery will add to donations from local communities to fund three of the Trusts priority appeal projects: With a £20,000 appeal now fully funded, a volunteer canal workboat will be bought into action on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. The boat will be skippered by local people and will host local schools who will transform the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to create new wildlife habitats and tackle litter and graffiti along the waterway. A £27,000 target has now been met to raise money for volunteers and trainees at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port who are restoring Ferret, an historic working canal boat built in 1926. Supported by celebrity chef, TV presenter and Hairy Biker, Dave Myers, Ferret will once again be operational allowing future generations to experience what life was like for the people who lived and worked on the canals and rivers. Funding will also support the Trusts exciting conservation efforts across Birmingham and the Black Country, working with the National Sealife Centre, to help protect and encourage both water voles and otters living in these urban waterways to flourish.

CANAL & RIVER TRUST SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT DEMANDS OF LIVING AFLOAT The Canal & River Trust is reminding people taking up a new liveaboard lifestyle on its canals, but without a home mooring, to think carefully about the demands of living afloat through a series of awareness-raising measures. In some popular areas, this style of living is on the increase and the Trust is concerned that the newcomers may not be aware of or fully understand the requirement for bona fide navigation and may believe it is sufficient simply to move around within a small area. Some therefore get a shock when they find that they are in breach of the rules, while the Trust is forced to embark on a time-consuming and costly enforcement process. The Trust is working to raise awareness of these constraints amongst home-seekers and boat sales advertisers. It is also aiming to provide clearer information to the floating community so, from January 2014, will be contacting everyone newly registering as a continuous cruiser to ensure they fully understand the requirements. After three months, if there is concern about a boats limited movement, the charity will send a reminder and invitation to contact the local enforcement officer to discuss the cruising pattern. Ultimately if they cant meet the movement requirements they will need to get a home mooring before their licence can be renewed. Sally Ash, head of boating at the Canal & River Trust, said: We want people thinking of living afloat to be fully aware of the challenges, as well as the benefits, before taking the leap. We hope that, by spreading the message widely, people wont end up making a costly mistake. Our new step of contacting every new continuous cruiser will help them in their new lifestyle, without falling foul of the enforcement procedures needed to manage the waterways fairly for everyone. We hope that, by keeping people informed, they will use the waterways responsibly, so they can be enjoyed by everybody.

The Canal & River Trust is holding its latest briefing for waterways press on Thursday 6 February at 10.30am in Hatton. The briefing, hosted by Richard Parry, will include a session on the support that the Trust, in partnership with the IWA, is giving to canal restoration efforts across the country. The briefing will also include an update on the Trusts Towpath Moorings Management project. There are a limited number of spaces available to Canal World forum members on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to attend please contact Stephen.hardy@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

I've had this from Fran Read at CRT: We're not going, but thought others might be interested. Email for Fran is the usual fran.read at canalrivertrust.org.uk

FUNDRAISING CHALLENGES ANNOUNCED TO SUPPORT NATION’S WATERWAYS IN 2014 Waterway enthusiasts, including walkers, runners and cyclists, can compete in two epic challenges in 2014, all in aid of raising money for the nation’s canals and rivers. The Canal & River Trust is hosting the events with the aim of raising thousands of pounds to improve local waterways. The two events: Grand Union Challenge (28 - 29 June, 2014): join hundreds of others on this multi-charity event as they walk, jog or run along the canal towpath from Little Venice in central London to Bletchley in Buckinghamshire. The inaugural canal challenge has three distance options - 25km, 50km or 100km - and a variety of start/finish points (similar to previous successful events the organisers have held on the Thames Path). Most will walk it at their own pace, quite a few will jog parts of it, and some will run the full 100 km ultra-marathon style Great British Bike Off (10-12 September, 2014): This unique three day ride, exclusive to Canal & River Trust, will see teams of cyclists journey from London to Leeds. The well-planned road route will also call at some famous waterway locations, and follow a section of a 2014 Tour De France stage (which this year begins in Yorkshire). This will be the third year of the increasingly popular Bike Off challenge, which in 2013 raised over £40,000 Ruth Ruderham, head of fundraising at the Trust said: “Our waterways are a national treasure, we want to improve them even more, and it is with this in mind that we are hosting these two challenges for 2014. Both events offer a great opportunity for you to experience the waterways in a completely different way, whether that’s journeying along the Grand Union Canal by foot, or taking in famous waterway landmarks as part of a peloton of cyclists travelling from London to Leeds. We want to see over 150 participants across both events, so if you’re looking to brush of the cobwebs and get in training this new year, they could be just the events for you. And even better, by taking part you’ll be raising money that will support important projects on local canals and rivers.” For more information about the Grand Union Challenge, including details about the routes and how to sign up, visit canalrivertrust.org.uk/grandunionchallenge To find out more about the Great British Bike-Off 2014 visit canalrivertrust.org.uk/the-great-british-bike-off

FIRST DATES SET FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVES OPEN BOATER MEETINGS Throughout 2014, the Canal & River Trusts Chief Executive, Richard Parry, will be hosting a series of open meetings for boaters and other waterway users across the country. The meetings will offer a chance to for people to informally air views on any local or national issues and open up channels of communication for any future consultations. The first meetings will take place on: Thursday 23 January, 6pm Birmingham. The Bond, 180 - 182 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SE. Saturday 8 February, 3pm Nottingham. Waterfront, Castle Wharf, Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7EH. Wednesday 26 February, 6pm Banbury. The Old Auctioneer, 44 Parsons Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5NA. Richard will host these open meetings regularly, seeking to hold them in each waterway over the year. Boaters with home moorings in the local area, and continuous cruisers who have been sighted nearby, will be contacted with email invitations. Anyone else who is interested is welcome to attend and the meeting details will be available on the Canal & River Trust website. Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: As I announced in November, I want to make sure we listen carefully to views from the cut and openly share our ideas and plans for the future so that we get input from those whose commitment to our waterways is greatest to make sure our plans align with what our customers want. These informal open meetings are another opportunity for boaters and other users to speak directly to the Trust and I hope they encourage people to share their views and ideas. If you know someone who may be interested in coming along please help spread the word and pass the details on to them. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

How efficient is this, phoned CRT on Wed 18th Dec to renew our Gold licence, as we have not received our reminder yet, paid by credit card over the phone, received text on Fri 20th saying licence should be with us with in the next 5 working days, licence received Sat 21st Dec. Well done CRT.

14 February 2014 The charity that looks after the nations historic canal and river network is appealing to friends and supporters for help in coping with the continuing extreme weather that is causing major challenges right across its 2,000 miles of waterways. From Wales to Oxford, the canal and river network, which has been channelling water away from homes, farmland and businesses, is now deluged itself. 100s of trees have fallen across the network in the last 24 hours alone, sluices are constantly being cleared of debris, 200 year old humpback canal bridges damaged and there is extensive damage to large sections of embankment, towpath and canal-banks. In Oxfordshire, 200 year old canal bridges on the Oxford Canal have been damaged and the towpath surfaces have washed away In Somerset, the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal has been playing a significant role in efforts to relieve the flooded Somerset plains, but is now itself in flood and sections of towpath have been damaged In Gloucestershire, the tidal Severn has scoured the embankment of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, the last line of defence for a large swathe of land In Wiltshire and across the home counties, major floods on the Kennet & Avon and Grand Union Canals are causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of repair works The River Severn has been in flood for some time and at record levels; many structures are submerged and damage is likely to be significant And in Wales, the heavy rain has caused serious damage to two much-loved canals. Engineers are on site now assessing the impact to the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal and the Llangollen Canal where embankments have slipped and are being urgently stabilised Vince Moran, Canal & River Trust operations director, comments: I am hugely grateful to our staff, contractors and volunteers who have been braving the elements and working around the clock, clearing fallen trees and debris, keeping water moving away from the worst affected areas and making repairs wherever possible. Our resources are stretched and the situation continues to deteriorate day by day. The full extent of the damage cannot yet be assessed. However, when waters recede we expect to see major damage to towpaths, locks and other canal heritage structures and features, which will affect millions of people and cost £millions to repair. We are appealing for your help now to enable us to respond to this unprecedented crisis. Your support will help us fund the immediate and longer-term repairs that will be necessary to bring our towpaths and waterways back into use as quickly as possible. Every penny you give will be spent directly and entirely on repairing and protecting flood affected waterways. To donate visit: http://www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/national-appeal

10 February 2014 BOATERS ASKED FOR VIEWS ON TEMPORARY CHANGES TO MOORINGS IN PADDINGTON BASIN The Canal & River Trust is proposing to trial a range of temporary changes to the moorings at Paddington Basin and the Little Venice Pool in London to meet a wider range of mooring needs over the coming summer. The initiative follows feedback from boaters and boating groups. The proposed changes include: a. Allowing mooring alongside Rembrandt Gardens in the Little Venice Pool, to provide two new moorings; b. Investigating the possibility of installing water points in Paddington Basin and changing a 14 day casual mooring to water point waiting only; c. Changing three visitor moorings by Paddington Station to trade moorings; and d. Allowing double mooring of narrow boats alongside St. Marys Hospital pontoon, providing four new visitor moorings. These changes would provide more room and facilities for boats visiting this popular area. Creating new trade moorings in front of Paddington Station would bring vitality and vibrancy to the towpath and make the most of the high footfall in the area. The Trust will be running an informal consultation on the proposals amongst boaters, boating groups and other stakeholders. The consultation will run until Monday 3 March 2014. To take part in the consultation, please visit: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/5463.pdf Sorwar Ahmed, boater liaison manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: London is an extremely popular destination for visiting boats, both traders and leisure cruisers alike, not to mention the many people who make their homes on the Capitals canals. We need to make sure that were making the best possible use of the limited space available to meet their different mooring needs. Weve been working with the Better Relationships on the Waterways in London Group to address a wide range of boating needs over the past 15 months, and the Group has been developing proposals to improve the way visitor moorings are managed. We hope that the proposals in Paddington will work as a good trial over the busy summer cruising season please get in touch and let us know what you think.

CANAL & RIVER TRUST UPDATE: ROVING MOORING PERMITS The Canal & River Trust has reluctantly concluded that roving mooring permits, which it was proposing to introduce in two local areas from April 2014, cannot be used to deal with localised issues of mooring congestion on the waterways. This follows further consideration of legal issues which raised doubts about the practical implications of implementing the scheme. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us to develop and explore these proposals; those involved in this process had been assured previously that the proposal was deliverable, and bear no responsibility for this late change. We will continue to work with local boaters to improve understanding of the Trust's guidance for boaters without a home mooring and to develop ways to help people to comply.

The draft winter stoppages programme for 2014/15 is now up on the CRT website: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/winter CRT are inviting boaters to take a look and let them know their comments, to help them keep disruption to a minimum. Once the first round of comments has been received CRT works planners will consider all the feedback, both online and from engineers, and will make amendments. Comments will be open on the first version of CRT plans until Friday 20 June.

CANAL & RIVER TRUST PUBLISHES RESPONSE TO KENNET & AVON TOWPATH MOORING PLAN CONSULTATION We are today publishing our response to the consultation on the towpath mooring plan, proposed by our Kennet & Avon Waterway Partnership, to encourage fair use of the busy stretch of the Kennet & Avon (K&A) Canal between Devizes and Bath. Large numbers of moored boats, complaints about boats moored in one area for long periods of time, and concerns from boaters and other stakeholders about the continued growth in boat numbers, led the Trust to support the development of a local plan for this part of the network. We had worked extensively with local partners over many years to try to reach an agreed way forward, and over the past 12 months our K&A Waterway Partnership made up of a group of local stakeholders developed and consulted on a towpath mooring plan for the area. We are very grateful for the work that the Partnership has done and the contributions made by the many people who responded to the Consultation. With some modifications, discussed with the Partnership, we will implement the bulk of the proposed plan from 1 May. Boaters without a home mooring on the western end of the canal between Bath and the bottom of the Caen Hill flight, who adopt the range of movement and mooring described in the response published today, will not face enforcement action by the Trust for a 12 month interim period. Overall, we believe that this offers the best way of achieving the long-sought improvements to the canal that will benefit all users. We will work with the Partnership to monitor the impact of this plan over the 12 month period. We are now working on the steps needed to put the new arrangements into practice. These include developing communications materials for boaters, adjusting monitoring systems and updating signage. We aim to be ready for the measures to come into effect on 1 May 2014. To read the Trusts full response, please visit: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/consultations/completed-consultations

CANAL & RIVER TRUST INTRODUCES NEW INITIATIVES TO HELP MANAGE LONDON MOORINGS This month, the Canal & River Trust is beginning a range of initiatives to help manage the ever-increasing number of boats in London. Its recruiting a number of enforcement personnel, starting a programme of text-messaging reminders to overstaying boaters and bringing in some changes to central London visitor moorings. Londons waterways have seen a 36% rise in boat numbers over the past five years to 2,964 boats in March 2014 (from 2,175 boats in 2007). In the past year alone, overall numbers have risen by 14%, while the number of continuous cruisers in East London has increased by 85%. The new initiatives, which include the recently-announced changes to central London visitor moorings, aim to encourage greater movement of boats to make mooring fairer for everyone. This month the Trust will start to text message Londons boaters when theyve reached the maximum stay time on a 14-day towpath mooring, as a gentle reminder that its time to move on. These reminders are already sent to boaters on parts of the Kennet & Avon Canal. The Trusts team will carry on speaking face-to-face with overstaying boaters and leaving notices on boats. The Trust has recently recruited an enforcement supervisor and an additional enforcement officer for London. Another enforcement officer vacancy is also being advertised to bring the London enforcement team back up to full strength. Enforcement is vital, especially in busy locations that are popular with boaters who may be having trouble getting to grips with the movement rules. The enforcement team enforces the rules so everyone is treated fairly, and also offers advice and guidance to boaters who run into difficulties. The Trusts programme of new casual moorings is moving forward with new mooring rings on the way at Camden (Camley Street) and Haggerston (Actons Lock). The sites require the completion of a technical assessment and appropriate timetabling of the work and it is hoped the installation will start soon. Moorings are also being planned along the Lee Navigation next to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Boaters views on other suitable locations are welcome. The Trust is aiming to establish additional facilities for boaters by seeking provision in new canalside development, as well as any new mooring sites. In particular, new facilities are planned in Haggerston and on the Lee Navigation by the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. In August a number of changes will be made to the visitor moorings in Paddington Basin. The plan includes installing a new water point, updating signage and new bookable moorings at Rembrandt Gardens. These actions build on feedback from the Better Relationships Group, which was set up with boating groups to help improve communications and engage boaters, in particular, in developing local policy. Sorwar Ahmed, London boater liaison manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: Were doing all we can to manage the canals and rivers for the benefit of all both those who make Londons waterways their home, and those who want to visit the capital. I hope these measures help to ease the pressure of boating in the capital, and give everyone a fair chance to moor up safely.