The Melton Oakham Canal

[fuzzyduck]

I'll be there!

 

Thanks for the update :-)

[Le Velocette Man]

Hi all

Can I draw your attention to a canoeists website called "song of the paddle". Searching for "wreake"on this site has thrown up a whole thread on Navigation rights on the river. Has anyone been up as far as Ratcliffe Mill where, as reported, the Gate Hangs Well landlord describes "people threatened with a gun"?

BTW the plan there is to bypass the mill by utilising the lower (roadside-broome lane) channel to proceed onward. Also worth knowing that the owner of Thrussington Mill further upstream is a MOWS member and welcomes anyone with a view to opening up the river corridor. These paddling lads seem keen too, so just like the mass trespass on Kinder Scout years ago, we should get everyone to "mass navigate" the Wreake!!!

Regards

 

Mick

[fuzzyduck]

http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?37390-Access-to-the-river-wreake-leicestershire&highlight=wreake

 

I think getting sight of the act of abandonment might be a good idea.

 

Otherwise, a mass navigation sounds like a good plan.

Edited October 11, 2012 by fuzzyduck

[fuzzyduck]

I've made contact with the Song of the Paddle folks, not to get them interested in any kind of mass navigation, but to hopefully share findings on the right of navigation. Also owning a canoe, I'm interested in their assertion they have the right to navigate any river, a sorte by Kayak may definitely be on the cards.

[fuzzyduck]

As Anonymous said "Pools closed" The abandonment act seems to comprehensively remove the right of Navigation as asserted by Richard and Mick. Patricks comments earlier in the thread appear to be incorrect.

 

Section 3. From or after the first day of August one thousand eight hundred and seventy-severn the nagigation will be closed to traffic, and all rights of way or user, and other rights in reference thereto or in connection, shall become extinguished on and after such day.

 

A question to the knowledgable... Does this mean its going to take another act of parliament to reopen this canal?

Edited October 13, 2012 by fuzzyduck

[Le Velocette Man]

Greetings,

 

Not sure if a parliamentary act is exactly what's required. Maybe one of the more academic types could put us straight. In Melton the riparian owners are,for the most part, the Town Estate people, or to give them their correct title - Feffees of the Town Estate. We(MOWS)have fostered a good rappore with them to the extent that we share a boat, which they use to do bridge repairs etc. With their permission we can cruise and maintain the ring around the parks and the stretch down to Eye kettleby lock, a total of about 3 miles.Recently we staged a "Pork Pie Paddle" which was well attended. The scouts in Melton already have a canoeing section and we repaired their launching steps at the time we were building our slipway. They too are now one of our "friends of the river". At the Syston end the farming brothers who own the fields along the cossington side are skiing mates of our MOWS secretary, who were very interested when he told them that the average narrowboat pays about £1500 in moorings each year! And so it goes on....the woods above the railway bridge are owned by the stables at the top of the bank. With permission we cleared the footpaths and tidied the whole area - another friend made.

If you think back 40 years tons of waterways were disused and abandoned, most by act of parliament. The Huddersfield, AKA "the impossible restoration", the Erewash, Rochdale, 40 miles of the Kennet and Avon and most of Birmingham were all but gone. But it didn't stop people fighting to get them back working. And now look, all back in use and being enjoyed by a new generation of leisure user.

 

We should all be able to see the bigger picture and strive to put the Melton Mowbray Navigation back on the map.

(May need a lie down now in a dark room!)

 

Mick

[Le Velocette Man]

Hi FD

Sorry for the slow reply to your e-mail. I use my work address and don't get to check it as often as I would like.

In answer, no we don't have the act, but are searching for the company minutes. the 1877 ones should make interesting reading and sense of what inference the impending act had on the users. We have 1947 photographic evidence of farmers moving grain on the Wreake by boat (a sort of punt) and one or two afferdavits of users who have used it by boat and canoe. This is the type of evidence you need before going to court.

Any such evidence can be sent to the MOWS secretary (details on website).

Mick

[Le Velocette Man]

To all you Wreake explorers, just a reminder that the AGM of the Melton and Oakham waterways Society, takes place at the Sysonby Knoll Hotel, Asfordby Road, Melton, this Saturday 10 November at 10.30am. Our guest speaker is Lynne Berry OBE, Deputy Chair of the new Canal and River Trust (Formerly British Waterways).Hope to see some of you there. Free refreshments after the meeting. You do not have to be a member to attend.

 

Alternately why not view our Brand new website at WWW.meltonwaterways.org.uk ?

 

Regards

Mick Clowes

Chairman MOWS

[fuzzyduck]

Mick unfortunately I will not be able to attend as I'll be in the dinghy of death (of death) buzzing down the Soar.

 

I hope it goes well.

[Le Velocette Man]

Fuzzy and any other interested parties

Not sure if you are aware but due to certain financial irregularities (I'll leave it at that)DEFRA or more specifically their minions the EA have been advised by government to "lose" their navigable waterways to save money. This means that in the near future these will be transferred to the new Canal and River Trust. The Wreake does not yet fall in the "Navigable" catagory, but more the "once navigable in with a good chance of restoration" bracket. Our recent AGM speaker was Lynne Berry OBE who is deputy chair of C.A.R.T and the question was raised as to how the Wreake becomes recognised as restoration friendly,and therfore transferred across to C.A.R.T where opinions on navigation are pro rather than anti and restoration money is available.She has agreed to do what she can by talking to members of council. Mows will lobby and press for this change A.S.A.P watch this space.

Mick Clowes Chairman MOWS

 

Ps

Glad you like the new bridge - it's only taken 12 years to organise!!

[oboat]

Hi FD

Just for everyones information, the County Council contractors, Tomlinson, commenced work on the rebuilding of the Wreake End Footbridge last week.

They have started on the Cossington side, putting in some posts to support the ramp there. I presume they will duplicate this on the Fosse Way side ,with the main section of the bridge to be swung in after. They have gained acess through the field off meadow lane, giving a clear run to the corner nearest the bridge. When complete it should have ,according to their drawings 2.4m clearance over the middle 5m. Despite the fact that they intend (for the time being)to leave the centre pillar of the old bridge, this will mean that for the first time in over 135 years boats will be able to access the Melton Mowbray Navigation. Whether its legal to do so is another matter, but for now i'm just pleased that ten years of petitioning cajoling and pleading by MOWS has paid off. Disabled people too will benefit as wheelchairs can now cross, so everyones a winner! How long the brick pillar stands is a moot point as 15 tons of narrowboat takes some stopping! oops!

I do hope some of our readers can make the opening ceremony (details when I get them).

Regards

Mick

 

Now that the new bridge is in. What news on the centre post of the old bridge? You said the CC HAD no plans for its removal. To my way of thinking not taking it out will leave the CC or the contractor open for a compensation claim. Do the CC realise this fact? Evan if they don't feel liable it will still cost them fighting it. More than just taking it out when the contractor has plant on site.

No word on the MOWS site re its removal. Or a boating event at the opening.

If a steel boat knocks it over it will be an evan bigger hazard. Not all boats are steel.

Edited March 28, 2013 by oboat

[Le Velocette Man]

Oboat

 

Now the new bridge is in the old centre pillar has been used to display a "no entry" sign. There are also floats supporting a chain across the mouth indicating navigation is not possible at the moment.

However, and I cannot say to much at the moment, a local landowner has plans to extract gravel from his field further up the Wreake,and move this to the gravel plant at Wanlip (which he also owns) The most eco-friendly way will be by boat and he will press for this, meaning any bridge obstructions will have to be removed. His later plans could involve turning the pits left behind into a marina. The whole area is close to being adopted as the sixth "hub" in the Grand Union/Soar parternership headed by Sir Peter Soulsby. Watch this space.

 

Mick Clowes

Chairman MOWS

[oboat]

Thanks Mick. Thats very interesting.

On the face of it, that all sounds very positive. But one has to ask, who put the chain in & why? Was it the CC trying to avoid a claim or is somebody trying to make a claim for river/navigation rights? I still find it negligent (for the CC) not to remove all the redundant bridgework particularly if a RON exists.

Returning to the positive. Can I see funding on the horizon for a new lock ? or indeed other works of community benefit ?

[oboat]

Oboat

 

Now the new bridge is in the old centre pillar has been used to display a "no entry" sign. There are also floats supporting a chain across the mouth indicating navigation is not possible at the moment.

However, and I cannot say to much at the moment, a local landowner has plans to extract gravel from his field further up the Wreake,and move this to the gravel plant at Wanlip (which he also owns) The most eco-friendly way will be by boat and he will press for this, meaning any bridge obstructions will have to be removed. His later plans could involve turning the pits left behind into a marina. The whole area is close to being adopted as the sixth "hub" in the Grand Union/Soar parternership headed by Sir Peter Soulsby. Watch this space.

 

Mick Clowes

Chairman MOWS

Well Mick

 

Just had a look back at this item. Any news on what is going on in this area? or any other ?

[carlt]

Well Mick

 

Just had a look back at this item. Any news on what is going on in this area? or any other ?

Sadly Fuzzyduck doesn't post here any more you could pm him on the Dawncraft forum....Clicky.

[johnlillie]

as a member of Syston town council I have been asked to get involved on the council's behalf to liase with the society, as I have some history with waterways. I am looking forward very much to finding out what the latest is, and will update where possible on this forum

[Theo]

as a member of Syston town council I have been asked to get involved on the council's behalf to liase with the society, as I have some history with waterways. I am looking forward very much to finding out what the latest is, and will update where possible on this forum

Thanks, John.

 

Do you know about www.meltonwaterways.org.uk?

 

I built the site but it has been a bit static recently, apart from the newsletter downloads having been added. If you hear of any developments could you let me know, please? I am no longer "on the spot" as I am CCing these days.

 

Nick