BOATS TO GO

TALES OF THE RIVER BANK

HSBC STAFF ‘PITCH IN’ TO CLEAN LEICESTER’S WATERWAYS

Volunteers from HSBC will be exchanging a day at one of the world’s largest banks for their local riverbank next week as they donate their time to brighten up a section of the River Soar in Leicester.

The group of around 20 volunteers, who will be supported by staff from British Waterways, will be working around Limekiln Lock adjacent to Abbey Park on Tuesday 2^nd June. They will be using their time to repaint the lock, remove litter from the towpath and clear rubbish and floating debris from the river.

The volunteer’s efforts will provide a timely boost to the lock in time for boaters arriving for the city’s annual Riverside Festival taking place on 6^th and 7^th June.

The activity forms part of the HSBC Community Challenge in which management trainees are tasked with implementing a project based around the themes of environment, education and community benefit.

British Waterways’ acting general manager Sean McGinley said; “We’re looking forward to welcoming HSBC staff to the riverside. Their dedication, commitment and enthusiasm will directly benefit both wildlife and visitors to the river.

Volunteers have an important role to play in the future of the waterways and we want to encourage more organisations, large and small, as well as individuals and community groups to take an active role”.

HSBC management trainee Abby Clayton said; "This is a great opportunity to get involved in the local community and understand how these volunteer days can make a big difference to the local environment and community. It also gives us an opportunity to meet with other Management Trainees who work in the East Midlands as we rarely get the time to come together as a group , community projects like this definitely bring all the business departments together. We are really looking forward to the projects and can't wait to get started.”

The volunteer activity will be followed by a schools event on 25^th June in which staff from HSBC and British Waterways will help children from the Westgate School learn about the River Soar and it’s wildlife with a boat trip and fun pond dipping exercises

Newport , Wales  to Host 2010 IWA National Trailboat Festival

The Inland Waterways Association is pleased to announce that the venue for the 2010 IWA National Trailboat Festival will be at Newport, Wales on the Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canal. It will run over the Spring Bank Holiday between Saturday 29 May and Monday 31 May. 

The Festival is to be Hosted by the Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust, and is being marketed as the Welsh Waterways Festival 2010.

The organisers have the full support of Newport City Council who have financially supported the volunteers who have rebuilt the slipway at Bettws Lane and spent the last 3 months scrub bashing and clearing sections of the canal above Bettws lane Lock.

The Festival will be sited at Kimberley Park at Malpas offering over 2 miles of open water canal. On the main line there will be the Gwastad (No 34), Bettws (No 35) and Ty Ffynnon (No36) locks available to use, together with Lock no 2 (The first on the lower Crumlin Arm).

An interesting aside to this Festival is the availability of a second smaller site at Fourteen Locks (Rogerstone) offering a further ¼ mile cruise and restored lock. Boat owners who are interested will be welcome to visit this site after the main Festival is finished. Arrangements can be made for any boaters wanting to extend their week to visit other areas of the Mon & Brec.

The Trust has garnered success at generating public support for restoration in Wales. Having previously played host to the festival in 2000 and 2004, this resulted in the formation of The All Party Waterway Group at the Welsh Assembly Government and the British Waterways document for Welsh Canals “Waterways for Wales”.

The 2010 Festival marks an important milestone for the City of Newport and falls in the year that they will be playing host to the Ryder Cup. The Festival is also seen as an important vehicle with which to promote the Canal, its potential to local politicians and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Trust plans to use two trip boats over three days for public trips

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FUTURE OF FOXTON LOCKS

A public consultation into the future of the Foxton Locks site was launched by the Foxton Locks Partnership. The proposals focus on the restoration of the original Victorian boat lift to full working condition plus supporting facilities which include a new visitor centre, children’s play area and camp site.

The launch event was well attended by interested parties and local people, with many positive comments on the proposed improvements.

Attending the launch, James Clifton, British Waterways’ Regeneration Manager and Chair of the Partnership said “We were delighted with the attendance and level of support for the proposals, which will be developed in more detail. Although the financial calculations aren’t finished, initial findings suggest the scheme could be commercially viable, provided we can raise the necessary external funds. The study concludes at end of July when we will consider the best way forward.”

“We are keen to have your views on our plans, which can be viewed at www.waterscape.com/foxton. The closing date for comments is the 9 June.”

This study is being carried out by Britton McGrath and is funded by East Midlands Tourism, British Waterways, Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, Inland Waterways Association, Old Union Canal Society and Harborough District Council