43 Oaks Drive, Colchester,
Essex CO3 3PS

E-mail: alan-faulkner at lineone.net

In the EASTERLING February 2012 issue...
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PROGRESS ON THE NORTH WALSHAM & DILHAM As members will know there was a major problem north of Bacton Wood Lock where the canal had been breached, thus severing the route up to Swafield. At the same time the water in this northern stretch was diverted leaving the bed dry at least up to Royston Bridge. Indeed when the Environmental Study was carried out in the mid 1990s the lock and the canal northwards was omitted as at that time the problems of surmounting the obstruction seemed too great to overcome. Following its acquisition of the canal from Swafield down to Ebridge, the "Old Canal Company" has been able to carry out works as a prelude to re-watering this stretch and hence restore water to the mill at Bacton Wood. Not only has this work included the re-building of Bacton Wood Lock but it has also seen the filling-in of the breach with the water being piped under the line of the canal. As a result much of the effort of the work parties has been to clear the very overgrown section of the canal from Bacton Wood northwards to Royston Bridge. This has revealed that some piling will now be needed at the former wharf serving the old Wherry Inn. At its meeting on 24 November Council agreed make a £1,000 contribution to purchase materials for this necessary work which will be carried out by the volunteers and will be assisted by the owners of the Wherry House. At the same time many of the tools used by the volunteers are nearing the end of their useful lives and Council has agreed that the balance of the £1,000 can be used to help replace these tools

Our pictures show (left) the cleared stretch of canal bed near Royston Bridge and (right) the canal just south of Bacton Wood Bridge with the green ex British Waterways dredger "Weasel" in the background round the corner. (Pictures courtesy of Ivan Cane)

BEDFORD WATERSPACE STUDY As reported briefly in our last issue, this study was launched in August having been commissioned by Bedford Borough Council and the Environment Agency and carried out by Richard Glen Associates of Staverton in Northamptonshire. It covers the river Great Ouse, divided into nine sections, from Bromham Old Bridge, 5 miles upstream of Bedford Town Bridge, down through Bedford to Willington Lock 6 miles downstream. Each section covers six priority themes - 1: The River as a Destination; 2 - Riverside Communities; 3 - Access Opportunities; 4 - Bedford: Welcome Ashore, 5 - Waterspace for Everyone; 6 Navigational improvements This review concentrates, as one would expect, mainly on the navigational issues. 1: Bromham Old Bridge to Box End: 2: Box End to Kempston Weir: 3: Kempston Weir to Queen's Park: 4: Queens Park to Bedford Town Bridge: 5: Bedford Town Bridge to Newnham: 6: Newnham to Priory Country Park: 7: Priory Country Park to Castle Mill Lock: 8: Castle Mill Lock to Hill Farm: 9: Hill Farm to Willington Lock:

HERE AND THERE

WEED GROWTH: As reported in our last edition the river Slea experienced excessive weed growth last summer and this spread to the River Witham itself. Here it would normally be flushed out through the Grand Sluice by the normal flow of water, but with a much reduced flow the weed spread right across the main river, interfering with navigation. Despite effort by contractors the growth was such that the Boston Rowing club's national event from Boston to Lincoln could not take place.

FENS WATERWAYS LINK: The facilities at Hubbert's Bridge, over 3½ miles from Boston, are to be improved with the work scheduled to be completed by the summer. A slipway is to be provided together with a water supply, pump out and chemical toilet disposal facilities with an electrical supply and new sewerage connection whilst additional picnic tables are to be provided close to the Wheatsheaf Inn.

CAMBRIDGE PUNT WARS: Touts have been banned from the river Cam in Cambridge in an attempt to end the escalating "punt wars". New regulations have been imposed when it was found there were 40 illegal punters targeting tourists in the city. The Cam Conservators has ordered that from 1 April 2012 only licensed independent punters and established companies can operate from six official stations and a river bailiff has been installed to enforce the regulations.

ADVANCE NOTICE. The Annual General Meeting will be on Sunday 29 April based on the Claydon Country House Hotel just off the A.14 road to the west of Ipswich and will be themed on the Ipswich & Stowmarket Navigation.

. BROADS NOTES AND NEWS NEW BRIDGES: Following extensive consultations the National Trust is replacing the aged swing bridge over the Thurne giving access to its Heigham Holmes reserve in Ferrygate Lane, Martham. The new bridge will be similar to the current structure but will give improved safety, operation and maintenance. The work is being carried out by the Jackson Civil Engineering Group who started necessary piling work at the beginning of October and should be finished early in 2012. EBRIDGE & BRIGGATE MILLS: Ebridge Mill is being offered for sale by Arnolds of Norwich at a guide price of £240,000, meanwhile at Briggate there is growing concern that North Norfolk District Council may take over the mill there and demolish it as it is deemed unsafe. This would be a major blow to the hamlet of Briggate where residents have been tidying up the site and hope to use the building for the community. One problem is that the owner, believed to be a Michael Howard, could not be traced but there is a possibility he may now have been located, although it is not uncertain if this will help.

ALBION's RESTORATION By Roger Watts It was in summer 2000 that my head peered over this particular wall as for nearly a year no one had appeared who wanted to take on the responsibility for the welfare of Albion. My offer was snapped up! A sub-committee was swiftly formed to concentrate talent & to spread the load and arrangements for an initial survey were made. Paul Reynolds, a respected local boat-builder and Trust member joined the sub-committee and swiftly led the boat survey, with Paul doing the surveying whilst I recorded what he discovered....

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