Canal Keeper

The Canalways/Waterways Access Project website has been revamped and given a new look, with cross-browser compatibility (hopefully!) Its been tested on 5 different browsers and given a much simpler interface, and was uploaded to the server today.

See CanalwaysWAP

PS Dont forget to see my main blog: Canalkeeper at Tumblr!

Many of us use blogs, and indeed who would be without a blog? Some of us find it tiring writing blogs though, but there's a new way of keeping things short and simple. Thats by using a tumblelog. What is a tumblelog? Its like a blog, but with less fuss. The interface is simpler to use and short posts are the order of the day. Tumblr began the first ever tumblelog and canalkeeper now has a tumblelog:

See Canalkeeper at Tumblr!

I note with interest BW (London) have issued a leaflet on the London Olympic Waterways (aka the Bow Back Rivers.) Available from here

Its quite an interesting step, and not one without surprise. I would have thought it would have been done sooner, but anyhow its here.

The leaflet has just one important picture (that is discounting the small pictures of a man, a kingfisher and Three Mills at the top of the page)of boats with a lock in the background. To the uninitated it might represent a scene on the Bow Back Rivers, but to people in the know, its actually a picture of Old Ford lock on the Regents Canal. I hardly think this qualifies as a 'London Olympic Waterways' image.

Sure there's Old Ford Locks (plural) on the Lee Navigation and almost in the heart of the Olympics site. These and Old Ford lock (non-plural) are quite distinct structures in very separate locations. BWL should have used a picture of Old Ford Locks, or failing that had one instead of the attractive overbridge at the entrance to the Pudding Mill River - or even City Mill Lock now that it is complete with new gates and surroundings.

The 'river' again is in the news - that eponymous waterway people often call a river (but is actually a canal with bits of river in between) is the subject of a BBC investigation tonight (Friday 16th Feb.) See BBC TV website

David Akinsanya has kept a boat on the Lee Navigation for three years and in those years he claims the river (oops navigation sorry David!) has got stinkier. And the main problem? The Lee is a open sewer! Its not surprising really to me I've known it to resemble a cesspit at times - the brown stuff is sometimes all too obvious as it floats southwards in large clumps. I've got some nice pics of these specialised floatilas at the spot where the waterway passes the Markfield recreation grounds.

David says of the Lee - "Basically this waterway is becoming a communal lavatory and I'm living on it!"

I know the London Waterways Commission has discussed the sewage problem on the Lee, especially with reference to a overflow at Old Ford. However, David's findings confirm what some of us suspected - that the sewage is also coming from further up the navigation. And whats more, its getting worser and worser.

At this rate by 2012 we'll be hosting the worlds' greatest stinklympics!

Del Brenner of the Regents Network had a few things to say about the BW/TfL planned works that are due to begin in February and March (depending on location) having been deferred from a start this month. He claims that the towpath works are nothing more than a publicity gimmick, and adds that "British Waterways is glad to grab the money. It's more of a money-making scheme than to ensure safety."

I feel that the problem of towpath cycling havent really been examined in sufficient depth, despite the Regents canal Cycle Safety Audit which was released last September. The issue is not one of control but one of cyclists continuing to ignore any measure of safety or slowing down for walkers. I do think that safety needs to be stressed far more strongly and welcome Del's words in which he says "We would welcome safety issues being highlighted in a sensible and sustained way."

Ham & High

The high winds (gales obviously) caused much damage around the country's canal system. The Mon & Brec (or Brecknock and Abergavenny or whatever) suffered high numbers of tree falls as well as a major breach. The Llangollen and Monty suffered tree falls also and so did many other canals, causing people to express the concern that they'd never known so many emergency stoppages in such a short time. And all this in the midst of the campaign against the DEFRA cuts.

London's canals had relatively few problems, the worst affected appears to be Little Venice where a tree fell down and blocked part of the channel as well as damaging the front of a boat. Rubbish was also another thing, canal keeper found a large sheet of metal covering on the towpath by Maida Hill tunnel. It was taken to Little Venice and disposed of on BWL's boat 'Spellbrook.' 

Anyone wonder why Spellbrook? Its the name of one of the furthest away locks on the London Canal network. There's Spellbrook, then Twyford, and South Mill locks before Bishops Stortford. BWL has a new boat called  'Pride of Newark' - now thats interesting why did they not rename it when it was transferred from the Trent Navigation?

It seems Little Venice is getting a new bus route. Well thats not quite true. Its actually an extension of the 46 route. It once ran on to Kensal Rise via the 6/187 routeing but currently terminates at Warwick Avenue. The buses stand over between turns by the Monsoons roundabout in Harrow Road.

New stops have been put up in Warwick Avenue, one adjacent to Rembrandt Gardens. I have tried to find out when, and where the route is being extended to - without any success. Its possible it is being extended to Paddington now that the new Bishop Bridge is open (there was talk sometime back of extending bus services over the new bridge.)

The 46 will be a boon for visitors to Little Venice - the pool cant be missed and visitors looking for a bus stop will find it easily - especially as none of the current bus stops are signposted.

Otters are set to make a return to the Lee Navigation. Because the Lee navigation is "a series of artificial waterways" (the Lea Rivers Trust is spot on here!) a number of otter ramps have been installed at strategic positions to help the otters make their way up the Lee. See East London Advertiser

Those City Road towers are in the news again. The architect, Rab Bennetts, has defended his designs against the likes of Del Brenner and co. Bennetts claims that the towers would be at the far end of the basin alongside City Road "where there are already other tower blocks." He claims that the towers would not have such a big impact inthat location. I beg to differ. I dont suppose Mr Bennett lived in City Road for years (and I dont suppose he ever knew Graham Palmer either when Graham had retired from the WRG and was working at a noted City Road insurance company!) I lived in City Road for years, I know the area well, and I know for a fact that the towers will be great big damn eyesores whether they are viewed from along City Road itself or from the canal. Just imagine the view looking east along City Road from the Angel!

Its the perspective that counts and dear Mr Bennetts, whats more your plans are gong to block the view of noted structures such as the church in Old Street and Tower 42, the Barbican etc. These buildings are suitably far away enough to maintain a perspective. The 'towers' you speak of in the area are those great big UGLY council flats - which should be pulled down - they are a great big eyesore which ever way one looks (thats up and down the City Road, and from the canal). Your plans will only serve to create a confusing and incoherent mass of tower blocks in the area. See Islington Tribune

Up and down the City Road, its about the biggest (not the best) thats the way the money goes. Pop goes Mr Bennetts!

Dont forget my self published blog

Today Canal Keeper published his new blog for the first time. It is a self-published blog, enabling him to work on, and monitor, his wesbites at the same time. The new blog carries the sad news that Alex & Jan Prowse are leaving Little Venice.

See http://canalways.cabspace.com/canalkeeper/blog.html