Northern Navigation News Issue 13, Autumn 2014

The Inland

WaterwaysAssociation

The

NorthernNavigation News

Newsletter of the North Riding Branch of theInland Waterways Association

Issue 13 - Autumn 2014

Selby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina are

proud sponsors of Northern Navigation News

The York Arts Barge Festival, which took place from 15th-17th Augustin Tower Gardens, York

N NN

NORTHERN NAVIGATION NEWSAUTUMN 2014

SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE YORK 50+ FESTIVAL

DIARY OF EVENTS

INFORMATION FAIR

WEDNESDAY 10thSEPTEMBER 2014,THE GUILDHALL,YORK 10.00am

York Older Peoples' Assembly holds an annual Information Fairin the Guildhall, York, starting at 10.00am. This has proved sopopular with local charities, community groups, and statutorybodies, that it is now in the other central York venues: theSpurriergate Centre, All Saints, Pavement and St Sampson'sCentre. The stalls are largely aimed at services and provision forthe over fifties. However, there is plenty of interest for people ofall ages! North Riding Branch (IWA) are having a stall in theGuildhall with information about the branch and its activities, aswell as recruiting Lock Keepers forCastle Mills Lock, which providesaccess to the River Foss and isoperated by the branch for privateboaters and charities.

If you are interested in helping withthe stall, becoming a Lock Keeper,or joining the IWA , please e-mail

[email protected] phone Tony Martin on: 07588-236-597.

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Photo: Sue Lister

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HISTORY WALK ALONG THERIVER FOSS

SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER2014

On Saturday 27th September 2014meeting at Monk Bar at 2.00pm, JohnOxley, the City of York Archaeologist, is leading a history walkalong the River Foss from the end of Foss Island Road to TheCastle by Castle Museum, York. The walk covers the history of theRiver Foss from the Ice Age to the present day.

CRUISING ON MOONRIVER

SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2014

On Saturday 27th September 2014 at Marygate Landing, Yorkthe broadbeam, 'Moonriver' is cruising along the River Ousebetween the Scarborough Bridge and Millennium Bridge from10.00am to 1.00pm (finishing at 1.00pm).

Donations welcome.

For Information on both, please e-mail:[email protected] or phone 0742-806-4863

TALL SHIP SAILING - THE JUBILEE TRUST

TUESDAY 30thSEPTEMBER 2014

On Tuesday 30th September2014 at 7.00pm in St Olave'sChurch Hall, Marygate Lane,York (nearest car park St Mary's– pay at any time of day).

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Photo: Sue Lister

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Rowena Field and Adrian Lovett are leading an illustrated talkon the Jubilee Trust's tall ship cruising for both disabled andable-bodied people. They have been on cruises in British coastalwaters, the Mediterranean and so on.

A visually stunning presentation.

£3.00 entry fee (including tea and coffee).

For more information e-mail [email protected] or0742-806-4863.

LATEST NEWS

IMPROVED SIGNAGE ON THE RIVER OUSE

Since I edited NNN-12, there has been a small development inkeeping visiting boaters up to date on what's happening on thewaterways near York (The River Ouse, the River Foss, The Ure,Ripon Canal etc). There is no information points provided by theCanal and River Trust beyond the tidal locks at Naburn. Visitingboaters have requested that we look into this. I had a meetingwith Sam Wheatley, the Manager of Starr in the City Inn byLendal Bridge – the boaters' facilities saga is ongoing, and therewill be a result in the near future – asking if they would be ableto donate a stretch of wall for a lockable cabinet containinginformation. Sam consulted his Directors and they agreed tomake a stretch of wall available next to the CRT waterpoint.

The aluminium boxes are over £800.00 (including VAT) and weare now in the process of raising the money. There have beentwo donations offered so far. We are talking to the two statutorybodies that regulate the waterways through York, York CityCouncil (CYC) and the Canal and River Trust (CRT) about financeand information. The North Riding Branch (IWA) will keep thebox full of information and properly maintained.

So, literally watch this space!

THEAUTOMATICSLUICE ATCASTLEMILLS LOCK

As you can see fromthe photos, thenew automaticsluice is workingwell. We are closelymonitoring waterlevels in the RiverFoss, as the waterlevel in the middlereaches is low. Wehave a reading ofas little as 11 inchesby Foss Island Road,but 14 feet in thelock pound itself.

Boats are mooring in the basin at the rear of the Mason's Arms,York.

At Castle Mills in York there was a longstanding problemregulating the level of the River Foss, with the old guillotinesluice that was often jammed by debris. At high levels floodingcould occur and at prolonged low levels there could be problemswith building foundations and also for fish, as well as restrictingaccess for boats. So in 2013 the Environment Agency installed atilting design that monitors levels, adjusts accordingly and can'tjam - well worth a visit just to marvel at the ingenuity!

Levels are now being maintained much more constantly thanpreviously. Having said that, there haven’t been any floods or

North Riding IWA member Keith Chapmanwith the new sluice at Castle Mills Lock

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The new weir seen from Castle Mills Bridge (Photo: Keith Chapman)

any need to close the Foss Barrier immediately downstream sincethe new structure went in. The real test will be when floodingoccurs. There is provision for remotely-controlled manualoverride, for instance if a flood surge is anticipated but not yetarrived. If all else fails, you might still see a couple of people usingmuscle power!

An unusual occasion for override was lowering the Foss level toassist a police search; it was restored within a day.

The old weir is in its fully open (raised) position and now plays nopart in regulating Foss levels. It will remain in place until the newstructure has been fully tested under flood conditions and, ifeverything works as expected, it will be removed, probably in2015.

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There is facility for an Eel pass in place, though not yetfunctioning. Watch this space.

Mark Fuller - Environment Agency

NAVIGATIONLIGHTS

Boaters are advised to bevigilant when out at night -there have been severalinstances of smaller craftseen on the Ouse in recentweeks without navigationlights after dark. Fortunatelythere were no larger boatson the river at the time. Keith Chapman

YORK ARTS BARGE FESTIVAL WEEKEND

A lively festival was held between 15th and 17th August inTowerGardens nexttoSkeldergateBridge, as afundraiserfor the YorkArts Bargeproject. Theprogrammeof eventsincluded ajazz band,

Arts Barge organizer Steve Blakeman at thefestival

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Festival-goers also enjoyed the craft stalls (photo: KeithChapman)

children’s face painting and craft stalls.

The event was also able to offer a chance for some of York’smost talented young singer song-writers, as well as the ArtsBarge Community Band, a ukelele playalong, a family singingworkshop and a capoeira demonstration.

The Arts barge itself is a community collective of artists, musiciansand performers who want to create a new performance space inthe city.

The programme was organized by Steve Blakeman and anexcellent weekend was had by all.

River Foss Societyformed in 1973 to protect and promote enjoyment of the

river from Pond Head (Oulston) to Blue Bridge in York

where it joins the River Ouse.

Please contact the Secretary for the the current

Newsletter with the updated Programme or see the

website. At least one walk and one other event (talk,

visit, litter pick, etc) are organised each month until

October.

Annual subscriptions :- Individual £8.00, Concession

£6.00, etc. Contacts :-

Secretary – Tel no 01904 760871, E mail

[email protected]

Membership – Tel no 01904 768071, E mail

[email protected]

www.riverfosssociety.co.uk

1111111111Please note that all views expressed in “Northern Navigation News” are those ofthe authors and may not represent those of the Inland Waterways Association.

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LETTERS

We want to hear from you - good or bad, it’s your newsletterand we want to hear from you. Whether written or e-mail wewant to know what your feelings are on all sorts of issues. Soplease make our next newsletter interesting to others by beinginvolved in its letters column. Your comments will make it moreinteresting to our friends to read.

Keith Chapman

Letters to the editor

Address for letters: IWA North Riding Branch, 69 Clarence Street,York YO31 7EL

E-mail: [email protected]

The crew of the Jubilee Trust’s “Tenacious” (see page 4)Photo: Adrian Lovett

Viking Marine (Goole) LtdMooring & Yacht Services

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Guy, his wife and sonpurchased Ambience CaféBar (now Bistro Guy) inSeptember 2011 as theirfirst business. They livein York centre and have areal love for the city.

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Guy and his family feel proud to be part of the Gillygate community and to beable to offer another great place to eat on this wonderful, historical street.

Guy is passionate about using and supporting local suppliers where ever possi-ble and cooking with fresh ingredients. We feel very lucky to have a countywhere there is so much fantastic produce to use! There is a specials board whichchanges regularly with seasonal dishes. There are delicious homemade cakes andfluffy scones. Bistro Guy is open as a café Mon-Sat during day time BistroThursday and Friday nights and on Sunday we serve roast and we also cater for

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