On Wednesday 9th July 2014, from 10.00am – 2.00pm, you can join the Inland Waterways Association West Country Branch at Bridgwater Docks to tidy up the area surrounding the canal.

Volunteer Mike Slade said “Volunteers meet here regularly to keep the area smart and tidy. You can take part in this contribution to the local community whilst enjoying time outside this summer. Volunteers are meeting outside The Admirals Landing, The Docks, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3E at 10am and working to around 2pm.”

“Volunteers are advised to wear suitable clothes and be prepared for the weather. Under-18s welcome but must be supervised by a responsible adult. If you are interested in getting involved do not hesitate to get in touch for more information.”

The future of the canal

The future of the Bridgwater-Taunton canal was raised by Westover councillors recently as they undertook to carry out a community consultation on what was wanted.

Cllr Brian Smedley, who attended his first meeting this week as a Sedgemoor rep on the Somerset Waterways Advisory Committee, said “The SWAC group has been in existence for sometime looking at ways to improve the Canal with ever dwindling resources and things don’t seem to be getting any better. The aspirations of the IWA are to get the canal back functioning again with navigation and enhanced use for tourists as well as the current users. The reality is that different agencies are working together to make their own contributions where possible and so we have seen the recent towpath improvements, most recently extending through the Westover ward between Albert street and Hamp bridge. This has been achieved  with funding from the DfT Sustainable Transport Fund and managed by Somerset County Council.”

One issue that has caused surprise is the failure to provide ‘mixed use’ signage designating both pedestrian and cyclist access on the footpaths. County Councillor for Bridgwater South, Leigh Redman, said this was a concern to him but it was ‘county policy that footpaths had to be a certain width and include seperated pedestrian and cyclist lanes’. “This has caused a major logistical problem in Hamp Ward alongside Brownes Pond where the footpath is clearly too narrow for two lanes and runs alongside a ditch yet elsewhere in the country council’s manage by not operating this restrictive policy”. There are plans for cycle paths to extend from Bridgwater on to Dunball as part of the Bridgwater Way.

Serious funding issues

The maintenance work of the Canal falls within the remit of the Canal and River Trust, which has also been involved in flood mitigation, recovery and assistance. However, there were serious funding issues for the future as although SCC, SDC and Taunton Deane have contributed £46,000 for 2014-15 it is unlikely that this level of funding will be maintained.

Cllr Smedley said “It’s clear that there will be a gap between aspiration and reality and that gap will be defined by what funding can be brought in. On the one hand we can rely on volunteers to do the great work they’ve been doing, cleaning up, picking litter,lending a hand and attempt to keep the maintenance costs to a minimum or we can make a serious effort to attract funding. To get the canal back to a navigable standard, dredging and weed clearance is a priority but one which seems currently unaffordable.”

At the County meeting Cllr Smedley undertook to raise the issue as a priority at Augusts Bridgwater Town Council meeting where councillors and members of the public can have their say on the future of their canal. The meeting will be on Thursday 7th August 7.30 Bridgwater Town Hall.

Winding it’s way through the Westover ward of Bridgwater and much neglected in recent years, is the Bridgwater and Taunton canal. This vastly underused resource surely deserves some attention paid to it. With this in mind Westover ward councillors brought together enthusiastic officers of the Inland Waterways Association and Sedgemoor Corporate Director Doug Bamsey to brain storm some ideas and see what exactly might be possible.

 Background

The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal runs upstream for 14.2 miles from Bridgwater Dock to Taunton and was restored in the early 1990’s. However, the Ship Lock and the Canal at Bridgwater, which were built to give access from the River Parrett to Bridgwater Dock, were not restored, thus denying sea-going craft renewed access to both the Dock and the Canal.

The River Parrett Navigation extended to Thorney Mills (34.3 miles above Bridgwater Bar and 18.7 miles above the entrance to Bridgwater Dock) and both it and a number of tributaries, together with the short Westport Canal, were once navigable. Commercial navigation ceased around 1878 although small freighters still come upstream to Dunball Wharf (some 3.2 miles below Bridgwater Dock), and water-based leisure activities, such as those at Langport, currently make good use of the River.

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) believes that both the Canal and the River are under- utilised and hence undervalued assets of Bridgwater and that their development could create a major community asset for both the town and its surrounding areas. In particular, they consider that the development of the town’s waterways could bring the following:

• Increased boating and leisure activities on both the Canal and the River

• Additional tourism in the centre of Bridgwater and further upstream

• Enhanced levels of economic activity both within and beyond Bridgwater

The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal today

The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal is owned by the Canal & River Trust (CRT) and principally comprises the watercourse itself, the towpath, the locks and other structures. However, the Dock at Bridgwater is owned by Somerset County Council and leased to CRT. The Canal is used for a variety of purposes including boating, canoeing, fishing, cycling and walking; in addition water is supplied to Wessex Water. There are some 50 boats based on the canal of which approximately 30, of varying sizes are moored in Bridgwater Dock, a number of which are used for residential purposes. The maximum potential capacity of the Dock is some 60 boats.

Bob Abbot, Inland Waterways Association (IWA) Chairman says “The IWA believes that there would be considerable merit in developing and implementing a 5-year plan to enhance the Canal from Bridgwater Dock through to Standards Lock and thus to increase its attractiveness to existing and potential users, from both the local community and further afield. This would involve consultations with CRT, Local Authorities along the environmental corridor, IWA, canal and towpath user groups, the YMCA, boating societies and local community groups. It would have a clear aim of developing an agreed and affordable plan. Enhancements at Bridgwater Dock would complement and build on Bridgwater Vision’s Celebration Mile proposals.”

A key IWA aim is to replace the existing slipway at the north-east corner of the Dock with one that is considerably more user-friendly and capable of attracting trailboaters to use both the Dock and the Canal. Bob adds “Our target would be to have this in place well in time for a possible IWA sponsored Trailboat Festival to be held in Bridgwater at the Spring Bank Holiday in May 2019, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the reopening throughout of the Canal in 1994.”

Linking to the River Parret

For the longer term the IWA has suggested that a suitable lock should be planned for and built as part of the proposed tidal barrier as it is constructed. Bob Abbott says “The dimensions of the lock will need to be such as to allow sea-going craft up to an appropriate size to reach Bridgwater Town Bridge and moorings, and to permit smaller sea-going craft to use the River Parrett above Bridgwater and to access the Dock and thence Canal. Likewise, boats based on the Canal will be able to use the facilities in Bridgwater and access the River Parrett and the sea. The IWA recognises that the key to restoring navigation on the River Parrett lies in the approach taken to deal with the flood mitigation issues and the ability to both provide for and fund a suitable lock when the tidal barrier is constructed. The sight of sea-going craft on these two waterways in Bridgwater will, in our experience, help enhance the attractiveness of both the River Parrett and the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal as well as bringing worthwhile economic benefits to the town. “

The proposal to reopen the River Parrett to navigation from Bridgwater to Langport and reconnecting the River and Canal could create some 27 miles of environmental corridor and help facilitate the protection and migration of wildlife. Training opportunities in reconstruction and environmental heritage would also arise. The waterways will become more attractive not only to boaters based on the two waterways but to visiting sea-going craft, traditional narrowboats and trailboats. In the longer term there is potential scope to extend the navigable rivers much further within Somerset, thus making them attractive for boating holidays and a wide range of related recreational pastimes.

Bob Abbott concludes “Once the key decisions are taken on the future of navigation on the River Parrett it would be appropriate to prepare and implement a 5-10 year plan to develop the River, its structures and facilities and thus to enhance its use over time for both boating and leisure use. In the meantime steps should be taken to protect the existing riverside environment from any development which would not be in keeping with the evolving vision for the town and River. “

A way forward that involves the public

Cllr Brian Smedley outlined the projects that were underway or planned that related to the canal and its immediate setting saying “ There are numerous projects that can tie into our aspirations for the canal and these include the Meads Eco Park,the Celebration Mile, the Bridgwater Vision, the work done by residents and volunteers at Brownes Pond, the Bridgwater Way local Sustainable Transport Fund and the Flood Action Plan and these all provide the current opportunity for joined up thinking”

Doug Bamsey stressed that there were “ Severe limitations on Council budgets” and noting “the decisions Sedgemoor, Taunton Deane and Somerset County had made in recent times to reduce expenditure on the Canal” .

Cllr Kathy Pearce said “It is  important to ensure that there is public understanding of any projects that emerge for increasing the use of the canal as a recreational amenity, including the residents that border the docks. It is important to get their views and to have their support. “

All present agreed that having boats using the canal was a key outcome and recommended a 3 stage approach:

1. Short term ;- Works to allow boats to move along the waterway, which includes raising the water level.

2. Mid term;- A high profile Trail Boat event .

3. Long term;- Lock gates opened into the Parret.