Middle Level Waterways Users Committee

i) King's Dyke

Stanground Lock only minor housekeeping work has been required.

Dredging - plans are in hand to begin to cleanse/dc-silt the channel and improve navigation depth. The work is to be camed out in phases during winter periods so as to minimise interference with navigation and flora and fauna. It is initially proposed to address the length from Stanground Lock to Fields End Bridge during this winter 2004 and spring 2005.

Ashline Lock - repairs have been camed out to boundary fences.

ii) Whittlesey Dyke

Tidying of the material dredged from the southern bank, between Tunungtree Bridge and Angle Corner (junction with Bevill's Learn), has been completed. Some surplus spoil is being carted from the eastern end and used to make up the west bank of the adjacent Bevill's Learn.

iii) Bevill's Leam

Material that had been obtained from dredging along a low-lying eastern frontage downstream of Park Farm, as far as the junction with Whittlesey Dyke, has been incorporated into and raised the flood defence embankment.

Surplus material from dredging of Whittlesey Dyke is being carted to raise the northern end of the west bank between Angle Corner and Chapel Bridge.

iv) Old River Nene

Landing stages/moorings/fishing platforms - Construction of the several new private landing stages/ moorings/fishing platforms that had been requested, at Nene Parade, Whittlesey Road and Wheny Close, March. has not yet been progressed.

Development at Gaul Road, March - Draft proposals have been received for developing the land adjacent to the River to the west of the Town leading up to the bypass. They indicate landscaping works along the river frontage but no major 'aquatic' development ie- incorporation of the river into the proposed housing scheme. The plans are to be considered by the Local Planning Authority.

Marinas - No further details for a marina off the River Nene, at the junction with Low Corner (March Riverside), Upwell, have been received.

Creek Cottage to Old River Nene Junction (north side) - material dredged from this reach has been used to raise the original low embankment.

Twenty Foot Junction to Low Corner, Upwell - dredging has been carried out to gain material that will be incorporated into the low flood embankment when it has sufficiently dried.

v) Popham's Eau

Western reach - dredging is being planned to gain material for incorporation into the low northern flood embankment.

vi) Ramsey High Lode

No proposals have yet been received for the reconstruction of Sutton's moorings and riverside improvements at the Mill Basin, although the area is predominantly featured on plans for the major redevelopment of that part of Ramsey. The matter remains in the hands of the landowner and Ramsey Town and Huntingdonshire District Councils.

Material obtained from dredging the lower reach of the Lode, has been incorporated into the eastern embankment towards the junction with the Old River Nene.

vii) Forty Foot

Horseway Lock - low bathers have been erected alongside the deep lock pen in the interest of safety. An information board and safety notice have also been installed.

viii) Twenty Foot River

Clipson's Farm (Stags Holt) to Old River Nene Junction (north side) and Shepperson's Bridge to Old River Nene Junction (south side) - material for raising low embankments has been obtained by dredging. Some has been incorporated into the banks and the remainder will be shaped when it is suitable for re handling.

ix) Well Creek

The raised northern roadside embankment, between the Aqueduct and Nordelph, has been levelled to improve safety for ramblers and operation of machines.

Trees blown over by high winds, along March Riverside in July, were removed before navigation could be seriously disrupted.

Salters Lode Lock - as the Environment Agency did not have funds available at the moment to explore the possibility of serving the two navigations, perhaps by a single locking facility to the tidal river, and the project had not found early favour for inclusion in the Fenland Waterways Link project, an alternative joint study is being explored by IWA. Information on Salters Lode Lock has been passed to IWA's engineers, who are also to visit and discuss our existing arrangements later in October.

The Lock is to be closed during the winter while the approach channel is de-silted. The opportunity will also be taken to investigate improvements to the operation of the lower doors. The closure is planned from Monday 3rd January to Monday 21st March 2005.

Marmont Priory Lock housekeeping (i.e:- painting, etc.) is planned during the winter. This work will be carried out when the navigation closure is in place for the desilting and investigations at Salters Lode Lock.

Mulllicourt Bridge - the bridge has been fully restored following damage by overweight vehicle.

x) Main Drain

Batter trimming and bank levelling has been carned out during the summer along the west bank between Rungays and Middle Level bridges. Dredging, to obtain material for raising the eastern bank north of the Aqueduct, which had been intended during the summer, is to be carried out as soon as a suitable machine is available.

xi) Bank mowing

These operations commenced at the beginning of April with the cutting the tops of access strips only. Bank-side mowing began in July, with one MLC mower attending to the northern area and a contractor assisting in the south This work will continue throughout the System until the end of the year.

xii) Weed Clearance

Weed-cutting/removal operations began in the spring as growths demanded attention to clear the main navigation routes and drainage channels.

Two new weed boats (one dual purpose lifter-and-cutter and one lifter) were delivered to extend our current fleet to six boats. This should facilitate the weed clearing operations by enabling two gangs to operate on different watercourses at the same time.

i) Ramsey Hollow Bridge

The Peterborough Branch of IWA is arranging publicity and raising fund to raise this bridge.

ii) Navigation Bylaws

After an outstanding defmition of 'polluting matter' has been decided (hopefully this week), informal comments will be invited for the last time before MLC's byelaws are published.

iii) Boat passages

IWA are seeking to encourage members to explore the less used rivers of the Middle Level System, particularly those in the southern part of the system. Several years ago and in conjunction with the Sports Council, navigators, and particularly those using the system as a through route between the Nene and the Ouse, had been encouraged to restrict themselves to the Link Route and minimise passages into the southern area which was a prime and well used fishery. The aim was mainly to reduce conflict of interest and interference with the fishery. The Users' opinion as to whether such a policy is still applicable, and should or could be supported, will be sought.

iii) Headroom Gauge boards

Design of gauge boards that might usefully indicate the headroom under low bridges is being considered. (Example appended to minutes). The main concern with their application relates to the very small variation in the range of water level and the clarity of information that might usefully be indicated to boat skippers. To minimise collisions and thus maintain them in their installed positions, gauge boards should ideally be mounted on fixed structures and perhaps best on the bridges themselves. On an abutment, a single board might be missed (and of no use to a craft approaching from the opposite direction); one on each corner might be considered to be 'overkill'; any board showing the minimum headroom would not necessarily indicate 'usable' headroom (eg- access with greater headroom may be possible say to one side). Weed and dirt are seen to be major concerns, as, without very regular cleaning, gauges soon become unreadable particularly to the close detail that might be expected for 'headroom' where millimetres may be significant. Should MLC be responsible for the information shown on the gauges? Could they become embroiled in litigation if any disputes arise over indicated information? Who would know if or when a gauge may have been tampered with or moved?. Should skippers rely on information from gauges or should they verify for themselves whether or not sufficient headroom is available for their safe passage? The experience of members who navigate ours and any other systems will be appreciated.

Consent for the construction of fishing platforms, particularly on Middle Level owned rivers, will take account of MLC's health and safety responsibilities. New structures will require written risk assessments to be drawn up, by the applicant, setting out the position before and after their construction.

Grants, to improve facilities associated with fisheries, are available from the Environment Agency. A meeting has been planned to discuss opportunities that may be available and appropriate locations for implementing suitable improvements.

Middle Level System Strategic Improvements

The Commissioners are preparing details for the various works that are required over the next 5-20 years.

Members commented as follows :-

i. A survey to check fish stocks in May on the Twenty Foot had indicated a good population of fish. A preliminary report is available for anybody who would be interested to see it

ii. EA has launched an initiative to capture results from matches as an additional method of monitoring fish stocks. Co-operation of fishing clubs had been sought to supplement the records.

iii. Fish mortalities had been reported in mid-August, after hot weather had been followed by rain/thunderstorms. These were natural events with no implication that human intervention bad had any direct effect, etc.

iv. Arrangements had been made to meet Middle Level staff and investigate potential movement of fish stocks around the System to make up losses that had been identified. Good sources had been found and it is hopeful that local stocks could be used to best advantage.

v. The Agency is looking at Forty Foot/Welches Dam connection in conjunction with possible improvements to Weiches Dam Pumping Station and the Counter Drain System.

vi. The Old Bedford dredging works were completed to Salters Lode (thus completing a 2-year programme for the reach Welney - Old Bedford Sluice). Similar work will be extended upstream of Welney in future years.

i. Fishing had not been so good so far this season; catches of tench had been okay but roach/bream not so good.

ii. The Club is disappointed at the steepness of the banks at Creek Fen following MLC's recent bank works, although it was appreciated that they are no steeper than previous.

iii. Reference was made to access along the west bank of the Sixteen Foot from Chapel of Ease Bridge, which had been gated and locked. It was explained that the roadway is private and had been gated/locked for security of the pumping station. It was suggested that a key might be made available to facilitate matches, etc.

i. Very poor fishing at the moment. It had been considered that this may be due to clear water, although this could not be proven for sure.

ii. Very few anglers about on the rivers as most seem to be moving away from rivers to lakes, not without some apparent encouragement of National Association.

iii. The WAA is taking part in EA's survey of stocks and providing results from matches.

iv. Following a significant fish mortality in Whittlesey Dyke this summer, it is hoped that the affected reach adjacent to the disabled pegs could be re-stocked.

v. Attention was drawn to a poaching incident, when foreigners had been seen netting fish in the System. Anybody observing this type of activity should advise the Environment Agency or Police, etc.

vi. The ACA Pike match is to be held on Saturday 16th October 2004, when it is expected that some 500pegs will be filled. The WAA appreciated the co-operation. It had received from MLC in clearing the relevant stretches of water

i. Referred to poor and dangerous state of the moonngs at Ramsey. Approaches to the owner had been made, without success, but negotiations were ongoing with potential development of the area that would include redevelopment of the river area.

ii. The soft mooring at West End Park was not being well used, other than by youths as a source of projectiles to throw at boats. It was confirmed that the mooring had only ever been planned to provide off-line river mooring and expected that boat owners would need to use a gang-plank to gain access.

Nothing to report other than being generally content with the System.

i. Expressed the Trust's and villagers' appreciation of the work MLC had carried out in mowing the banks and clearing debris, etc., through Upwell and Outwell. Comments of support had also been received for the clearance work to the bank between the Aqueduct and Nordelph.

ii. Reported that a daffodil festival will be staged in the villages next year, during the week prior to Easter 2005.

iii. Landownership disputes at the Outwell Boat Basin had been resolved; the land is now vested with the Outwell Parish Council as a village green.

iv. Parish Council has set up a tourism group, which will assist/support the work of the Trust.

v. The Trust us concerned with the mooring at Salters Lode, which is not in the best of condition. DB will arrange to meet MLC on site to see how it might best be addressed. Middle Level Commissioners may be able to carry out improvements in conjunction with works at the lock during the winter.

Apart from matters minutes earlier (headroom and gauges), referred to the ever-present problems caused by blanket weed. It was acknowledged that it was one problem that had to be accepted and appreciated the efforts Middle Level Commissioners take to keep passage clear.

PC (Fens Tourism)

PS (FDC)

i. Reported that promotion of fishing in Fens could be better promoted and encouraged. This matter bad previously been raised by C. Clare and Clubs were invited to cooperate and suggest articles for inclusion in tourism publications, etc.

ii. Community Chest funds are available which could benefit the local associations.

iii. A meeting has been arranged for Monday 11th October for FDC to discuss with Middle Level Commissioners potential improvements to the maintenance of the riverside at March.

Proposals are progressing for a new marina near Peterborough's town centre at Fengate.