Middle Level Waterways Users Committee

Middle Level Waterways Users Committee

Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 October 2005

Present :- David Phillips, Chairman, Middle Level Commissioners (DP)

Ms. P. Stocks, Fenland District Council (PSt)

D.P. Barnard, Well Creek Trust (DB)

J. Warren, Whittlesey Angling Association (RM)

J. Dudley (for A. Chambers), The Inland Waterways Association (AC)

M Bodger, Middle Level Watermens Club (MB)

K Handford, Environment Agency (RH)

N. Arnold, Environment Agency (NA)

C. Clare, Fenland Association ofAnglers (CC)

Mrs P Syred, Cambridgeshire Marine Industries (PS)

Apologies :- B. Kightly, Cambs. & Isle of Ely Federation ofAnglers(BK)

T Porter, Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk (TP)

B. Fitzjohn, March & District Angling (SG)

P. Milward, Huntingdonshire District Council (PM)

P Cipriano (for Ms. A. Butler), Fens Tourism Group

S. McPhee, Peterborough City Council (SMcP)

The Chairman referred to the retirement of B. Kightly and informed the Committee that a letter of thanks and appreciation for his past interest had been sent.

05/09 Minutes of Meeting held on 15 April 2005

The Minutes were approved.

05/10 Matters Arising from Minutes of Previous Meeting

The number of licences issued last year was actually 5,400 rather than the 4,400 recorded.

On the matter of fish mortalities in the Old Bedford, it was confirmed that restocking had not been considered appropriate and that preventative measures had been put into place to avoid similar incidents.

05/11 MLC Engineers Report

A. Works Progress

(i) King’s Dyke

Stanground lock — repairs have been carried out to the landing stage.

Dredging - a second reach to be cleansed/dc-silted during the winter to improve navigation depth and water quality is being investigated. It will continue from the previous years work and hopefully extend from Fields End Bridge to the railway bridge at Whittlesey. It is intended that this work will again be carried out during winter period, so as to minimise interference with navigation and flora and fauna.

Ashline Lock — only general fencing repairs have been carried out.

(ii) Old River Nene

Development at Gaul Road, March - proposals for developing the land adjacent to the River to the west of the Town leading up to the bypass are still under consideration by the 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.

(iii) Ramsey High Lode

General proposals have been received for the riverside improvements at the Mill Basin. The matter is with the Ramsey Town and Huntingdonshire District Councils, who are liaising with the landowners and hope to include reconstruction of Sutton’s moorings in the plans for the area’s redevelopment.

(iv) Well Creek

Salters Lode Lock - a study, carried out by the IWA, has looked at all alternative methods of locking at Salters Lode (EA and MLC entrances). The report that was produced as a result of the study has been reviewed by the EA and MLC. Funding for any major improvements is obviously a major factor and availability of support is being investigated by the EA.

Marmont Priory Lock — investigation of stiff gearing’ is to be carried out during the winter.

(v) Main Drain

Dredging was carried out during the winter to obtain material for raising the eastern bank north of the Aqueduct. The material is to be shaped into the embankment when is has dried sufficiently for rehandling.

Dredging work has been carried out upstream of Magdalen Bridge, in an area that is not navigated.

(vi) Bank mowing

These operations, which commenced at the beginning of April, with the cutting the tops of access strips only, continued on the slopes from July and will continue throughout the System most likely until the end of the year.

(vii) Weed Clearance

Weed-cutting/removal operations have progressed throughout the summer This work began in the main shallower navigation channels and is continuing throughout the System, most likely until the end of the year.

B. Navigation

(i) Ramsey Hollow Bridge

The Peterborough Branch of IWA plans for the raising of this bridge have been postponed. The current proposal is to carry out the work during Easter 2006.

(ii) Navigation Bylaws

The draft order and byelaws have been sent out for consultation and a few comments were received. The procedure has subsequently been held up by a view of Defra’s lawyer as to whether all provisions of the order and byelaws can be granted by a Transport and Works Act order. The same position will arise with the Environment Agency and we are trying to resolve the position with Defra.

(iii) Boat passages

See following table

Boat Passages 2005

Month Salters Lode Lock Stanground Lock

___________ In Out In Out

January 0 (3) 0 (1) 3 (0) 0 (2)

February 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (1) 1 (0)

March 15 (2) 20 (0) 19 (1) 28 (1)

April 29 (39) 38 (47) 32 (51) 32 (62)

May 50 (50) 61 (53) 72 (64) 81 (67)

June 80 (76) 75 (90) 90 (98) 139 (92)

July 89 (101) 99 (127) 107 (111) 91 (92)

August - 125 (125) 113 (106) 125 (91) 131 (101)

September 68 (71) 59 (60) 81 (81) 70 (60)

TOTAL 456 (467) 465 (484) 531 (498) 573 (477)

(Last year’s figures in brackets)

Change from

last year -11 -19 +33 +96

C. Fisheries

Opportunities, and appropriate locations for implementing suitable fisheries improvements, with grant money that has been obtained from the Environment Agency, are being explored with the Agency’s staff

D. Improvements

Middle Level System Strategic Improvements

The Commissioners are preparing details for the various works that will be carried out over the next 5 years.

St. Germans Pumping Station

Atkins Water are progressing the detailed design of the new station. The design, and processes of tendering for the works, will take most of this year and it is anticipated that work will commence next year and the new station commissioned by the end of 2008.

Flow attenuation and flood embankment improvements

Investigations are to be carried out into the attenuation of Bury Brook. When the aspect of attenuation has been determined, the remaining embankment requirements can be clearly identified and a programme set for their implementation.

05/12 Environment Agency Report

Hydro Data

The data for the recent period was not available at the time of the meeting but is attached to these Minutes.

RH reported on matters relating to Fisheries in the area

Access improvements - berming on similar lines as those recently implemented by the Middle Level Commissioners, are planned at four locations by the Agency.

Survey Programme - surveys at the usual five sites on the Twenty Foot showed good stocks.

- records from a site downstream of the Sewage Treatment Works (STW) will prove a useful data in monitoring for any changes during or after

improvement works that are planned for the STW.

- the hydrocoustic survey that had been programmed for the Main Drain could not be carried out as flows were insufficient. The Environment

Agency aim to try the method earlier next year (possibly May), when

the chance of flow in the channel may be greater, but will confirm with the Middle Level Commissioners first.

- the Lower Ouse and Fenland Fisheries Consultative has set up a ‘River Watch’ system to monitor thefts or illegal activities. Reports can be centralised with the Environment Agency, where data is being collated to see how significant such actions are and to provide a central communication centre for local clubs to send reports, etc.

- incidents of prosecutions or other action against fishermen will be reported to future meetings

NA reported on navigation matters —

General - a notable increase in licences had been registered so far this year (4564

Boats so far).

River Ouse - OPUS (Operation PUblic Safety) is being implemented to benefit

boaters.

- the improvement works at St Neots Lock opened on time following the

2½ year Capital Scheme.

- details of the Agency’s ‘Lock standards’ will be submitted for discussion

at future meeting.

- drain downs are planned at certain locks during the winter to enable

inspections to be carried out.

- at the Old Bedford Sluice, a new set of ‘V’ gates are to be installed

during the winter.

- at Houghton Lock, the gates are to be replaced.

- the Relief Channel Lock is to be mechanised during the winter.

River Nene - lock automation/electrification is being extended throughout the Nene

and Ouse.

- at Stanground, the mooring has been improved satisfactorily.

05/13 Angling Matters

JW (Whittlesey Angling Association) - reported that there had been fewer anglers on the clubs waters in the summer than during the winter. Fish continue to be of a very good quality and their waters have again been booked for the ACA (Pike Final) in November. The Association had asked its members to report any problem that might affect this event by 14th October, whereafter it might seek assistance from MLC if necessary, although the condition of the banks/water is currently good.

Reeds are affecting the banks, where they grow up the slope, and, if it is possible to address this matter in any way, the Association would be prepared to consider a joint action plan, etc.

CC (Fenland Association of Anglers) - supported JW’s comments in terms of lack of anglers due to the number of commercial lake fisheries in the area. Catches had been generally acceptable from a good healthy fishery with pike and zander beginning to show. Having raised a question of water voles and mink, assurance was given to CC that water vole populations were in good number but the mink numbers were significantly lower.

BF (March & District Angling Association) - in his absence, a written report had been submitted and confirmed the comments that both JW and CC had made.

On the matter of Ben Kightly’s retirement, JW agreed to enquire who would succeed him as Secretary to the Cambs. & Isle of Ely Federation of Anglers and that person could then be invited to join the Committee as BK’s replacement,

05/14 Navigation Matters

AC (Inland Waterways Association) reported that he had experienced problems with shallow depth east of Fields End Bridge, Whittlesey, and will welcome the extension of the planned dredging programme. It was confirmed that the proposals to raise Hollow Bridge had been postponed until next year and it was intended that the work would be completed within two weeks and prior to Easter 2006. No other significant problems had been drawn to his attention and he expressed his contentment.

MB (Middle Level Watermen ‘s Club) expressed concern at the ongoing delay in the publication of the byelaws, and recommended that the matter should be urgently pursued and not left to drift on further.

PS (Cambridgeshire Marine Industries) had no matters to bring to the Committees attention.

On matters of safety, DP raised questions on responsibility for passing boaters, sometimes novices, into the tidal River Great Ouse and the wearing of life jackets. It was the general feeling of members that skippers are ultimately responsible for the safety of boats and crews. The Agency publish safety principles and boat hirers give instruction when ‘letting’ boats out. DP requested details of the Agency’s advice so that it could be incorporated into MLC’s Navigation Notes.

05/15 District Councils/Tourism

DB (Well Creek Trust Ltd) reported that Downham West Parish Council were to address the matter of repairs to the slipway adjacent to the Aqueduct. The additional bank cut, which had been carried out through Upwell, had been well received and may be requested again by the Council. DB produced pamphlets about Upwell, which had been produced by the Council and are available for wise circulation.

PS (FDC) reported that the ‘2006 Waterways Guide’ was nearing completion and would be distributed with national boating magazines. It was hoped that future issues might include articles relating to fishing etc and requested submissions from members representing that area of interest.

Announcing her retirement from the post of Tourist Officer at the District Council, the Chairman expressed thanks for her interest and support during her period on the Committee.

05/16 Any Other Business

Following the announcement of PS’s retirement, the Chairman informed the Committee of his own, which will take effect from February next. CC expressed thanks, on the Committee’s behalf, for DP’s chairmanship during the period of his office as Chief Engineer.

05/17 Date of Next Meetings

21 April 2006 at the Middle Level Offices at 10.OOam.

6 October 2006