fenland waterway link

[skpt]

on my new inland waterway map the above network is marked with no completion date. when I was up in Ramsey and St Ives last weekend my friends didn't know of it although they were aware of the planned linking of Wicken Fen with others to form a giant natural nature reserve and that farmers have been selling their land locally. this may be part of the same project I don't know. has anyone any further information as it looks like the route goes very close to a former home of mine and it would be fun to go and see it by boat assuming I can find the right one.

 

[MiskinDriver]

Far as I know its still on the books, but 'awaiting funding'. Don't hold your breath!

 

[CX54WEK]

They have made a start at the Boston end. The Black Sluice was officially opened last year. The new lock up onto the navigation requires a very short tidal run on the tidal river Witham before locking up onto the Black sluice. This navigation will eventually link up to the River Welland at Spalding but currently ends Donington Bridges. Navigation beyind the bridge being for small craft only due to air draft issues that are to be addressed.

 

[skpt]

thanks for the info. if ever completed it would make quite a network particularly the market deeping to peterborough link.

 

[CX54WEK]

I dont think we will see it fully opened in our lifetime (and im only 26!!) but it would be nice to see at least some of the waterways linked up.

We would love to see Spalding by boat but as it currently stands our air draft is too high to negotiate the bridges through Spalding to get to the visitor moorings. The current route down the tidal witham onto the wash and up the tidal Welland wouldnt be a problem for us but is for most narrowboatists. The proposed link route comes out at the other side of the Spalding bridges so we would be able reach the moorings and it would provide a safer route for boats designed for sheltered waters. Again i dont hold out much hope of this happening any time soon.

 

[skpt]

never say never. I have a book from mid 70's The lost waterways of Britain and in it it bemoans the loss of the kennet & avon and the impossibility of it ever being in use again and there is the falkirk wheel. both were probably once in a millenium restorations though.

 

[the_wanderer]

Don't even think about it.

The country is almost bankrupt. Where in heaven's sake is the money coming from to satisfy the ambitions of the very few people who are lucky enough to be able to afford a boat? Give me health care etc before boating. Do not waste our precious recources in these very precarious times. If boat owners want it, let them pay for it. NB I am a boat owner (albeit a rather small boat) and I would not give a penny towards it. That also goes for the numerous canal projects that rather airy fairy protagonists are proposing.

Ooops sorry, have I upset somebody?

Regards.

Alan.

 

[rr_123]

Ooops sorry, have I upset somebody?

Regards.

Alan.

I suspect not, but I do think that quite a few people will think that you are a muppet.

A muppet with no understanding of economics and the part that leisure and tourism plays in this country, in particular to the East and the fens.

 

[CX54WEK]

The country is almost bankrupt. Where in heaven's sake is the money coming from to satisfy the ambitions of the very few people who are lucky enough to be able to afford a boat? Give me health care etc before boating. Do not waste our precious recources in these very precarious times. If boat owners want it, let them pay for it. NB I am a boat owner (albeit a rather small boat) and I would not give a penny towards it. That also goes for the numerous canal projects that rather airy fairy protagonists are proposing.

Ooops sorry, have I upset somebody?

Regards.

Alan.

I think you have missed the point completely. The extra money that these projects will bring into the local economy is hard to predict but it will for sure be a benefit. A lot of the route is made up of existing drainage ditches which with little work are capable of being brought up to navigable standards. The only problems wo navigation then being structures with low air draft.

The linking of the fenland waterways with the other Lincolnshire waterways should bring more through traffic onto the little used Lincolnshire waterways. New marinas are already being planned to take the extra traffic. The latest to be announced being a circa 220 berth marina at Cherry Willingham on the River Witham outside Lincoln.

 

[skpt]

I would like to add that Waitrose took over an old Kwiksave store just across the road from the canal basin in Droitwich. No doubt this was completely coincidental but I'm pretty sure boaty people are a lot nearer the typical Waitrose customer than the average punter from the town and they will be well placed when the canal/severn is fully restored. My in-laws live there and I have followed the restoration with some interest over the years. You wouldn't normally wish to ever visit the place!
For that matter there is a huge new eco-friendly Tesco by the end of the navigation in Ramsey so you never know!