Huge New UK Inland Cruising Area To Be Created!

MY littlebirchwoo

MY littlebirchwoo

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It seem that the Fens Waterways Link have now submitted their proposals:

Full plans of the Fens Waterways Link have been announced giving details of what is being described as “the biggest waterway enhancement scheme in Europe” and the most important inland-navigation building project in two centuries.

The project aims to open up 240km of waterways, build 80 km of new waterways and give increased access to a further 160km of waterways.It also promises to link the cathedral cities of Lincoln, Peterborough and Ely for the first time as well as providing links to the market towns of Huntingdon, Boston, Spalding, Crowland, Chatteris, St Ives and Ramsey.

In turn it will connect the River Trent, Fossdyke and Witham with the Nene and also the Ouse Middle-Levels as well as the Grand Union Canal to Nottingham.

The project, part financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund, aims to boost the number of boating visitors as well as increase the focus on waterside life with business opportunities such as boat repair yards, marina developments, shops, restaurants, bars as well as new accommodation.

This project, once complete, will bring a World-class network, suitable for all kinds of boats whilst enhancing the environment and surely in addition to The Broads, truly make our inland waterways a target destination for cruising boaters.


Relevant links :

Story:http://eastcoastboating.co.uk/wordpress/?p=1081
Fens Waterways Link:http://www.fenswaterways.com

Certainly worth further investigation if it opens up a whole new cruising world and would make the area a popular destination I would have thought?
 
Need at least 2 metres depth and bridges either lifting or high enough to get average flybridge to a least some of the proposed navigation please.
 
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Cloud cuckoo land ,A couple of the bridges they've already built are too low even for narrowboats.The 40 foot drain is about 2 foot deep and will need dredging for miles
I would love it to happen but cannot see it ever being completed
 
Vital to increase paying traffic and not just merely attract the usual tightwad suspects who can and will use this area anyway,there will have to be some consideration given to providing access to larger craft.
In order to make any investment worthwhile,overwaged and free spending sports and fly bridge owners need access .
Could a provide an interesting and feasable destination for many boats from even as far as The Solent and other East Coasters like me.
The East coast is pretty dull/grim even on a nice day and somewhere to go would be a definate plus for the area.
 
Sorry to dissapoint, most of this 240km of waterways are Fen drains, smaller than the 40 foot. They don't call us ditch crawlers for nothing.

1M draught, and less than 8 foot air draught I imagine will be the norm... it's small cruiser and narrowboat teritory.
 
oldgit said:
Vital to increase paying traffic and not just merely attract the usual tightwad suspects who can and will use this area anyway,there will have to be some consideration given to providing access to larger craft.
In order to make any investment worthwhile,overwaged and free spending sports and fly bridge owners need access .
Could a provide an interesting and feasable destination for many boats from even as far as The Solent and other East Coasters like me.
The East coast is pretty dull/grim even on a nice day and somewhere to go would be a definate plus for the area.
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Bugger me, I agree with old git :D
 
"Sorry to dissapoint, most of this 240km of waterways are Fen drains, smaller than the 40 foot. They don't call us ditch crawlers for nothing.

1M draught, and less than 8 foot air draught I imagine will be the norm... it's small cruiser and narrowboat teritory."

Max draught through the middle levels is 2ft 6", and as parts of it are wood lined they aint gonna dredge it, so you are right about it being for narrowboats (sewer-tubes). if it ever happens?
 
I can't even get my modest size boat through the Middle Level from the Gt Ouse to the Nene, maximum headroom is around 6ft, did it in a Freeman 22 once and it was tight.

The route would really only be suitable for Narrow Boats.
 
Why would you need to drain the Trent,youve always got 6ft of water apart from serious drought conditions.Would make more sense to close the flood lock at Brayford Pool Lincoln say by arrangement,drop the level by say 12inches,this would allow many more boats thro,by dropping the level using Stamp End Lock.The worse news I,ve heard is that E.A. are considering leaving River Derwent lock open at Barmby.This would allow the silted Yorkshire Ouse to run up the Derwent.Total disaster to all the wild life on the Derwent.
 
nedmin said:
Why would you need to drain the Trent,youve always got 6ft of water apart from serious drought conditions.Would make more sense to close the flood lock at Brayford Pool Lincoln say by arrangement,drop the level by say 12inches,this would allow many more boats thro,by dropping the level using Stamp End Lock.The worse news I,ve heard is that E.A. are considering leaving River Derwent lock open at Barmby.This would allow the silted Yorkshire Ouse to run up the Derwent.Total disaster to all the wild life on the Derwent.
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Regards Lincoln , What Flood gates ? and do you mean to get through the Glory Hole ?
 
I posted this story to guage what sort of responses it would get. It interested me to see how they have gone out and out to get as much publicity for this project over the past week or so getting several paper and at least one television piece. They definitely were giving the impression it was also aimed at larger vessels, however reading between the lines it appears quite a bit of money has been secured from the EU regional development fund.

It would hardly suprise me if this money isn't whittled away over the next few years in order to provide some very expensive models and reports!
 
MartynG said:
Aren't there some gates at the entrance to the Witham off Brayford pool?
Click to expand...

not any more that could be of use in lowering the level for the glory hole,they used to use the old gates by the lift bridge for the Humber barges but they are long gone.
The flood defence is mainly the automatic sluice at Stamp end lock
 
Normally OldGit is moaning that someone has bought the wrong type of boat (i.e. different to his steam powered floating caravan), but now he is complaining someone has bought the wrong type of inland waterway (i.e. not suitable for his floating steam engine with beds). :D
 
The Cambs Times have run a piece on this story

http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/waterways_boost_for_the_fens_1_1226701

A WATERWAYS project which will connect March, Chatteris and Whittlesey to a network of cathedral cities has been described as “one of the most important developments in years”.

The River Great Ouse already links Fenland to Huntingdon and St Ives to the south and Peterborough to the north.

But as part of the Fens Waterways Link, two further routes will be established between Chatteris and St Ives to make what organisers call a “seamless loop of opportunity”.

There will also be a further connection between Peterborough and Market Deeping, creating a more direct route to Spalding, Boston and Lincoln.

“The link will represent the most significant partnership development of the inland navigation network of the UK in two centuries,” a spokesman for the project said.

“It will compliment other waterway projects in the region, forging new links between the existing stretches of navigable waterway and creating a seamless loop of opportunity.”

The programme, already described as “the biggest waterway enhancement scheme in Europe”, promises to make the city part of a “network of desirable waterside locations”.

The Fens Waterway Link website says: “The resulting focal points will often be marina orientated and display features such as boat repair yards, shopping opportunities, restaurants and bars, media centres and accommodation.

It admits that sites will “vary in magnitude and be influenced by their location and proximity to centres of population” but says “increases in the number of boating visitors and those attracted to the waterside” will boost the economy.

“The link will provide a positive contribution to heritage, culture and nature,” a spokesman said.

“The public will benefit from increased access to green open spaces and a wide array of important historic buildings, structures and monuments.

“The diversity of the natural environment will be enhanced by sustaining habitats and supporting rare species helping to meet biodiversity targets.”

The project is part funded by the European Union’s Regional Redevelopment Fund.
 
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