Friends of Regent’s Canal - DRAFT Minutes of Meeting
Date and Time:
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Wednesday 7th December 2011, 7pm to 9pm
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Location:
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London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RT
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Chair:
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Ian Shacklock
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1. Present
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| Beverley Dean | Angel Association
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| Michael Rosenbaum | Angel Canal Festival
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| Rob Inglis | Arts Exchange
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| Ben Myring | Canal user
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| Ian Shacklock | Friends of Regent's Canal
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| Sally Hone | E2 Collective
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| Bethan Johnson | Floating Cinema
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| Laura Harford | Floating Cinema
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| Isabelle Rodker | London Boaters
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| Simon Elliston | London Boaters
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| Cllr Chris Naylor | London Borough of Camden
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| Cllr Martin Klute | London Borough of Islington
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| Tony Islander | London Canals Project
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| Caroline Allen | London Green Party
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| Fiona Maclean | London Narrow Boat Association
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| Phil Paulo |
London Wildlife Trust (Area Manager, Camden).
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| Gordon Meen | Reachview resident
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| Del Brenner | Regents Network. London Waterways Commission
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| Cara Downey | Resident
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| Effric Tregaskis | Resident
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| James Tregaskis | Resident
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| Praveen Gopalan | Resident
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| Sophie Stuckey | Resident
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| Sandra Green | Resident of Ice Wharf Marina.
London rep of Historic Narrow Boat Owners Club
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| John Checkley | Skipper, Angel Community Canal Boat Trust
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| James Bill | Skipper, Candle Bridge Carrying Company
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| Roger Squires | St Pancras Cruising Club
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| Ben Fenton | Thames 21
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| NicShore | Volunteer
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| Marie Bryant |
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| Neil Callaghan |
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2. Apologies
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Andrew Bosi
Beryl Windsor
Bhupesh Thapa
Caroline Russell
Christian Wolmar
Councillor Alice Perry
Councillor Barry Buitekant
Councillor Linda Ann Kelly
Caitlin Davies
Gillian Comins
Hilary Norris
John Bryant
Lester May
Lisa Tang
Naomi Newstead
Rebecca Williams
Sonja Curtis
Sue Jandy
Tony Price
3. Introductions
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3.1 At the start of the meeting, all the attendees introduced themselves. There were about 10 newcomers and most of them had found out about the meeting from the laminated flyers along the towpath.
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3.2 Ben Myring kindly offered to take notes for the minutes
4. Announcements and Updates
4.1 British Waterways will soon be renamed the 'Canal and River Trust' and there is a
vacancy for the Chair of the London Waterway Partnership. Closing date for applications is 27th January 2012.
4.2 The Angel Canal Festival will still be going ahead, on Sunday 2nd September, despite the restrictions imposed by the Olympics. Furthermore, Islington Council has earmarked the festival as a suitable event for utilising some of its top-up money from the GLA.
5. The Big Waterways Clean-Up 2012
5.1 Ben Fenton (campaign co-ordinator) gave a presentation on a Thames 21 campaign to clean up the waterways of the Olympic boroughs in preparation for next summer.
5.2 Thames 21 is a leading environmental charity for London's waterways. The Big Clean-up project will commence in 2012 and various volunteer events will be organised.
5.3 The Big Clean-up project is being supported by the London Waterways Commission, the Environment Agency, London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), Greater London Authority (GLA), British Waterways, the Olympic Park Legacy Company, the Port of London Authority, London Councils, City of London Corporation, and the Inland Waterways Association.
5.4 Other projects will be started across London, and will not be limited to tow-paths; two new boats will be used to clear duckweed and litter, along with kayaks and large nets. New reed-beds and wild-flower areas will be encouraged. There will be educational projects in schools to encourage the canals to be treated with respect. Concern was expressed that reed-beds are a danger to navigation. Ben explained that new beds would be limited to the River Lea, and that they would be monitored and maintained.
5.5 There was disappointment that there was no guaranteed funding after 2013. Hence it is very important that project participants should focus on the root causes of litter as well as clearing up existing litter.
5.6 There were some general questions about litter clearance. Prior to the meeting, the chair had received an e-mail from Rebecca Williams (Volunteer Team Leader, British Waterways). Rebecca had explained that floating litter was cleared about once a month by BW staff and that towpath litter was cleared on an as-required basis by Fountains, their fixed term contractor. In addition, there is a volunteering programme of monthly Towpath Tidy activities linked to sites on the tube network.
5.7 The meeting felt that the current cleaning programme is insufficient to cope with the daily build-up of litter, and that further information is required from British Waterways about the day-to-day resonsibilities of Fountains.
6. Issues in St Peter's Ward
6.1 Councillor Martin Klute provided an update on the issues of noisy generators, wood fires, and litter (due to canal boat residents) and the conflict between pedestrians and cyclists.
6.2 Martin reported that moorings continue to be abused. Most visitor moorings in central London should not be occupied for more than 7 or 14 days. Yet some boats have remained for several months in the Noel Road area. He explained that he had been coordinating with BW, as Islington Council has no power to enforce on the canal. BW is now ensuring that any overstaying boats are being moved onwards.
6.3 Martin acknowledged that towpath bins are still overflowing and that, judging by the size and type of litter, some of the bins are being used by boaters for household waste.
It was suggested that a new litter regime may be needed to cater separately for boaters and pedestrians.
6.4 On the subject of noise, a boat operator pointed out that, although generators and engines must be switched off after 8pm at moorings, there are no restrictions on boat movements during the night. Residents need to be aware of this distinction.
6.5 It was noted that not all boat owners can afford to upgrade old engines or generators.
6.6 On the subject of cycling, Martin reported that a broad agreement had been reached (between cyclists, walkers and Hanover School parents) under the auspices of BW, who had confirmed that the towpath is not a right-of-way and that pedestrians have priority. New signage has been released to re-inforce this. It was noted that physical calming measures are required too, but that the Islington Cyclists are resisting further chicanes without further development of a parallel route.
6.7 A parallel route will require cross-border coordination between Islington and Hackney councils, and also with TfL, as it will require changes to pedestrian crossings. The chair commented that towpath upgrades (funded by TfL) were a victim of their own success, as they had led to overuse and had aggravated the competition between pedestrians and cyclists. Martin agreed, and explained that he would be attending a meeting at TfL the following week.
7. Wildlife on your Waterways Project (Camley Street Natural Park)
7.1 Phil Paulo (area manager for Camden) gave a presentation on a London Wildlife Trust
project in the Kings Cross Central area.
7.2 Phil explained that the Trust manages over 50 sites throughout London, and this includes a lot of waterways. At Camley Street Natural Park, which is sandwiched between the development at St Pancras and the development at Kings Cross Central, the Trust is especially concerned about the problem of litter, weeds. They are interested in the stretch of canal between Hampstead Road Lock and the Islington tunnel. He commented that Kings Cross Central would have a big impact on the canal and its biodiversity, and the Trust are monitoring this impact.
7.3 The Trust is seeking funding for a two-year project, mostly from private business, and will be recruiting volunteers. Phil brought along some forms to allow attendees to express their interest and support.
7.4 It was noted that many of the environmental teams at the borough councils are being cut due to funding shortfalls.
7.5 It was noted that Argent and British Waterways have been discussing investment in the canal for a prolonged period, but very little information has been published freely. Concern was raised that there is insufficient public scrutiny or accountability of Argent's spending plans, and that the details of their consultation are yet to be published.
8. Cross-Party Support for the Canal in the May 2012 Elections
8.1 The chair explained that an e-mail had been sent to representatives of the four main parties involved in the May 2012 elections. The intention was to give mayoral and assembly candidates the opportunity to consider the waterways in their manifestos and plans.
8.2 Further updates on this will be published on the website.
8.3 It was suggested that the candidates should be invited to take a guided trip on the canal.
9. Impact of the Olympic Games
9.1 Roger Squires (St Pancras Cruising Club) explained the disruption that will be caused to boaters as a result of the Olympic Games. Over a 2 month period, various locks will be closed, movements will be severely restricted and moorings will be let out to visitors from elsewhere. Roger was particularly concerned about the closure of Commercial Road lock.
9.2 All existing boaters will be penalised one way or another, and no refunds will be available to compensate fully licensed boaters for the loss of access. It is estimated that 450 boaters (including 100 continuous cruisers) will be displaced during the Games, and the impact of this displacement could be substantial elsewhere.
9.3 Questions were raised over whether security was being used as an excuse (by higher authorities) to make money out of visitors at the expense of regular boaters.
9.4 The chair agreed to consult a few boaters affected by this and to write a letter of concern to British Waterways and any other interested parties.
10. Celebrations in 2012
10.1 Rob Inglis revealed plans to revive the Regents Canal Musical as part of the celebrations to commemorate the bicentenary of the canal construction. Various complete or partial performances were planned, and singers were being called upon to participate.
10.2 The main bicentenary year for the Regent's Canal will be 2020, when we will celebrate the opening of the canal (in 1820), but there will be intermediate events to mark the start of the construction (in 1812) and other important milestones.
10.3 Rob also suggested that a number of informative plaques could be deployed along the length of the canal.