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Anglian Waterways News Splash
27.01.2021 The new Anglian Pass is on it's way
Boaters will soon have the option to purchase an 'Anglian Pass' which will allow them to navigate unrestricted across neighbouring navigations.
The Environment Agency, the Conservators of the River Cam and the Middle Level Commissioners are working together to develop a new pass.
The Anglian pass will cover the River Nene, the Great Ouse system, the Middle Level Navigation and the River Cam. This will allow boaters to move easily between different waterways without having to pay multiple registration fees as the price of the Anglian Pass will cover this.
While the final details are still being discussed, it will be an annual pass available from the 1st of April each year.
Read our Press Release for further information here.
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09.07.2020 Teamwork packs a big punch at Little Paxton
Anglian Waterways News Splash
After a great team effort the tree at Little Paxton has been removed from the River Great Ouse.
Our Waterways Asset Specialist, Rachel worked in collaboration with UK Power Networks and specialist contractors including diving and tree teams, to remove a fallen tree that had become lodged on a high voltage (HV) cable on the bed of the river.
The cable was traced and made safe by the power company which allowed the diving team to use their underwater camera equipment to feed back to the land support team and tree specialists. Teams worked together in their team bubbles to release the tree and then remove it from the watercourse using a tractor and winch.
As the river was temporarily closed, the Great Ouse Waterways Ops team were on hand to assist and to keep boaters up to date with progress.
The job which was scheduled to take three days, was completed by midday on day 2 and it wasn't long until the river was reopened and the patiently waiting boaters were on their way again.
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01.11.2019 New moorings at Denver
Over the summer we have undertaken a major refurbishment of the moorings on the East Bank at Denver.
These new moorings have significantly increased the number of moorings available to our customers by replacing 13 of the existing wooden structures with 30 new moorings along the same length of riverbank.
The new moorings have uplifted the whole site and are a very welcome enhancement for our boating customers. They also provide a very important funding stream as we look to develop commercial opportunities in the future.
08.07.2019 South Ferriby Lock Re-opens
Boat traffic was moving once again through South Ferriby Lock on the River Ancholme, our most northerly waterway and right on the bank of the Humber Estuary.
It's been a long wait for some who were eager to get through as soon as possible and were making the most of the beautiful sunshine the re-opening was blessed with.
Many of the boats on the Ancholme are sea going vessels that use South Ferriby Lock to the Humber, over to Hull, out to the North Sea and beyond, or accessing the River Trent and inland canal network.
30.05.2019 Waterways Enforcement Action
We recently seized a narrow boat that has continually failed to register with us. We have powers to seize and remove unregistered vessels, and recover our costs in doing so. This form of action is something we reserve as a last resort; we would rather work with vessel owners to get boats registered and compliant with the law. If you have a boat on our waterway then please ensure you register your craft with us.
Information on how to register can be found here.
Do not delay and risk enforcement action, register today! Remember, we check boats all year round!!
26.03.2019 Wreck of Dunkirk rescue boat removed from River Lark
The wreckage of a boat that helped evacuate Dunkirk during the Second World War has been removed by the Environment Agency after it was sadly left to sink in the River Lark, Cambridgeshire.
The sunken ‘Compass Rose’ had been abandoned by its owner, who officers were unable to contact after numerous attempts, and had to be removed because it was obstructing navigation on the river and could pose a risk to other boaters and the environment.
After several years in the water, the wreck was too badly damaged to salvage and came to pieces as it was being removed from the water by a mechanical grabber mounted on a pontoon.
The wreckage of a boat that helped evacuate Dunkirk during the Second World War has been removed by the Environment Agency after it was sadly left to sink in the River Lark, Cambridgeshire.
The sunken ‘Compass Rose’ had been abandoned by its owner, who officers were unable to contact after numerous attempts, and had to be removed because it was obstructing navigation on the river and could pose a risk to other boaters and the environment.
After several years in the water, the wreck was too badly damaged to salvage and came to pieces as it was being removed from the water by a mechanical grabber mounted on a pontoon.
The 40-foot (approximately 12 metre) wooden cruiser is one of a dozen vessels being removed this month as the Environment Agency seeks to clear sunken, abandoned, unregistered and illegal boats from the Rivers Nene and Great Ouse.
Some of the boats have been abandoned and fallen into disrepair, while others, like the ‘Compass Rose,’ have sunk and need to be removed so they don’t cause pollution or pose a hidden hazard to other vessels.
Most have not been registered with the Environment Agency, despite the fact that boaters are required by law to register any vessel they keep, use or let for hire on Environment Agency waterways. Not doing so can lead to prosecution, a hefty fine and a criminal record.
Paul Separovic, Waterways Operations team leader at the Environment Agency, said:
'This is a sad ending for one of around 700 boats that supported a heroic, life-saving effort during the war. It’s regrettable the Compass Rose survived that momentous event only to be left to sink nearly 80 years later.
We know the value these boats can carry – not just financially but sentimentally and, in this case, historically – and that’s why we’re encouraging boaters to make sure their vessels are registered with the Environment Agency, which also means they’re more likely to be well-maintained and checked for safety.
Paul continued:
In each of these cases, we’ve made numerous attempts to contact and work with the boats’ owners to resolve the issues, but without success – so now we’re forced to remove the boats so they don’t pose a danger to people, nature or wildlife.
Most of these boats aren’t registered, making them illegal. Boaters’ registration charges go straight back into maintaining the waterways, locks and moorings boaters have come to enjoy.
Skipping out on these charges is unfair to other boaters, tens of thousands of whom enjoy our beautiful and historic rivers every year. It puts the future of our treasured waterways at risk'.
As well as helping pay for upkeep and improvements on the waterways, registering a boat means it has been properly safety-checked and insured, making it safer for other water users and the environment.
13.02.2019 Winter Works Update
Various locks and landing stages along the rivers Great Ouse and Nene are being inspected, repaired and refurbished as part of our winter works programme.
To minimise disruption, the works to the landing stages have been carried out in two parts to enable the structures to remain open for use.
For current information regarding dates and locations for all works on our waterways, please see our Navigation Notices page.
01.09.2018 Summer of River Festivals
The Waterways team was out in force over the summer of 2018, at various festivals and events including Crick Boat Show, Bedford River Festival, IWA Festival of Water and the Nene Valley Festival.
At the Bedford River Festival, our patrol boat Ouse About took part in the fantastic boat parade which took place daily.
Waterways team members and volunteers were on hand to answer questions, give advice, respond to feedback and interact with boaters old and new, and hopefully encouraged some new visitors to our beautiful waterways. The team assisted boaters through a very busy Bedford Lock and took the opportunity to take some time out of the glorious sunshine.
One of our volunteers helping out at Bedford
Find out about volunteering with us here
Ouse About taking part in the daily procession
Lending a helpful hand to boaters at a very busy ,
but shady Bedford Lock