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Issue 240, October 2025
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72 PAGES IS THE PINK HAT MAN A WORLD RECORD-BREAKER? P2
BOAT OWNERS ‘MUST’ PAY £50,000 BILL P3
FIFTEEN-YEAR WAIT TO GRAB UNIQUE CANAL IMAGE P5
FFlower lower p power! ower! Boat horse Flower pulls 1906 Shroppie fly-boat Saturn from Dimmingsdale to the bottom lock at Bratch, a highlight of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society’s Annual Rally of Boats at Bratch Locks, Wombourne, on August 30, with help from David Ray and Sarah Brereton, from Norbury Wharf Ltd. Saturn is the last remaining vessel of its kind in operation and was first used to carry cheese and farm produce. The image was taken by Kev Maslin, of Chasing The Boats, who said: “The opening honours were carried out spectacularly by David, Sarah and Elizabeth with Flower, who certainly drew a large audience.” Kev’s 2026 calendar is out now – turn to page 19 to read more about his passion for our waterways.
Traders feeling the heat of drought-stricken network and ‘devastating’ winter forecast By Lucy Wood
RARE BOAT HOUSE GRANTED HISTORIC LISTED STATUS P10
BOATS FOR SALE Starts on
P23
WATERWAYS businesses are expressing growing concerns as low water levels and stoppages are set to continue into the autumn following what was officially declared the hottest
summer on record, leading to calls for an urgent rethink on water management in the UK. As predictions are made that the country’s reservoirs may not fully recover until at least December and possibly the spring, those whose livelihoods
depend on the water say this could be ‘devastating’ in the longer term. ABNB Boat Brokerage said: “The closure of Watford and Foxton locks on the Grand Union Canal effectively cut off canal access to our brokerage
at North Kilworth Marina. This decision has had a direct impact on our business. The number of boats offered to us for sale has significantly declined, while buyers are being deterred as they cannot move boats off the Leicester Line by water. Many
are instead having to consider the additional cost of road transport, which often results in reduced offers, to the detriment of vendors. “We also have boats at outlying locations sitting idle • Continued on page 4
Historic pub to become a home?
Campaigners win planning battle
Dredging at Gloucester Docks
A FORMER canalside pub could be converted into a home. Malthouse Cottage, in Westhorpe Lane, Kiveton Park, Rotherham, ran as The Barge Inn from 1777 and was later converted into cottages and then a commercial garage but is now in a state of disrepair. The Canal & River Trust and Severn Trent Water are among the consultees on the planning application lodged with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
RIVER groups and angling clubs have welcomed the rejection of a plan to build a poultry unit for 32,000 chickens 200 metres from the River Kennet. West Berkshire Council rejected Sutton’s Estate’s application at Hamstead Marshall, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Concerns were raised by Natural England following representations from the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency, which made a formal objection.
AN eight-week dredging programme at Gloucester’s historic docks is starting. Dry weather means water levels on the River Severn have been low and heavy with silt, and a huge amount has been carried into the docks. Since the start of August, Gloucester Lock has been closed to limit further silt from entering. Navigation of the canal and docks will remain open throughout the programme.
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