It is with regret that the ACA has had to decide to cancel the Quiz Night for this year. At the time of writing (September 2020) indoor face to face meetings are not allowed and there is no positive indication when this situation will be relaxed. Furthermore social distancing rules at indoor functions mean that with the reduced number permitted to attend the event would be financially unviable.

We hope to resume with the event in November 2021.

If you bought a named brick as part of the Buy a Brick Aqueduct Appeal, chances are it is now one of those on display at Snarestone Wharf. You are welcome to come along, find your own brick, and see who else donated.

C&RT, thanks to funding secured from Taylor Wimpey as part of a local development project, have begun improving a 240 metre section of the Ashby Canal towpath in Hinckley. The aim of the project is to provide a clean, green route connecting the Sansome Drive housing development with Nutts Lane.

The improvements will involve making the towpath wider and laying a new surface, which will make it more appealing for the local community to spend time by the water.

The works began on Monday 6 July and are anticipated to last for four weeks. Our thanks go to local resident and ACA member, Steve Rhodes, for keeping an eye on proceedings.

Snarestone Wharf – The Gateway to the Restoration

The Coronavirus Pandemic is very unsettling for us all and the essential lock-down has been difficult and tiresome.  Boating activity is now slowly increasing as the restrictions have been eased, and we are pleased to be able to welcome visitors back to the wharf at Snarestone.  We have already seen more walkers, boating visitors and paddle-boarders.

 We intend to publish the September issue of ‘Spout’ as usual.  However there will be less event news content so if you can contribute any items for publication it would be much appreciated.  Typically this can be about your boat, technical material, wildlife or about canal adventures.  Items should be emailed to: martin@spacottage.com 

 Moira Canal Festival was sadly cancelled; also the smaller events where ACA normally have a stand.  The many Waterways Events scheduled for the summer have similarly been cancelled.

Snarestone Wharf has re-opened, with social distancing in place, hand sanitiser available at the entrance to our shop, and masks required for those going inside our bric a brac emporium and shop*.  Ice cream and cold & hot drinks are available for customers to take away.  (*Masks for use within the shop will be available to purchase cheaply if customers haven’t got their own)

Our social evenings are at the moment unaffected since we have nothing further planned until October, and the annual quiz in November. An update will be posted about these nearer the time.

Wat Can You Do To Help?

The above issues unfortunately resulted in lack of income which is our life-blood for maintenance and the restoration.

As a valued member some of the ways you can help are:

1. By ensuring that you have your membership up-to-date, since your subscription is vital.
2. By asking people you know to become members.  Membership details and forms are in Spout and on the web site: www. ashbycanal.org.uk
3. By becoming a volunteer when the current crisis is over.
4. By making a donation.
5. You can support the ACA from home by shopping online through #easyfundraising.  Signing up is quick and easy and you’ll raise free donations to ACA every time you shop on line.  Visit http://efraising.org/nbPSdH7Fjw 

Staying on your boat

As you may have heard, the Government has today announced measures to continue the easing of lockdown. Importantly, this means that from Saturday 4 July all boaters in England will be able to stay overnight on their boats.

While longer journeys are now possible, and our navigations are open in full, please bear in mind that booking for some passages and services will be required. Anything that is likely to affect your boating will be listed on our website.

In Wales, you can go out on your boat if you can do it locally. This generally means not travelling further than five miles to where your boat is moored. There should be no overnight stays on boats, no landing in any place beyond the immediate local area and a return to the point of departure. The restrictions on staying local could be lifted on Monday 6 July, if conditions allow, and we will update further when this is confirmed.

Only a small number of supporters have been members of the IWA for fifty years or more. The ACA is a corporate member and this is reflected by a logo on our letterhead.

As a thank you for our support, and in recognition of our loyalty, the ACA has received a commemorative gold-coloured plaque in celebration of this anniversary.

Both the IWA and the ACA have changed in many ways since their inception, but at heart both parties continue to ensure the protection and restoration of our waterways for our future generations to enjoy.

The ACA looks forward to continuing to support the IWA over the coming years.

The ACA formed a Working Partnership with Canal & River Trust on 28th January 2020.

ACA secretary, Cyril Blackford, formalised the agreement by shaking hands with Richard Bell, Waterway and Volunteer Operations Manager, based at Swarkestone, Derbyshire.

ACA will provide the manpower, in terms of volunteers, whilst C&RT will provide the plant and machinery, leadership and expertise in helping to maintain the Ashby Canal for both boaters and towpath users.

Initially there will be two work parties in the near future  (t.b.a.). Both work parties will be run by C&RT, but with ACA providing the volunteer labour; one work party will be at Snarestone and one on the towpath opposite Trinity Marina.

Moira Canal Festival Cancellation – official notice issued on 20th March 2020

The Moira Canal Festival committee has been monitoring the current evolving public health advice regarding COVID-19 outbreaks across the UK. They have regrettably made the decision to postpone this year’s Moira Canal Festival, 2020.

Geoff Pursglove has been involved with the event since it began in 2000. “We feel we have a responsibility to act in the best interest of our visitors, entertainers, traders and volunteers” he said. “This decision has not been taken lightly, but to be positive, we are now planning to hold what would have been our 20th Anniversary festival this year, on 22nd and 23rd May next year, – 2021!”

For further information please visit their website:

http://www.moiracanalfestival.co.uk

       or their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=moira%20canal%20festival&epa=SEARCH_BOX