One foreseeable problem is the loss of water from the main line of the Shroppie that would be caused by re-opening the flight of seventeen locks that lead down to Newport. This loss could be overcome by modern-day techniques such as back-pumping but the Trust has instead come up with the idea of an inclined plane.
Ever since the success of the Falkirk Wheel, restoration groups seem to have felt the need for "iconic" structures to act as figureheads for their campaigns. Personally I'd prefer to navigate through 17 locks (open all hours, no charge payable) to an inclined plane (operation restricted, advance booking, fee payable?) and it seems I'm not alone.
The Trust was due to publicise its plans at the Norbury Canal Festival, but local boaters were leafleted beforehand, from an unknown source (which I think is actually illegal), drumming up opposition and inviting us to sign a petition during the Festival. Its not so much the plane that's the focus of dissent, more the associated access road, car parking, traffic and the "200 boat marinas" that are part of the scheme. I'd have liked to have found out more, but whenever I wandered past the Trust's stall it was unstaffed and there was no sign of anyone collecting signatures for the "antis".
I'm all for re-opening the branch and wish the Trust well, but I think the Inclined Plane is a mistake. Norbury Junction is a beautiful, quiet and peaceful place (except perhaps on a Sunday afternoon when crowds gather outside the Junction Inn after a good lunch). The Plane, the road, the car park and the marinas would destroy this. Its in my back yard -and I don't want it!
2 comments:
Iconic structures are all very well but they are also an achilles heel. They cost a lot and can go wrong. Locks are tried and tested and I would opt for the low tech approach every time. Backpumping is no problem and they could always use side pounds.
Andy (Capt A)
What the brainless people who have spent thousands of pounds on the study to come up with this recommendation have not considered are the engineering problems that already exist on Norbury valley. When the canal was first built, this valley proved very difficult to construct and indeed did not become operable for 5 years after the rest of the Shroppie, (some say that it was the cause of Telford's death), mainly because of land slips etc. It is now excepted that the valley in places is sinking by 4 inches every 50 years, the height being raised just a few years ago. I am sure that placing the weight of an incline plane on this site would increase the dangers of a total collapse in the very near future.
Locks would still be required from Forton and onwards, so the incline plane would not make any saving in the amount of water needed.
On the thoughts of installing a new access road, i see the plan is to make the road on the towpath side of the canal, going over or through an ancient monument and high embankment, where on the offside the land is virtually flat all the way and most of it is a farm road.
This is an idea from a group which must have far more money at it's disposal than sense, I have donated in the past, but if this is how my money is wasted, then i will not be donating again
Norbury resident
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