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New Ramsey High Lode Moorings

The new Ramsey moorings received an enthusiastic thumbs up from the crews of eight Middle Level Watermens Club narrowboats who moored there overnight during their 2022 Easter weekend cruise.

 

One encouraging fact emerged in that it was just about possible to swing a sixty foot boat in the winding hole! However this required some effort, removing and or lifting fenders and some volunteers on ropes who were able to pull the boat around. The feedback given was that with some vegetation removal and dredging around the edge of the winding hole, to remove silt and rubble that has fallen from the walls, a sixty foot boat would be able to tuck into the corners and make a successful swing. We will see what can be done.

Thanks are given to the MLWC for supplying the feedback and photographs.

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New Permanent Visitor Moorings – Ramsey High Lode

120m of new permanent visitor moorings are nearing completion on Ramsey High Lode. These visitor moorings will be owned and maintained by the MLC and were made possible following the change in focus and funding arising from the 2018 Middle Level Act and the introduction of licencing.

Middle Level Commissioners – Meeting date: 04/11/2021

Prior to the meeting, Members stood in silence as a mark of respect for Commissioner, Mr John Bliss, who died on the 10th July 2021.

Messrs Jonathan Brown and Hugh Whittome were re-appointed Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively of the Commissioners.

The Chief Executive reported that Mr Andrew Lensen of AgReserves had confirmed that he is willing to fill the vacancy in the membership of the Board.

Mr Christopher Hartley advised of his resignation from the Board with immediate effect.

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Lock Keeper of the Year Presentation

Three Fenland Lock Keepers were finalists in the British Marine Inland Boating Lock Keeper of the year award 2020. The Award, also known as the Esme Dowling Award in memory of Esme Dowling, a Lock Keeper at Napton Locks on the Oxford Canal from 1957-1988, is presented annually by hotel boat and hire boat operators […]

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Middle Level Commissioners & Well Creek Trust Replacement Moorings, Salters Lode Lock

The eagerly awaited replacement moorings at Salters Lode have recently been completed, just in time for the start of the 2021 navigation season.

The new structure has been constructed using a bespoke design, and is the first to be constructed in the Middle Level Commissioners’ system featuring a simplified steel pile sub-frame topped with GRP decking material.

It is hoped the new design and use of steel piles will extend the anticipated lifespan of the structure, and minimise future maintenance at this frequently used facility.

The 24 metre long mooring has been part funded by a contribution from the Well Creek Trust, with the remainder being funded by the Middle Level Commissioners.

 

BREAKING NEWS – Anglian Pass

The MLC are pleased to advise that for the 2021/22 licencing year and beyond vessel owners be able to purchase an Anglian Pass from the EA, which when used in conjunction with the Middle Level licence, will allow passage onto EA (Anglian) and Conservators of the River Cam waters – see PDF below.

Anglian Pass

Sunken Boat Alert

Please be aware that there is a sunken fibreglass vessel on the Old River Nene east of March Town, which, if passable, will only be so if care is taken.

This matter will not probably be attended to until the New Year as our call out staff and employees have been out working 24/7 since the 23rd December dealing with excess flood waters and are now concentrating on essential remedial activities and checks as water levels are brought back down to normal. They also need a break once all emergency and essential tasks are completed.

Our reasoning for deeming this a low priority is that the vessel is currently not causing a flood risk, it is already sunken and appears abandoned and the navigation length is within a Tier 4 area hence we would not expect vessels to be being, used other that for absolutely essential journeys. If you need to contact the MLC urgently please dial the main office number and choose the emergency option.

Swavesey IDB/MLC/EA Public Sector Co-operation Agreement (PSCA) Works

Following the successful completion of similar work undertaken in the 2019 season to watercourses under the control of the EA in the Swavesey area, Swavesey IDB in conjunction with the Middle Level Commissioners were tasked with providing a similar fully costed and re-chargeable service to the EA again for the 2020 season under a PSCA contract.

This season’s watercourse maintenance works consisted of several elements including flail mowing of watercourse banks and adjacent berms, bush trimming,  herbicide application to control emergent aquatic vegetation, and machine and hand cleansing with a weed bucket/ hand tools to remove excessive vegetation from the watercourses concerned. Vermin monitoring and control has also been included in this year’s works programme.