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Waterways Community Weekend

Held at Hertford head of navigation of the River Lee-which is part of the Lee & Stort Navigation. Duration 10.00am to 4.00pm. Media and Community leaders attended at noon.

There were at least 70 people who came deliberately to support the campaign including the boaters, canoeists, fishermen and community leaders. In excess of 1000 members of the general public must have been made aware of the Save Our Waterways campaign on the towpath, at the riverside pub and in Bircherley Green shopping centre.

The community leaders who attended were: Mark Prisk MP for Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford; Sally Newton, Mayor of Hertford; Russell Radford, Deputy Mayor of Hertford; Peter Ruffles, Deputy Leader of East Herts Council . John Barber, Hertford Town Centre Manager, gave us excellent support with his influence and many contacts.

A total of 770 signatures were added to our petitions to Parliament. Of this total 70 signatures were on the Constituency petition.

The organisations active in the Hertford campaign were the Inland Waterways Association, (Lee and Stort Branch), Stort Boat Club, Stanstead Abbotts Cruising Club and Hertford Canoe Club. St John’s Ambulance Brigade attended, by invitation, to provide First Aid support.

Thanks to very favourable weather and delightful surroundings, with a pub, the campaign proved to be a great day out. The invited community leaders were in no hurry to leave after their duties were over. It all helped to show that the river area is an important asset of the town.

The riverside at the head of navigation and several of the boats were well decorated with slogans in support of the Save Our Waterways campaign. A splash of colour was added with cut-out figures of Rosy and Jim, Paddington Bear, Pooh Bear and John Bull. The focal point of the demonstration was provided by seventeen boats including a hefty barge, another wide beam boat and several gaily decorated narrowboats.

At noon twelve canoeists demonstrated their skill and support of the campaign. Craig Haslam, Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association, Lee & Stort Branch, addressed the campaigners and Mayor Sally Newton followed with a short speech when she declared 100% support for the campaign against the funding cuts.

After the formalities, Mark Prisk MP and other community leaders were taken by narrowboat for a short, and ‘eventful’ cruise in a boisterous current to the extreme head of navigation beside Hertford’s Castle Hall. This was another opportunity to demonstrate the full potential of the river to enhance the town. As a good omen, after a splendid day, the night sky over Hertford stayed clear to reveal a spectacular eclipse of the moon.

John Shacklock
Inland Waterways Association, Lee and Stort Branch