Pumphouse Boat Gathering

I write this the Monday after our Boat Gathering which I am happy to say was a success, given that we had over 30 boats in attendence and that I received a number of favourable comments from people who attended.

However what was missing was the general public.

It is quite probable that advertising locally was not as good as we had last year. Then we had a leaflet drop around Langley prior to the event which was assisted by BW, but we did not have that help this year. Whilst press releases were despatched this year to the local media it was apparent that they had not taken up the ecent to publicise.

Perhaps it was fortunate that we were not over run by the public during the day as the team who had organised the event may well have been overstretched to cope.

Whilst we applaud the energy and enthusiasm that people like Barrie Johnson, Jeff Barley and others who came forward on the day, I think they would much prefer more physical help.

If it is not forthcoming in the future they will very soon run out of steam.

For the Bonfire in November and next year's events we are calling on you all to come forward and assist. The alternative may well be not holding the events.

To this end we need volunteers to help set up the site prior to events, to run the activities which are put on during the event and then help clear up afterwards. Mostly during the event it is the fund raising activities such as the burger bar, running the duck race and organising raffles in the evening. A case of many hands make light work.

We really need the help and so that we can know who we can call upon, could offers of help be directed to our secretary David Hill. It will be a great contribution to continuing the success of our activities.

Subscriptions

I was asked by member Phil Sharpe to explain the necessity for the increases in the subscription rates this year. This is the text of my response:-

I think that a lot has been achieved in the last ten years by David Smith who built many bridges with BW and at the same time being very much involved with fighting the Ridgeacre closure and the disappointment that that brought. We have established a popular waterway event in Smethwick with the Bonfire Rally and are attempting to repeat this at the Titford Pumphouse. We have converted the Society into a company limited by guarantee. At the Pumphouse we have of course through our commitment ensured that there is a long term future for the building that was otherwise at risk. We have also had Society stands at the majority of the main waterway events both local and national, thus ensuring that we can promote both the Society and the BCN. We have ideas for future projects of which we would like to bring to fruition as time allows.

What has this to do with subscription? Well firstly the expense of incorporating the company whilst modest in total was still over £1000, we have also incurred legal costs in dealing with the Pumphouse lease, which has yet to be finalised, currently the bill exceeds £2000. These are two one off costs. Whilst the Pumphouse is basically self financing as regards lease, we have utility and rate bills to pay. We had benefited over a number of years from meeting in subsidised council facilities but now have to pay our way in the real world. There is an element of risk in the lease of the Pumphouse as we lease the building and then sub lease the flat, therefore if we lose the tenant then we would still have to pay BW the full lease fee. We also have to keep our portion of the building in good repair.

Thus when we considered subscription increases last year we looked at what it cost to provide the basic facalities to members, Boundary Post, the social meeting costs, the day to day Pumphouse costs, running the work boat and insurance. We were probably subsidising subscriptions from fund raising activities prior to the increase, which isn't really what we are raising money for, thus we set a subscription level which met the basic costs of the society and left a little in reserve. We also looked at what a subscription bought and recognised that in most cases this was copy of Boundary Post, therefore it was felt that an individual or family at one address cost the society the same in that they only receive one copy of BP. We have set a subscription level that reflected the cost of providing the benefit and simplified the membership structure at the same time.

I might add that since setting the subscription rates we have been hit, as have most organisations such as ours, with large increases in insurance costs amounting to nearly £500 for us. Without the large increase in subscription we would indeed have been looking at a further increase this year. Subscription changes involve a considerable amount of work for the membership secretary and making frequent changes would not be helpful to those members using standing orders to pay their subscriptions.

I hope therefore that this will explain the reasons behind the decisions we made. We would of course be sorry to lose any member, but at the same time we have to set a subscription rate that reflects the costs of running the society."

Wolverhampton Canal Side Development

Whilst attending the Crick Boat Show Laurence Hogg advised that the former Fellows Morton and Clayton Albion warehouse in Wolverhampton was to be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the canal from Horsley Fields Junction towards Wolverhampton Top Lock. This came as quite a surprise as in the past we had made representations to Wolverhampton Council as part of a consultation exercise as to the importance of the building.

The warehouse dates back to 1829 and was used for a time by the carrier Shipton, indeed his name was still visible on the building although in more recent times FMC had occupied the premises. Indeed the building was one of the few, if not the only remaining carriers warehouse of that time on the BCN.

On making represention to Wolverhampton their Conservation Officer whilst appreciating our view point was adamant that it stood in the way of a housing scheme, that planning permission had been granted and that the building was'nt subject to "listing". He went on to state that Birmingham University had carried out a study of the bulding.

An application was made for spot listing however this was turned down on the basis that the adjacent basin had been in filled and that there had been some alterations to the building in more recent times.

Thus a historically significant building will now be lost, due to a somewhat blinkered outlook by Wolverhampton Council and the use of experts who seem to work in complete isolation to the studies of historians such as the late Patrick Thorn and Ray Shill, both of whom had produced materail on the buildings historical significance.

Change in Council Posts

With Colin Riggs retiring from the post of society treasurer at the next AGM, Tony Jones has now suggested that he could take over from Colin. In effect Tony will become treasurer from 1st August the start of the financial year.

An A - Z of the BCN

This issue will bring to an end the long running series of drawings by Edward Paget- Tomlinson and accompanying words by Ray Shill of scenes around the BCN. It has covered a wide spectrum of the history of the canal and we must be very grateful to both Edward and Ray for the effort they have put into producing this for 26 issues of BP. Hopefully they both will still be able to contribute items from time to time.