Wey & Arun Canal - Press Release - Green boating for all on the Wey & Arun Canal.

	THE WEY & ARUN CANAL 'London's Lost Route to the Sea'

Press Release

Green boating for all on the Wey & Arun Canal.

More people can now enjoy quiet cruising along the historic and picturesque Wey & Arun Canal, thanks in part to the local Co-op stores.

An electric lift has now been commissioned onboard The Wey & Arun Canal Trust's newest and largest trip boat, Wiggonholt, which means that those who are unable to negotiate the steps into the boat from the landing stage can embark and disembark with the minimum of fuss. The lift and the associated portable ramp have been designed to take wheelchairs, and to operate simply and quickly, meaning that cruises can now accommodate several disabled passengers, who can board the boat easily and enjoy all of the facilities onboard, and this can be accomplished without undue delay for the other passengers.

Wiggonholt, which can carry up to 60 passengers, entered service this year. The boat is powered by electric motors, driven by a bank of batteries, which means it operates as silently and cleanly as possible. It was always that Trust's intention to fit a lift in this boat; a wide side entrance was installed with this in mind and the on-board toilet was built to accommodate wheelchairs. In order not to delay commissioning and certification, the boat was delivered without a lift. But now, following several generous grants, including one of £250 from the Southern Co-operative Association, it has been possible to fit the lift and extend the pleasures of canal cruising to the whole population.

Testing the lift on the canal at Loxwood, Trust Chairman Sally Schupke said, "The new access lift on Wiggonholt rounds off an incredible year for the canal here at Loxwood. As well as the opening of the new bridge and lock we have carried over 6,800 people on our boats during this season. All of this is achieved purely through volunteer efforts. The canal is a valuable public amenity and I am thrilled that everybody can now take advantage of our latest 'green' initiative onboard the electric-powered Wiggonholt."

This impressive figure is certain to grow even more - public cruises on the two larger WACT boats - Wiggonholt and Zachariah Keppel - continue at weekends through October, and private charters on these and the smaller craft are still available. Once again, the ever-popular Santa Cruises will run in December during the run-up to Christmas.

Further information about the Wey & Arun Canal Trust and the boat cruises is available from the Trust's office, on 01403 752403.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors

A photograph to accompany this press release is available from WACT Press Officer Bill Thomson, bill_thomson@weyandarun.co.uk, 01403 210347

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust

The Wey & Arun Canal, "London's lost route to the sea" was originally opened in 1816 between the River Wey at Shalford, near Guildford, and Pallingham, near Pulborough, the head of navigation of the River Arun. It closed in 1871, due to railway competition. Since the 1970s the 23-mile waterway has been the subject of a campaign by volunteers led by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust to restore the route to navigation. Work has been undertaken in a number of locations, most notably the stretch near the Sussex/Surrey border at Loxwood. Over two miles in length, this includes four working locks, two public road crossings, an aqueduct, two farm bridges, and numerous minor works, all built or rebuilt through voluntary effort. Boat trips are available on this stretch, onboard several craft, including the new 60-seater Wiggonholt.

Wiggonholt

The 60-seater trip boat Wiggonholt entered service in 2009, and has operated alongside the Wey & Arun Canal Trust's other trip boats, the 30-seat narrowboat Zachariah Keppel and the 12-seater John Smallpeice. Wiggonholt is 18.5m long and is wider than the traditional narrowboat, in order to offer greater capacity and comfort. It is powered by two electric motors supplied by two banks of traction batteries. An overnight charge is sufficient for a day's silent, emission-free cruising. The boat has been designed to allow the installation of solar panels in the future, at such time as this might prove feasible.

The boat was made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Wiggonholt Association. The Association was formed to protect and enhance the unspoilt natural beauty, tranquility and rural amenity of the Wiggonholt area, near Pulborough. Its mission has since been widened to include the protection of the Sussex countryside and the natural environment in general, an aim which fits perfectly with the provision of a non-polluting trip boat.

See www.wiggonholt.org

Further information can be obtained from the Wey and Arun Trust's Public Relations Officer: Sally Schupke (01483 560543): e-mail: pr@weyandarun.co.uk.

For general information on the work of the Wey and Arun Canal Trust, please telephone the Trust office on 01403 752403.

Last updated Sunday, 04 October, 2009

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