East Coast Rivers. General News May 2009

Author: Jan Harber

THE RIVER ALDE. Recommended Walk
It has been suggested to me that the details given on page 34 for the Sailors’ Path need some clarification. It is not usual to include detailed guides for ramblers in yachtsmen’s pilot books, but this one is a particularly fine walk so here goes:

After ‘…(at any state of the tide)’ insert:
Leaving Aldeburgh, the starting point is from a parking place about half a mile beyond the Co-op on the A1094. The path runs west through Black Heath Wood with the River Alde to the south. In just under two miles you pass the Sailor’s Path Cottages and reach a metalled lane. Continue, more or less straight on, to reach Snape village, The Golden Key and The Crown inns. An alternative is to turn sharp left when you reach the metalled lane and follow this path in a southerly direction to the river. Turn right onto the seawall and continue along the wall past the reed beds to Snape Bridge and the Maltings.

The Alde & Ore Association has recently published a booklet entitled Walk the banks of the Alde and Ore giving details and sketch maps of eight walks in the area, including the above route.

The barge Dinah passing Iken Church, early morning. Photo Jan Harber

Noel Dilley, an ECR reader, and I are considering putting together some descriptions of other East Coast river and creekside walks that can be accessed both from marinas and by going ashore in a dinghy. Wolverstone to Pin Mill; Paglesham Pool to Church End; Bradwell Waterside to St Peter’s Chapel; and the Saxon Shore path from Hoo to Upnor come mind, to name but a few. So watch this space…

RIVER STOUR
Mistley
In 2008 a fence was erected along the outside wall of the quay at Mistley and as a result there is currently no access to the quayside from the river. For more information about the local campaign to have the fence removed see www.freethequay.org

RIVER BLACKWATER
West Mersea
The Mersea Island Museum is in the centre of West Mersea, just to the east of the Parish Church. The traditional local activities of fishing, oystering, wild fowling and boat building are represented and there is a reconstructed weather-boarded fisherman's cottage, plus regular exhibitions of paintings, photographs, maps and charts.

RIVERS CROUCH AND ROACH
Wallasea Island
The Crouch Harbour Authority and the Roach Sailing Association are working with the RSPB and Crossrail to ensure that the creation of the proposed Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project does not cause long term hydrodynamic effects on the two rivers.

The project, which is still at the planning stage, will involve flooding the island, having first raised its level using tunnelled material transported by sea from the Crossrail Project on the Isle of Dogs. This will create a salt marsh, wildlife habitat.

The CHA will need to grant a Works Licence for the construction (at Ringwood Point near Fairway No 1 buoy) of an unloading facility for two ships, which will have to swing in the area between Horse Shoal and the start of the Burnham moorings. It is likely that, if granted, the works licence will have conditions attached to protect the interests of local people, yachtsman and other river users.

Construction of the unloading pontoon could begin in 2010, with shipments of Crossrail spoil beginning to arrive in the River Crouch by the summer 2010.

When the island (currently high class agricultural land) is eventually flooded, the breaches in the sea wall will be created on the south side, along the River Roach. The RSA has raised concerns ‘that the construction phase of the project will unduly affect the tranquillity of the river, particularly if work continues at night with the use of arc lights, and also at weekends. The construction will continue for several years, and if the noise, light and dust pollution are not sensitively managed, it could drive a whole generation of river users away.’

Jan Harber