Historic tug revisits Essex Wharf
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THE well-known historic 42ft dock tug Major revisited Essex Wharf at Lea Bridge at the weekend, on a nostalgic trip up the Lee Navigation.
Over the years it had towed hundreds of trains of barges to numerous destinations on the busy navigation, and at the time when Essex Wharf was a hive of activity, writes Del Brenner of the Regents Network, who is campaigning with many others for Essex Wharf to be rescued from property development and brought back into use as a much needed strategic wharf for London.
Secretary of State
The fate of the wharf still lies in the hands of the Secretary of State since the planning application for four huge blocks of flats was called-in after it received the unwelcome consent from Waltham Forest planning committee. Perhaps the Secretary of State would benefit from a visit to Essex Wharf on Major to see for himself.
While the Secretary of State thinks about the future of Essex Wharf from his office in Victoria Street, he is being strongly lobbied from a number of directions including the CBOA Commercial Boat Operators Association, The Lee Valley Regional Park, factions in the GLA, the Lee Valley Federation, local councillors, the London Borough of Hackney and various well-organised local groups.
Swept aside
They greatly outnumber the supporters of the residential development which was all too apparent at the planning stage but were swept aside by the borough's planners.
A very strong case is being made for Essex Wharf to be brought back into use for water freight, as well as a leisure amenity and an active asset to the Regional Park's waterways.
Interest in reviving the wharf also comes from the crew of Major, and the tug was skippered on the visit to Essex Wharf by James Bill of busy coal boat Archimedes from the Candlebridge Carrying Co, and Michael Askin of the magnificent Royal Class working boat Victoria.
Unused and deserted wharf
Standing on the back deck viewing the unused and deserted wharf is experienced waterman Jamie Spinks who served his apprenticeship on Major when it was heavily engaged in the construction period of Canary Wharf in London's Docklands.
Jamie may also be thinking of the regular runs made by the tug up the Lee Navigation when Essex Wharf was very alive, and comments:
"Those were the days when London's canals were made good use of and there is every reason for bringing them back into use again. It is a mystery that it has not happened."