THE body, believed to be that of a woman, was found yesterday, Friday, in a burnt-out narrowboat on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Honey Street, near Pewsey.
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A BLACK man who was attacked by four white men on the towpath of the Rochdale Canal jumped into the water to try to save himself.
The thugs racially abused the 69 years old pensioner, and one punched him in the face, so the terrified pensioner jumped into the waterway and managed to wade across to the other side to escape further injury after the men demanded his cash.
This happened in early afternoon in Rochdale, and is the second attack on the same towpath, as a 29 years old man was accosted by two men who demanded cash. When he refused, again he was punched to the ground and kicked as he lay there.
Since the Rochdale Canal was reopened and the towpath upgraded, there have been many reports of attacks and demands for cash, and is fast becoming a no-go area.
Of the latest attacks, Detective Constable Julian Peach, of Rochdale CID, stated:
"Both of these offences are appalling, but it beggars belief that a group of racists would scare a pensioner so much that he did a dangerous thing by jumping in a canal. I'm appealing for anyone who may have witnessed either of these robberies, or who knows who is responsible, to get in touch."
Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 4669 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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There was official encouragement for the restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal, when Nick Herbert MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs travelled to visit the waterway to meet members of the Restoration Committee and local County Councillors.
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Even though he was moored in Oundle Marina, the inspectors found his boat, and he received the maximum fine at Corby Magistrates' Court, and also ordered to pay costs to the Environment Agency, whose inspectors check registrations.
Sarah Nicholson, prosecuting, told magistrates that the boat registration fee avoided was only £2, but because the boat was unregistered, the licence fee of £664.10 had also not been paid.
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THOUGH there is little chance of any new canals in England in the present financial climate, a new one has been approved for Scotland, with British Waterways financially involved, Alan Tilbury tells us.
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THE massive development by the side of the Big Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Middlewich has stopped, as many of the houses and flats already built are still without buyers.
The development stretched from the side of the Big Lock pub right along the waterfront of the canal, with more development behind, but at the moment there is no activity whatsoever, though foundations for further properties have been laid.
If is of course all part of the current financial situation affecting a great deal of development, coupled with the collapse of the buy to rent market.
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Over the past few days, in addition to the muggings, which we now rarely report, a man has been stabbed on the Regents Canal and another shot in the thigh on the Grand Union Canal.
The man who was knifed, saw two Asian youths fiddling with the ropes of a narrowboat moored on the Regents Canal at Islington, and he remonstrated with then, upon which they turned and attacked him, one stabbing him with a knife, then they both fled away on bikes on the upgraded towpath.
A passer-by called an ambulance and he was taken to hospital, though his wounds were not life threatening.
The man who was shot was on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal near Leamington, when he felt pain in his thigh and saw blood, realising he had been shot.
We learn this is a common occurrence around the waterway, as there is someone with a gun taking pot shots at passers-by on the towpath. The man required surgery at Warwick Hospital.
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HOT on the heels of the complaint of the workings of British Waterways' licensing department by Ray Watkins (emails) threatened by its attitude, comes another.
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