Scottish Inland Waterways Association
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Inland Waterways Association (SIWA) was a registered charity and association
of canal
societies and individual canal enthusiasts in Scotland
.
The Association was founded in 1970 by canal enthusiasts who, after the closure of the Union Canal
and the Forth & Clyde Canal, wanted to restore and preserve them as part of Scotland's historical, architectural and recreational assets.
SIWA explored the possibility of becoming a branch of the Inland Waterways Association
(IWA), but decided against it. At SIWA's Inaugural Meeting, the General Secretary of IWA welcomed the setting up of a separate Scottish organisation.
By 1975, SIWA made it into print in the Shell Book of Inland Waterways: "SIWA ... holds a long-term and ambitious aim of seeing the waterways re-opened for sizeable craft throughout".
SIWA has many corporate and individual members who are helping to campaign on restoration, environmental, and day-to-day canal issues. This applies to both leisure and commercial users.
The Association works with British Waterways
Scotland on both the Freshwater Group and the Saltwater Group, as well as the level of fees, the supply of services; and maintenance of navigation
.
It also engages with British Waterways on restoring the navigability of the River Leven
.
SIWA has strong links with the Inland Waterways Association Ireland (IWAI). An alternating exchange visit takes place every year. In 2008, the Scots visited the Irish, with visits to Lough Erne
and Enniskillen
. In 2009, the Irish have visited the Crinan Canal
.
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
of canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
societies and individual canal enthusiasts in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The Association was founded in 1970 by canal enthusiasts who, after the closure of the Union Canal
Union Canal (Scotland)
The Union Canal is a 31.5-mile canal in Scotland, from Lochrin Basin, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh to Falkirk, where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal.-Location and features:...
and the Forth & Clyde Canal, wanted to restore and preserve them as part of Scotland's historical, architectural and recreational assets.
SIWA explored the possibility of becoming a branch of the Inland Waterways Association
Inland Waterways Association
The Inland Waterways Association was formed in 1946 as a registered charity in the United Kingdom to campaign for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and sensitive development of British Canals and river navigations....
(IWA), but decided against it. At SIWA's Inaugural Meeting, the General Secretary of IWA welcomed the setting up of a separate Scottish organisation.
By 1975, SIWA made it into print in the Shell Book of Inland Waterways: "SIWA ... holds a long-term and ambitious aim of seeing the waterways re-opened for sizeable craft throughout".
SIWA has many corporate and individual members who are helping to campaign on restoration, environmental, and day-to-day canal issues. This applies to both leisure and commercial users.
The Association works with British Waterways
British Waterways
British Waterways is a statutory corporation wholly owned by the government of the United Kingdom, serving as the navigation authority in England, Scotland and Wales for the vast majority of the canals as well as a number of rivers and docks...
Scotland on both the Freshwater Group and the Saltwater Group, as well as the level of fees, the supply of services; and maintenance of navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
.
It also engages with British Waterways on restoring the navigability of the River Leven
River Leven, Dunbartonshire
The River Leven is a stretch of water in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, flowing from Loch Lomond in the North to the River Clyde in the South...
.
SIWA has strong links with the Inland Waterways Association Ireland (IWAI). An alternating exchange visit takes place every year. In 2008, the Scots visited the Irish, with visits to Lough Erne
Lough Erne
Lough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
and Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. In 2009, the Irish have visited the Crinan Canal
Crinan Canal
The Crinan canal is a canal in the west of Scotland. It takes its name from the village of Crinan at its westerly end. Nine miles long, it connects the village of Ardrishaig on Loch Gilp with the Sound of Jura, providing a navigable route between the Clyde and the Inner Hebrides, without the need...
.
SIWA affiliated organisations
- Bridge 19-40 Canal SocietyBridge 19-40 Canal SocietyThe Bridge 19-40 Canal Society is a waterway society and a registered Scottish Charity operating community boats on the Union Canal, with bases at Winchburgh and Drumshoreland, West Lothian, Scotland, UK .-History:...
- Edinburgh Canal SocietyEdinburgh Canal SocietyThe Edinburgh Canal Society is a charitable canal society on the Union Canal in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Society's main base is Ashley Terrace Boathouse at Lockhart Bridge, near Harrison Park in the Polwarth area of Edinburgh....
- Falkirk and District Canals Society
- Forth and Clyde Canal SocietyForth and Clyde Canal SocietyThe Forth and Clyde Canal Society is a waterway society on the Forth & Clyde Canal in the Lowlands of Scotland, UK, and was formed in 1980 to 'campaign for the Forth and Clyde's preservation, restoration and development'...
- Forth Yacht Clubs Association
- Great Glen Canal Users Association
- Linlithgow Union Canal SocietyLinlithgow Union Canal SocietyThe Linlithgow Union Canal Society is a waterway society and a Scottish registered charity based at Linlithgow Canal Centre on the Union Canal at Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland...
- Royal Yachting AssociationRoyal Yachting AssociationThe Royal Yachting Association is the national governing body for certain watersports in the United Kingdom. Activities it covers include:* Sailing* Windsurfing* Motor cruising* Sportsboats* Personal watercraft* Powerboat racing...
(Scotland) - Seagull TrustSeagull TrustSeagull Trust Cruises is a waterway society and Scottish charity in Scotland, UK.The Trust was formed in 1978 and offers free canal cruising for disabled and disadvantaged persons and groups. It is the largest service provider of its kind within the UK. It is run entirely by volunteers...
- Sycharwell Project
- Members of the Caledonian CanalCaledonian CanalThe Caledonian Canal is a canal in Scotland that connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century by engineer Thomas Telford, and is a sister canal of the Göta Canal in Sweden, also constructed by...
Operators Association:- Caley Cruisers
- European Waterways
- Jacobite Cruises
- Highland Voyages
- Caledonian Discovery
- West Highland Sailing
- Magna Carta Steamship Company
- Capercaillie Cruisers / Black Prince
See also
- Canals of the United KingdomCanals of the United KingdomThe canals of the United Kingdom are a major part of the network of inland waterways in the United Kingdom. They have a colourful history, from use for irrigation and transport, through becoming the focus of the Industrial Revolution, to today's role for recreational boating...
- History of the British canal systemHistory of the British canal systemThe British canal system of water transport played a vital role in the United Kingdom's Industrial Revolution at a time when roads were only just emerging from the medieval mud and long trains of pack horses were the only means of "mass" transit by road of raw materials and finished products The...