Barge operator finally makes history - after getting grounded

The Farndale H, carrying 400 tonnes of grit sand, ran aground on Monday afternoon near Allerton Bywater, two and a half miles short of its destination, Knostrop Wharf in Leeds.

The River Aire section of the Aire and Calder Navigation had been recently dredged, but there was still too little depth for the barge, which eventually freed itself and reversed back to a mooring.

On Tuesday a vessel from the Canal and River Trust had to be brought in to off-load around 50 tons of sand before they were able to carry on their passage into Leeds.

It is the first time in 19 years that a commercial operator has taken a load into the city by barge, and is thanks to the determination of its owner, John Branford, marine aggregates firm AC Marine Aggregates, with the support of the Commercial Boat Operators Association (CBOA).

A ceremony arranged to mark the occasion at Knostrop Wharf on Tuesday morning had to be cancelled.

But Mr Branford, a fifth generation operator, said it was good to see people clapping them on the final leg.

He said: "There was a lot of people cheering us on and that gave us quite a bit of comfort knowing the public are at the back of us."

But he is worried about the return trip because of restrictions on hours imposed by the CRT, which currently means he can only work from 8am to 4pm, five days a week.

"We need five hours from here to clear Pollington Lock which we can't pen ourselves through - if we don't make it we are stuck again."

Maik Brown, from the CBOA, said: "When Lafarge stopped using barges in 2013 , all the barges were laid up and their owners went into different jobs, one or two into river piloting and tug and dredging work.

"Although John Branford’s barges were also laid up, he didn’t give up and was constantly looking and searching for a new opportunities to trade again and after a couple of false dawns , with support from David Lowe at Humber Barges and the CBOA the partnership with Andy Collins of AC Aggregates was born and although they faced difficulties and adversity they finally as we know were given permission to use Knostrop and started commercial carrying by barge on the Aire and Calder Navigation once again."