A NEW branch of the Inland Waterways Association has been set up as a guardian of waterways in North and East Yorkshire.

The North Riding Branch, which is the first new branch to be set up in ten years, will cover waterways from Goole in the east, Ripon in the west and north as far as Newcastle.

The organisation, chaired by Tony Martin, will hold a meeting on April 1 at 7.30pm at St Olave’s Church Hall, Marygate Lane, York. Present will be Clive Henderson, the national chairman of the IWA, Jon Horsfall, general manager of British Waterways and the civic party.

The group looks after the interests of anyone concerned with the wellbeing and future of the waterways, such as boat owners and hirers, canoeists, bird watchers, fishermen, walkers and cyclists.