West
Vale Branch |
Firstly, let me wish all our readers a Happy New Year!
The year of 2001 will not be remembered as one of the most productive for canal restoration in our area although other branches, there are 10 of them along the line of the canal, did make some impressive achievements. The Purton Road crossing in Swindon was one such notable achievement where two culverts, one for the canal and one for the towpath were built under a new road.
Putting 2001 firmly behind us we must now look forward to 2002 and what we hope to achieve. As reported in last months “News”, we have begun work at Steppingstone Lane Bridge on the bridleway between Bourton and Station Road, Shrivenham. Our aim is to fully restore this bridge over the coming 2 to 3 years. The time-scales are dependent on the availability of our volunteers and what local funding we can raise, but we are quietly confident that this can be achieved.
We intend to minimise disruption to bridleway users by creating a diversion around the work site over the coming two months. Before bringing the diversion into use however, there is to be a meeting of interested parties at Steppingstone Lane Bridge to ensure that all necessary safety precautions have been taken and that both walkers and riders are satisfied that their interests are catered for. The dates and times of this meeting will be sent out to those interested in due course. Apart from those that I have already contacted, anyone wishing to be invited to the meeting should let me know and I will get details to them when the meeting is arranged.
We are continuing to strive to take leases on the length of canal in this area and are actively negotiating with landowners and their agents to achieve this. It is a slow and complex task but we are making progress, albeit slowly. The only section fully in our control is the Canalside Park which is owned by the Trust, but open to all as an amenity. All work in keeping the park tidy, and the grass cut is carried out by our volunteers. The towpaths along the canal are open to the public by kind permission of the landowners with all grass cutting and hedge maintenance also carried out by our members.
With all this work just to keep the park and towpaths open you would expect us to have an army of volunteers. Sadly this is not the case and we are only able to muster between 4 and 6 people for our work parties which usually take place on the Saturday immediately after our monthly meetings where we agree responsibilities and tasks to be carried out. Strength is not a requirement as we have a ride-on mower which is used for the majority of the grass cutting. General tidying and pruning of hedges is also work which, although quite light, still takes time and effort.
For more information or to volunteer assistance please come along to one of our meetings held in the Shrivenham Bowls Club, Martens Road, on the second Wednesday of every month at 8 p.m. You will be made very welcome. Alternatively, ask any of the volunteers that you see working on the canal or park, they will be more than pleased to stop and talk!Orph Mable - Branch Project Co-ordinator
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