West
Vale Branch |
The pleasant spring weather over the Easter holiday brought out the Shrivenham vandals in some strength, I am sorry to report. The focus of their “amusement” has been the Canalside Park where they have been using our store restoration material to build a structure and a bonfire. The structure utilised several short, heavy steel beams which the builders used as roof supports. This is very dangerous as the beams are heavy enough to seriously injure anyone if they fell on an unsuspecting head. The bonfire appears to have got out of hand and the Fire Service was called. The fire-crew had to cut through a padlock to get the fire-tender to the scene of the fire and the park surface is now showing the ruts from the vehicle, which will make grass cutting difficult.
I am very pleased to report that we have completed our construction work on the Steppingstone Lane Bridge diversion. The fencing is complete and the surface compacted and ready for use. We have slightly “over-egged” it in that the average width of the diversion is in excess of 2 metres, which should allow horses to pass comfortably. We will be arranging for a site meeting to accept comments in the very near future as soon as the Oxfordshire Footpaths Officer is available.
In getting stores to the diversion site we have created a few firsts for our Branch, not least is the use of a small dingy to carry various items. This is possibly the first time that a “working boat” (very loose interpretation) has appeared on the canal here for over 90 years. We hope to build a punt specially for this type of work over the next few months and will also try and keep a channel clear of weeds between Station Road and Steppingstone Lane throughout the summer.
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. For those with a computer and Internet access please visit our Branch Web Site at www.westvalecanal.fsnet.co.uk.Orph Mable - Branch Project Co-ordinator
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