West
Vale Branch |
The Branch has continued to be busy throughout the winter both planning and actually working on "our bit". The major obstacle that we have to overcome is the limited manpower available to us on a continuous basis. We can only call on a "hard core" of seven workers who attend our work parties, severely limiting what we can actually do. In order to maintain progress at Steppingstone Lane Bridge and maintain our restored sections plus look after the Canalside Park, we have resorted to forming two small teams, one team of three (usually) working at the Bridge Site and the remainder performing the "maintenance tasks".
The Branch has been actively canvassing for more members by carrying out a "letter-drop" directly to the houses within the parishes of Bourton, Shrivenham and Watchfield. Although this has generated a little interest, we haven't seen any actual new workers appear. Hopefully the arrival of warmer, drier weather will be the added encouragement that will bring them forward. One lives in hope!
Despite the cold weather, work at Steppingstone Lane has progressed steadily with the culvert pipe removal being completed in February. This left just the concrete end walls to remove before completely clearing the bridge invert. Our first thoughts were to use electric Kangol chisels to break up the concrete, as we could (just, !) manhandle the necessary generator to the site. You may remember that we are trying to minimise damage to the bridleway during the winter when it is easily cut-up. This was unsuccessful and we are now (as I write in early March) drawing up plans to take hydraulic hammers and associated pump to site.
We have removed many tons of brick rubble from the collapsed arch and are slowly moving this away from the work area. Several large stone copings including three of the four end-buttress caps have been found, which will be re-used in the bridge reconstruction. The site still suffers from flooding between work days but this is quickly cleared thanks to concerted pumping using two pumps before work starts. It takes about 90 minutes to empty the work area of water, giving enough time to fully prepare ourselves and the site, plus partake of a "planning brew" before the hard work starts.
I am pleased to report that our bridleway diversion is holding up well despite the cold wet weather and regular use. We will carryout some minor in-filling in a few places at the end of the winter. Hopefully, this will only be there for another couple of winters!
To keep abreast of the progress at Steppingstone Lane Bridge and other aspects of our branch activities please visit our web-site at www.westvalecanal.fsnet.co.uk. If anyone feels like helping out in any area whether it be digging or writing, please contact the Branch Chairman or Work Party Organiser or attend our monthly meetings at Shrivenham Bowls Club.Orph Mable - Branch Project Co-ordinator
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