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Making the most of the exciting times ahead for the
MCC Branch
of the Wilts & Berks
What are we going to be doing?
Over the next few years the MCC Branch will be involved
with an increasing number of projects and events in
addition to the normal fundraising and work party
initiatives. The main projects are as follows. :)
1.
The Melksham Link Project.
Planning permission has been submitted, by the Trust,
this year to reinstate a link from the Kennet &Avon at
Semington to Melksham. This link will allow all K&A
traffic, including wide beam boats into Melksham along
the river. This will be brand new strectch of canal built by contractors.
Stage Two, which is the main focus for the Branch,
will be to restore canal from Forest Farm, Melksham to the Bell Inn, Lacock - "Destination Lacock"
2. Destination Lacock.
We hope to create a safe route for non motorists from Forset Farm on Woodrow Road , Melksham to the Bell Inn, Lacock- which sat on the line of the Wilts & Berks. Recent purchase of land at Queenfield Farm (Apr 2018) is helping with this project and as more funds become available we will eb able to talk to landowners re obtaining leases for the line on whch which the canal line cross
3.
Pewsham Locks Project
This incoporates the rest of the industrial heritage at Pewshamm.
Middle & Bottom locks, Saw pit, Carpenters workshop, Dry dock and
Lime kiln. Unfortunatley we were unsuccessful in our bid for funds from
the Heritage Lottery. However the genrous folf who play the Post Code Lottery dontated £0k and Chippenham Area Board dontated funds towards this project as well. We are finalising plans to build at bridge at Top Lock and are looking at work on bottom lock and the dry dock at this time.
4. A4 - North.
Although our branch focus is heading west to join link up with the
Kennett and Avon Canal at Semmington we have been given the opportunity
to work on land north of the A4 near Chippenham and we never say no :).
A 3 year clearance plan following ecological and environmental
guidelines was completed in March 2018. We have a few tidying up jobs to do (55 stumps to remove from the tow path) before it will be safe for public access. WE hope to have a lease on the second section of land that will allow us to be at the Chippenham/Calne cycle way inlate 2023.
In addition the Branch can be seen at various events in the county promoting the work of the Trust generally and more specifically the work of the MCC Branch.
We also have a dedicated "Talks Officer" who will come to your local group and give an overview of the whole project and spcific details of the work going on between Melksham and Foxham (which are were our boundaries lie. Donations for such a talk woud be gratefully received.
To
support these activities there are a host of other events and
initiatives that take place often in the background and we are indebted
to our "clean boots" volunteers who carryout such work for us. .
1.
The Branch
also needs to raise funds so that the work party can
continue to maintain the restored sections of the canal.
2.
The Branch
is continually promoting and publicising its activities
which make it easier for the fundraising team to obtain
grants.
3.
There are
records to be kept to ensure that the Branch complies
with its legal obligations and there are social events
to organise (it would be very dull if it was all work
and no play).
Planning for
the future.
The MCC
Branch has over 600 members and is grateful for the
support they provide. Whether that is in the form of
paying the annual fee or being actively engaged with
events and projects, your contribution is important.
This year some of the more active members, for various
reasons, have to reduce their work load with the Branch.
So you guessed it, here comes the sales pitch!
The Events committee have identified the need to
increase the pool of members who are willing to actively
support events. This need not be a regular commitment to
attend meetings or work parties etc. (although you would
be welcome) but just to help staff the publicity gazebo
for a couple of hours at one of the many events this
summer would be great. If you had 2hours once a month to
join the Events and Planning committee (we currently
have 3 vacancies) so that fresh ideas and initiatives
can be introduced into the Branch, that would be a great
help. Or maybe you could donate an item for the auction
that is being planned for later this year (details
later).
Whatever you
feel you can do to support, your contribution would help
to help the Branch achieve its many objectives. And, of
course, hopefully you will enjoy yourself at the same
time.
If you want
to know more or even put you name forward to help out in
some way please contact, Dave Maloney, at dave.maloney@wbct.org.uk
or on
07809 374 754.
Just think
600 members giving just 2 hours a year would give the
branch an additional 1200 hours per year of volunteer
support (and matched funding).
Thank you
for taking time to read this.
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