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WEST END PROJECT REPORT June 2010

Melksham Route

Meetings in Melksham continue to hammer out a consultation procedure for the new canal route attended  by The County Canals Officer, Trust directors and MCC branch members.

A number of consultation events have taken place in Melksham and Berryfields in recent weeks and it is suggested that the ‘party in the park event’associated with Melksham carnival will be a further opportunity to discuss the proposal.  Brian De’ath has been involved in these events and the associated planning meetings.  The Melksham Area Group will have a stand at which they will outline a number of projects in Melksham for which they plan conduct a consultation process. They will not single out the canal route proposals on that day but will direct enquirers to our gazebo on the river bank.  Brian De’Ath and John Laverick  will be on hand to answer questions.

 Reybridge

Our Engineer Mike Lee has also looked at the complex issues along the line of the old canal at Reybridge.   Route variations are being considered and a full level survey will be required.  Kath Hatton will look at potential funders when time and personal circumstances permit. 

Cocklemore re-watering issues.

Ecologist Iain Donald has reported on the current state of the badger setts at Pewsham.  The setts near bottom lock are active and work will not be allowed except during the badger window from July to October.  Two old setts further along the canal have not been used for some time and will not affect the dredging work. He has also investigated stagnant water for great crested newts, but none have been found.  The storage area at Top Lock is working well and four loads of puddle clay have been delivered ready for sealing of the culverts.  Volunteers have removed some very large tree roots from the bed of the canal ahead of the dredging programme planned for the summer, and have begun repairs to the original brick spillweir below Pewsham Bottom lock.  Attempts to re-puddle the culvert at Triangle Wood have been hampered by soggy conditions.  Preliminary works including tree root removal,  sealing culverts and the rebuild of horse-shoe spillweir are proceeding well.  A local contractor came to the site last Wednesday and made some suggestions  about the dredging programme.  We are assessing these and other practical alternatives with regard to cost, speed and interruption to towpath use.

Colin Fletcher,
Project Director (West)

 
   

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