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)