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CANAL CAMPAIGNERS DELIGHTED BY LATEST AWARD

 

 

Campaigners working towards the restoration of a former waterway have been delighted to receive a second award in recognition of their success.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has presented the ‘Pick of the Branches’ award to the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch due to their impressive increase in membership.

Almost 400 people are registered supporters, a leap of more than a third compared to just five years ago.

The total membership of the charity is now more than 2,200.

Local volunteers have received a specially-made pick-axe, with plaques along the handle listing all of the previous recipients of the award.

The latest success comes after the same branch was recently presented with the charity’s Tony Davy Award for donating the most hours of free labour to support the restoration effort – more than 7,000 hours last year alone.

 

Rob Jones is chairman of the local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.

He said: “We were thrilled to receive the Tony Davy Award before Christmas, so we were absolutely delighted to follow this with the Pick of the Branches Award as well.

“The volunteers are continually engaged in workparties across the area, rebuilding bridges, wharfs and towpaths or dredging canalbeds and refilling them with water.

“Other events include sponsored walks, quiz nights and presentations for local groups, which all help to raise the profile of the charity and our ongoing campaign to restore this wonderful waterway linking our local towns.

“Some members of the branch are ‘armchair supporters’ who simply want to donate some money and be kept informed of progress through our quarterly newsletters, while others prefer more active roles which utilise their skills and enable them to meet new people.

“Volunteers range from teachers and musicians to engineers and farmers, from teenagers to the retired.

“Whatever their level of engagement, we appreciate each and every member and their valuable contribution to bringing the canal back to life.”

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PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR CANAL VOLUNTEERS

 

 HARDWORKING volunteers have been praised for their success in bringing a former waterway back to life.

This year the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust introduced a new award for the branch which provided the biggest boost to the restoration campaign.

The ‘Tony Davy Award’ – named after the Trust’s first chairman – has been presented to the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch.

Over the last year the local volunteers have offered more than 7,000 hours of free labour during 116 workparties, equivalent to almost £100,000 if paid contractors had been used.

 

Rob Jones, chairman of the local branch, is delighted by the accolade.

He said: “We are thrilled to be the first recipients of such a prestigious award which recognises the amazing achievements of our volunteers.

“They work tirelessly throughout the whole year, whatever the weather, because they all recognise the benefits of a restored canal – a new wildlife corridor linking our towns and providing increased tourism and employment.

“They have helped to rebuild bridges, culverts, spillweirs and towpaths, as well as installing birdboxes, batboxes, benches and information boards, and supporting youth groups in planting new trees.

“They have also removed rubbish, maintained rights of way and opened up the countryside to walkers and cyclists who are keen to make the most of their local environment.

“Thanks to their outstanding dedication and commitment, residents have realised that the Wilts & Berks can – and will - be restored.

“We hope this new award will encourage even more people to make a New Year’s Resolution to join our campaign.”

 

The biggest workparties have taken place at Pewsham Locks near Chippenham, which was refilled with water and officially opened by Duncan Hames MP earlier this year, and Chaveywell Bridge in Calne where the former wharf has been completely rebuilt.

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HELPING HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK OF LOCK CLEARANCE  

 

Grateful volunteers received a helping hand during this year’s final workparty on the Wilts & Berks Canal near Chippenham.

A national team from the Waterway Recovery Group spent a day clearing trees and bushes from Bottom Lock at Pewsham.

The structure once formed part of a flight of three locks which lifted the canal on its journey from Melksham towards Chippenham.

The team removed obstacles which had been growing in and around the brickwork at the southern end.

This will allow the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust to eventually extend the current stretch which has already been restored, becoming a popular attraction for walkers and cyclists.

 

The last year has been the most successful in the history of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Trust.

During the summer the charity officially opened a mile of restored waterway, including culverts and spillweirs, and even organised tripboats for families.

Since then the volunteers have also introduced benches and information boards, as well as widening and raising the towpath.

Local groups of children and young people have also been involved, building birdboxes and batboxes or planting saplings alongside the canal.

All of the work has been funded by generous grants and donations, supported by the charity’s own fundraising events.

 

Rob Jones, chairman of the local branch, is delighted by everything that has been achieved.

He said: “This was our final workparty of the year at Pewsham and we had a huge amount of support.

“Aside from the national volunteers with the Waterway Recovery Group, who provided specialist help with the tree removal, we also had lots of local volunteers helping with bridge repairs and other tasks.

“Their impact can be measured by the positive comments from passing members of the public, who are often amazed by the pace of restoration which seems to be getting faster with every passing year.

“An important part of our local heritage had been lost in undergrowth and used as a dumping ground for rubbish, but now we’re creating a wildlife corridor which is already attracting swans and kingfishers.

“We hope people will be impressed by the transformation and want to join our campaign to bring this canal back to life.”

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SPONSORED WALK GIVES BIG BOOST TO CANAL CAMPAIGN

 

THE RESTORATION of a former waterway has received a welcome boost thanks to a £1,300 donation from local supporters.

The money was generated by this year’s sponsored walk in aid of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, following the old line from Chippenham to Lacock.

Around 200 people took part in the high-profile event, in May, which also saw the official opening of a newly-restored and rewatered stretch between Pewsham and Reybridge.

It was the first time that boats has been along this part of the canal in almost a hundred years, with Duncan Hames MP cutting a ribbon to mark the occasion.

More than £1,312 has now been presented to the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the charity.

 

Event organiser Peter Williams said: “Everyone has been delighted by the final total, which is one of the biggest amounts generated in the eight years that we have been arranging the walk.

“The rewatered section has created a real ‘buzz’ in the local community and continues to generate so many positive comments from walkers and cyclists.

“In years to come I think it will be considered as a turning point, when the doubters finally realised that it really was possible to bring this canal back to its former glory.”

 

Branch chairman Rob Jones said: “We are sincerely grateful to everyone who took part in the sponsored walk and helped to collect such an impressive sum.

“Most of the money for the project will hopefully come from national organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, but in the meantime we can use local grants and donations to make a start on some of the work today.

“This enables us to raise the profile of the charity and attract even more volunteers and supporters, taking us another step closer to our ultimate goal of a fully restored canal which will bring a major boost to local tourism and employment.”

 

Next year’s sponsored walk is due to take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7th 2012.

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FORMER CANALSIDE PUB IS PRESENTED WITH ORIGINAL LOCK-GATE RECOVERED DURING RESTORATION

 

A Lacock pub is highlighting the hidden history of the village, thanks to an unusual addition to its beer garden.

Few people realise that The Bell Inn, at Bowden Hill, once stood next to the Wilts & Berks Canal.

The waterway, which connected Melksham and Chippenham, was used to deliver wine and spirits as well as transporting goods for the former Lacock Brewery.

Abandoned almost a century ago, the original line below Bewley Common is now lost under homes and gardens.

However, the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is steadily restoring many miles of the waterway through the local countryside, including a significant stretch between Pewsham and Reybridge.

The Bell Inn is raising awareness of this campaign thanks to a unique gift from the charity.

It has presented the pub with an original lock gate which was recovered during excavations, having been lost underground for almost a century.

 

The remains were discovered at Moredon, near Swindon. They had been buried and forgotten when the canal was abandoned in the early 1900s and many landowners simply filled the waterway with soil, rubble or rubbish.

Only the bottom half remained, although they were still upright and in position.

They were delivered in pieces over the last few weeks and have now been attached to the outside wall adjacent to the beer garden, together with information on the history of the canal.

 

Canal Trust volunteer Peter Williams said: “The lock-gate could have been kept in storage but we agreed it would be better to have it on permanent display.

“The Bell Inn has supported our charity for many years and kindly hosts our annual sponsored walk from Chippenham to Lacock, so we thought it would be nice to offer them this unique gift.

“There used to be several lockgates along this stretch of the canal, both north towards Chippenham and south towards Melksham, but this will be the first time that any have been seen in public for a very long time.

“We hope the display will become a talking point among customers and help to encourage even more interest in our ongoing restoration campaign.”

 

Reminders of the canal can still be found today – The Bell Inn’s address is ‘The Wharf’.

Owner Alan Shepherd, pictured with his wife Heather in front of the display, said: “The team at The Bell are delighted to offer the lockgate a new home and thank the Trust for their kind gift.

“It’s wonderful that a small piece of history has come full circle in that a part of the Wilts & Berks Canal is back at the The Wharf, Lacock.

“Canals improve the enjoyment of town and country for so many people, and we hope that through the hard work of the local Trust volunteers this same benefit will be enjoyed in our own area.

“It is exciting to imagine The Bell Inn once again being canalside at some point in the future.”

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CANAL TRUST INVITES WALKERS TO RETRACE ROUTE OF MELKSHAM WATERWAY

 

WALKERS are invited to step back in time and follow the fascinating trail of Melksham’s former waterway.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has just reproduced a popular guide showing where the local stretch once passed through the town.

Complete with illustrations based on archive images from more than a century ago, it uses public rights of way to retrace much of the original route and even highlights remaining evidence such as bridge parapets and culverts.

More than 3,000 leaflets have been produced and are now available from Melksham Tourist Information Centre in Church Street.

The leaflet was produce thanks to a £250 grant from Melksham Town Council.

The Trust hopes it will encourage residents to learn more about their local heritage and how they can support the current restoration campaign.

 

The one-hour walk begins at the southern end of Melksham opposite the West End Inn and follows part of the old towpath behind houses and around to the site of the Spa Road Bridge, lowered in 1924, which once carried the Devizes road over the canal. Melksham Wharf was on the left and the former Maggs rope factory on the right.

The walk continues along alleyways to Pembroke Road and the site of the old Gallows footbridge then past the Brookside residential home built directly on the line of the canal and across the embankment which carried the waterway above Clackers Brook.

The walk continues north to the junction of Sandridge Road and Forest Road where a bridge parapet is still clearly visible, and ends just beyond Methuen Avenue and the site of Melksham Forest Lock.

 

Canal Trust branch chairman Rob Jones said: “We are sincerely grateful for the generous support of Melksham Town Council in helping to reproduce this popular guide.

“When it was first published many years ago there were very few people who were aware of the canal’s existence - and even fewer who thought it would ever be restored.

“Today, however, we are steadily bringing many miles of the waterway back to life and creating new wildlife corridors, footpaths and cycle routes through the local countryside.

“A new Wilts & Berks Canal from Semington would have to take a different route through the town, most likely across open fields and then up the River Avon towards the recently restored sections near Lacock, but it would still transform Melksham’s future prospects by generating increased tourism and employment.

“Until then, we hope local people will take the time to explore some of the history of the original route - they’ll be surprised by what they find!”

 

The charity is keen to hear from Melksham businesses interested in funding further material including local information boards and signage.

Call Kath Hatton on 01380 831231.

 

Melksham volunteer Brian De'ath is pictured at the Clackers Brook culvert at the bottom of Hampshire Place.

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WATERWAY WEBSITE PASSES MAJOR MILESTONE

 

Hardworking volunteers have been delighted by a surge of interest in their restoration of a former waterway.

The local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has received more than 250,000 visitors to its website, doubling the number in just one year.

The charity hopes it will lead to even more support from local residents and businesses in the busy months ahead.

The website – www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk – is managed by members of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch.

It includes maps, photographs, press releases and social events, as well as information on joining the popular campaign.

 

Branch chairman Rob Jones has been delighted by the impressive level of public interest.

He said: “The website is maintained by our own volunteers so it’s a huge tribute to their hard work and dedication that they’ve managed to attract so many visitors.

“Our public profile is steadily increasing and this is another way of reaching out to an even wider audience of potential supporters.

“Residents can follow the progress of the restoration campaign and see pictures of everything that has already been rebuilt.

“It’s a great way for more people to get more involved.”

 

The website features details of branch meetings, workparties and fundraising events, as well as extensive picture galleries.

Images include the recent reopening of the rewatered stretch near Lacock which saw boats back on the canal for the first time in a century.

The website also features a previously published map outlining how a new link might be created from the Kennet & Avon near Semington to the River Avon through Melksham.

The map is for illustrative purposes only, with final details subject to landowner agreement and full planning approval, but supporters can see how it might include a marina, moorings, footpaths and cycleways, as well as new wildlife habitats and reedbeds.

 

Rob said: “The website will continue to grow as we bring mile after mile of this wonderful waterway back to life.

“We hope it will encourage people to support our campaign to provide a popular amenity for the whole community, boosting tourism and employment while improving access to the countryside.”

 

 

Picture: Rob Jones, chairman of the local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

 

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‘WILTSHIRE’S LOST WATERWAY’ BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE

 

HARDWORKING volunteers have celebrated a major milestone in their campaign to restore a former waterway through the Wiltshire countryside.

Following tens of thousands of hours of free labour, the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has officially reopened the two-mile stretch from Pewsham to Reybridge.

Over the last few years the charity has been clearing rubbish and undergrowth, dredging the canalbed, raising the towpath, and repairing spillweirs and even an entire bridge.

The impressive results were enjoyed by hundreds of people taking part in this year’s annual sponsored walk, which included a formal ribbon-cutting at the start of the rewatered stretch.

Guests included John Laverick, chairman of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, together with campaign supporter Duncan Hames MP.

They then boarded a tripboat to become the first passengers to travel along the waterway since it was abandoned almost a century ago.

 

Mr Laverick said: “Only a few years ago there were still some people who said we were trying to achieve the impossible. They claimed it would place an intolerable burden on local taxpayers.

“But we managed to repair and restore this wonderful piece of our industrial heritage almost entirely through our own fundraising efforts, together with generous donations from local businesses and the kind support of local landowners.

“It used to be described as Wiltshire’s lost waterway but we’ve successfully brought it back to life, thanks to a wide range of volunteers ranging from teachers and musicians to engineers and farmers.

“Over the years they have cleared undergrowth to reveal locks and a lock-keeper’s cottage, a dry-dock, saw-pit, lime-kiln and the remains of a lift-bridge, as well as smaller items such as nails, pottery and even a boot-scraper.

“We still have a small number of earth dams in place to help locate leaks but these will eventually be removed, otherwise it probably looks very similar to how it appeared a century ago.

“This stretch is already hugely popular with walkers and cyclists but our aim is to extend it to Chippenham in the north and Melksham in the south, ultimately connecting Calne, Swindon and Wootton Bassett.

“It will be a major project requiring the support of national organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“Yet we only have to look at other restored canals to see the dramatic difference they have made to our local towns – increased tourism and employment, improved access to the countryside, and enhanced habitats for wildlife.”

 

Duncan Hames has taken part in the sponsored walk for several years, but this was his first time as a Member of Parliament.

He said: “I’ve been delighted to follow the progress of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust and how it has grown in popularity.

“I’m repeatedly amazed by everything that has been achieved and the incredible progress that has been made.

“The transformation is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the small army of volunteers who are breathing new life into this former waterway.

“I look forward to the restoration of many more miles in the years ahead.”

 

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EASTER FUN ON CALNE CANAL

 

Boats made a rare return to a Wiltshire waterway on Saturday, as part of a town’s Easter celebrations.

Around a hundred people enjoyed trips along the Wilts & Berks Canal during the event at Castlefields Park in Calne.

They were taken several hundred metres aboard the ‘Willow’, from the newly rebuilt wharf at Chaveywell Bridge.

 

Rob Jones is the chairman of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.

He said: “It was a long day under a hot sun, but it was definitely worth the effort to see so many people wanting to take a trip along the canal.

“We had people of all ages joining us throughout the afternoon, from groups of teenagers to whole families.

“For some of the youngest children it was their first time on a boat but they thoroughly enjoyed it. 

“All of the money raised will support the charity’s local projects to bring this wonderful waterway back to life.”

 

The charity’s next big event is the annual sponsored walk from Chippenham to Lacock this Bank Holiday Monday, May 2^nd.

Starting at The Buttercross at 10.30am, the five-mile route follows the original towpath through the local countryside and includes the official opening of the latest stretch to be refilled with water.

Visit www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk

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CHARITY DIGS DEEP TO RESTORE CALNE CANAL

 

Hardworking volunteers have been improving the appearance of a former waterway on the edge of Calne.

The local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is spending almost £3,900 on the area around Chaveywell Bridge.

Calne Area Board of Wiltshire Council provided almost £1,800, together with £700 from the charity and the equivalent of £1,400 in volunteer hours.

Work includes not only raising the wharf to make it easier for people to climb aboard tripboats, but also improving drainage.

 

Canal Trust work party organiser Doug Harris said: “We are very grateful to everyone who has supported our latest project, through grants or donations or volunteering their time to help with the labour.

“This part of Calne is very popular with walkers and families and so we wanted to do our best to make it even more attractive.

“Within the next few weeks we will raise the level of the landing stage and lay new paving slabs, as well as build a small brick retaining wall to prevent the soil from slipping down.

“Other volunteers are improving the local drainage and uncovering some of the original area of hardstanding. This should make it easier for people holding public events at this end of the park.

“The aim is to have everything ready to potentially offer boatrides along the canal as part of the town’s Easter events.

“We would be delighted to welcome anyone interested in working with us to restore this waterway to its former glory.”

 

For further information on joining the workparties, email doug.harris@wbct.org.uk

To help with fundraising, email kath.hatton@wbct.org.uk

 

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BOATS WILL BE BACK ON THE WILTS & BERKS THIS SPRING!

 

A formerly forgotten waterway will be brought back to life this Spring when boats return for the first time in a century.

Volunteers with the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust have spent tens of thousands of hours restoring part of the stretch between Chippenham and Melksham.

The charity’s fundraising campaign is boosted by an annual sponsored walk through the local countryside, following the towpath from Pewsham Locks to Reybridge.

This year’s event will be held on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday, May 2^nd.

However - after many months of careful engineering work - this will be the first time that much of the stretch has been returned to water.

To mark such a major milestone, the charity will be arranging boat rides along the canal as part of the celebrations.

 

The five-mile walk starts at The Buttercross in Chippenham Market Place at 10.30am and ends at The Bell Inn at Lacock, with the return journey making it ten miles in total.

Entry is just £5 per family/group. Sponsorship is optional.

There is also the added fun of the ‘walk a boat and back’ event which encourages schools and other youth groups to carry canoes or other lightweight craft, with small plaques for those taking part.

 

Event organiser Peter Williams said: “This is the eighth year that we have arranged the walk, and every year people have been able to watch a remarkable transformation taking place.

“Undergrowth has been cleared, rubbish removed, and many of the structures conserved and then restored.

“All of this has been achieved purely from our own fundraising and from local grants and corporate donations.

“Today, thanks to the hard work of so many supporters, we have finally been able to return much of the stretch to how it looked more than a century ago.

“To celebrate this success, we plan to launch a tripboat just below Pewsham Locks which will carry some of the guests towards Reybridge. Other people may be bringing canoes and skiffs to add to the spectacle.

“We hope people of all ages will want to join us at such an historic moment, when we finally showcase all the benefits of a restored Wilts & Berks Canal.”

 

For further information, call Peter on 01249 652248, email peter.williams@wbct.org.uk or visit www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk

 

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CANAL CAMPAIGNERS PLAN NEXT STEPS FOR THE NEW YEAR

 

 

VOLUNTEERS are planning an ambitious new project for the New Year, as part of their ongoing campaign to restore a former waterway.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has almost finished dredging the former line from Pewsham to Reybridge, rebuilding the towpath and slowly filling the canalbed with water for the first time in more than a century.

Their next step is to consider how to make the most of the locks and dry-dock which have been cleared of rubbish and undergrowth.

The charity hopes to restore the structures and eventually have them filled with water and connected to the rest of the canal.

However, it is keen to receive any photographs, drawings or other documents which might reveal how they once looked.

 

Trust director Colin Fletcher said: “We have been delighted with the progress made in dredging the canal over the last few months.

“We have received so many kind comments from walkers, cyclists and other residents who have been impressed by everything that has been achieved so far and asking about our plans for the future.

“Our next step will be to breathe new life into Pewsham Locks, which once raised the canal almost 30 feet on the journey north towards Chippenham.

“Excavations suggest it would have been a busy site, with a carpenters workshop, sawpit, dry-dock and lime-kilns, as well as the lock-keeper’s cottage.

“We have already found several pieces of metalwork and pottery and even a handrail from the top of one of the lockgates, still attached to the gate itself, but we are keen to learn even more about the history of this site.

“Then we can consider a planning application to rebuild as much as possible, eventually connecting it to a fully restored waterway.

“As with the dredging operation, the aim would be to fund any work through donations and grants so that there is no burden on local taxpayers – although ultimately everyone would benefit from increased tourism and employment.”

 

To offer information on the site, or to volunteer in support of the restoration, call Colin on 01380 828254 or email colin.fletcher@wbct.org.uk

 

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CANAL VOLUNTEERS PRAISED FOR ANOTHER RECORD BREAKING YEAR

 

ENTHUSIASTIC volunteers have enjoyed another record-breaking year while working towards the restoration of a former waterway.

Local members of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust provided the equivalent of almost £81,500 of free labour in 2010, up from almost £74,000 in 2009.

This ‘volunteer matched funding’ is used to demonstrate the equivalent of a real cash contribution when the charity seeks grants and donations towards larger projects.

The Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch now hopes to attract even more volunteers for its growing work programme for 2011.

 

Workparty organiser Doug Harris said: “We have been delighted by the generosity of our volunteers in offering so many hours of their free time, during weekdays and weekends, whatever the weather.

“It is thanks to their wonderful support that we have been able to achieve so much in the last year, bringing the waterway back to life at a faster pace than ever before.

“Much of our effort has been focused on the dredging and rewatering of the stretch between Reybridge and Pewsham - supported by generous funding of £28,000 from Viridor Waste Management through its Landfills Communities Fund - and this will continue to be one of our highest-profile projects over the coming year.

“Work will include removing debris from the locks, repairing culverts and rebuilding towpaths, as well as scrub clearance and general maintenance.

“We also hope to clear more of the canalbed on the edge of Calne and mow the towpath to improve public access.

“With so much going on, there has never been a better time to join us. Our workparties are a great way to make new friends while bringing our local heritage back to life.”

 

Potential volunteers should call Doug on 01249 652236 or email doug.harris@wbct.org.uk

People can see the restoration by taking part in this year’s sponsored walk from Chippenham to Lacock on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday, May 2.

Sign up by calling Peter Williams on 01249 652248 or email peter.williams@wbct.org.uk

 

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RECORD-BREAKING RESULT FOR WILTS & BERKS WALK!

 

DELIGHTED fundraisers have set a new record for their annual sponsored walk in aid of a canal restoration project.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust collected an impressive £1,300 from the April event, which attracted more than 150 supporters.

They enjoyed a four-mile route along the remains of the former stretch from Chippenham to Lacock, before work started to clear the canal bed ready for the return of water later this year.

The money will be used to train local volunteers in the use of chainsaws and other equipment which will speed the pace of restoration.

 

Event organiser Peter Williams (pictured, right, presenting the cheque to volunteers) is a member of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch.

He said: “Whatever the weather, every year we seem to attract more people and raise more money. It’s a sign of the increasing popularity of our campaign.

“This was the last time that people saw such an empty stretch as we’ve now begun the next stage of restoration, which involves raising the towpath and clearing thousands of tonnes of earth from the overgrown canal bed.

“Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, we hope that next year’s event will see it looking like a waterway again for the first time in more than a century.”

 

Next year’s sponsored walk is due to take place on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday, May 2. To register an interest in taking part, email peter.williams@wbct.org.uk

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CANALBED IS CLEARED READY FOR THE RETURN OF WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A CENTURY

 

The restoration of a former waterway is taking a massive leap forwards in the countryside between Melksham and Chippenham.

Bulldozers, diggers and dumper trucks have been brought onto the Wilts & Berks Canal as part of the biggest engineering operation since it was first built more than two centuries ago.

Thousands of tonnes of earth are being scraped out of the old canalbed in preparation for the return of water later this summer.

The towpath is also being raised as part of a wider scheme to demonstrate the viability of a fully restored waterway and the benefits it will bring to the local community.

The latest work is expected to cost more than £40,000, with £28,000 funded by Viridor Waste Management through its Landfills Communities Fund and the remainder funded by the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.

This means there has been no burden on local taxpayers.

 

Rob Jones (pictured) is chairman of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Trust.

He said: “A decade ago people would never have imagined that this wonderful waterway would ever be restored, and there were many who argued that we were wasting our time trying to protect it.

“But in the last few years the charity has seen a surge of support from volunteers and donors who share our vision of what could it achieve for our local towns – increased tourism and employment, improved access to the countryside, and enhanced habitats for wildlife.”

 

Last year the branch was supported by more than 4,300 hours of free labour, an increase of more than a third on just two years earlier.

Teams cleared rubbish, removed dead trees and maintained the towpath, as well as restoring spillweirs and culverts.

The arrival of heavy machinery means the next phase – the dredging of hundreds of metres of canalbed – has now begun.

Local streams and brooks will then be reconnected to the canal so that it slowly fills with water by the end of the summer.

When complete, it will be the first time the stretch has looked like a canal since it was abandoned at the start of the last century.

 

Rob added: “Unfortunately the scale of the project means we have had to temporarily close some sections of the towpath for public safety, although rights of way remain open.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused but we hope that people remain patient while we carry out this important work.

“The result will be an improved amenity for walkers, cyclists and many other members of the local community.”

 

The ultimate aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, linking Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Bassett and Swindon.

Visit www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk

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CANAL VOLUNTEERS PRAISED FOR “FANTASTIC FEAT”

 

Hardworking volunteers have enjoyed another record-breaking year breathing new life into a former waterway.

Over the last year the local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has arranged almost 60 workparties around Melksham, Chippenham and Calne.

Volunteers donated an amazing 4,600 hours of their own time, up from 3,000 in 2007/08 and almost 4,000 in 2008/09.

The charity believes this latest effort is worth the equivalent of more than £60,000 if contractors had been used.

 

Workparty organiser Doug Harris (pictured) said: “This is a fantastic feat which brings us even closer to our ultimate goal of a fully restored waterway linking our local towns.

“We are often joined by more than 20 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds – including many new recruits - which allows us to achieve so much more and at a much faster pace.

“Workparties have taken place at Forest Farm and Queenfield Farm on the edge of Melksham, as well as Chaveywell Bridge in Calne, but the focus of our attention is on the former line around Lacock.

“Working together, we have cleared rubbish, rubble, tree stumps and undergrowth while maintaining the towpath and restoring spillweirs and culverts.

“This has given us the opportunity to move onto the next stage of the restoration, the dredging of the canalbed before it is refilled with water later this summer.”

 

Potential volunteers are invited to call Doug on 01249 652236 or email doug.harris@wbct.org.uk

 

The charity’s ultimate aim is to restore the line from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, providing a multi-million pound boost to the local economy.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust hopes to fund the project through approaches to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other national bodies.

Visit www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk

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FIT FUNDRAISERS WALK THE WILTS & BERKS

 

 

FUNDRAISERS took a last look at an empty canal-bed before it is filled with water for the first time in more than a century.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust held its annual sponsored walk on Sunday morning, following the former line of the waterway from Chippenham to Lacock.

Around 150 people enjoyed the four-mile journey through open countryside and past the remains of locks, dry-docks and cottages.

Some groups took up the challenge to walk the route while carrying boats of all shapes and sizes, from small models up to inflatable dinghies – and even a Viking longship left over from a school play!

Later this year, the charity hopes to start engineering work to fill most of the stretch with water as part of its ongoing restoration campaign.

 

Event organiser Peter Williams said: “We were delighted to see so many people of all ages taking part in the event.

“The weather had been forecast to rain but we actually enjoyed bright and sunny weather all the way to Lacock.

“Walkers were able to see just how much of the canal has already been restored, including towpaths, culverts and even an entire bridge.

“Everyone agreed that the area now looks much more attractive and has become a haven for local wildlife.

“But this will be the last time they can see so much of the empty canal-bed as we aim to start filling it with water later in the summer.

“Together with the stretches which have already been refilled closer to Lacock, we hope it will bring us a big step closer to full restoration.”

 

Groups taking part included Redland Primary School, St Paul’s Primary School, Chippenham Sea Cadets, Chippenham Air Training Corps and Calne Air Training Corps.

 

The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Bassett and Swindon.

The charity hopes it will provide a multi-million pound boost to the local economy through increased tourism and employment, as well as improving access to the countryside for walkers, riders, cyclists, anglers and others.

For further information on the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Trust, visit www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk

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CALNE CANAL BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE FOR EASTER

 

 

Canal enthusiasts defied the weekend weather to offer a different view of a popular park.

The local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust arranged scenic boatrides as part of Calne’s Easter activities on Saturday afternoon.

Members of the public were taken on a short trip from Chaveywell Bridge to the edge of the Bowood Estate and back again, raising much-needed funds to support the charity’s local restoration campaign.

 

Rob Jones is the chairman of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.

He said: “Despite the poor weather, we had a steady queue of people waiting patiently at the wharfside throughout much of the afternoon.

“The crowd included children, parents, grandparents and groups of teenagers - and even people out walking their dogs!

“It was a rare opportunity for them to see the park from a different angle and to gain a greater understanding of what we are trying to achieve.

“Our information tent was equally busy. We distributed lots of leaflets and newsletters to people who wanted to learn more about the restoration campaign and how they might be able to get involved.

“We are sincerely grateful to everyone who came along and we hope that many of them will choose to support our efforts to breathe new life into this former waterway.”

 

The charity’s next event is the annual sponsored walk on Sunday April 25, following four miles of the old line of the canal from Chippenham to Lacock.

Visit www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk

   

Picture: Trust branch chairman Rob Jones (stern) steering people along the Wilts & Berks Canal at Chaveywell Bridge, Calne.

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PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE FOR CANAL CAMPAIGNERS

 

 

DELIGHTED volunteers enjoyed an ‘Oscars-style’ awards ceremony where their charity was praised for its achievements.

The Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust was a runner-up in the prestigious Wiltshire Life Awards 2010.

Despite a record number of nominations from across the county, it came second in the Community Group of the Year category for its work to restore the former waterway through the local countryside.

Branch chairman Rob Jones and fellow volunteers Colin Fletcher, Doug Harris and Justin Guy were invited to the awards evening in the grandeur of Wilton House, home to the Earl of Pembroke.

The black-tie event included a champagne reception in the Inigo Jones-designed Double Cube room featured in ‘The Young Victoria’, followed by dinner in the Old Riding Stables.

The ceremony itself was presented by BBC Wiltshire presenter Sue Davies.

 

Rob said: “We were delighted to be shortlisted for such a high-profile award in what was a very competitive category, and were thrilled to achieve second place – it’s a tribute to the hard work and dedication of every single member of the branch.

“Everyone we spoke to was very interested in the canal campaign and wanted to learn more about how we had achieved so much.

“It was a fantastic evening from start to finish, and demonstrates the growing support for the restoration of this wonderful waterway.”

 

The event will be featured in the May issue of Wiltshire Life, published on April 1st.

Managing editor Claire Waring said: “The work of award winners such as the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust demonstrates why Wiltshire is, quite simply, the best county to live in.

“Their sterling work in organising volunteers to restore the former waterway was highly praised by the judges.”

 

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust aims to link the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, encouraging tourism and employment.

The charity’s next major event is the annual sponsored walk from Chippenham to Lacock on Sunday April 25th from 10.30am.

Visit www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk

 

Picture: Wilts & Berks Canal Trust volunteers Doug Harris, Rob Jones, Colin Fletcher and Justin Guy with their Wiltshire Life Award 2010. Picture by Dominic Parkes

 

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CHIPPENHAM SCHOOL SUPPORTS CANAL CAMPAIGN

 

 

EXCITED schoolchildren enjoyed a short trip to the Chippenham countryside to present a cheque to a local charity.

It followed a recent party at Redland Primary School, Brook Street, to mark 25 years of service by headteacher Hilary Walton.

A musical evening raised £1,200 for charity, split equally between the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust and Help for Heroes.

The Canal Trust invited Mrs Walton and a small group of children to visit Pewsham Locks to see how the money will be spent on restoring the former waterway.

The £600 cheque was presented to Rob Jones, chairman of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the charity.

 

Rob said: “We were delighted to receive such a large sum of money from such a fun event and to be able to show some of the children how it will be spent on local projects.

“Our volunteers have spent tens of thousands of hours clearing rubbish, rebuilding culverts and maintaining the towpath, as well as restoring a whole bridge.

“Several hundred metres are now full of water and give a glimpse of what a wonderful attraction this will be for the local community.

“But none of this would be possible without the generosity of fundraisers, which is why every donation will always be sincerely appreciated.”

 

People can see just how much has already been achieved when the charity holds its annual sponsored walk along the length of waterway from Chippenham to Lacock on Sunday April 25 from 10.30am.

Call 01249 652248 or visit www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk

 

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust’s ultimate aim is to restore the link between the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham, the River Thames near Abingdon and The Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade.

Supporters believe it will provide a multi-million pound boost to the local economy through increased tourism and employment, while improving access to the countryside.

The Trust has more than 2,000 members.

 

Picture: Redland Primary School headteacher Hilary Walton and pupils present £600 to Wilts & Berks Canal Trust volunteers Peter Williams (back) and Rob Jones (right) at Pewsham Locks. Picture by Gerry White

 

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 CANAL CAMPAIGN RECEIVES VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM PROSPECTIVE MP

 

 

CAMPAIGNERS working towards the restoration of a Wiltshire waterway have received an important promise of political support.

Prospective MP Duncan Hames has given his official backing to the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.

The charity hopes his involvement will raise the profile of its ongoing project to restore the link between the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham, the River Thames near Abingdon and The Thames and Severn Canal near Cricklade.

Supporters believe it will provide a multi-million pound boost to the local economy through increased tourism and employment, while improving access to the countryside and connecting Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Bassett and Swindon.

 

Trust director Colin Fletcher said: “We are delighted to receive such prominent backing and hope it will encourage even more people to join the restoration effort.

“We have so many opportunities for supporters to get involved, from fundraising, research and administration to more active roles with digging, bricklaying and strimming.

“Every hour will always be sincerely appreciated.”

 

Duncan is the Liberal Democrat MP for the new Chippenham constituency, which also includes Melksham, Corsham and Bradford-on-Avon.

He said: “I live locally, so I’ve been able to follow the progress of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust and how it has grown in popularity.

“For the last two years I’ve joined supporters during the annual sponsored walks between Chippenham and Lacock and I’ve been constantly amazed by everything that has been achieved in such a short space of time.

“Rubbish has been cleared, locks have been uncovered, and several structures – including a bridge - have been restored to their former glory.  Some stretches are full of water once again.

“The transformation is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the small army of volunteers who are breathing new life into this former waterway.

“I will do whatever I can to support their efforts.”

 

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CANAL WEBSITE ATTRACTS MORE THAN 100,000 HITS

 

Hardworking volunteers have seen a surge of interest in the restoration of a former waterway.

The local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has received more than 100,000 visitors to its website, with a 50 per cent leap from 2008 to 2009.

As a result the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch has welcomed even more residents to join its campaign.

The website – www.melkshamwaterway.org.uk – received more than 40,000 ‘hit’s in 2008 but this soared to more than 60,000 in 2009. The current total is more than 110,000.

It includes maps, photographs, press releases and social events, as well as information on how people can join the charity.

 

Branch chairman Rob Jones has been delighted by the level of public interest.

He said: “The website is maintained by volunteers so it’s a huge tribute to their hard work and dedication that they’ve managed to attract so many visitors.

“Every year our public profile is steadily increasing and this is another way of reaching out to a wider audience of potential supporters.

“Residents can follow the progress of the restoration campaign and see pictures of everything that has already been rebuilt.

 “It’s a great way for more people to get more involved.”

 

The website includes dates and details of branch meetings, work parties and other events, as well as extensive picture galleries.

These include images of local restoration sites featuring ‘before and after’ shots of Double Bridge near Lacock, together with the remains of locks and a dry-dock.

Of particular interest is the section on the Pewsham lock-keeper’s cottage. This includes an artist’s impression of how the building might have looked in the mid-nineteenth century, supported by pictures of excavated steps and walls.

Local finds have included nails, pottery, a handrail still connected to a lock-gate, and even a boot scraper!

 

Rob said: “The website will continue to grow as we breathe new life into the Wilts & Berks Canal and gradually uncover more of its fascinating history.

“People will be able to take a closer look at everything that has been achieved when we hold our annual sponsored walk on Sunday April 25.

“We hope it will encourage them to support our campaign to provide a multi-million pound boost to the local economy through increased tourism and employment while improving access to the countryside

 

 

 

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 ROADSIDE REMINDER OF FORMER WATERWAY  

 

 

Motorists on a main road are being reminded of a much slower form of transport, thanks to the efforts of a team of local volunteers.

Members of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust have carefully cleared the undergrowth at the side of A4 between Chippenham and Calne.

They’ve revealed the remains of the former waterway just a few metres from the kerbside, still full of water and stretching several hundred metres towards Melksham.

A new sign has been erected to mark the spot, which originally had its own bridge carrying the old London Road over the canal. Future restoration might involve the construction of a new lock to lower the level of the canal so that it can go under the modern A4.

 

Rob Jones is chairman of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Trust.

He said: “Almost 20 volunteers were involved in the workparty, which took place one Sunday morning before we went to our regular site at Pewsham Locks. We hope to return later in the year to clear the adjacent towpath as well.

“We’re sure people will be surprised to see how much of the canal still exists today, even though they’ve probably driven past for many years without knowing it was there.

 “Just south of the road, narrowboats coming from Melksham could branch off to Chippenham where there used to be a terminus at the site of the current bus station, or they could carry on north towards Swindon.

“There used to be a wharf at the bottom of Derry Hill where coal and other goods would have been delivered to local families and traders, and soon after this there was a further branch off towards Calne where the remains can still be seen today at Chaveywell Bridge just off the town centre.

“There’s so much of the canal still to be rediscovered. However, thanks to the effort s of our volunteers we’re steadily uncovering more and more of this lost waterway for the benefit of the local community.”