'Tis the season to be jolly ( mostly!)

The new Trust Chairman (designate) Sir John Wilsey met with Kath Chris & myself recently to familiarise himslf with some of the many aspects of the Wilts & Berks project. We are looking forward to working with him and the wealth of knowledge he will bring from his distinguished military career. I was very pleased to be invited to the Canal & River Trust Waterways Partnership's first annual meeting last week to hear about some of the exciting initiatives taking place on the Kennet & Avon Canal. There was an opportunity to meet CRT's new Chief Executive Richard Parry and I am pleased to report much interest in the Wilts & Berks Melksham Link project. In Swindon great efforts by the Dragonfly boat trip team where the Santa Cruises continue to be fully booked ferrying children to see Father Christmas. Meanwhile discussions continue with the Swindon BC Wichelstowe project team about how the two sections of canal at East Wichel and Westleaze can be connected at the earliest opportunity. Elsewhere not so good news as the developers at Grove Airfield have been granted planning consent for 2500 homes without contributing a penny to the canal restoration on the southern perimeter of the site. This is despite the Local Authority policy and considerable lobbying from the project. We are considering further options. Finally to thank the continuing support of many who have offered to be involved financially or otherwise with the Dauntsey Lock Visitor Centre project. It has been another amazing response and I sincerely thank you. Some crucial(and difficult)decisions will need to be made shortly on this project. The quarterly gathering of members of the Wiltshire Swindon & Oxfordshire Canal Partnership takes place this week in Royal Wootton Bassett and we look forward to discussing all aspects of the restoration with the Partners. Ken Oliver