Spring just around the corner..somebody please tell the weather!

The last week of February has seen no let up in the pace of the continuing work of planning- in all senses of the word. Friday was a concentrated ‘Swindon day’ where Kath Chris and myself were pleased to welcome Richard Parry the newly appointed Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust. In weather that we have become all too familiar with this winter we toured the canal at East Wichel followed by a whistle stop reconnoitre of the route into the town centre. We hope that this visit will lead to further co-operation with CRT to deliver the Wilts & Berks restoration as an important part of a new southern canals network. The Bayberry Public House was our temporary site office for the day as the morning meeting with Richard was swiftly followed by a meeting with the new Wichelstowe Waitrose manager Simon Adkins. Waitrose are pleased to have their newest store (opening April) located on the canalside and are keen to work with WBCT to explore activity on the water. Chris not only ended the week in Swindon but started there too with further discussions with the branch team about the new canal and the proposed project to link East Wichel canal to Westleaze ( Wichelstowe Link) at the earliest opportunity. All the Trust project managers came together on Tuesday night to discuss progress and plans at the bi- monthly Trust Project Board. To assist the team we are currently liaising with two new volunteers who we hope will be able to take up the role of project support officers. Work on the new slipway at Melksham continues and we hope that the river levels will stay low enough for the work to be completed shortly. Elsewhere comments on the planning application for the restoration at Studley Grange close this week (4th)- you can comment via the North Wiltshire planning section of www.wiltshire.gov.uk searching for reference 14/00914. Finally we three have been found out! The title of the Blog is the Wilts & Berks weekly but so far this year we have managed only fortnightly . We have resolved to do better ..only time will tell....Ken Oliver