In May the Canal & River Trust and IWA held a workshop on the theme of Water Adds Value. As a follow up to that event we were pleased to welcome Jason Leach, CRT Restoration Manager, to Chippenham last week to have a look in more detail at the Wilts & Berks restoration. CRT is very clear about what it can (and perhaps as important cannot) do to help. It is certain that there is a will to help all restoration projects and we look forward to further discussions on what assistance might be available in the future for the Wilts & Berks.
It has taken a little time but I am very pleased to report that the proposed restoration at Studley Grange Royal Wootton Bassett now has planning consent. Its not quite time to either pop a cork or to send in the diggers but it is a significant step forward albeit with the 'strings' of having to satisfy a number of planning conditions. Significantly the consent is a trigger for the site owners to move forward on a lease for the Trust. Final construction drawings are being prepared by consultants in preparation for a tendering process to seek a contractor to do the work. This all subject to raising a further significant amount of funding. One of the features of restoration of this section of the canal will be the wildflower planting plan as one of the funders is seeking to make the corridor attractive for bees and other pollinators.
Wednesday evening saw a number of Trust Directors assembled in the beer garden of the Peterborough Arms . The open air meeting was to discuss some of the details of the proposed contract to purchase the site- the only thing missing was a supply of beer! We expect to make an announcement imminently on progress.
Finally another trip for me to canal side Waitrose in Swindon on Sunday morning -not only to replenish the household supplies but to install two new information boards. This is possibly the most viewed section of the Wilts & Berks so we are keen to promote the project as much as possible. If you pay a visit look out also for the new (currently experimental) QR coded signs for the Wilts & Berks Canal audio trail.
Ken Oliver
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