New Beginnings, and Continued Efforts

Effectively my first day back, since the Christmas / New Year break was immediately followed by a short holiday.  Since getting back from that, however, I have been suffering from one of these persistent, debilitating winter bugs.  It has laid me very low for the past week or more, and is still lurking to catch me unawares. 

But the sun is shining, the days are noticeably longer, and everyone's thoughts are turning to the urgent business of this year.  Kath has told us of the great efforts she has been making to raise funds for the Studley Grange site, and for the other projects in hand, including the continuing need for studies on the Melksham Link planning application.  Elsewhere along the line Rod Hacker is juggling the various Swindon based initiatives and projects.  Pewsham Locks is making progress.

On the other hand it does feel as if we are stalled in a number of places, and we are going to have to devote some time and energy to working out why we are stuck, and what needs to be done to unblock things.  We all know how dispiriting it is to make progress on a project, and then be brought to a halt. 

In the immediate future, we expect to be making significant progress with the Melksham Link Business Plan, which will help secure the necessary funding for the wider development.  We will also be talking to our partners Hall and Woodhouse about their plans for this section.

Next week we will be meeting officers from Swindon Borough Council to hear of the progress on their plans for the next stage of the Wichelstowe development, where we are keen to get on with the canal link, and with the whole development of the stretch south of the Waitrose store.

Chris Coyle