A Strong Swindon Flavour - but Progress Elsewhere As Well

Following the meeting last week with the SBC Wichelstowe team, we have been trying to move forward on a number of the topics discussed, starting with the landing stage.  Certainly the management of the local Waitrose store is very keen to see progress, and has all sorts of ideas of how they want to promote the space as part of their Summer activities.  Rod Hacker has been having discussions with the Planning officer to sort out details of the construction, hopefully in the least cost way.  I have been talking to SBC Property Services to try to ensure that the legal licence to use the land that we need is as favourable for the Trust as we can make it.  This is a high priority for us, but it is interesting to see just how much work has to go into what seems to be a relatively simple project.

Another topic we discussed with the Wichelstowe team was starting work on the existing stretch to the west of the lock at East Wichel.  The canal has been built, including piling both sides, but needs dredging out.  We are keen to do this, as we believe it would help with management of the water levels above the lock.  We will need to store the dredged material temporarily until it can be used on the next stage of the development, and to gain the necessary access.  Thanks to some quiet work by Countryside Officer Ken Oliver talking to one of his Swindon colleagues, the necessary permission  has been granted quickly.  So this is another part of the project that we try to move forward on.

By the way, we checked with the SBC team that the work that has been carried out on the canal line south of Waitrose is not going to be a permanent blockage; it has been done to help with drainage during the development phase, and that function will actually be done by the canal when it is restored.

Elsewhere, there was another meeting of the Steering Group for the Dauntsey Lock / Peterborough Arms project.  Following formal Council of Management approval, we can move forward to the next stages.  There was a lot of lively and positive debate about the exact details of what will happen, and no doubt this will continue.  There was also a useful and successful working party, which helped to prepare some areas for sprucing up, and in other cases revealed the extent of some of the problems we have.

We are preparing for a presentation and question and answer session next week at the Melksham Area Board, on our proposals for the Melksham Link, including the Masterplan for the development.  This project is certainly generating a great deal of interest and excitement in the area.

At the other end of the canal some more good news – we have been successful in a bid to Sovereign Housing Association  for £750 towards the preparation and groundworks needed in advance of replacing the bridleway bridge over the canal in Childrey. This is a start towards reinstating the connection between two separate lengths of canal.

Chris Coyle