Wednesday 3 June 2015

Looking Forward, and a little bit of Looking Back


Our new chairman Roderick Bluh was officially appointed last Tuesday at the regular bi-monthly Council of Management meeting.  I think there was a collective sigh of relief from the Directors, firstly to have found someone to take on the role, but second and most importantly someone who already knows  a lot about the project and has the enthusiasm and drive to take us forward.  I am really looking forward to the next few years to see what can be accomplished.
I have just been writing some reports for the Trust’s official Annual Report that is being put together at the moment and these cover the year up to 31st March 2015.  When I looked back at that year and at all that had been achieved, I realised the full extent of what has been done by our volunteers all along the line.  Work parties, events, meetings, boat trips, publicity, merchandise, fundraising, engineering design, planning documents, giving talks, sending out our magazine, talking to landowners, administration, accounting and legal tasks, membership, dealing with Entrust and Gift Aid, and not least generally spreading the word about our canal.  The list is endless.  Well done everyone – we are a force to be reckoned with now.
I am pleased to say that the work on the landing stage outside of the Waitrose store at Wichelstowe has begun and we hope it will be finished by the end of June.  It will mean that we can run the trips from the store and I am sure it will result in more clients combining their shopping with a relaxing boat ride.  It will also be an incentive to try to extend the canal as soon as possible to join up with the East Wichel stretch.  As soon as we know who Swindon Borough Council has chosen as its preferred development partner, we can begin discussions.
Other projects are ticking over – Studley Grange is due to start on the 8th June – we have all our fingers crossed!  On the Melksham Link, Paul Lenaerts is still working steadfastly through the surveys that are required.  Fisheries Assessment and Archaeology are on the agenda at the moment.  Jock and his team are working on the Business Plan and agreements with the landowners.  Jock popped into Council of Management meeting last week and updated the Directors on the Link and future master planning.
I am off to spend a week in a quiet cottage on the coast in Brittany – hoping to recharge my batteries!

Kath Hatton

 

1 comment:

  1. Exciting times! Thanks for keeping us all updated every week :-)

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