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