2016 on the Wilts & Berks

Firstly to wish you a Happy New Year. I hope it is going to be a successful one for the Wilts & Berks canal restoration –there is much going on so I thought I would summarise some of the projects that will be high up the list during 2016.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust reorganisation is definitely centre stage at the moment – please see the WBCT web site for more information about how you could be a part of it. http://bit.ly/1J6rdej

Melksham Link- Paul Lenaerts and the team are currently completing the final chapters of the Environment Statement and very shortly will be submitting it and the drawings package to Wiltshire Council’s planners. Separately and in parallel the Masterplanning team are working on the plans for enabling development.

Pewsham Locks: Two funding applications are in process at present so we hope that  this brings success in the form of funds to progress the scheme. At the other end of this canal section WBCT intend to apply for planning consent to complete the canal restoration around Double Bridge. This work will include provision of a new spillweir and habitat mitigation.

The habitat management programme for the canal north of the A4 at Pewsham is continuing this winter with the final part scheduled for next year.

Dauntsey Lock. You can expect some real progress with the Peterborough Arms this year  with a plan to use the building in the short term while funding is sought to carry out the major refurbishment.

At Seven Locks it is planned to revive the work to complete the planning application to complete Locks 3 & 4 and to apply for the work on Lock 2.

At Templars Firs we hope to start the preliminary works on the extension to the existing canal. 

The Studley Grange project  will continue with the final excavations for the canal being completed in the spring and first works started for Bincknoll Lane bridge.

Wichelstowe. The delayed project to connect East Wichel to Westleaze will start as soon as Swindon Borough Council complete the agreement with their joint venture partner Barratt Homes.

Elsewhere the team are discussing plans for Swindon Town Centre, Abingdon, Grove and starting further discussions following the recent floods to see how the restored canal could be used to help prevent flooding.

Finally to add congratulations to John Laverick & Mike Lee for their well deserved awards in the New Year’s Honours list.

Ken Oliver