Thursday 25 February 2016

New Planning Application, work at the Peterborough Arms and help from WRG

New Planning Application
A planning application was submitted last week for Naish Hill, just south of Pewsham. This covers both the construction of a new spillweir with associated discharge into the River Avon and raising the level of the towpath in this section.  There has been some problem for several winters in this area with overtopping. A number of shallow mitigation ponds for great crested newts and other amphibians will be put in. The project will be volunteer led and hopefully will be carried out later this year, provided all permissions and funding are in place.

The Peterborough Arms
Work is being carried out at the Peterborough Arms at the moment on the new Fire Alarm system. Other projects are being planned as part of the effort to open the Community Space at the pub for use by local clubs and groups this summer, such as the new disabled access toilet, repairs to the floor, redecoration.  We have received a generous cheque of £1000 from Lyneham and Bradenstoke Parish Council towards these works. 

WRG at Chippenham
Volunteers from the Waterways Recovery Group (WRG) spent the weekend at Chippenham working on the stretch of canal north of the A4 that we have leased from Bowood Estates. The local Melksham, Calne & Chippenham branch volunteers have been clearing this very overgrown section of the canal for the past three winters, following a Habitat Management Plan. This has meant that the clearance has been more sympathetic to any wildlife on site, taking out different sizes of scrubs and small trees in succession that were blocking the canal track and towpath, hence always leaving some habitat. Some of the hedges have been laid and gaps filled with new whips and logs piled up on the off side for more habitat. Volunteers also came from Foxham/Lyneham branch and as a consequence there was a large group of about 25 people who managed to do a lot of logging and scrub clearing.  I am told it looks like a real canal now!


Kath Hatton

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