Headlines for week ending 20th March 2016

OUT AND ABOUT
Grant of £27,500 under the Landfill Communities Fund from Crappers & Sons Landfill received for the Studley/Chaddington connection: thanks to Crappers for all their support.

Presentation to Wiltshire Council’s Flood Group of possible use of the canal for flood prevention.

Meeting of Wiltshire Swindon & Oxfordshire Canal Partnership.

Appointment of Peter Brett Associates to prepare biodiversity study for the Oxfordshire section of the canal.

Positive meeting with IWA Restoration Committee at the Peterborough Arms, with an excellent lunch and good chat at the Cross Keys Bradenstoke. Thanks to the WBCT team for preparation of displays and for refreshments.

Very well-attended talk on the Wilts & Berks Canal to Melksham and District Historical Association; good support for the canal coming back into Melksham.

Further work on key appointments and team building within the new Executive.

Office move to Canal Centre at Peterborough Arms. Many thanks to all those who helped in all sorts of ways, forward planning, moving desks and boxes, cleaning, installing phone and IT systems, sending flowers, making cups of tea: a real team effort!

The new contact details are: Wilts and Berks Canal Trust, Dauntsey Lock Canal Centre, Dauntsey Lock CHIPPENHAM, SN15 4HD   Tel: 0845 226 8567  Office hours remain the same

F&L Branch team win the Branch award at the very well attended MCC Quiz night: well done Nancy, Robin, Sheila and Susan.

REQUESTS

Still looking for great photos of people and wildlife for the new web site: Contact Sheila Wade:  sheila.wade@wbct.org.uk

Don’t forget the online consultation survey for Pewsham Locks:  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/63KKLDN

Find out all about the WBCT by:

Read “On the Button”, our monthly email newsletter, available on request from the web site ( Click here to subscribe)and read about us in Dragonfly, our quarterly journal: next issue due out shortly, and look at our web site  new web site coming soon):  www.wbct.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter: @wiltsberkscanal,

Like us on Facebook Wilts & Berks Canal Friends and Volunteers   

Blog: Headlines for week ending 11th March 2016

This is a summary of some of the things that have happened in the Trust over the last week.

OUT AND ABOUT

• Lots of moving stuff inside Peterborough Arms in preparation for electricians, fire alarms and fire doors and the main office move on 20^th.
• Another £200 in donations this week: thank you so much everyone.
• EGM enthusiasm and energy carries on: Martin Stubbs appointed as Head of IT. Congratulations Martin
• Another positive and productive Peterborough Arms meeting on Tuesday: Phase 1 on track for Community Rooms to be opened in summer.
• Environment Statement for Melksham Link handed in to Wiltshire Council: a massive document and a massive effort: Well done Paul and team
• Meeting of Canal & River Trust restoration officers group – discussion on classification of restoration projects into local regional and nationally significant + framework for agreement for connection of restored waterways to CRT network
• Meeting with leaders of Swindon Borough and Vale of White Horse District Councils-discussion on how Local Authorities and WBCT can co-operate more
• Work plan for restart of work at Studley Grange – emphasis on early  delivery of towpath surfacing
• First meeting of Board of Trustees

REQUESTS

Looking for great photos of people and wildlife for the new web site: Contact Sheila Wade:  sheila.wade@wbct.org.uk

Volunteers with skills sought to join highly motivated  Peterborough Arms group: Contact Dave Maloney: dmaloney@sheldonschool.co.uk

Don’t forget the online consultation survey for Pewsham Locks:  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/63KKLDN

IT savvy volunteers needed to support Trust wide IT function: Contact Martin Stubbs: martin.stubbs@wbct.org.uk

Find out all about the W&BCT by:

Read “On the Button”, our monthly email newsletter, available on request from the web site ( Click here to subscribe)and read about us in Dragonfly, our quarterly journal: next issue due out shortly, and look at our web site  new web site coming soon):  www.wbct.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter: @wiltsberkscanal,

Like us on Facebook Wilts & Berks Canal Friends and Volunteers   

 

Its been a very busy week -here are the headlines...

• Melksham Link:  Environment Statement completed and revised drawings and documents about to be submitted to Wiltshire Council planners.
• Pewsham Locks:  HLF bid team met : likely submission date June 1st. As part of the continuing community consultation there is an online survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/63KKLDN
• Planning application for the next phase of works at Naish Hill near Lacock has been submitted and registered -Ref 16/01709/FUL http://bit.ly/1LtP8W5
• Grant awarded by Chippenham Area Board of £19,873 towards restoration of Top Lock Pewsham. Lots of fantastic support from the Area Board members. Thank you so much!
• Grant awarded by Malmesbury Area Board of £990 towards refurbishment of Community Space at the Peterborough Arms. Thank you once again for your very welcome support.
• Donations of £270 received for Studley Grange last week: many thanks to all concerned.
• 90 members attend EGM to hear about new structure for WBCT and an update on restoration and projects.

“A very positive atmosphere in the room and loads of enthusiasm”

           “I wish we could bottle this and let it out exactly when and where we need it”

• New Executive Directors announced at EGM: see web site for more info.www.wbct.org.uk
• The 200 Club has become the 300 Club: first draw for 2016 takes place at EGM: fantastic support for such a worthwhile funding effort. Branches to benefit from more grant aid available.
• Volunteers from Swindon shop have busy time on the merchandise stall at EGM: £200 sales. Well done team!
• Dragonfly Boat crew announce that they have a newly qualified skipper. Boat trips start again on Easter Saturday
• New Land Fund Appeal announced by Kath Hatton at EGM, for the purchase of land between Melksham and Lacock: see Dragonfly and web site soon for more details.

Quote of the week: “Figures are fun, fun, fun” …. as new Executive Directors are asked to think about their presentations to EGM, and use these as an opportunity to enthuse members and seek volunteers for the next layer down.

Find out all about the WCT by:

• Following us on Twitter
• Read On the Button, our monthly email newsletter, available here
• Look at our web site www.wbct.org.uk
• And read about us in Dragonfly, our quarterly journal