The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust now officially owns the Peterborough Arms at Dauntsey Lock. What an exciting moment it was on Friday to receive the keys from Wadworth Brewery. Looking back at my emails, we actually started the process of trying to acquire the pub in February/March last year. Thanks to the generosity and conviction of our members, we have done it. A team from the local community is starting a tidy-up of the garden and outside areas today. Soon we will carry out an initial assessment of the inside. A lot of people have come forward to volunteer – we now have to focus all that enthusiasm into solid plans for restoration.
Plans for the Melksham River festival continue and the Trust is very grateful to Leekes of Melksham who have agreed at the last minute to step in to sponsor the event. I understand that there will be electric boats in attendance as well as the Wilderness Trail Boats and Steam boats. The new slipway looks very good and will be well used. Do come along on 6th or 7th September, it is free admission although we hope lots of people will buy a lucky draw programme. The prize will be £100 of vouchers each day for the new pub “The Milk Churn”, courtesy of Hall & Woodhouse.
I have really good news about membership. The Trust now has 2511 members. 2500 was my target by AGM this year so we are ahead of expectations. I think we should go for 3000 by end 2014 and 4000 by AGM 2015. If anyone would like to help with a recruitment drive or join a team doing that please let me know.
Speaking of the AGM this year, members will have received the details in the last Dragonfly. We have decided that instead of inviting an outside speaker, we will have several short presentations from the Trust to update you on the ongoing projects of which there are many.
Finally please be careful when going down to feed your chickens in the early morning! I wasn’t and have ended up with an ankle broken on both sides, now with screws and plates. It will quite a few weeks yet before I can put weight on it or drive. I shall still be at the River Festival though.
Kath Hatton
Monday, 18 August 2014
Monday, 11 August 2014
Challenges and Opportunities
The summer speeds on and hopefully we have all survived the remnants of 'Bertha' , but the full extent of the ravages of the last major weather event in December are just being discovered at Pewsham where the a culvert was badly damaged. This original brick arched structure is typical of a number that still survive and give the team somewhat of a dilemma as they are probably all much in the same condition with little of the original mortar remaining meaning the structures are held together by gravity!. It is believed that the damage was caused when the excessive flow of the stream completely filled the culvert and pressurised it to the extent that the arch blew apart. So the challenge now is to decide whether to patch up the damaged section, completely rebuild the whole culvert as there are signs of similar weakness elsewhere,or replace it with a new 'pipe' made with 21st century materials.
The meeting last Monday at Royal Wootton Bassett attracted over 60 to hear about the plans for the Peterborough Arms.If you could not attend, the proposals for refurbishing the building will be available shortly on the Trust web site. Friday 15th is completion day and when we have all drawn breath there will be an open day for all to have a look at the new acquisition. In the meanwhile there were a number who volunteered to make a first attempt to tidy up the site which looks rather unloved. The most important role to fill is a project manager to start to work on the next stage plans.
This year's draw for the Trust is to help fund the next trip boat 'Dragonfly 2' so if you have tickets please get selling! The Dragonfly team continue to provide a great showcase for the project in Swindon with regular public trips and private charters. Shortly the boat will be moved to Melksham to be part of the Melksham River Festival where the team are continuing to put the finishing touched to plans for 6/7th of September -so I hope you have the date in your diary.
Finally to report Kath is now back in action but mostly at home somewhat limited in mobility by a plaster cast! Chris is taking a well earned break catching up with non canal related activities.
Ken
The meeting last Monday at Royal Wootton Bassett attracted over 60 to hear about the plans for the Peterborough Arms.If you could not attend, the proposals for refurbishing the building will be available shortly on the Trust web site. Friday 15th is completion day and when we have all drawn breath there will be an open day for all to have a look at the new acquisition. In the meanwhile there were a number who volunteered to make a first attempt to tidy up the site which looks rather unloved. The most important role to fill is a project manager to start to work on the next stage plans.
This year's draw for the Trust is to help fund the next trip boat 'Dragonfly 2' so if you have tickets please get selling! The Dragonfly team continue to provide a great showcase for the project in Swindon with regular public trips and private charters. Shortly the boat will be moved to Melksham to be part of the Melksham River Festival where the team are continuing to put the finishing touched to plans for 6/7th of September -so I hope you have the date in your diary.
Finally to report Kath is now back in action but mostly at home somewhat limited in mobility by a plaster cast! Chris is taking a well earned break catching up with non canal related activities.
Ken
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Things are Moving! (Or in one case less so)
As Ken Oliver mentioned last week, there will be a meeting tonight (Monday) at the Civic Centre in Royal Wootton Bassett to talk about the Peterborough Arms. This meeting is open to all members of the Trust. We feel that this is the right time to inform members, now that we have exchanged contracts and are moving towards Completion.
The purpose is threefold. We want to bring members up to date on progress so far, ie what we have done in terms of outline plans for what we want to do. Again, once we have the pub in our hands, it will be time for much more detailed planning. Second, we want to listen to your thoughts and ideas about what you would like to see happen as we go forward with the project. I am sure we will not be able to do everything you want, but we do want to respond to your thoughts as much as we can. And finally, we would like to get an idea of how many people are prepared to help, and in what ways. However don't be put off coming to the meeting, if you feel that you won't be able to do anything specific - there is no compulsion!
If you cannot make it to the meeting, but have questions, comments, suggestions or offers of help, please let us know.
The other big thing that we are moving on is the Melksham Link. We are only too aware that the planning application is moving through the system, and we have to be ready to take the project forward. Because it is so much bigger than anything the Trust has ever done before, we feel that we have to change our approach to managing it accordingly. The Directors have therefore agreed to set up a separate company, to be the 'delivery authority' for the project. Essentially it will be responsible to the Trust for making the project happen, so it will have to be staffed and resourced to meet that task. The details are to be worked out over the coming weeks.
And the thing that is not moving so well? Kath Hatton! We were very sorry indeed to hear that she slipped and fell at home, breaking her ankle in the process. She will be in plaster for at least six weeks, and severely restricted in her movements. However she has gamely offered to write lots of bids for funding! We wish her well.
Chris Coyle
The purpose is threefold. We want to bring members up to date on progress so far, ie what we have done in terms of outline plans for what we want to do. Again, once we have the pub in our hands, it will be time for much more detailed planning. Second, we want to listen to your thoughts and ideas about what you would like to see happen as we go forward with the project. I am sure we will not be able to do everything you want, but we do want to respond to your thoughts as much as we can. And finally, we would like to get an idea of how many people are prepared to help, and in what ways. However don't be put off coming to the meeting, if you feel that you won't be able to do anything specific - there is no compulsion!
If you cannot make it to the meeting, but have questions, comments, suggestions or offers of help, please let us know.
The other big thing that we are moving on is the Melksham Link. We are only too aware that the planning application is moving through the system, and we have to be ready to take the project forward. Because it is so much bigger than anything the Trust has ever done before, we feel that we have to change our approach to managing it accordingly. The Directors have therefore agreed to set up a separate company, to be the 'delivery authority' for the project. Essentially it will be responsible to the Trust for making the project happen, so it will have to be staffed and resourced to meet that task. The details are to be worked out over the coming weeks.
And the thing that is not moving so well? Kath Hatton! We were very sorry indeed to hear that she slipped and fell at home, breaking her ankle in the process. She will be in plaster for at least six weeks, and severely restricted in her movements. However she has gamely offered to write lots of bids for funding! We wish her well.
Chris Coyle
Monday, 28 July 2014
Always room for more skills and talent !
There has been quite a stir of excitement about the prospects for the Peterborough Arms becoming a viable pub and restaurant alongside the proposed visitor centre and restored canal. It will be a long haul from here to there so the Trust is urgently seeking to put together a team led by a project manager with suitable skills to mastermind the scheme. If you think you might be interested, or have other skills to offer, please contact Chris or Kath. There is an open meeting about the next steps for the scheme on Monday 4th August at 7pm in the Civic Centre at Royal Wootton Bassett-please come along and find out more.
The Trust Council of Management met on Tuesday and unusually will meet again next Saturday to consider proposals for a Special Purpose delivery company to carry out major construction projects.
The Trust has been without a Chairman for a long time now and the strain is starting to tell on the other directors - do you know someone who could fill this important role?
Last week Ainscough Strategic Land held two public meetings/exhibitions about their plans for part of the proposed Eastern Villages in Swindon. A number of the Trust team attended and further meetings are planned to discuss design opportunities to build the canal as part of the development.
If you are a Trust Member you will have received the latest copy of Dragonfly - congratulations to the new editorial and production team.
As part of my role with Wiltshire Council I attended the Cotswold Canals Partnership meeting last week. It was good to hear of the continuing progress in and around Stroud.
Ken
Monday, 21 July 2014
Canal Centre at Dauntsey moves a step closer
On Friday, contracts were exchanged between Wadworth and the Trust for the purchase of the Peterborough Arms at Dauntsey Lock. This very exciting purchase has been made possible by loans and donations from members and supporters. Now that contracts have been exchanged we will be finalising all the legal documentation relating to the loans that members have made. As many of you know, the pub has been closed for about 15 months and is looking rather sad. Work has already been started on the plans for a complete refurbishment to turn it into a community-based canal centre whilst retaining it as a pub. The next stage is to set up a team to carry forward the project and we would welcome volunteers with experience or just enthusiasm to register an interest in that – contact Chris or myself. There will be a lot of money to be raised and priorities to be established, but this is a great step forward.
Rumours have been circulating in the media lately about possible funding for building a road tunnel under the M4 to link up with the Wichelstowe development. I can confirm that we are in touch with the team from Swindon BC about our long-held ambition to put the canal under the motorway, by co-siting it in a tunnel alongside the new road but decisions are not likely yet, as the money is only allocated at the moment, not awarded. Be assured, we are watching it closely.
Staying at Wichelstowe, the interpretation boards that Ken mentioned in his blog on 7th July outside the Waitrose store are proving to be a great success with everyone, including the staff at the store who are not having to answer endless questions about “what canal is that?” or “I didn’t know Swindon had a canal”.
Plans for the River Festival at Melksham on 6th and 7th September are continuing apace following the news of the support from Leekes that Chris reported in the last blog. We now also have some support from Hall & Woodhouse, the Dorset based brewery and pub operators, who have just opened a new pub, the Milk Churn, on the A350 at Melksham. (only a short walk from the new route of the Melksham Link at Berryfield when it is built). They will support the music and programme prizes. We are very grateful to them. For all Melksham traders - we are just seeking advertisers for our Festival programme so please get in touch if you are intereste- Email Paul Lenaerts: lenaerts@waitrose.com
And finally, membership is now standing at 2457 – getting close to my target of 2500 by the AGM.
Kath Hatton
Rumours have been circulating in the media lately about possible funding for building a road tunnel under the M4 to link up with the Wichelstowe development. I can confirm that we are in touch with the team from Swindon BC about our long-held ambition to put the canal under the motorway, by co-siting it in a tunnel alongside the new road but decisions are not likely yet, as the money is only allocated at the moment, not awarded. Be assured, we are watching it closely.
Staying at Wichelstowe, the interpretation boards that Ken mentioned in his blog on 7th July outside the Waitrose store are proving to be a great success with everyone, including the staff at the store who are not having to answer endless questions about “what canal is that?” or “I didn’t know Swindon had a canal”.
Plans for the River Festival at Melksham on 6th and 7th September are continuing apace following the news of the support from Leekes that Chris reported in the last blog. We now also have some support from Hall & Woodhouse, the Dorset based brewery and pub operators, who have just opened a new pub, the Milk Churn, on the A350 at Melksham. (only a short walk from the new route of the Melksham Link at Berryfield when it is built). They will support the music and programme prizes. We are very grateful to them. For all Melksham traders - we are just seeking advertisers for our Festival programme so please get in touch if you are intereste- Email Paul Lenaerts: lenaerts@waitrose.com
And finally, membership is now standing at 2457 – getting close to my target of 2500 by the AGM.
Kath Hatton
Monday, 14 July 2014
A cunning plan?
For some time now Canal and River Trust (CRT) has been showing much greater interest in restoration than its predecessor, British Waterways. There was further evidence of that last week with the announcement that CRT, together with the Inland Waterways Association, is launching a national restoration campaign, drawing attention to our lost waterways. It is supported by the well-known TV presenter Sir Tony Robinson who said: “The waterway network is part of the fabric of our nation but it’s easy to forget that not so very long ago some of our most popular canals were almost lost forever”. We were already in touch with CRT to find out about their new approach to the question of restoration, and have been visited by Richard Parry, their Chief Executive, and Jason Leach, Restoration Manager. We are thinking about how we can follow these visits up, as well as how we can build on the campaign to help move our own canal forward.
We had some very good news about the forthcoming Melksham River Festival during the week. This is a very important event for us, marking the centenary of the Act of Abandonment in 1914, but with the strong message that a hundred years later we are back, restoring the canal. It is also intended to publicise the Melksham Link, and acknowledge the support of the town of Melksham for the project. Such events do of course cost money, and we were worried that we had lost our original intended source of funding. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of event organisers Paul Lenaerts and Ian Simpson, they have persuaded Leekes of Melksham to step into the breach and support the event. We are very grateful indeed to Leekes for their timely and welcome help. The event will be on September 6th and 7th, so make a note in your diaries!
This week we are meeting Derek Gow, one of the country's leading experts on water voles, to see how we can enlist his help in two ways. First, we need his expertise to be available to us as we have to deal with any water vole colonies along the canal when we are carrying out our restoration tasks. Second, we want to make the canal an environmental asset for the community, so we want to find out how we can make a responsible contribution to the protection of this endangered species.
Chris Coyle
Monday, 7 July 2014
CRT and restoration ,Studley Grange, Peterborough Arms and a trip to the supermarket
In May the Canal & River Trust and IWA held a workshop on the theme of Water Adds Value. As a follow up to that event we were pleased to welcome Jason Leach, CRT Restoration Manager, to Chippenham last week to have a look in more detail at the Wilts & Berks restoration. CRT is very clear about what it can (and perhaps as important cannot) do to help. It is certain that there is a will to help all restoration projects and we look forward to further discussions on what assistance might be available in the future for the Wilts & Berks.
It has taken a little time but I am very pleased to report that the proposed restoration at Studley Grange Royal Wootton Bassett now has planning consent. Its not quite time to either pop a cork or to send in the diggers but it is a significant step forward albeit with the 'strings' of having to satisfy a number of planning conditions. Significantly the consent is a trigger for the site owners to move forward on a lease for the Trust. Final construction drawings are being prepared by consultants in preparation for a tendering process to seek a contractor to do the work. This all subject to raising a further significant amount of funding. One of the features of restoration of this section of the canal will be the wildflower planting plan as one of the funders is seeking to make the corridor attractive for bees and other pollinators.
Wednesday evening saw a number of Trust Directors assembled in the beer garden of the Peterborough Arms . The open air meeting was to discuss some of the details of the proposed contract to purchase the site- the only thing missing was a supply of beer! We expect to make an announcement imminently on progress.
Finally another trip for me to canal side Waitrose in Swindon on Sunday morning -not only to replenish the household supplies but to install two new information boards. This is possibly the most viewed section of the Wilts & Berks so we are keen to promote the project as much as possible. If you pay a visit look out also for the new (currently experimental) QR coded signs for the Wilts & Berks Canal audio trail.
Ken Oliver
It has taken a little time but I am very pleased to report that the proposed restoration at Studley Grange Royal Wootton Bassett now has planning consent. Its not quite time to either pop a cork or to send in the diggers but it is a significant step forward albeit with the 'strings' of having to satisfy a number of planning conditions. Significantly the consent is a trigger for the site owners to move forward on a lease for the Trust. Final construction drawings are being prepared by consultants in preparation for a tendering process to seek a contractor to do the work. This all subject to raising a further significant amount of funding. One of the features of restoration of this section of the canal will be the wildflower planting plan as one of the funders is seeking to make the corridor attractive for bees and other pollinators.
Wednesday evening saw a number of Trust Directors assembled in the beer garden of the Peterborough Arms . The open air meeting was to discuss some of the details of the proposed contract to purchase the site- the only thing missing was a supply of beer! We expect to make an announcement imminently on progress.
Finally another trip for me to canal side Waitrose in Swindon on Sunday morning -not only to replenish the household supplies but to install two new information boards. This is possibly the most viewed section of the Wilts & Berks so we are keen to promote the project as much as possible. If you pay a visit look out also for the new (currently experimental) QR coded signs for the Wilts & Berks Canal audio trail.
Ken Oliver
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)