October 2018
Work is progressing on the canal adjacent to the newly built Hall & Woodhouse pub
The canal is expected to be re-watered here early in 2019
You can find about more about Canalside from The Wichelstowe project web site by clicking here
On July 4th 2018 the Studley Grange section of the canal was officially opened
You can see the whole opening ceremony as broadcast on Facebook Live here
You can see more about this project here
Swindon Borough Council have published the Wichelstowe District Centre Design Code for Public Consultation. The canal is a central feature of the design code . Click here for more information- the consultation closed on 17th January 2017 .
Details of the canal works in Middle Wichel are shown below are the work which received planning approval in June 2017 is expected to start in the autumn
In June 2015 the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust appointed Land & Water Services Ltd to carry out the 1.2km of restoration works at Studley Grange Royal Wootton Bassett on the outskirts of Swindon. On September 10th 2015 members of the Wiltshire Swindon and Oxfordshire Canal Partnership were invited to see progress. The short video shows the towpath now fully reinstated and work just beginning to excavate the canal bed.
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has been selected as a finalist in this year's Big Lottery Fund Peoples’ Millions. The Studley Wildlife Trail will appear on ITV on 26th November and will compete against another project for the chance of winning £50K depending on a telephone vote on the night
You can find out more about the proposed Wildlife Trail at Studley Grange Royal Wootton Bassett and add your support now by clicking here.
The derelict canal at Studley Grange will be restored to provide a wildlife corridor and will include a bee and insect friendly wildflower trail.
Vote to support grant from Yorkshire Building Society’s Lasting Legacy Fund
The Society has pledged £150,000 to leave a lasting impact in the communities it serves & the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust applied for a £10,000 donation from the Society’s Lasting Legacy Fund.
WBCT is one of 30 charities to be selected for the public vote.
If successful the £10,000 will to repair the 200 year old brick culvert under the restored canal at Pewsham that has collapsed.
You have until 31st October to vote.
Produced by Canal & River Trust and the Inland Waterways Association this new video shows a some case studies of canal restorations that really add value
The project team tell the story of this exciting new plan to bring boats , walkers and cyclists to Melksham on a new route for the Wilts & Berks Canal
Bank Piling at West Leaze
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is carrying out important repair work at West Leaze. The purpose of this work is to stabilize the towpath and the bank; without these repairs, the bank would continue to erode, with consequent risks to the safety of the footpath. This work involves piling for a length of about 120 metres.The work has been closely supervised by a consultant ecologist as the area supports an active population of water voles. The Trust is also being very careful to work with Thames Water and other providers of services to ensure there is no risk to these services.
The contractors expect to be finishing on about the 21st June, but that of course depends on them encountering no unforeseen surprises. Worrk is not expected to be carried out at the weekend, and normally they expect to finish by about 6 o'clock in the afternoon. After the contractors have completed the piling, there may well be work that the Trust will have to carry out to finish off the site, probably including using ‘soft edge’ coir rolls for bank protection.
The Trust is conscious of the disruption caused, by having to close the towpath, and by the piling itself. The Trust asks that you to bear with them while this essential maintenance work is carried out . If you can avoid the area of the works, it will be very helpful to allow the work to be completed in the shortest possible time.
