Water adds value video
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
New Video about Melksham Link
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
Work at West Leaze Swindon
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.
Melksham Link Public Meeting
There is a Public Meeting on Wednesday 24th April at 7.30pm at the Assembly Rooms Melksham to see the latest update on the Melksham Link Plans & the Melksham to Lacock towpath route
Melksham Link New Bridge Design
The Melksham Link project team is considering innovative designs for the new bridges proposed for the scheme. The planning application design is a 'flatpack' produced by Macrete. Click here to see a video of one of these bridges being installed
Melksham Link Public Meeting
The Melksham Trust together with Melksham Community Area Partnership hosted an open event to promote the proposed Melksham Link Waterway on Thursday 6 December at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Over 100 people attended the event
Ken Oliver Project Delivery Officer for the Canal Partnership gave a presentation showing the overall plan of the 60 miles of the Wilts & Berks Canal and progress on restoration of the various sections of the waterway.
Derek Flexer Chairman of the Melksham Calne and Chippenham Branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust showed some of he work carried out locally by the volunteers.
The main part of the evening was a presentation about the design details of the Melksham Link plans.
Swindon Consultation Responses Published
Forward Swindon have published a summary of the responses to the recent consultation on the proposed MasterPlan for Swindon Town Centre .
A large number of responses indicated that they supported inclusion of the canal in the MasterPlan.
Forward Swindon are now considering what changes may be made .
You can read the summary of responses by clicking here
Swindon Town Centre Consultation
A new MasterPlan is being considered for Swindon Town Centre.
The Consultation period has now closed
The Canal Partnership Has Commeted that members are concerned that the opportunity for the Wilts & Berks Canal and its economic and environmental benefits is being ignored in the current proposal .
The next stage of the process to produce a Masterplan are detailed on the Forward Swindon web site
Melksham Link Planning Application Update
Information as at 25th September 2012
The scheme has been submitted to Wiltshire Council as a planning application which has now been validated.
The reference number is W/12/01080/FUL
You can comment on the application on the Wiltshire Council planning web site by clicking here (Please note due to the complexity of the application, plans and documents may not be available on this site until 3rd October)
The plans and documents are also downloadable from Melksham Link page of this web site
The Queens Award for Volunteering Services
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Queens Award for Volunteering Services 2012 .
Described as the MBE for volunteering it is rated as, 'the highest award given to volunteer groups across the country for outstanding work'
The citation printed in the London Gazette on 2nd June 2012 reads ; "The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust - Conserving, restoring and improving a Wiltshire, Swindon and Oxfordshire canal network benefiting the community and its environment".