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Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Page
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We now need to raise this amount, so if you can help with a donation, however small, it would go towards a great cause!
A historic Pelapone engine
John Madden Chair Tooley’s Boatyard Trust
Wilts & Berks Canal
Since the last issue, the flurry of activity on the M4 crossing by Swindon and the acquisition of a boat with dredging capability at Royal Wootton Bassett has led the Trust to make linking the two communities a top priority. Much behind the scenes work is needed – and under way. Also in the Swindon area, our Planning team is busy in numerous places including the New Eastern Villages, where a large development crosses the canal’s line for several Kilometres so many meetings and much negotiation are needed.
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Much activity has taken place along the whole line of the Wilts & Berks since Covid restrictions have made our lives easier. Beginning at the western end, reed clearance at Pewsham has been completed – and in nicer weather! Chippenham Town Council presented a Civic Award to us in recognition of our restoration at Pewsham Locks, which has inspired local residents to get involved. As part of this we received a grant of £15,000 from the Wiltshire Community Fund towards restoration of the dry dock there, plus a grant of £9,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a welfare unit on the site. The volunteers now have a place to take their breaks out of the rain! Nearby, work parties at Green Lane Farm and Pudding Brook have been clearing vegetation including trees from the towpath & canal bed. Meanwhile, September’s Melksham Food & River Festival was a huge success for the Trust, with some 20 volunteers and both the Trust’s smaller boats – The Mary Archard and Damselfly – running trips; they raised over £1,100 for the Trust over the weekend! We were also assisted by Bentley the Bear, who proved a great attraction as he has elsewhere earlier in the year!
Meanwhile behind the scenes, meetings & negotiations on the long-awaited Melksham Link continue, inching towards a planning application At the eastern end, work parties remain active, clearing the towpaths around Wantage & East Challow Our volunteers continue to work on the Trust’s pub, the Peterborough Arms, refurbishing the remaining upstairs rooms as letting rooms. The pub survived
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lockdown and reopened as soon as possible after and is developing quite a reputation locally for its good food & real ales. The Trust as a whole has continued the restructuring and rebuilding of capacity begun during lockdown. Most of our meetings are still held via Google Meet, enabling us to share documents and gather people together who live many miles apart. Key posts (all volunteers) are being filled progressively in anticipation of the hoped-for increase of activity now we are overcoming the M4 barrier.
