Progress Wendover Arm
Shake this issue of Navvies gently and some Wendover Arm Trust raffle tickets will fall out. Our extended report from the Wendover will fill you in on what you’re being asked to contribute to...
Wendover Arm Trust – Progress and Grand Draw 2017 We in WRG are supporting the Wendover Arm Trust by including tickets for their Grand Draw in this issue for you to buy or sell to your friends. So here’s Michael Wright from the Trust to bring us up to date with what’s happening on the Wendover and it needs our help...
Pictures by WAT
Hello to all the Waterway Recovery Group recipients. The plan is to enclose one book of Grand Draw tickets (10) with your magazine so that you can take this opportunity, not only to win some of the prizes, but also, most importantly, support the Wendover Arm Trust in our continuing efforts in restoring the Wendover Arm canal. The Wendover Arm Trust Grand Draw 2017 this year aims again to raise further funds for the continuing restoration of the canal, being carried out by a dedicated team of volunteers (many of whom are also members of WRG’s parent body the Inland Waterways Association). They meet for seven days each month to continue restoring the route of the canal, now working from Drayton Beauchamp towards Little Tring. Let me update you all a bit, if you are not familiar... This year the latest section of the canal has been profiled up to Bridge 4. The mechanical plant has moved operations past Whitehouses, where CRT and their contractors have carried out works on the pipework and sluice to direct the ‘excess’ water (at some time following further re-watering) to the reservoir. The volunteers have laid reinforced concrete pipe capping in the Wet winter working conditions in early 2017 canal bed: this is never seen again, but is essential to protect the underground 18" salt-glazed pipe which has been there for over 100 years, maintaining the canal’s water supply function while it was closed to navigationm but is now nearing the end of its lifespan. The capping is up to bridge 4, but once it’s completed there is still the shifting of vast amounts of spoil for the profiling of the canal. The Canal & River Trust, together with WAT, have obtained approval for the first stage of the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant. The result of the application has been that the CRT have been very busy with the plans for a contractor to prepare and submit a quotation for restoration, but there will be more paperwork for the second phase of the application. It is long process as many of you will know. There are meetings which look at the details of the restoration and beyond. Swing bridges; vegetation; ecology; all are included in the big plan. Meanwhile, the volunteers regularly continue with the invaluable work. At Whitehouses, an archaeological investigation has been going on, prompted by CRT. For the technical minded an open day for the Tringford Pumping station is planned for Sunday 23 July. However, access is rather limited – six to a party. (Plan ahead!) See opposite for more about recent progress on the canal, but as to the Draw: the prizes this year include the first prize of one week’s boating holiday, sponsored by Wyvern Shipping of Leighton Buzzard; a second prize of a day boat hire, sponsored by Narrowboatdayhire.com; a third prize of a Virgin Experience Day - a visit to the Shard and lunch (x2); a fourth prize of £100 cash. There are many other valuable prizes to be
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