Coming soon
Summer Camps late news
By the time you receive this the summer Canal Camps programme will be drawing towards a close, but there’s still time to bring you details of a couple of changes to the last two weeks of the season. The work on the Montgomery Canal has been badly hit by the weather - basically the ‘Pant Dry Section’ (the length just north of the Welsh border that needs re-lining to make it hold water) has failed to live up to its name. It’s a very wet section right now - so wet that the planned channel lining work proved impractable (not to mention that it’s become home to a few rare beasties who like the damp). Some alternative jobs have been found, mainly on towpath work, but not enough to keep us occupied for the whole time so camps 2012-22 (18-25 Aug) and 2012-25 (25 Aug - 1 Sep) have had to be cancelled. Meanwhile on the Cotswold Canals there have been a few hold-ups with the planning for some of the work on the site at Inglesham Lock, but fortunately it has proved possible to find extra work sites at Eisey Lock and at Griffin Mill Lock (near Stroud), which is where the last two camps 2012-21 on 18-25 Aug and 2012-24 on 25 Aug - 1 Sep will concentrate. Meanwhile Chesterfield camps 2012-20 and 2012-23 go ahead as planned.
Canal Camps and more...
The Oxford bridges project: brickies needed A bit of an unusual project, this: we’ve been approached by the Canal & River Trust (OK actually they were still British Waterways when they first raised it) to repair two bridges on the Oxford Canal. They’re old farm crossings that aren’t actually used (which is why they haven’t been prioritised for repair) but they’re historic structures dating back to the 18th Century and it would be sad if they were demolished (as they would have to be soon if they didn’t fall down of their own accord). There’s been a certain amount of discussion on the WRG Facebook group and elsewhere about whether we should actually be doing what might be classed as maintenance on a navigable waterway at all, when our main purpose is restoration; also on whether we should be covering for C&RT (and BW) failing to maintain its own structures. The WRG Committee’s view (or as near to a unanimous view as you’ll get!) is that as a one-off, an opportunity to help C&RT understand working with volunteers so that it can develop its own volunteer teams, and a chance to get off on a better footing with the new charity than we’ve been with BW at times (not to mention a chance to save two bridges from falling down) it’s a good project for us to support. As for how to support it: well, first there’s a WRG BITM weekend of preparation work on 15-16 September - see Diary pages for contact details. Then the main repair work will take place during an extra canal camp on 5 to 15 October - contact Head Office for details and to book. The work will be mainly brickwork repair and re-pointing, so we’re keen for experienced brickies to sign up for this one. So come along and show C&RT that we know our headers from our stretchers!
Ashtac revisited: IWA Manchester Branch Cleanup 13-14 October Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Ashtac, the ‘Ashton Attack’, where the Ashton and Lower Peak Forest canals around Dukinfield Junction were worked on by nearly 1000 volunteers in one weekend in 1972. This contributed significantly to the re-opening of the Cheshire Ring to navigation two years later. Help to re-create the work 40 years on by clearing the debris that has accumulated since then, and improve navigation for all boaters. Starting at Dukinfield Junction, the plan is for volunteers to work in all three directions on the Ashton Canal, the Lower Peak Forest and the Huddersfield Narrow. Rubbish and debris will be pulled out of the canal and put into workboats. Those preferring a lighter task can have a go at litter picking. Volunteers with relevant qualifications are required to operate the work boats (eg Helmsman’s certificate or Boatmaster’s licence).
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