Summer Update 2010
The good news is that a year of planning and preparation is starting to bear fruit – this month we will be placing five major contracts for work on the canal.
In Stonehouse, work continues on widening and resurfacing the towpath opposite St Cyr's Church. The work is being undertaken by Reach – an organisation giving skills to the long-term unemployed and community payback offenders. This work will continue eastwards for the foreseeable future.
The replacement of Upper Mills Bridge was delayed by badgers suddenly moving back into an empty sett on the site. The law allows the badgers to be relocated once July has passed – if they haven't already moved on themselves. We are therefore about to place the contract and we expect work to start on site in September.
The other delayed work is the dredging of the canal between Ocean Bridge and Ryeford. This was held up by discussions with the Environment Agency over consent to deposit the dredged material on to the fields next to Horsetrough Roundabout. The misunderstanding has now been cleared up and consent given, so work can start in late summer once the bird nesting season is over.
Meanwhile, work has started in Stroud on the new A46 bridge over the canal. Traffic will be rerouted over the old Wallbridge Bridge between late June and mid-November. Work is being led by Gloucestershire County Council, but roughly two-thirds funded by SDC from Canal Project resources. The opportunity is being taken to restore Wallbridge Upper and Lower Locks at the same time, thus saving cost and reducing disruption. A planning application for this work has been submitted.
Listed building consent has been given for restoration of Ryeford Double Lock; work is expected to start in early July. A planning application has been submitted for installing new gates and a bypass duct.
Tenders have been invited for clearing the channel east of Ryeford Double Lock and for ground investigations along the entire length between Stonehouse Ocean and Brimscombe. Contracts for both will be placed this month, as will the contract to supply and fit lock gates along the entire 6 mile length. The gates will be identical in appearance to those used in the nineteenth century along the entire Cotswold Canals – fortunately enough photos exist to allow considerable accuracy.
Nearer to Ebley Mill, we have recently reminded the developers of their obligation to bring the towpath up to a standard to be usable by wheelchairs and buggies. The earth deposited on the towpath at Ebley Wharf was completely unauthorised and we have insisted that it be removed as soon as possible.
To find out more about the canal visit: www.cotswoldcanalsproject.org
You can get involved! We need volunteers to help with everything from scrub clearing to bricklaying and paperwork to excavating. We also need team leaders. Call Jon Pontefract on 01453 754287 or email jon.pontefract@stroud.gov.uk
