This work party saw the completion of all channel and towpath deliverables for the original scope of the Rural Prosperity Fund grant – five months ahead of schedule!
“Given the torrential rain and flooding during October it was a pleasant relief to have dry, calm, mild weather for the entire work party, albeit overcast. Once again, substantial progress was made” said project manager Tom Fulda.
There were the three main activities:
- To complete the towpath and bank works in Phase 1A (wharf area) which in turn would complete the original scope for the RPF project.
- Continue channel profiling in Phase 1B beyond the area already completed. This extends the original scope, as explained in last month’s report.
- Hedge laying to kick off the winter environmental works.
In addition, four volunteers took a refresher brush cutter qualification on Friday which is essential to deliver all the scheduled environmental activities.
On Friday morning, there remained 65 metres of towpath to construct in 1A. Coupled with this were 60 metres of bank to complete with riprap (large aggregate) covered by soil above the blocked area. And finally, the entire length of towpath in 1A (which runs opposite the tramway wharf area) needed to be dressed with a wear course of quarry dust. By Sunday lunchtime the job was done which marked a major milestone: completion of all the channel and towpath deliverables in the original funded scope scheduled to finish by the end of March next year.
Practical completion for this funded scope is for the two completed sections of channel to be in water by the end of March. They are filling of their own accord with rainwater, and it is expected that the stop planks by Crickheath Bridge will be cracked open in January or February to equalize the levels with those in the now navigable Crickheath Basin.
Further along the site towards Schoolhouse Bridge, work continued to profile the channel. In the area worked, no lining and blocking is required, and an impressive 70 metres is now complete.
Just beyond this area in the direction of Schoolhouse Bridge, hedge laying picked up from where work had finished last winter. Over two days and with a number of ‘new hands’, 23 metres was completed – also impressive. Of course, hedge laying generates a large quantity of material to be burned. There is never a lack of volunteers to do the honours.
Other highlights from the work party included the Grand Draw for the Restore the Montgomery Canal! raffle officiated over by Councillor Joyce Barrow.
Possibly even more notable, the Society’s chairman finally managing the remove and fold the welfare shelter tarpaulin correctly after several years practice. Congratulations are due.
