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Q.1. What work has been done so far?
A. Work has taken place on over half the 23 mile length. This has resulted in a third of the canal being cleared and dredged, a new lock being built from scratch, eight locks being rebuilt, 19 bridges restored or constructed and the Loxwood Road Crossing under Loxwood High Street being reopened for canal traffic. Additionally, culverts have been put in place and breaches repaired.
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Q.2.
Is any of it open for use?
A. It certainly is, with the Trust's trip boats operating regularly on the Loxwood section. Although some of the other restored sections are currently isolated from each other, the benefits of restoration are clearly visible on many stretches of the canal, being appreciated by both visitors and wildlife alike. Another major milestone was reached in May 2009 with the opening of the Loxwood Road Crossing. This will potentially bring into use another long stretch of navigable canal - a real step forward for all those working hard to restore the waterway back to its full glory.
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Q.3.Will
it ever be finished?
A. Those who give their time and energy to the project have no doubts that it certainly will be completed. The vast majority of what is currently to be seen on the canal is the result of much effort by volunteers. Contractors are only employed on major projects that are beyond the expertise of volunteers.
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Q.4.
What is the point of restoring an old canal?
A. The reasons for doing this are numerous and include landscape beauty, providing a haven for wildlife and an area where people can enjoy tranquillity - whether by boating, walking, riding, fishing or just standing and watching.
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Q.5.
What is the history of the canal?
A. The canal was built in two stages. The Arun Navigation being completed in 1787 with the five miles between Pallingham in the south and Newbridge to the north. The Wey & Arun Junction Canal (18 miles) was built between 1813 and 1816 connecting Newbridge to Shalford, the capital for the project being put up by key landowners in order to gain transport access to London's markets for local produce. The canal's heyday was in the late 1830s, but within 35 years the influence of the railways had become so strong that the canal was formally abandoned in 1871, to be followed by the Arun Navigation in 1896.
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Q.6.
Who owns it now?
A. After the canal was abandoned its ownership largely passed to the adjoining landowners.
Today over fifty owners have a holding between Pallingham and Birtley. Some own a mile or so of the waterway
while others have as little as 100 yards.
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Q.7.Why
did you start in the middle, rather than at one end?
A. Work is carried out only in areas where consent has been given and the landowners' support achieved. When opportunities arise, the Trust endeavours to show its presence over the whole line of the canal, that way showing the benefits of restoration to the largest number of people. The pieces of the jigsaw then gradually fit together into an ever-completing picture.
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Q.8.
Can the whole length be restored?
A. The fact that the route of the original canal runs through generally remote rural land of relatively low agricultural value has ensured that the original line remained basically intact. Because of this, the Trust aims to re-open all 23 miles.
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Q.9.
How do you know that restoration is possible?
A. An independent engineering and environment survey was commissioned in 1992, the findings confirming an earlier 1973 survey. This was followed in 1995 by a cost/benefit study. The conclusions indicated that the restored canal could be economically viable. In 2007 an independent report by Atkins plc, the 'Canal Completion Strategy Report', was commissioned. This indicated that, in their opinion, full restoration was viable.
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Q.10.
What about houses that have been built on the old line of the canal?
A. Fortunately, most of the canal runs through open countryside, although in the Bramley area the line of the canal does run through some gardens. One study looked at this problem and proposed alternative routes for the canal, and these will form the subject of negotiations before a definite proposal is put forward.
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Q.11.
Will wildlife suffer from the restoration work?
A. Whilst some restoration can cause temporary disruption, within a very short time the benefits to wildlife are to be seen when more species come in as habitats are improved and water space increases. The Trust always carefully surveys sites before restoration.
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Q.12.
What are the major problems facing complete restoration?
A.The main ones may be summarised as diverse ownership, road crossings, water supply and retention and, of course, money.
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Q.13.
What about road bridges?
A. With the opening of the Loxwood Road Crossing, two bridges have now been built. This means that there are nine remaining, including Newbridge, Rosemary Lane, Tickners, Fast Bridge, Elmbridge, Run Common, Station Road and Tannery Lane in Bramley and possibly Stonebridge. Whilst each one presents different problems in providing clearance for canal boats, ultimately these are the responsibility of the local highway authorities. The Trust has detailed plans for all of them.
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Q.14.
Is the route protected from development?
A. Several of our local authorities have adopted policies that protect the route of the canal from development. Trust representatives hold regular meetings to ensure that these policies continue when planning policy is reviewed. It is also central government policy to protect disused waterways that have a realistic chance of restoration; tangible progress on the Wey & Arun Canal provides undeniable evidence that complete restoration is feasible.
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Q.15.
How many members do you have?
A. At present there are over 2,500, this figure increasing on a regular basis.
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Q.16.
What about water supply for the canal?
A. The canal originally had a main reservoir in Vachery Pond, south-west of Cranleigh, another being planned, but never built. Now, electrically operated back-pumps bring water back above the lock after a boat has passed through. 'Puddling' the bed of the canal to keep it watertight is an essential task in water retention.
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Q.17.
Are all your people volunteers?
A. Almost all, the Trust having only three paid employees, these being job-share office managers. Although a number of retired and semi-retired members give their time to the Trust's work, the majority of members have full-time work which limits what they can do as canal volunteers. However, volunteers are eagerly sought to help with restoration projects - from office duties to practical construction work. Without them the whole scheme would rapidly grind to a halt.
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Q.18.
Why don't you use more contractors?
A. The answer to that is money-related. Contractors are used for the larger construction tasks, such as the Loxwood road-crossing, where the work of volunteers, necessarily spread over many months, would not be appropriate. Each job is assessed as to whether it should be done by volunteers or by contractors.
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Q.19.
What are your priorities?
A. Following the opening of the Loxwood Road Crossing beside the Onslow Arms at Loxwood, work will largely concentrate on opening the canal in the direction of the River Wey. This will involve lock rebuild and repair, canal dredging, towpath reestablishment etc. At the same time, it is important to maintain the parts of the canal that have already been cleared, whether currently navigable or not.
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Q.20.
How will you pay for this work?
A. To restore the Loxwood Road Crossing, grants were sought from national and local sources, each task being taken separately with money being raised as needed. To date, over £1.8 million has been spent, primarily on the new crossing, although much more is needed to finish the project in its entirety. Funds are raised from members, charitable trusts, legacies, the Inland Waterways Association, landfill tax, an annual sponsored walk and from the trading company.
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Q.21.
What is your policy on nature conservation?
A. The Trust has close links with the Sussex and Surrey Wildlife Trusts, Natural England and the Environmental Agency. With these links the Trust can obtain advice and help with surveys.
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Q.22.
Is it possible to walk beside the canal for the whole length?
A. Not yet. There are sections where there is a public right-of-way along the towpath, these being shown on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps sheets 186, 187 and 197. As many sections are on private land that is not accessible to the public, the Trust urges people not to jeopardise its relations with those landowners by trespassing. The walking route is shown in a walk-guide called The Wey-South Path, obtainable from the Trust's office.
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Q.23
Do you have a trip boat?
A. The Trust now has three trip boats. The 30 seat 'Zachariah Keppel' is available for charter and public trips, the 12 seat 'Josiah Jessop being available for charter. The latest addition, the electrically-powered 'Wiggonholt' is licenced to carry up to 50 passengers Members of the Trust are able to hire the four-person, self-drive dayboat 'Pete Wynn' and explore the canal at their leisure.
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Q.24.
How do you keep your members informed?
A. The quarterly magazine 'Wey-South' is sent to all members and other interested contacts, active working members also receiving a monthly newsletter to keep them up-to-date. Members also have the option of receiving a monthly update by e-mail.
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Q.25.
How can I help?
A. The best way is by joining as a member and if your subscription is Gift Aided, the Trust gains 28 pence in the £ - and you also pay less income tax. Both 'armchair' and active members are welcome as both groups show their support for the Trust's objectives that can help influence local authorities and those who make grants. If you would like more information, without any obligation, please contact the Office Manager (membership@weyandarun.co.uk) 01403 752403 or write to:
WACT Office,
The Granary,
Flitchfold Farm,
Vicarage Hill,
Loxwood,
West Sussex,
RH14 ORH, UK
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