<>Without the volunteer workforce, restoration of the Wey & Arun Canal would not be moving forward at its current rate but the Trustees believe that two individuals have shown great commitment in recent years. In front of a large audience of WACT members head of the maintenance depot John Smith was presented with the Jack King Cup, while the John East Cup was presented to membership secretary David King.

Working with representatives of Loxwood Parish Council and Loxwood Society in a joint 'Loxwood Bridge Committee', the Wey & Arun Canal Trust agreed an acceptable design for the parapets. After much work with both West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Chichester District Council (CDC), the brick-faced design was approved. The original galvanised design had attracted hundreds of protests on a petition at Loxwood Stores and at a subsequent public meeting. The new brick parapets will be lower and less obtrusive than the previous metal fence and will be in keeping with the award-winning Loxwood Lock and horse-bridge constructed by Canal Trust volunteers in 2005-6.

Sally Schupke, Chairman of the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, said that the history of the Canal Centre went back a long way. The Trust had started by planning a wooden ticket office in the car park, then started thinking about a log cabin. A fortunate meeting with generous sponsors led to more ambitious thoughts and the splendid new building was the result. The Canal Trust was an environmentally aware group and had wanted a very 'green' building - constructed from sustainably sourced materials and with exceptionally low energy requirements.

The Poddle route is never more than 15 miles and there is always a lunch stop somewhere around the halfway point where walkers are welcome to a free lunch. Transport can be arranged for any walker who wishes to return from the lunch stop to the start/finish point. Every 3 miles or so there is a refreshment point offering squash or water.

Mr Mike Coleman, Chairman of West Sussex County Council, will be cutting the ribbon. The new centre has been designed and built by Fordingbridge plc of Fontwell, West Sussex. The building is all part of the Trust's aim of "Getting Green" and follows on from the launch of the public trip boat "Wiggonholt", which is electrically powered. The Canal Centre uses timber from sustainable sources with intelligent lighting and an iconic curved green roof planted with sedum. High levels of insulation and efficient methods of heat capture and retention will ensure minimal energy use.

The parapets, which will be constructed from locally-made brick to fit in with the nearby 17th Century Onslow Arms Pub and the award-winning Loxwood Lock, have been high on the Trust's agenda for some time.

"Everything is gradually falling into place," explains WACT Chairman Sally Schupke. "With planning permission granted and more than 80% of the necessary funding raised so far, our goal of putting the finishing touches to the Loxwood High Street bridge has never been more achievable. We now just need one final push to raise the remaining money and start the work."

In the coming months the Trust anticipates an even greater need for adequate four-wheel-drive transport between sites.