| June 2004
Diary | Directory
EDITORIAL COMMENT ~
Steve Jones
If you have visited Sidney Wood in the last 3 or 4 weeks you may well have seen the deer fence placed across the line of the canal at the northern end by Fir Tree Copse. A local landowner, who if it were Mr Winkworth, would be within his rights, has erected it but quite exactly why remains a mystery. Experts have confirmed that the biodiversity in the environs of the canal has and it can't increased threefold be because of the trees that have been removed, as this is commercial woodland and at some stage most will be cropped. However, the WACT is determined that it will not spoil visitor's enjoyment of this lovely area.
Muddling at Tickners ~ Colin Gibbs.
On the 6th of May Eric Walkers Group were diverted to Tickners Heath. On arrival they very quickly filled the skip provided by Charles Muddle Ltd with a variety of metal objects some of which had been lying around the depot for years. Many thanks to them and I hope that the main task of the day (actual restoration) went well. It's nice to see all that scrap gone.
Hedge Laying Season Closes for 03/04 ~ Keith Nichols.
On Sunday the 25th of April I managed to hobble down to the gauging station meadow to see Bob and Jeremy complete the 95m of cleared hedge. On the 27th and 28th Tony burnt the remaining cuttings and assisted Peter with re-erecting the stock fencing. So with that layed it leaves 100m to lay in the 94/95 season. Where else will we be laying? Brewhurst possibly; local landowners permitting!
It only remains for me to thank the stalwarts of the team, Bob Potts, Jeremy Simpson, Roger Ashton, Ray Welch and Tony Clear, without whom it couldn't have been done. And thanks also to everyone else that has helped at odd times. People keep on telling me I'm '2 stakes short of a layed hedge', what do they mean? Hedge layers be warned, October 04 will be on us sooner than you think - see you then I hope.
TSG use A to Z Rule ~ Eric Walker.
Too much water has been our excuse for not completing the steps at Drungewick Lock. When the pound above the lock is full, we cannot back pump and we lose the water over the weir. At the beginning of May, after heavy rain in Loxwood the water was going over the bottom gates two inches deep. After the excitement of the boat rally in mid May, the steps are all that is left for us to do at Drungewick Lock. But first its back to Devils Hole lock to do the final details there, steps, footholds, bollards etc.
The B2133 crossing is in the consultation phase with fundraising and planning applications in hand. Items not constrained by planning may start soon.
Before I forget, there have been a number of complaints from the boat crew as to the operation of the bollards, which has been attributed to their shape, that is the bollard shape. To make them we have been using moulds taken from bollards on the Basingstoke canal. I would be interested to have details of bollards that would work to the satisfaction of the crew; it may be that the Bluebell Rule applies. What is the Bluebell Rule? Well in the jargon of a well-known railway, it asks why one does a job once when you could do it twice! On the other hand, we, in the TSG, have another rule, the A to Z rule. One moves an item from A to B and then from B to C and so on until you reach Z and then, it returns to A. This rule is often broken because the manager likes to spoil the sequence he started and stops the whole thing short, even before we get to G!
Finally I would like to send my greeting to all those on the Internet who enjoy our website. Dave Southgate was amazed to receive a copy of an e-mail between a two of his friends. Apparently Peter Hock, who lives in Switzerland, is keen on canals and is a regular visitor to our website, he e-mailed his friend in Weybridge that showed a picture of Dave standing by the repair at Drungewick Lock with the message "ist das dr .. mr southgate".
The Thursday & Sunday Groups (TSG) meet at 09:30 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of jobs, mostly construction related. For more details contact Eric Walker Tel/Fax 023 9246 3025 mobile 077 1785 5340 or email ericwalker@onetel.net.uk
Bricking up the Lock ~ Winston Harwood.
Whilst writing I am very apprehensive about the open day on Sunday May 23rd. There has been so much work to do in preparation but, by the time you read this, it will all be over and we will be free to get on with the job in hand which is rebuilding Lordings Lock. There will be loads of bricks to lay, and I would like to train up some bricklayers. So if you want to learn how to lay a brick you will be most welcome to come and join us. I can offer you long straight walls and an excellent scaffold to work off. Picture.
The water wheel is operating and work on the aqueduct will start, probably after the 'Poddle' WACT's sponsored walk, when the risk of flooding is over. The arches will be built on a huge polystyrene former which will be wedged into the end of the tunnel, and I can't risk having this in the river whilst there is the chance of a flood. We are able to drive down to the site now. So why not come and join us on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Gun-Ho at Newbridge ~ Bill Nicholson.
We are now the best part of five days into needle gunning the swing bridge and we have still not finished! This has certainly been one of the least popular volunteer tasks on offer since I started volunteer canal restoration way back in 1975 and you only ask a volunteer to do the job once! Despite this, progress has been made and it is planned to do an initial grit blast (using contractors) and then a final gunning session before grit blasting and priming. Other structural enhancements are being discussed with the engineers but these will be done after priming.
Down at Haybarn, NWPG have cleared all the undergrowth around the bridge and have completed a footpath diversion using the temporary steel footbridge from the depot at Tickners Heath. The area for the site container and compound in the former winding hole has been levelled and a dam put in above the working area. How much water we will have to pump out once the bridge hole has been excavated I am not quite sure, but we are working on the basis of needing a six inch pump on site. LWRG have started demolition of the concrete bridge and removed the parapets, most of the deck apart from one RSJ and taken down about half of the off side abutment wall. Picture. There remains about two weekends work to complete this demolition and excavate the base before the base concrete slab can be poured. The latter is planned for the early part of the NWPG summer camp. Graham Baird continues to beaver away at the engineering, financial and logistical side of the project for which Dig Deep is most grateful.
A Devilish Hole in May ~ Brian Crossley.
We had a couple of sessions at Devils hole in the pouring rain, wallowing in the clay and mud, trying to do the final levelling. "We know how this place got its name" said one of the group "it really is a devilish hole". The leaders pride and joy of a car was in such a state that it actually ended up on the police abandoned vehicles file! But that's a long story; which can wait for the next 'Wey-South'. Eventually we had a dry sunny day and the whole site began to look good. The grass seeds have at last been sprinkled and we've put up a temporary notice, requesting people (and birds) to keep off until the lawn is established.
Our usual meetings in June will be on Mondays 7th & 21st. Also we're having an additional meeting down at Lordings on Thursday 10th to help spruce up before the 'Poddle' comes through on the following Sunday. Just ring me during the week before for details.
Working Party Diary for June and early July.
Press date for articles for inclusion is the 20th of the month by letter
or e-mail.
If you do not attend regularly, please contact the site manager before
joining a work party.
MOST TUESDAYS maintenance sessions at Tickners Heath. Check with Colin Gibbs first.
TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS at Lordings. Site details from Winston Harwood.
WEDNESDAYS. Loxwood Link maintenance. Site details from Peter Wilding.
EVERY THURSDAY and SUNDAY Meet 0930 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of jobs mainly
construction. Site details from Eric Walker.
MON JUN 7 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting time from Brian Crossley.
THUR JUN 10 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting time from Brian Crossley.
SUN JUN 13 - WACT PODDLE. (sponsored walk). Consult last 'Wey- South' or contact Jo Beagles on
01483 418195 or John Ward or the WACT office if you can help or just want more details.
SUN JUN 13 - IWA Solent & Arun Branch Head of Navigation Campaign Cruise. Pulborough to
Pallingham. Depart A29 Pulborough bridge/slipway at 1500hrs. More details from Pete Boyce on 02392 269642.
MON JUN 21- MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site and meeting time from Brian Crossley.
THUR JUN 24 - MIDWEEK WALK. The Wey & Arun Canal Wisborough Green to Lee Farm Lock section.
5mls. 2.5-3hrs. Contact Don Gibson for more details.
SAT JUL 3/SUN 4- DIG DEEP with London WRG. WACT members are welcome on any day. Phone the
WACT office for site and more details.
Working Party Directory.
Brian Crossley (Monday Working Party) 01737 843192
Steve Jones (W P News Editor) 01444 811747 e-mail:
steve@stumblemead.fsnet.co.uk
Peter Jackman (Mid-week Working Party) 01483 772132
WACT office (General Enquiries) 01403 752403
Winston Harwood 01293 424672
Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519
Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025 email:ericwalker@onetel.net.uk
Colin Gibbs (Tickners Maintenance) 020 8241 7736
Keith Nicholls (Hedge laying)
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