Diary | Directory

Editorial Comment ~ Steve Jones.

Richard Crook has added a link from the Restoration page on the official Wey and Arun website to Richard Emsley's pages of restoration photos. There are photos of the construction of Devils Hole Lock from 1999 to the present time, Drungewick Lane area, Drungewick Lock, Toat Overflow Weir and Hedgelaying.

Eva and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and prosperous new year and I'm sure that our group leaders that's Bill, Brian, Colin, Eric, Keith, the 2 Peters and Winston would echo those sentiments.

The Horsham refuse tip would be delighted if you would leave your old tyres with them. However, if you don't have any we would be even more delighted to let you have two or three from our pile at the depot - believe it or not I'm being serious. The tip is at Broadbridge Heath. Just give me a ring, but before that jot down my new mobile phone number - 07854 393846. Were at the depot most Tuesdays.

I'd like to thank Robert Levy for bringing his carpentry expertise to Tickners during the past few weeks. We now have a much improved tool rack in the fuel store, and doors that open and close without the usual pushing and pulling. Finally, a second reminder for all group leaders, please send all outstanding attendance records/time sheets to Steve Jones ASAP and not later than January 7.

The Christmas lunch at the Onslow Arms was a great success (particularly for those who had earned it by working the morning in Sidney Wood!) - thank you, Colin for arranging it.

Some people have suggested that we print some Christmas Teasers give out at the lunch for the enjoyment (?) of those who were not able to be there - so here they are.

1. A hunter left his bivouac and followed the trail of a bear. He went one mile south then one mile east and then one mile north when he was surprised to find himself back at the site of his bivouac. What colour was the bear?

2. Two adventurers were bivouacking one mile apart. For unknown reasons each man left his bivouac and walked one mile south, one mile east and one mile north. Each man had arrived back at his own bivouac site! Where were the bivouacs?

At the time of writing only 2 members have solved the 2 teasers - give me a ring if you think you've solved them. We'll print the role of glory and the solutions in the next newsletter.

The group will be supporting the Mid Week Working Party (MWWP) during January starting with Wednesday 12. We wish all the groups many worthwhile and enjoyable working days in 2005.welcome to join us.

After 8 days working on the hedge laying, planting trees in some gaps, fence re-creation followed by a big burn up, is this now the end of hedge laying until 3 to 4 years time when the planting around the Drungewick Lane Bridge will be ready for laying? We will be told in the New Year I expect. In the meantime I think everyone would agree that the layed hedge has dramatically changed the nature and aspect of the canal at Drungewick and Baldwins Knob.

It only remains for me to say thank you to all those stalwarts and those who only managed the odd day, that have worked on the hedges. I will be in touch if there are any future developments; that's a promise.

Block making is well in hand at Tickners. Also going well are the preparation jobs for the B2133 Crossing project. Clearance behind Brewhurst lock could let us see it, as we never have before. Next digging a trench across the Onslow Arms lawn across the Onslow Arms lawn and installing the duct for the BT Cables to the Southern Water Pumping station. Presently the BT cable goes along the towpath from the road, just where the work of lowering the pound and towpath will be done. Over the Christmas period the bicycle racks in the car park will be removed to made room for the paper skip! The planning application for the work went into Chichester District Council on the 6th Dec. With that in place, we then turned to the permission from WSCC to move the clay from lowering the canal to Devils Hole field. This "permission" turned out to be another planning application with five drawings, three reports and three forms all to be supplied as six copies. Naturally a covering letter and a whopping fee were required.

Also in the week before Christmas the application for a drop kerb where the bridleway comes out behind the Onslow Arms went in to WSCC for installation in Feb or March.. This drop kerb is for the lorries taking away the clay dug out to lower the pound. For the sewer diversion another pack of information will be posted early in the New Year to Southern Water Services - that needs 12 copies of a coloured drawing and because of the legal implications, that will have to be dealt with between the solicitors. At the same time another application will have to go to WSCC to open up the road and yes 12 copies of a different drawing are required and of course the solicitors will be involved. It wasn't like this twenty years ago!

So when is it all going to happen? Well planning consent is the next milestone and to reach that we will have another site meeting with the Planning Officer and a Tree Protection officer early January. There has to be a meeting with the local bat group. WSCC say about the decision "the earliest meeting is probably in the first week in March". So the serious on the ground stuff could start at the beginning of March. But purchasing and contracts have to start well ahead of that.

It could all be dismal stuff, but a start we will be made and fund-raising will determine just how much we can do in 2005.

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.

WEDNESDAYS Mid Week Working Party. Site details from new leader (to be appointed).

EVERY THURSDAY and SUNDAY Meet 0930 at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood. Lots of jobs mainly construction. Site details from Eric Walker.

WED JAN 12 - MWWP. Meet 0930 at venue to be decided by new leader.

WED JAN 12 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Supporting the MWWP. Details of site from Brian Crossley.

SAT JAN 15/SUN 16- DIG DEEP with London WRG. WACT members are welcome on any day. Phone the WACT office for site and more details.

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 (Lordings Lock & Aqueduct) 01293 424672
Peter Wilding (Loxwood Maintenance) 01483 422519
Eric Walker (Loxwood Area) 02392 463025 email:ericwalker@onetel.com
Colin Gibbs (Tickners Maintenance) 020 8241 7736
Don Gibson (Midweek Walks) 01903 201375