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Editorial Comment

The May Working Party News, which should be circulated at the end of April, will be my last as editor. I will have produced some 150 editions over 12.5 years and enjoyed doing so immensely. Unfortunately my electrical business is creating a lot more paperwork and along with other family commitments, time is becoming a more precious commodity.

I have made many friends over the years through producing this newsletter and would like to thank them for their support, and indeed all who have sent encouraging comments. I would also like to thank on behalf of the WACT, those who have helped with production costs and sponsorship in answer to my appeals. Particular thanks must go to 'Mrs Bucket' aka Brian Crossley and Bill Nicholson of the 'Dig Deep Consortium'.

I understand the Trust wishes W.P.News to continue if possible, and should a volunteer come forward, I will be very happy to go through the current arrangements with him or her. Anyone considering taking on the job will need a computer and an e-mail address, and access to a reasonably cheap source of photocopying; which could be the Trusts office. Time wise, apart from a busy 2 or 3 evenings at the end of each month, the rest of the work amounts to about one hour each week. It doesn't sound a lot I know, but it's not so easy when you are trying to run a business as well.

News From the Depot ~ Colin Gibbs

Unfortunately we have lost the services of Michael Whyte-Venables, who for the past 2 years has managed to keep the majority of our aging concrete mixers and pumps working. Michael has found it more and more impossible to spend time at Tickners, and as a result we are in desperate need of a replacement mechanical enthusiast. Can you help, or do you know someone who could? Robert Levy very kindly answered my call for carpentry skills, and completed them in January. Robert is now returning to his 'day job' and we offer both him and Michael our thanks and best wishes. However most of what has been happening at Tickners Heath during the past couple of months has been positive. They say it's not what you know, but who you know. Well Peter Jackman and John Wethorpe knew the right people! Between them they've sold two of the boat engines and the Enfield pump, with the gift aided monies already in the treasurers 'road-crossing fund'. Our thanks to Peter and John as well as Peter Savage who gave the engines to the Trust in the first place. Thanks to the Worthing 3, Bob, Roger and Ray, who trimmed the roadside hedge. Thanks to Brian Crossley's group, who replaced the wooden gatepost and repainted the gates at the entrance. Thanks to Peter Andrews who had the skill to start the engine of the digger. I was very pleased to witness this exciting occasion. Will the rest of it work? And finally thanks to 'Rambo' (who works for Charles Muddle) the entrance is very tidy once more. Amazingly all the metal fitted into the wagon, thanks to his skill with the grab.

2004 Time Sheets ~ Colin Gibbs

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all group leaders, and their secretaries for completing the attendance forms during the past year - not only the WACT leaders, but also those of our visiting groups. You might be interested to know that between us we worked 15,774hours which; at 7.5hours a day, represents 2103 days. As a result of re-evaluating the various skills we use, the value of all this work is £190,760. This will be put alongside a similar amount when it comes to obtaining matching grants. Is there anyone out there with £190,760?

Swinging Into Action - Dig Deep at Haybarn ~ Bill Nicholson

July 16th has been set as the date for the formal opening of the Haybarn Swing Bridge. So the pressure is on to complete the work. Yet again we've been fortunate with the weather as the main task over the winter has been bricklaying. Also it has been generally dry so that the nearby River Arun has stayed within its banks. Let's hope its stays there over the Easter weekend when three extra working days have been arranged.

Brickwork on the towpath abutments is now complete with only the back filling remaining. On the other side there is more to do and is complicated by the various levels and obstructions that have to be taken into account - made worse by the fact that the bridge slopes (on account of its previous existence on a hilly site). We have had to make some adjustments to the concrete footings to allow the bridge to swing without fouling the brickwork. I am hopeful that the KESCRG weekend in early March will complete the brick courses to enable the top concrete slab to be poured, into which the bridge rails will be set. This latter job will be one of the first to do at Easter. After that we will concentrate on completing the painting and the decking out with new timbers. Then there's the bank re-profiling, curved brickwork on the off side, the temporary footbridges to be removed and site clearance. Ambitious stuff!

I nearly forgot to mention that on our February weekend we dismantled the scaffold and swung the bridge for the first time since its arrival in Sussex some years ago. Very smoothly it swings too. Thanks also to Winston and his team for their help during recent Dig Deep weekends.

Aqueduct Becomes Aqueduct Again ~ Winston Harwood

Brickwork is now finished to Lordings Aqueduct east wall and with the west wall in place it at last looks like an Aqueduct. We now have to wait until we can get ballast delivered before infilling the walls. Work continues with restoring the copings to the lock.

Which Will it Be Plan A or Plan A-1? ~ Eric Walker

As this is being written, the status of the B2133 Crossing planning application is unknown. Since the last W.P.News it has been suggested by Chichester District Council (CDC) that the date may slip back to the 18th March. This is bad news if we are to remove the trees before the start of the bird-nesting season and the Easter Bunny cruising. Of course that is Plan A, Plan A-1 is to pollard the trees to stop the birds occupying them. Leaving the trees until the end of the bird-nesting season, which is at the end of July, is the least preferred option, because that will make it more difficult to restore Brewhurst lock by Christmas. So for March, check with the office to see when we will need your help to move the logs.

Responding to a comment by the WSCC Ecologist, as consulters to the Planning Application, there have been two visits by a qualified and experienced bat worker and on one occasion a tree-climbing specialist accompanied him. It was a relief that no evidence of bats were found, for if there had been, a DEFRA licence would have been required to remove the trees and that would have put us back many months. April will see jobs being done in anticipation of the contractors starting in May, from then until the Onslow pound is refilled, is going to be a busy time.

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.com

By the time you read this, the Monday Group should have completed painting the lean-to at the Onslow Arms, re-hanging one of the gates at Tickners Heath yard and spring cleaning around the portacabin at Drungewick Lane Farm. Which puts us in mind of springtime when a not-quite-so-young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of the joys of grass cutting. If the weather is right we should be doing our first round of the road crossings before the end of the month.

For the mathematically minded, the solution to question 2 of the Christmas Teaser when the bivouacs are NOT at the same latitude is that they are each on lines of latitude one mile north of lines of latitude which are 1/M and 1/N miles in circumference respectively, where M and N are any unequal integers. Enough of this frivolity until next Christmas. Lets get back to basics - keeping up appearances! Meetings in March will be on Wednesday 9 & Monday 21. Just give me a ring for more details.

For better or worse I am still 'Joe Soap' leader of an extremely super team, the Mid Week Working Party. Having spent a considerable amount of time at Haybarn, we have now been at Devils Hole for 4 weeks and there's still more to do. But it's back to Sidney Wood early in March, to earn a few quid for the Trust by carrying out some coppicing. If you have admired the hedge laying down on the 'Loxwood Link' perhaps you would like to help, as the coppicing work will provide some of the materials they use. After Sidney Wood, we hope to finish at Devils Hole, and then possibly back to Haybarn for a day. Please phone me for details.

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 MAR 9 - MWWP. Meet 0930 for work at Devils Hole Ox-bow and back toward the Onslow. Confirmation and more details from Peter Jackman.

WED MAR 9 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site from Brian Crossley.

WED MAR 16 - MWWP. Meet 0930 for work at Haybarn. Confirmation and details from Peter Jackman.

MON MAR 21 - MONDAY W P. (Mrs Bucket Group). Details of site from Brian Crossley.

WED MAR 23 - MWWP. Meet 0930 for work at Fastbridge. Confirmation and details from Peter Jackman.

WED MAR 30 - MWWP. Meet 0930 for work at Fastbridge. Confirmation and details from Peter Jackman.

SAT MAR 5/SUN 6 - DIG DEEP with KESCRG. WACT members are welcome on any day. Contact 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
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