650m of canal restoration gets approval and residents contacted re the Lawns work

British Waterways' (BW) planning application for the “Navigable restoration of 650m of canal, (from Ryeford Double Locks to Oil Mills Bridge at Ebley) including soil excavation (but not disposal), new bridge, access and habitat enhancement”, was granted conditional planning permission, by the Council’s Development Control Committee on 10th October 2006.

Conditions were attached to the permission covering a range of details that have to be agreed with the Council before work can start. These include materials, wildlife and landscaping matters, civil engineering details and contaminated land surveys. Many minor issues were raised at that meeting - one of the ones for example that I raised was about the removal of excavated material - thankfully now conditions will be put regarding times etc - this will at least protect local residents from lorries at all times which have effected other building sites. In the end I voted for the conditional planning permission - this has the potential to be a very exciting project that could bring many benefits.

The intention is to start construction work early in the New Year.

The new bridge will feature special ‘bat bricks’. Each has 6 finger-sized holes which allow bats access but are too small for birds. Behind the bricks will be a purpose built bat roost. Four species of bat have been found in the canal corridor around Oil Mills Bridge. The bricks symbolise the conservation ethos of the Canals regeneration project - making sure that natural habitat is at least maintained and - where possible - improved.

The Lawns - nearly underway

In the meantime works will start at the Lawns, Cainscross. As noted I have had meetings with BW and others. One of our concerns regards letting residents know about the changes there. At last they seem to have taken this on board and rather belatedly are hand delivering letters to local residents and distributing flyers.

Download letter

Download flyer

The pond will be part dredged with silt being kept on site behind locally sourced hazel faggots. Members of the Ruscombe Brook Action Group with knowledge o such matters have made suggestions re possible improvements to their plans. Tree works are in the process of being agreed to allow light into the pond to the benefit of aquatic flora and fauna. Thankfully it looks like that while a few trees will need to be removed it is nothing like what was feared - and of course will lead to significant improvements.

Reeds will be used to filter the Ruscombe Brook water to enhance its quality before entering the Canal. RBAG have some concerns regarding plans for maintenance over the coming years - basically no funds or plans have yet been drawn up!

Clearly it is difficult to know what will be needed - for example how soon will a hazel hurdle need replacing? In my conversations today with the Community Land Trust I expressed some concern that this has not been seriously looked at and that BW appear to think that the Lawns will last another 15 years then get another dredge. Firstly no funds have been put aside for this, secondly dredging is hugely disruptive to wildlife and lastly this does not look at the causes of the problem. The reed beds will improve matters but the quantity of silt and other matters coming down the brook needs to be looked at - issues like cattle in the stream, drains positioned badly so they erode the banks, the repeated overflows of sewage into the stream, Highways run-off etc etc.

The good news is that most of the stakeholders are signed up to the loose partnership initiated by RBAG to tackle problems the whole length of the brook - infact last nights RBAG meeting we had verbal confirmation we have a grant of £2,500 towards surveying the brook - although the grant is conditional on support from stakeholders - this is a condition that really needs to be in place anyway.

There is no definitive start date for works at present but it’s planned in the run up to Christmas. See plans here.

Canals Website Launch

Heres a bit from their publicity material: "By visiting www.cotswoldcanalsproject.org people can get information on the opportunities for business, read about the history of these two historic waterways, view draft plans and have their say via the site feedback form. The restoration of the Cotswold Canals is a major first step in reconnecting England’s two greatest rivers; the Thames and the Severn. The restoration of the canals will provide opportunities for all, by acting as a catalyst for continuing social, economic and environmental regeneration whilst safe-guarding their future for everyone to enjoy."