Odds and ends: canal, Archway, Lawns and more

Here's a collection of bits and bobs of recent local news.....

Canal update - Last night I spent a couple of hours at Ebley Mill discussing the canal (terrible quality photo of noticeboard at Ebley) - the latest public news is that following much negotiation Cabinet are recommending Council to take on the risks of Brimscombe Port - read more here at item 5 - this report out today shows the risk could be as much as £2 million but if not accepted basically the whole canal project is in jeopardy - I often think Councils don't take enough risks - playing it too cautious and thus missing out on possible serious gains - this looks like here at least they are prepared to support the project.

Anyway there were some useful discussions during the evening - I am still not happy that cycling has been prioritised sufficiently in this project - see earlier blogs on this topic- although I did learn today that cycling is being looked at with a new seriousness. In terms of the issue of using the canal for freight - this is more understandably not going anywhere as the other phases of the canal do not have funding - but it is worth noting that I learnt today that water freight uses 22kg of CO2 per tonne/km compared to 59 kg by road. Another issue is the absurd suggestions that longer term the canal could be used to pump water to the SE thus saving 5 reservoirs to be built - an issue I will return to - indeed I will no doubt return to all of this when I have more time - but for brief summary here is the Inland Waterways view of where we are:

British Waterways has locally announced the start of works at Oil Mills. This is a step towards the start of the main works of National Lottery supported major restoration. There has been some concern that the restoration programme was in jeopardy owing to BW’s board becoming increasingly concerned at the level of unfunded risk that it might have to bear. However, it now appears that BW has accepted a higher level of risk than it originally intended and Stroud District Council has (subject to formal documentation) taken on a significant element of risk that would otherwise have fallen to BW. In order to allow the rest of the major restoration works to start announcements are awaited to confirm the agreements between Stroud District Council and British Waterways for the Council to take on the restoration and development at Brimscombe Port (via a private developer) and for the handover of the land from Gloucestershire County Council to BW.

The work at Oil Mills covers the £1.3 million restoration of a 650-metre stretch of the Stroudwater Navigation and the restoration of Oil Mills Bridge. The original hump-backed bridge on the site was removed as part of a road improvement scheme. It will be replaced by a new bridge echoing original designs but able to carry modern traffic levels, using what remains of the original bridge under the road.

The National Lottery supported restoration work is likely to cost £24.2million and is itself part of a wider regeneration funding package of £37million. The workincludes the full restoration of a 6½-mile (9½-kilometre) stretch from Brimscombe Port to Stonehouse and a further 4-mile (6km) multi-user path to Saul Junction, due for completion in two years. The work is to be project managed by British Waterways and undertaken by its contractor Morrison Construction. Excavation work is expected to be completed in November, followed by the bridge in March 2008. The Cotswold Canals Partnership expects to hear later this autumn about its £24million Big Lottery Fund bid which would take the restoration a further 4 miles (six kilometres) from The Ocean to Saul Junction.

The Lawns consultation - the area opposite Tricorn House in those woods is called The Lawns and has the lake there that this blog has discussed much in the past - the land is now leased by Stroud Community Land Trust from the county council - they plan to share their ideas about ways forward on Sunday 14th October on the site from 10.30am to 2.30pm - call Caroline on 753358 for further info.

Bus shelter in Ruscombe - a bus shelter and/or seat is being considered for near the chapel - local residents, police and highways will be asked their views but do contact the Parish Council if you have thoughts on this.

Ruscombe Brook - today a flow meter is being installed to measure sewage flows near the Randwick tributary sewage pipes - this will hopefully give a clearer picture of what is going on and why we have had the recent incidents of raw sewage escaping into the brook at that point. Plus just a note to say the RBAG display is now up in Cainscross Parish Council office.

Archway school - have their new technology block opened - the first phase of a £6.5 million revamp - it looks like a calming space - and has a biomass boiler running on woodchips.

Stroud Film Society - their 50th Season has started - some films listed here - most films shown on Thursdays at 8 pm - doors open 7.30 pm at the British School, Slad Road, Stroud. Contact: Mrs Beth Cheyne 01453 823 551 for info.

Gullies and footpaths in Randwick - the Parish asked whether the gullies could be cleaned more regularly especially down the Lane and at the bottom of Ash Lane. The footpaths have also been recently checked and various comments made like repairs needed to foot bridge over stream in fields leading from Morehall to the village.

Mayor's Pool - a while back now an unmanned car rolled down from the Vicarage over the wall and into the road destroying the wall around the Mayor's Pool. The car is beyond repair but insurance monies are being sought to repair the wall.

Free Ordnance Survey maps for 11 year olds - I saw a note in the paper re this (more here) - it quoted Vanessa Lawrence who I knew from my school days (see photo) - she is now Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey and I get the chance to meet up about once every 2 or 3 years - this reminded me we must be due a visit! She is quite an extraordinary woman with many tales to tell of various adventures and more.

Guide Hut - Randwick Parish are still trying to see the best way forward for this site that is currently being misused. Thoughts welcomed by them.

No water in some houses in Paganhill this morning - why?

SNJ look at 1915 wedding - Saw the SNJ report of these two pictured in the photo - employees of Lodgemore Mill near Stroud - Winifred Davis, a weaver who lived at Ruscombe and George Walter Cratchley, a loom tuner who lived in Randwick - George was in the Glos Regiment of the British Army - they married in Ruscombe Chapel in 1912 - this photo of them was used in the article to talk about our local history in weaving - like the billiard tables, Milliken tennis balls and the scarlet cloth used by the British Army for teh Regiment of the Guards.

Play re Rachel Carson - Saturday October 27th - 'Breaking the Silence' - a one woman play on the life of Rachel Carson at 7pm - a one hour piece - see www.rachelcarson.co.uk for show details. This year is the centenary of her birth and as the play advertising says: "it is time to listen as if for the first time to what she has to say." Rachel Carson wrote "Silent Spring" in 1962 overcoming the opposition of government, industry and her own failing personal health in order to alert the world to the careless use of chemicals in our environment. Advance ticket booking: £10 each from The Organic Farm Shop, Abbey Home Farm near Cirencester. Pay by phone with a credit card on 01285 640441. I've been trying to get local media to cover this - by all accounts it should be a good evening.