Wendover Arm Trust Working Party News – Issue 114, March-April 2016
Apology
I apologise for being very late with this issue but I caught the bug that seems to be circulating at present and was more or less out of action for nearly five weeks. In addition I had to finalise the restoration costs for the financial year ending 5th April 2016 for my six-monthly report.
Southern Canals Group Spring Conference
On Sunday 24th April WAT hosted this conference at the Café in the Park at Aston Clinton that was attended by around thirty visitors from Canal Trusts and Societies over the South of England, as well as Les Etheridge, the IWA National Chairman. I welcomed the visitors over coffee and biscuits and then the conference moved to Little Tring to view Phase I of our restoration. Ray Orth, assisted by Clive Johnson, then took the main party on a tour of Phase II including visiting Whitehouses and the completed re-watering up to Bridge 4A. One or two older visitors who preferred not to have a long walk were taken by car to Drayton Beauchamp Bridge where they were able to walk to the County Boundary and back and view the completed works. The party then returned to the Café for an excellent lunch when we were joined by Richard Parry, the CRT Chief Executive. After lunch Ray Orth gave a short presentation on the history of the Wendover arm and he and I then fielded questions. The conference then continued with further talks and discussions and tea and biscuits before departing.
March and April Working Parties
At the March working party the bench seat in memory of Stuart Bell was installed but the weather precluded any pipe capping so work concentrated on bulk excavation.
By the April working party the weather was looking up and we were able to complete the pipe capping up to about 8 metres from the Whitehouses manhole as well as continue with bulk excavation.
May and June Working Parties
Ray Orth is away for the May working party and Tony Bardwell will be in charge. Pipe capping and bulk excavation will now commence at the start of Stage 4 and continue towards Bridge 4 leaving a gap in front of the wharf wall at Whitehouses. Because of the shallow brickwork in front of the wharf wall, that is also the foundation under it, a special design for the lining will be needed at this site.
KESCRG will be on site Saturday and Sunday and carrying out more finishing work at Whitehouses including filling in with suitable material the underground structures recently found at the rear of the site.
In June pipe capping and bulk excavation will continue. We will also be taking delivery of our first load of Bentomat since 2008! This delivery will be the same as we already use but have a new type backing to give extra protection from chalky ground.
6-monthly progress report
I must draw attention to the fact that we are awaiting the result of the CRT/Trust’s application for a grant to finance the relining from Bridge 4 to the winding hole at Little Tring. If successful this will change the present estimates that are based on volunteer labour.
Open Day Sunday June 5th 2016
Margaret Leishman and her team of helpers are already organised to serve their usual drinks and cakes.
If there are any ardent cake makers among our readers they would be very grateful for any cake donations. Please ring Margaret on 01442 874536 and let her know in advance if you are able to ‘bake-a-cake’.
Phase II vegetation maintenance
I made an appeal for help with vegetation maintenance and so far have had only two firm volunteers and, hopefully another one.
We do not want to use our restoration volunteers on this work as it would impede progress; if anyone can help or knows someone who could help please let me know.
General Notes
We operate as a self-supervising group under CRT and all volunteers receive and sign for the Trust’s Restoration Handbook that includes full Health and Safety requirements for the restoration works.
The handbook is the property of the Trust; if you leave the working parties for any reason, please return your Handbook to either Ray Orth or myself.
Hard hats for use at all times and high visibility jackets to be worn on sites with mobile plant in use are kept in the store at Tringford and must be drawn/returned there.
One first aid kit is kept in the store and one in the Nissan Cabstar and each qualified first-aider will have their own kit with him/her when on site.
Also available in the store at Tringford are ear defenders and goggles that must be worn when using strimmers, angle grinders, concrete breakers and the like. CRT will supply hard hats, gloves and footwear with reinforced toecaps on request.
We normally work from 9am to 5pm (or dark if earlier!). There are breaks for morning tea/coffee, packed lunch and afternoon tea/coffee. We take our own food and drink.
WENDOVER ARM CANAL RESTORATION PHASE II
PROGRESS REPORT AS AT 5th APRIL 2016
CANAL LINING
Item | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Stage 6 | Stage 7 | Total |
Total length | 321m | 350m | 350m | 350m | 350m | 337m | – | |
Complete to date: | ||||||||
Bulk Excavation | 321m | 350m | 340m | ——— | ||||
Capping to pipe | 321m | 350m | 332m | ——— | ||||
Tipping to offside bank | 321m | 350m | 200m | ——— | ||||
Tipping to towpath bank | 321m | 350m | 200m | |||||
Profiling offside bank | 321m | 350m | 110m | ——— | ||||
Profiling towpath bank | 321m | 350m | 110m | ——— | ||||
Lining towpath bank | 321m | 350m | 100m | ——— | ||||
Lining offside bank | 321m | 350m | 100m | ——— | ||||
Level and line bed | 321m | 350m | 110m | ——— | ||||
Planting banks | 60m | ——– | ——– | ——— | ||||
Mooring wall length | 50m | 50m | ——– | 50m | ——— | ——– | 237m | |
Excavation | 50m | 50m | ——– | 50m | ——– | ——– | 10m | |
Blinding | 50m | 50m | ——– | 50m | ——– | ——– | ||
Wall base | 50m | 50m | ——– | 50m | ——– | ——– | ||
Wall upright | 50m | 50m | ——– | 50m | ——– | ——– | ||
Backfill | 50m | 50m | ——– | 50m | ——– | ——– | ||
Estimated Cost | £128,272 | £154,579 | £175,000 | £175,000 | £166,250 | £98,725 | £53,725 | £951,551 |
Cost to date/final | £128,272 | £154,579 | £109,616 | £13,093 | £1,042 | £304 | £633 | £407,539 |
FOOTBRIDGES & VARIOUS OTHER WORKS
Item | Stage 8 | Stage 9 | Stage 10 | Stage 11 | Stage 12 | Stage 13 | Stage 14 | Total |
Bridge 4 | Bridge 4A | Whitehouses | Cart track Narrows | Removal of bunds | Winding Hole nose | Nuttalls Bund | ||
Footbridge | 100% | 100% | —————- | ———– | ———- | ———– | ———- | |
Excavation | 100% | 100% | —————- | ———- | ———- | |||
Blinding | 100% | 100% | —————- | ———- | ———- | |||
Wall base | 100% | 100% | —————- | ———- | ———- | |||
Wall upright | 100% | 100% | —————- | ———- | ———- | |||
Backfill | 100% | 100% | —————- | ———- | ———- | |||
Heritage work | ——— | ——— | 90% | ———– | ———- | ———– | ———- | |
Other work | ——— | ——— | 100% | ———– | ———– | 100% | ||
Estimated cost | £20,122 | £20,031 | £20,000 | £20,000 | £20,000 | £10,000 | 3,501 | £113,654 |
Cost to date/final | £20,122 | £20,031 | £16,887 | 3,501 | £60,541 |
SUMMARY INCLUDING OVERHEAD COSTS
Lining | F/bridges & other works | Clear bed, & Temp’y Works | Environ’t Reports | Materials In stock | Admin | Tools & Equip’t | Vehicle | Unallocated contingency | TOTAL | |
Estimated cost | £951,551 | £113,654 | £22,000 | £3,245 | £0 | £35,000 | £10,000 | £20,000 | £45,000 | £1,200,450 |
Cost to date/final | £407,539 | £60,541 | £21,223 | £3,245 | £3,464 | £30,141 | £9,374 | £18,016 | £553,543 |
WORKING PARTIES
So you can plan your diary ahead, the following are the dates of future working parties in 2016. The work to be done is very much subject to the weather especially during the winter months.
DATE | WORKING AT | WORK TO BE DONE |
2016 | ||
Friday 6th May to Thursday 12th May KESCRG will be with us | Stages 3 & 4 Whitehouses | Stage 4 pipe capping and rough shaping both banks as pipe capping is completed.. Landscaping at Whitehouses |
Friday 3rd June to Thursday 9th June Open Day Sunday 5th June | Stages 3 & 4 | Stage 4 pipe capping and rough shaping both banks as pipe capping is completed.. |
Friday 1st July to Thursday 7th July | Stages 3 & 4 | Stage 3 profiling and lining. Stage 4 pipe capping and rough shaping both banks as pipe capping is completed.. |
Friday 5th August to Thursday 11th August | Stages 3 & 4 | Stage 3 profiling and lining. Stage 4 pipe capping and rough shaping both banks as pipe capping is completed.. |
Friday 2nd September to Thursday 8th September Open Day Sunday 4th Sept. | Stages 3 & 4 | Stage 3 profiling and lining. Stage 4 pipe capping and rough shaping both banks as pipe capping is completed.. |
Friday 30th September to Thursday 6th October | ||
Friday 4th November to Thursday 10th November | ||
Friday 2nd December to Thursday 8th December |
Please note the correction to the October working party dates.