The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.
Branch Focus:
A YEAR IN THE
WEST COUNTRY It’s been a busy year for IWA’s West Country Branch. We take a look at their campaigning and other activities in 2019
C
overing the South West, IWA West Country Branch’s waterways encompass a huge area spanning Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Cornwall. Totalling just 29½ miles, the branch’s off-network Grand Western, Exeter Ship and Bridgwater & Taunton canals, River Parrett and River Tone Navigation offer plenty of volunteering potential, and two long-term campaigns keep members busy: the regeneration of Bridgwater Docks and the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier Scheme. In addition, West Country Branch has helped secure funding for infrastructure improvements on the non-tidal River Parrett in Somerset, is campaigning for the replacement of bridges over the Exeter Ship Canal and keeps up a year-round schedule of work parties, towpath clean-ups, walks and events. All in all, it’s one of our most active branches. Let’s look back at the year so far.
NEW YEAR'S DAY WALK Kicking off 2019 was the New Year’s Day walk, which took place for the second year running along the Grand Western Canal. Twentynine IWA members, volunteers and Friends of Grand Western Canal assembled at the Globe Inn at Sampford Peverell and headed north-east along the towpath through the Devon countryside towards Burlescombe, a small village adjacent to the canal on its way to its current terminus at Lowdwells. The winter walk was led by Robert Hodgson, chairman of Friends of the Grand Western Canal, who talked about their vision to restore just over 2 miles of the Somerset section of the canal, with ambitious plans to include a replica James Green lift and a Park ’n Glide facility to take visitors into the centre of Taunton.
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GRANT FOR RIVER PARRETT IMPROVEMENTS The Branch received some good news in February when a £179,000 grant was awarded to Langport Town Council by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Defra. This represented the culmination of four years’ hard work by local councils, IWA and many others. The funding went a significant way towards the £220,000 required for installing infrastructure along the River Parrett to improve the visitor experience and enhance the use of the waterway. Commenting on the success, Ray Alexander, chairman of West Country Branch, said: “Our congratulations go out to everyone involved in this multifaceted project. It has taken a lot of hard work and determination to get to this point, but once the improvements are made they will open up 7½ miles of navigable river and bring an increase in leisure, recreation and tourism attractions to the town.”
A new pontoon on the River Parrett.
Winter 2019 23/10/2019 14:54
