Re-furbishing the canal in Stroud

While I waited for new tyres to be fitted on the edge of town this afternoon, I wandered down to see the installation of the brand new wooden lock gates at Wallbridge. It is an important part of the three year project to re-open the first section of the Stroudwater Navigation and Thames & Severn Canal which has been closed since the 1930s.

When I arrived, I stood exactly where this man is marvelling at the impressive new and very high gates. When I was there several people all looked at the workmen doing the finishing tasks to make everything watertight and we all chatted away about the history and importance of what was going on. This older bridge is the site of the original canal crossing by the A46 road from Bath to the north. The town council is very involved in having q say in the future of this area of town, which is needless to say extremely complex. We are hoping to make it a virtually pedestrian and cycles only area leading into the town centre. I'm sure there will be opposition when the consultation starts in February.

I was going to show a carpenter planing a huge new section of wood to fit between the old brickwork, but preferred this image. The carpenter is working under the bridge, possibly twenty five feet down, with about ten other people all doing different tasks. The whole lock feature has been drained for about 100 yards to allow the various works. It has revealed an immaculate stone floor, below the the exit of the lock, designed so well to cope with the erosive forces from the outfall of water when the lock gate sluices are opened. Above the lock, the wider section of canal is being dredged so that the stonework and brickwork can be checked and repaired if necessary. Slowly the works are moving on further eastwards along the Golden Valley of the River Frome, towards Brimscombe Port about two miles away.

Everyone I spoke to was really pleased to see this transformation, hopefully understanding the potential for the Stroud and the valley from the canal coming back into use.