YOU DON'T SEE THIS VERY OFTEN!

We wanted to go out shopping this morning and decided that Aldi at Royal Wootton Bassett was the best supermarket to go to, so off we went, totally forgetting that at 8.45 on a weekday morning the traffic was pretty horrendous because many parents are doing the "school run".

Once we got away from the town, though, everything went smoothly and with hearts given out to the lovely young lady who served us and the lady behind in the queue chatting to us, everything was soon deposited in the car and we were on our way home.

However, I had seen some work going on at new extension of the Wilts and Berks Canal on our way over there, and asked Mr. HCB if he would kindly stop and let me take some photographs because a new canal being built isn’t seen very often these days.  Of course, anything going on in our town, and particularly anything to do with the canal is of interest to both of us, so he was happy to stop.  It’s not a particularly good day weather-wise, but we were there and it seemed a good idea to take the opportunity to get some shots.

One section of this canal was restored a few years ago by the Swindon Borough Council and people are now living in canalside homes and of course, there is also a large Waitrose supermarket, and that, apparently, always increases the value of homes built nearby.

The canal is very much a part of the centre of Wichelstowe and we have often walked along the towpath further up, but this is a new extension to connect an existing section of the Wilts and Berks Canal in the nearby District Centre with the waterway in East Wichel.  This is a further development by several builders, to include homes and schools and it will also include extensive open spaces, nature conservation areas, playing pitches and allotments - so lots of work will be done over the next 20 years.

It was great to stand and look at the work being done - and you can see how “claggy” the soil is, so after a lot of rain, it can’t be easy.  I wonder how many stop and look, as when Mr. HCB was standing looking over the bridge, several of the men waved to him.  Apparently, the towpath crossing near the new extension will be via a swing footbridge, so it will be interesting to see this part of the development and particularly when the canal boats go through, but that is something to look forward to in the future.

As we watched the men working, we wondered about the very large yellow pipes, and apparently, these are for drainage of rainwater from the residential areas nearby, which will flow through pipes and ditches into holding ponds before filling the canal.  

This is obviously a very expensive and long-term project, but we will certainly be going back to take photographs as the project proceeds.

All in all, a great morning, our fridge is full, I’ve done my Blip, I’m off to meet a friend for coffee this afternoon and then a Pastoral Care Team meeting tonight, so may not get around to commenting much.

Enjoy the rest of your day and I hope your weather is better than ours!  M xx