Little has changed since my November report about the Tamworth Road site. As predicted, most of our efforts have been focused on the work we are doing at the Darnford Moors length.
Our efforts down at the Moors site originally concentrated on an area just beyond the lift bridge. However, it soon became apparent that to fit in with the proposed time scale for receiving and storing some concrete culvert sections, we needed to refocus our work at the other end, by Darnford Lane. These concrete sections, each measuring 5 meters wide, 4.5 meters high and 1.5 meters in depth, require a sizable crane to lift them off a roadside lorry,and position them in the base of the canal. To facilitate this a substantial hard-standing area has had to be provided just off the Lane for the crane to operate from. And a large section of the canal bed had to be prepared to receive them. Eventually these concrete sections will be used when we provide for the canal to pass under Darnford Lane.
We had a very generous offer of the loan of a 13 Tonne excavator over the Christmas /New Year period from Chase Civil Engineering Ltd. We also had loan from Waker Neusen of a 'sheepsfoot' compactor roller. Our thanks to them both, without them we would be struggling to get the job done in time. To take advantage of these machines being available over Christmas / New Year period we needed skilled (ticketed) volunteers to work throughout this period. The response to our plea for help was fantastic. Particular thanks to Tony Gardner and Adrian Sturgess who, bar Christmas Day and New Years Day, volunteered to work throughout.
Come the end of December and there is still a lot of work to be done. Completing the hard-standing area and the canal bed workings is as good as 90% done. When finished, we will again return to the other side of the lift bridge and resume our work there. Thanks to Darnford Moors Golf Club for tolerating our 'close proximity' workings, and also for allowing us to clear the brook, which divides our properties,, of excess vegetation.
Finally, we have now resumed our normal working routine work schedule, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. after this festive break, and I look forward to seeing all you volunteers early in 2018. Once again thanks for all your efforts in 2017. It was a good year, a lot done, and still a lot more to do.
Hugh Millington
Photos: Christine Howles unless stated
