Phase 1A developments
by: Peter A.
There may be epic levels of activity on Phase 1B, but here’s a few volunteer projects worthy of a mention on 1A.
At Bowbridge Lock there has always been an issue operating the offside bottom gate due to a sawn off balance beam. In reality, a single person would have had serious problems getting the gate open.
A chain driven, hand cranked (using a windlass) drive has been installed, together with additional weights to compensate for the missing bit of the balance beam.
Similar systems exist on the national network, for example, the bottom lock of the Rochdale flight in Manchester.
Gough’s Orchard pound has been transformed from a wilderness of Himalayan Balsam with overgrown channels for the water to flow into a levelled area with clear, wide trenches for the syphon water and the adjoining brook to flow. Paul T. and his team have made a serious impact to this area.
Given the volume of rain of late, the pound has almost filled into a large vista of water. With what appears to be the contribution of a partly blocked culvert under the Iron Works site, the level is over topping the inlet pipe. You can just make out the top of the level marker.
As the level in this pound rises, it reduces the water contribution from the syphon as the differential height to the mill pond lessens. This is confirmed by the logged flow data from the syphon water meter.
Finally, Paul and his team are preparing to undertake the construction of the winding hole outside rhe brewery. A delivery of piling has now been moved across the canal to the offside and the rough line of the area to be dredged out is marked by the armco barrier components. Dudley has moved on site and will conduct the dredging and piling operation in due course.
