Annual Report 2007

Society Activities and Events
Section 2: Restoration Work
by Colin Greenall, Work Party Organiser

Because of other commitments our restoration volunteers only met up on two occasions during 2007, working towards the end of the year at Winwick Dry Dock.

Work Party No.1: Sunday 13th October 2007

Well, we finally made it back to the Work Parties after a break of 13 months. Our project for the day was to clear vegetation and litter from in and around Winwick Dry Dock.

Once on site things soon got going as volunteers arrived, the tools were sorted out and wheel across to the Dry Dock.

The first task was to remove a section of fencing to allow access to the dock then all the brambles and other types of vegetation were remove from around the top edge of the dock walls. Soon the top surrounding area was beginning to look good with the cut back vegetation hidden in the under growth which abounds thereabouts.

Photo: Colin Greenall

The interpretation board was given a good wash and the tree growth that was threatening to engulf it was cut back.

After the tea break work got going in the dock, under the footbridge was cleared, a litter pick took place and then the laborious task of scraping the grass and weeds from the walls began.

Then repairs the missing section of fence began, first digging out the old post from its concrete block finding a replacement in our wood pile and then refitting it in the original hole. Two of the fence rails were found in the vegetation nearby, for the top rail it was back to the wood store to find a length to fit.

After dinner work continued on the clearing of vegetation from the walls and on clearing the dock floor. The floor of the dock was every wet due to the drain being blocked, all attempts at trying to clear it failed, one of us even put on the waders and went in the ditch were the drain comes out but prodding it from this end made know difference, eventually we realised that the level of water in the ditch was the same as that in the dock.

By late afternoon we reluctantly decided to call it a day, the tools were gather together and the site checked to make sure every thing was in order then we replace the section of fence we had removed for access.

Then all the tools had been cleaned and put back in the shed or trailer.

Work Party No. 2: Sunday 4th November 2007

It's cold and foggy when I turn out to make my way to Winwick; on the way I pick up a couple of volunteers. When we arrive at Winwick another volunteer is already there waiting in his car.

In the yard the tool trailer is pulled away from the wall to allow us access to the rear doors, out come the wheelbarrows and they are filled up with various spades, forks, rakes, trowels and buckets. Then it's round to the shed for more bits such as gloves, hard hats etc.

On site the first job is to remove the section of fencing to allow us easy access, this done and we can start to clear the vegetation from the floor of the dock.

Photo: Colin Greenall

There is more water in the dock than there was on our last visit and this means that the weed growth cleared is heavy with water. So as it is cut it is raked into piles and left to drain before it is carried up the steps to the wheelbarrows from were it is removed to the tipping site. There is still plenty of weed growth on the south wall and this kept most of the volunteers busy all day.

The dock floor was cleared by mid afternoon and so it was a case of all hand to the wall to complete the job before knocking off time.

By 4-00pm all the weed had been remove from the walls and now it was time to replace the fence and tidy up the site and return all the tools to the shed and trailer.

Thanks to everyone who turned out for both of these work parties, it was good to get back into action once more.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

THANK YOU!

Other Restoration Matters: Colin Greenall, Work Party Organiser

New Bridge for Bewsey Lock

October 2007
Over the last few years the bridge that crosses over Bewsey Lock in Warrington, had deteriorated to the point were it had become unsafe. With the aid of a Landfill Tax grant from WREN Warrington BC have been able to replace it with a new one.

The old bridge was the last surviving example of a wooden swing bridge on the Sankey. Its turning mechanism was found to be in good working order and although not connected to the new bridge in any way has been left in situ underneath the platform. Other parts retained include the iron stress rods which have been refurbished and incorporated into the design of the new bridge.

SCARS has worked with Warrington BC on the design of an interpretation board for the lock area and this will be erected by the lock some time in 2008

Warrington Fencing

We have worked with Dallam Anglers to address the issue of the fencing which Warrington BC has erected along substantial lengths of the canal. We are concerned at the visual impact of the fencing, and also the limited access to the waterside now available. A number of meetings took place with officers of the Council during the year, but the issue remains unresolved.

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