Dredging!
On the Wyrley and Essington Canal
British Waterways has received many complaints over the years about the dire condition of the Wyrley, some lengths of which are rendered almost unnavigable. It is in danger of becoming another restoration project before links are made with the Lichfield and the Hatherton.
Resultant bad publicity from boaters who have had a 'poor run' has inevitably put others off using what is, for much of its length, an attractive rural canal.
However I am pleased to report that an improvement programme commenced in early February on the Ogley to Sneyd Junction section. Land and Water Services Limited is dredging bridge holes, weed beds and channel obstructions as well as cutting back off-side tree growth. Full, profile dredging is neither necessary nor affordable, but the work currently being carried out will enable a much easier passage along this half of the canal.
Land and Water's team, overseen by site agent (BCNS member) Andy Littler, consists of a motorized work boat carrying the tree cutting gang, two floating dredgers, two push-tugs and a flotilla of mud boats. At the time of writing (end of Feb) these have been working out of bases set at Ogley and Fishley where a long reach 360 degree tracked excavator at each site unloads for transport to a tip at Packington.
Thanks for this work are due to Tony Harvey and colleagues at Fazeley. It is understood that a bid has been placed for funding phase two - which includes the worst sections, Lane Head and Wednesfield particularly - through to Wolverhampton Commencing April 2009.
At Canal Transport Services we are obviously delighted to see this long-sought improvement underway and like residents of Brownhills and Pelsall, look forward to seeing many more visiting boats in the area.
From Our Northern Correspondent,
Dennis Cooper
