A generous grant is enabling volunteers to make faster progress on the restoration of a former waterway on the edge of Chippenham.
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust received £10,000 from a family foundation to support the purchase of an additional mini dumper truck.
The vehicle is being used at Pewsham Locks and is already having a positive impact.
Nick Baker is a volunteer with the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the canal charity, and leads the training on the dumpers.
He said: “The foundation wants to remain anonymous but we’re hugely grateful for its generous grant, and delighted by the difference it’s making to our local restoration campaign.
“The mini dumper truck has four-wheel-drive and is narrower than our other vehicles which means it’s easier to take along the towpath, and has a swivel skip which is great in tight spaces.
“We’ve been using it to carry bricks, concrete blocks and bags of cement for the construction of the dry dock and the new bridge across the top lock, and for taking tools and equipment for repairs to Double Bridge at the other end of the restored canal.
“It’s comfortable, reliable and very manoeuvrable and is now the ‘go to’ dumper for all the volunteers!”
Pewsham Locks is a former flight of three locks which once lifted narrowboats almost 30 feet.
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has already restored more than a mile of waterway towards Lacock and often runs tripboats from March to October.
The charity’s longer-term ambition is to continue south where the historic line would connect with the proposed ‘Melksham Link’ to create a new connection with the Kennet & Avon Canal near Semington.
The ultimate aim is to restore the entire waterway to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon.
New members and volunteers are always welcome.
Visit www.wbct.org.uk
Photo: Volunteer Nick Baker alongside Pewsham Locks with the mini dumper truck funded by the family foundation. Photo by Justin Guy
