Extreme Canal Dredging | Royal Wootton Bassett

[@martinmarsola6477]

Another instructive video this day. You do a great job explaining these issues to the people watching. I look forward to them when they come out. See you on the next, Steve!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you :) I try my best!

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

What a difference machinery can make to clearing a canal and reopening a decent length for boat trips. Thanks for the update!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

No problem, thanks for watching

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Yep. That's the real problem with today's attitudes. Expensive machinery is indispensable. You just can't get good peasants to do the spade work for peanuts like you could in the good old days! 😉😊

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@theoztreecrasher2647 to be fair on this they couldn’t get a boat down and it’s full of water. I know what you are saying, I’ve struggled to find any lads that want to do proper work for my business and I’ve always paid well and treat staff very well.

[@tomcarr1358]

Fine machine. Suggest that the Trustees ask the local authority to reserve the land required for any deviation. Redundant local authority depot may be classified as brown land which makes it eligable for residential development in preference to 'green' land.. Hence the need to guard the best route. Drone surveys are a valuable addition to the conservation and project resource. Great briefing and very helpful orientation maps..

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

The entire route is protected and I believe the very top of the site will be earmarked for the canal with any development. The issue is the land will probably go to housing when it’s the perfect location in my opinion to build something bigger and better for the trust. There’s so much housing being built in the RWB and swindon areas right now that they really could afford to give something back rather than more concrete jungle

[@tomcarr1358]

Much appreciated. To make housing affordable we need to increase supply whatever nimbyisms we prefer. Govt. grants and 'cheap' money fuels the inflationary pressure on prices.Affordable housing will reduce the impact of social issues. Aggregate and fines wash out into the canal may be a trespass and the owner of the carrier into the canal should be confronted and remediation required required at their expense. All in hand by the Trustees , I'm sure.@@CourtAboveTheCut

[@kspann6583]

Really enjoy your videos., please keep up the good work 👍

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you, I’ll try my best!

[@StroudwaterNavigator]

14:23 "Humpback bridges are hated now by councils" why is that @courtabovethecut? How about something in the style of Weymoor Bridge on the T&S at Latton: "This is a new conventional looking red brick hump-back bridge, but with less of a 'hump' as far as traffic is concerned."

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Because Weymoor is access to one building. This is a lane with farm access, humpback bridges limit what can go over them, flat bridges allow anything (within weight) to cross

[@samk4128]

Humpback bridges are also a safety issue as visibility is so poor and there is a high risk of even some medium sized vehicles getting stuck. Weymoor Bridge is a specific solution for that specific location.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@samk4128 yep, on the Lichfield the Cricket lane bridge was removed and levelled because it was a jump into a junction, they are having to move the location of a lock to keep lower and have a flat road bridge

[@lordstiffupperlip3095]

I don't think these abandoned canals should be re-opened as lot's of opened canals are in such a poor state now and efforts and money should be spent on them instead. CRT have said with funding cuts some canals may have to close .

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

They aren’t funded by CRT in any way, the restorations are all charities/trusts

[@samk4128]

One of CRT's objectives was supposed to be restoring abandoned canals. However, I don't believe they have ever managed to raise the money to do that themselves. Considering their benefits to the economy such as the savings to the health services etc. then I think there is a strong argument to increase the funding for waterways.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@samk4128 I know they are often consulted, i believe they are involved in the Monty though