Pinch Point Progress

An exclusive look at the work being carried out in preparation for the Lichfield Canal by Persimmon and contractors Amey at the new St. John's Grange housing development. LHCRT's Peter Buck and Persimmon's Dan Hassall take us on a special tour of the site and explain 'The pinch point' at Lock 23.
This is the section of the canal from the London Road bridge by Gallows wharf up to the railway crossing.
4th November 2020.
The Lichfield Canal Trust acknowledges the collaborative working by Persimmon Homes, Staffs County Council, Amey Infrastructure and others on this challenging project, with the resulting good construction progress now being made by the contractors on this section of the bypass, which includes significant and key heritage elements of the Lichfield Canal. This is the culmination of many years of negotiations between all the parties involved.
Whilst we are pleased that the work has commenced and is progressing well, there
are many details still to work through with all parties over the coming weeks and the Trust look forward to project completion next year when more key sections of the Lichfield Canal will be restored and in place along the new Lichfield bypass
Lichfield Canal Trust
Engineering Director Peter Buck
Nov 2020

[@madhatter61]

Isn't it nice when people work with you instead of against you.

[@SJ8311]

Exemplary project management and Engineering, with a capital 'E'. Congratulations.

[@davidbagley1783]

Excellent..aloha from Hawaii

[@narrowboatlongpod4176]

A really good video. Keep up the good work.

[@brynvjones6679]

Exciting, or wot?

[@mickb6285]

Great to see some thought being given to the keeping industrial heritage instead of sweeping it aside as happens all too frequently with new developments. Credit to Persimmon and L&HCRT on this one.

[@Widestone001]

It'll be a few years until I can come over and get myself on the canals, but when I do I look forward to cruise this canal some day!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Fantastic result!

[@Minikisses20000]

This caught my eye and decided to watch. Just absolutely amazing to see how this is all done. I can't wait to see it completed. This really intrigued me. I live in Las Vegas, NV and never even knew a thing about Narrow boats or canals. I am addicted to watching vlogs. The ones that got me hooked were Foxes A float, Minimalist, Well Deck Diaries, Cruising the cut, Narrow boat experience and I could keep going. Glad to see how you all work together. As the saying goes, Team work makes the dream work. Great job. 💗💗💗

[@dennisporter753]

That's impressive! What dedication the crews working hard to get this pinch point finished is amazing really..Cheers..

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

Happy to see all.the progress. Prayers for your success.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Hi 👋🏻 I’m a railway enthusiast but also like other forms of transport 😀 So what your doing is absolutely fantastic putting a canal back into use 👍🏻 I’d be nice seeing callas brought back for commercial traffic like in Europe. I live in Manchester and think it’s so sad the the Manchester Ship Canal is hardly used now for shipping 😫 Keep the excellent work up guys your doing a fantastic job 🤩

[@choncord]

I think Peel Holdings is actually already using parts of the canals for freight transportation in order to remove lorries off roads.

[@ElementofKindness]

Absolutely amazing, the logistics and considerations that have to be surmounted in a project like this!

[@buffplums]

I wish they could get their fingers out on the Newport section of the old Norbury Jct to Shrewsbury canal

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

Nice to see the progress. I love watching how this project is moving forward. I really hope you finish within my lifetime, as I would relish traveling this canal.

[@beerenmusli8220]

Pinch point is no understatement, dang! Congratulations on the progress!

[@terryrigden4860]

Well done guys

[@craigdoig9486]

Great interesting content

[@davidallen2058]

Surprised given the value of this project that they couldn't buy the corner of the last house's backyard.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Impressive work! I think the developer missed an opportunity, surely building the houses so that their gardens were right on the future canal would increase the value of the properties?

[@LHCRT]

You'd think so, but perhaps they couldn't make the design work that way. Who knows?

[@paulvenn7598]

The is a circular lock on the canal du midi near Sete that lets a boat turn 90 degrees

[@TairnKA]

It's a shame no old/new renderings and overlays were created to clarify what's going where? I presumed the rebar structure was for a pored concrete wall on top of the slab (they walked on), then it sounded like the walls will be off the slab, then it sounded like the slab will become the wall and finally there were the preformed sections?

[@seanvgodfrey66]

Great to see progress a bit closer. Any plan for drone footage?

[@LHCRT]

It would be lovely but we'd need to get permission from the developers first and speak nicely to someone with a drone. 🤞

[@donaldlindgren6817]

It looks like there needs to be an update to the maps of the planned restoration on the website. With the housing development and bypass road.

[@LHCRT]

This is true. I have updated the simplified map but others are more difficult. It was news to me until last week! - webmaster

[@michaelhibbert4393]

Be interesting to see it now….what’s happened since this vlog

[@brianbob7514]

4:50 do vehicles go into the canal much?

[@LHCRT]

Hopefully not! The retaining wall will stop that!

[@anni50ful]

If only just seen this how wonderful,when will it be completed?

[@LHCRT]

Thank you! Do you mean St John's Grange or the canal as a whole? I think St John's Grange will be a couple of years. As to the whole canal - the answer is that if someone or some organisation gives us an estimated £40m it could be done in another five to ten years! But with limited ‘regular’ income, it’s impossible to answer. Have a read of the FAQs on our website for lots more info about this: www.lhcrt.org.uk/faq.html

[@anni50ful]

@@LHCRT, I meant as ha whole but very interesting anyway thank you

[@craigsheaf3721]

Great video, great work. I have a question though. I'm not an engineer, just an enthusiast, by using re-bar inside the reinforced concrete, are you not seriously shortening the life of build? It's my understand, likely to be wrong, that reinforced concrete only has a life span of 50-70years as the re-bar rusts and breaks the concrete open from the inside out. Love your videos, keep up the good work.

[@LHCRT]

I'm not an engineer either, but I can ask the team and see what they say.

[@davidjohnson9304]

but will it take wide beams or 10' boats?

[@LHCRT]

Hi David, the whole network round here will only take narrowboats. Even if we built it to a widebeam spec, the boats wouldn't be able to get to us through the narrow locks on the connecting canals.

[@lordbrennanofsealand5772]

Is the guy with the beard doing Bill Baileys dad? 😂

[@ussweeneyd]

What a wonderful thing to happen in a country I left 30 years ago when all things good were being destroyed. I now live in the good old USA where everything good is being destroyed.

[@scopex2749]

WHY have you been made to move the heritage canal? That has a historic 'right of way' and should take presidence over 'another awful road' surely? Cars are taking over everything :(( I know I would rather see narrowboats and grass instead of a road! Would be great if you could install some time lapse cameras to film your progress - SUPERB!

[@LHCRT]

Sadly, some of the route was built on before it was protected. The Hatherton is even worse, with more building. In this section it's the old houses which are on the route not these new ones.

[@johnrowland2867]

british working 8 years planning 1 day working anywhere 8 years job done