The Missing Mile Important Update!

Cotswold canals - The missing mile.
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What's happening on the missing mile? The amazing news from the planning offices that have authorised this amazing project. Join us as we go from The new construction of the A38 roundabout and the canal beneath it. Including a bit on the line from Occupation bridge and the new run under the M5. Then follow us as we explore all the way to the New Westfield Lock, past the football pitches, training ground and football stadium building site for Forest Green Rovers and onto John Robinson Lock,. We then explore the spill weir, Eastington Church, the Vole traps and Dock and pike Lock finishing the video near to Blunder Lock and the Mud boat sat by the slipway. The canal is traditionally known as the Stroudwater navigation which ran from Saul junction to just beyond Stroud before joining the Thames and Severn to the Thames at Inglesham.
All drone footage shot with a DJI mini 3 Pro, all camera footage shot with an Insta360 RS with rode go mic and lavalier.
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[@SLOWLYdoesit1]

Really nicely put together! Very interesting- thanks!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you :) thanks for watching!

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Very interesting and informative update on this challenging phase. Restoring the link with Saul Junction will give added impetus to restoring the remainder of this wonderful waterway. A long way to go, but what's been done before in the 18/19C, can surely be done again..

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Providing they get the funding for the other bits, which they will, this is going to open up 9 miles of canal with another half a mile proposed on this end. The plan is to then start on the eastern end to link the Thames to the Cotswold gateway centre in the lakes. The third phase will join the middle up including Sapperton tunnel.

[@kayjayhindes-hardy9339]

one of the best vids i have seen thank you and well done i do not miss many

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

That’s very kind, thank you :)

[@AbandonedCityCamoCrewExplorers]

I so do that when passing places and go i built that house i layed that path i built that motorway so on on hahaha

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I think the wife gets annoyed 😂😂 it’s part of marrying a tradesman 😂

[@JustinGeorge-x9q]

Could the river not be dredged under the road bridge and then lower the river so boats could then pass underneath ?

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

That would require weirs being replaced, habitats destroyed and millions spent. A separate canal channel is by far the cheapest and less damaging option. A river is also far harder to control the height of, the river would be unusable for large chunks of the year

[@maggiesadler1489]

Many Thanks for such a good update Can you tell us anything about the plans for Walk Bridge

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

That’s a good question, the short answer is no. The longer one is I haven’t seen any plans at all, the rumours are that it’s going to be a swing bridge, it was originally. A source who’s usually pretty accurate said swing to me but they weren’t sure as the road is used quite a bit, there are 3-4 swing bridges fairly close though on the G&S so I can’t really see it being a massive issue, the road isn’t the only one out of Frampton

[@maggiesadler1489]

@@CourtAboveTheCut Thanks very much - and please keep up the good work

[@tomcarr1358]

Any chance of a grid ref. for the approx. mid point of the sites that you visit?

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

This is the start Dropped pin maps.app.goo.gl/EpXJoBzNk44ZQtpLA?g_st=ic

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

This is the finish maps.app.goo.gl/3JN8VTgUDZ86spGz5?g_st=ic

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

This is Westfield lock (now John Robinson) Westfield Bridge and Lock maps.app.goo.gl/HZdpSZneLQizghUCA?g_st=ic

[@tomcarr1358]

Very many thanks.@@CourtAboveTheCut

[@JamesGadbury]

I was a volunteer on this project a few years ago. The volunteers are skilled, kind and just brilliant. Sadly, the requirement to earn a living has taken priority but my point is... if you can volunteer, I would highly recommend it! It's such a positive project and offers a lot if you wish to learn new skills. So much going on! x Thank you for the update video. It's great to see how this has and is progressing 👍

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I’ve worked on the lock a few times with the WRG groups and I volunteer (not enough) on the Wilts and Berks at Pewsham. It is a very rewarding experience and like you I wish I could do it more No problem, I’ll keep them coming!

[@tomcarr1358]

Superb orientation and plan work especially using the first edition of the 25" to the mile.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you, it took me a while to line up 😂

[@tomcarr1358]

The side visit to the church was an extra dimension much appreciated and a bonus which would enhance any postings by others on Victorian/ Georgian industry archeology. Ditto for the railway history recorders. . @@CourtAboveTheCut

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

Amazing informative video. So glad I watched it. Looking forward to more updates.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you :) there should be plenty!

[@simonpaine2347]

Thank you so much for posting this. I love the fact that you are so passionate about this issue. Also I think that your presentation, knowledge and the great drone work are really good, however, to be honest I found it quite difficult to follow along with the seemingly constant changes in directions and locations. (I'm sure that anyone who knows the area will be able to work it out) Perhaps a fly over of a stretch first then a walk of the same stretch pointing out the various points of interest, or vice versa. Then a look at the map with everything heading in the same directions. Finishing with a fly over of the whole stretch. Excellent work and I'm sure your enthusiasm will result in donations and volunteers. Thanks again.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I used to do that, the drone stuff alone lost loads of viewers. The past couple of videos I’ve done I’ve been experimenting with using google earth to zoom in on places and jump from spot to spot just to try and get some perspective of the route

[@simonpaine2347]

@@CourtAboveTheCut Thanks for taking the time to reply to mine and all the comments. It's appreciated.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@simonpaine2347 no problem, thanks for watching and the suggestions. My videos need input from you lot watching them to improve

[@hvee4]

Hugely excited that this is happening on my doorstep, the next 5 years are going to be amazing and I can’t wait to see it take shape. Thanks for the video 👍🏻

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

No worries, I’m looking forward to your videos on it, I watch your stuff 🤜🏼 thanks for your content

[@hvee4]

@@CourtAboveTheCut ah thanks… I love the canal and enjoy walking along it, wish I was as comfortable as you and a few others in front of the camera though.. 👍🏻

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@hvee4 don’t watch my earlier stuff 😂😂 I’ve never been comfortable but I’m finding it easier these days

[@hvee4]

@@CourtAboveTheCut brilliant, you do a fantastic job raising awareness of Stroudwater and canals In general, keep going 👍🏻

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@hvee4 thank you :) they deserve the recognition, the volunteers work hard to provide me content!

[@ianmangham4570]

We need alot more than a mile here in Chesterfield Derbyshire, from Staveley on down to Kiveton Park

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I’m visiting in a few weeks!

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the usual walking trek this day. Always through in explaining and diagnosed. Enjoy the weekend and your week ahead. Cheers Steve! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

As always thanks for watching!

[@redhmanchesteruk.]

Don't blame COVID. Blame the lettuce Liz Truss.🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I’m not sure who was worse, her or her replacement, I guess he was dignified in defeat

[@petitebiogeek]

Very cool - as an animal, science, ecosystem, and history nerd, I am so glad I just clicked through the suggestion algorithm and found your channel!!!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Great stuff! I’m planning a couple of really ecosystem related videos, there’s so much of it on the network!

[@gedrooney9305]

Wonderful! I’m a landscaper and wetlands make me smile. Subbed 👍

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you, I’ll be covering the these more as part of this restoration

[@geoffmorgan8476]

Another great video, i didn't know that the cattle tunnel was one of the main obstacles re towpath. Lets hope its all systems are go now. Please keep the videos coming on the cotswold canals. Cheers Geoff.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Hopefully this is the start of loads on its progress! I believe they plan to start digging late summer

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

For those asking this is the beginning of the video Dropped pin maps.app.goo.gl/DYLy2uUfPJ9u6MXq5?g_st=ic

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

For those asking, this is the end of the video Dropped pin maps.app.goo.gl/E4MDM2wgneVs4waw6?g_st=ic

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

If anyone is interested this is the location of the scrapes Dropped pin maps.app.goo.gl/DFSJgUUJQvDUTgCS8?g_st=ic

[@timnoakes8932]

Hi! A couple of thoughts. The location of the dock is above Dock Lock, as you suspect, by the look of the 1920-21 6” map on the NLS website. It looks as if it was just above the lock on the offside, and was a covered structure (around 1/2 the docks were covered, elsewhere boatbuilders just got wet!). You can see the widening of the canal just beyond the building, which will be the dock’s entrance. The dock will have drained past the lock, probably re-entering the canal just below the lock. Now on to that fascinating 3 level spillway. You can see it on the 6” map as well. Here’s a guess, I suspect it is associated with Meadow Mill on the Frome (just opposite this location) whose site is now occupied by Vulcan Engineering. That setup looks as though it is intended to catch floating debris, maybe silt etc, before passing the water on to the mill. How about this for an idea: The millers generally got very hot under the collar when a canal turned up and in any way threatened their water supply. The owner of that mill may have had enough clout to say something like.. “ You lot are taking water for the canal upstream of me. In dry weather that may take so much water I wont be able to run. If you want me to not object to your parliamentary bill, I require provision for you to give me some of that water back in dry times..” Well, its a theory 😉 Cheers. Tim

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

The Cromford were only allowed to take water from the river on Sundays, they built a reservoir which they used to fill every Sunday so they could then release it back down through the week. As you say the mill owners said no so they had to find a way around it! The widening you mention could have also been for the ice boat which was based there, I’m 99.9% you are correct though, the only way I can see it working having it below the lock would be to drain down to that spillweir but it doesn’t make sense at all to do that

[@timnoakes8932]

It’s very common to have other functions at these docks. The boat was probably tied up there and moved to get craft on and off - the same thing is done today. Maybe the dock staff also had to turn out and man the boat when icebreaking was required, it would be bloody hard to work on a boat in those conditions! I’ve tried…@@CourtAboveTheCut

[@timnoakes8932]

@@CourtAboveTheCut It’s quite common for these docks to have several irons in the fire, both then and nowadays. Craft are frequently tied up above the dock, it only takes a few minutes to move them if a boat is going onto the dock. It can even be a minor but useful bit of income. In this case the icebreaker was probably ‘kept as eye on’ by the dock staff, who may even had the dubious pleasure of crewing it where the canal froze up. Warmer than trying to caulk up a boat with freezing fingers, anyway. Been there, done that…

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@timnoakes8932 it was the canal headquarters there so they would have had the staff to do so whenever needed which was arguably more common back then than it would be now. Keep those bits moving and the money coming in

[@timnoakes8932]

@@CourtAboveTheCut Perhaps a 2 story building? Downstairs a dock and maybe associated workshops, upstairs offices etc? The tapering shape on the map is what makes me suspect it’s a dock entrance, that’s very typical. Of course, if it was a covered arm, in which boats could go in, it would look similar.

[@Chucktender69]

Thank you and just want to say how happy I am that the algorithm put this up for me. I feel like this has asserted a hundred questions I didn’t know I needed answering. Respect

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Brilliant :) I will be covering this route more as it happens, there’s work parties planned on the lock throughout the summer then hopefully work will start on the rest later in the year,

[@paulturner7837]

Exciting times ahead, thanks for the update 👍

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Sure is! This should give a good 5 years of updates win this project which I can't wait to cover!

[@bethcourt]

Amazing progress

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thanks for watching

[@michaelmiller641]

Great video

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you

[@gdvdigital6534]

Love your content! And very well done too😅 From Sydney Australia

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Thank you, I love Sydney! I’ll be coming back as soon as I can.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

For those asking this is the location of Westfield lock Westfield Bridge and Lock maps.app.goo.gl/HZdpSZneLQizghUCA?g_st=ic

[@stephensaines7100]

Thanks for the link, this is absolutely intriguing.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@stephensaines7100 a mammoth project for a canal restoration

[@stevehill4615]

Having watched west country wanderings channel about this section of the canal i'm puzzled as to why the cattle creep under the M5 couldn't be modified and repurposed for the canal and with regard to the towpath why alongside the cattle creep a towpath tunnel can't be created using the "push through" tunneling method (basicallypushing a pre formed tunnel through using hydraulic rams) as used at the werrington undercut on th LNER railway whilst the railway was still in use so there is prcedent for this method, adjacent to the creep tunnel then opening up the abutted walls of the tunnels to create the canal and towpath.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Cost, height, length and more importantly there is a big difference in several trains an hour at a reduced speed to hundreds of vehicles a minute using the surface above

[@misterflibble9799]

Also, at the point where the M5 crosses the existing canal line, it's not just the motorway, it's the slip roads too. There's a big difference between tunnelling under two railway lines vs 14 road lanes (3 main carriageway lanes, 2 slip road lanes, and a hard shoulder on each, in each direction). The cattle creep is either too narrow or too low (or possibly both) to be repurposed as-is. It might be possible to tunnel underneath, but prohibitively expensive.

[@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882]

Wanted to get it live… but wow…

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

The announcement? Or the video? I do live videos monthly to try and give out some free memberships

[@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882]

@@CourtAboveTheCut ‘the missing mile important updates

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882 maybe I should have done it, loads of questions couldn’t have been asked!

[@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882]

@@CourtAboveTheCut well, I liked it and your passion for it… so many boring boating channels, look forward to more

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@thoughtsonnarrowboatingwit3882 thank you :) sounds silly but canals played a part in saving my life, it’s only fair I spread the love and show people what they have to offer.

[@gileskev]

Met you on your journey filming this video while walking the dogs. Excellent, presentation on how things are developing.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Hello, nice to speak again. I was talking about you to a friend the other day who lives in frampton, I remember you saying you’d seen salmon (I think! It may have been trout) in the Frome

[@inorganicchemistry7609]

Thank you so much for the update, I slightly remember a previous video on the roundabout project. One small suggestion, is there anyway to get GPS coordinates or a link to map (e.g. google maps)? Not being from the UK, I struggle to get situated as to where the specific project you are describing is located. Also the CRT link appears to be broken at the present time. Thank you again for your work on this!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I’ve been struggling with a good way to do it on videos, I’ve tried a few things but nothing I’ve liked! I’m using some maps now from waterwayroutes.Co.uk which I like as you can show maps, the issue is my phone case is well worn from being a tradesman, I think it’ll work better when people can see my phone as I keep cutting it when I get to the edit

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

This is where the video starts though Whitminster's A38 Canal Roundabout maps.app.goo.gl/d2qRjfTy9cuFvByP9?g_st=ic

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

And the video ends here Dropped pin maps.app.goo.gl/jxrhauoWY9vXoChm9?g_st=ic

[@timnoakes8932]

///What Three Words?? That will enable you to pinpoint everything. For example, if I’ve peered at it right, that 3 level spillway is at ///daydream.pity.supporter. 🙂 @@CourtAboveTheCut

[@timnoakes8932]

@@CourtAboveTheCut Hi again :-). Have you considered ///What three Words? It is very accurate and you can really pinpoint stuff, providing you can see it on their aerial view. For example, that lovely three level spillway can be found at ///haggis.petition.lilac. I thought it was a bit weird at first, but now I’m a believer. Cheers. Tim

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Might have been quicker and cheaper with less interference to river flow etc to just build a caisson boat lift straight over the motorway. You could have then monetised it as an information board for the exit lanes/clearance heights etc ahead as well. No futzing about with x amount of cash-wasting agencies too. Of course there would have still been the cost of adding lifts and toilet facilities for his/her/its disabled personnel (and their 3-legged pets plus gaining accreditation from the local lesbian support group for the endangered 3-striped unemployed gay goannas) but surely, with the amount of cash on tap, there should have been enough available to grease all the right palms? Where's that old sense of Victorian enterprise gone! 😜😊

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Lol, they could have also put a landing strip on the top, kept all the transport on one structure.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@CourtAboveTheCut There!That's the ticket! Who says British ingenuity is dead! 😈😵‍💫😂

[@dennyporter2447]

What a fantastic video today! Very informative for people who live in the USA who are watching this progress.. Thanks for sharing!

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@davidelliott5843]

The old Derby Canal from Swarkestone to Erewash would be a great future subject. Sadly, it will never be reopened. A mile or more has a sewer drain along the canal bed complete with manholes. The A50 bridge is much too low. Chunks have been built over and the Derwent river crossing used a weir to match water levels. The EA would have a fit.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

Isn’t that in restoration? Derby and Sandiacre. There’s a large diversion but most of the line is planned to be restored. I don’t know the progress but they are definitely very active

[@steveKing-ek5ot]

A complete environmental disaster. The existing canal is a wildlife sanctuary and should be left alone. This area is perfect as it is and as a local living in Saul we just don't want it. A complete waste of money. Leave the land and the wildlife as it is.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

I think you are in the minority, I talk to a lot of people in the area from frampton all the way up the canal and I’ve met maybe a handful of people who are against it. I also know several people who live in Saul as well as frampton and upper framilode who all want it. On the environment it will create miles of extra habitat, not to mention all the wetlands being built, it’s well proven that restoration increases biodiversity and creates corridors for nature to love along to allow spread of species and more importantly genetic diversity. Islands of nature like there are now are bad long term for the health of the species living in them. Canals are a perfect way to mitigate this. There’s plenty of reading available online if you’d like to learn more about it.

[@superblackbirdrider]

NIMBY

[@steveKing-ek5ot]

Uneducated response I'm afraid. The canal is a perfect environment for wildlife right now. Political nonesense to say restoration(desecration). Selfish ego by few to destroy another beautiful part of our countyside. Another example of the minority getting their way. A complete and utter waste of money. Spend it on resoring the existing working canals.

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

@@steveKing-ek5ot uneducated? You clearly have no clue. Go online and look up the topics I’ve added, it’s well known that having isolated pockets of nature is terrible, a connected linear park which a canal allows species to migrate, breed and improve the genetics. It’s basic environmental policy. Reeded up, overgrown abandoned canal does very little for animals that live near it. This is all readily available online but you keep your views to suit your NIMBY ideas, stick to your minority and keep telling yourself you are right until you believe it, oh wait it looks like you already have.

[@superblackbirdrider]

@steveKing-ek5ot you are definitely in the minority. You just don't want the canal opened up to the tourist trade as that will impact you. You have no interest in how opening the canal will improve the lives of so many other people, hence the NIMBY comment. As for it damaging the local wildlife, they are already adding in additional wetlands. Around Ebley where it has been opened up there is now more wildlife than when it was a dried out tip .

[@lordstiffupperlip3095]

This canal belongs in the the past , the money being spent should be spent on existing canals and not to mention the damage to the environment and ecosystem, having to move voles from their natural home is wrong .

[@CourtAboveTheCut]

The money being spent is risen privately and has nothing to do with other canals, the money wouldn’t be made available for canals as it’s not for that purpose, it’s not from the government and raised by a volunteer team who are only there for the canal. The canal creates and has created far more habitat than it’s destroyed. The only reason the voles are there is because of the canal, an unnatural habitat dug 250 years ago, a completely unnatural habitat. Also they weren’t in the abandoned canal, they have returned to the sections restored and have worked there way down. I love how you say natural habitat when they are in a canal, surely that’s your first clue

[@brianking8642]

I recntly spoke to the voles and they said they were very happy to be relocated

[@TomTomicMic]

The canal is in the past for transporting most goods, but is booming for leisure and a sizeable community of people's permanent floating homes, it maybe that canals return back to transporting some more goods in the future as with rechargeable batteries and solar they are more environmentally friendly, also as other people have posted wetland areas support more wild life than farmed fields and people using the canal as a majority respect that. It's motorways that are a menace to wildlife, but unfortunately necessary for humans!?!

[@TomTomicMic]

​@@brianking8642 The voles mugged the Trust for fresh nuts though as compensation!?!

[@jellslixcy6168]

It’s not private money!! Under their Environmental Designated Fund, Highways England have made available to Cotswold Canals Trust a grant of £4milion towards restoring the 'missing mile'. This is taxpayer money. Imagine what else you could spend £4m on that would radically alter people’s lives across the District. How can this be a funding priority for any arm of government? Don’t tell me, it will generate lots of gross value added from all the tourists?