There’s a lot to report on since our last update, which included photos of the concrete footings and the gabion wall. Over 16m of canal bed has been concreted, and our stalwart brickies have built the south-side canal wall to various heights, backfilling it with more concrete.
A huge amount of sand and soil has been dug out, exposing the big pipe, and generating a large temporary pile of soil, that we like to call Mount Olympus.
Fortunately, our friends at Chasetown Civil Engineering (CCE) loaned us a 13-tonne excavator and four lorries (supplied by RJK Logistics) to remove the pile to one of their sites, for use as a sub base layer for a new road.
Within weeks, thanks to our hardworking volunteer team, the soil mound had returned to its former level and once again CCE helped us move it elsewhere. Huge thanks to them for their continuing support. A total of 49 lorry loads removed over 884 tonnes of soil, during the two operations, taking 24 machine operating hours.
The operators of the 13-tonne excavator benefitted from its heating, aircon and radio. However, the banksmen (pictured left), who are responsible for ensuring lorries safely enter and exit the site, got drenched by the persistent rain on some very cold days. Many thanks to the whole team for their hard work in difficult conditions.
Looking ahead, we have a lot more soil to dig out and then dispose of, and a lot of concrete beds to pour.
We also need to remove part of the big pipe. Once that’s gone, water will run along the canal bed until it joins the cutting in old lock 24, and we will work round it.
We have a great crew of volunteers who come along each week, without complaint, to restore and rebuild the Lichfield Canal. New volunteers are always welcome, so if getting cold, damp and muddy sounds like your idea of fun, please get in touch! (Visit our volunteering page.)
Seriously though, we’d love you to join our friendly team – so do come and join us as we create this wonderful legacy for the community and ultimately reconnect the Lichfield Canal to the national network.
Brian Williams
Volunteer Liaison Officer
January 2025
This blog first appeared in Cut Both Ways, our members’ magazine.
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