No 13 Dragonfly April 1981

Secretary's Report: Work at Shrivenham is now completed. The rubbish has now been cleared and the site left "to nature" until the time for restoration. Thanks are given to all the Councils etc involved for their support. Arrangements are forging ahead for restoration between Uffington and East Challow.

Calne Branch: Details are given of the work started at Chavey Well Bridge and the adjacent canal. Lessons are being learnt on negotiations with private landowners

Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council The work of this body and misgivings at its impending abolition are discussed in some detail.

Stop Press Insert "The Secretary of State has approved of the idea to develop Templar's Firs Wootton Bassett as an amenity area. More details in next Dragonfly issue "

No 14 Dragonfly Aug 1981

Wootton Bassett Report; The approval for the Templar's Firs project is given in detail. However, some pipes have appeared in the canal at the site and give cause for concern.

Calne Branch: A survey from the Wiltshire Trust for Nature Conservation has recommended no clearance work on the canal but this objection has been answered with reference to similar objection that the Conservation Trust made at Cromford. A leaflet supporting the W&B; work has been written by Richard Porter entitled on "How canal restoration can enhance wildlife interest"

Kingshill Project: New tools have been donated and mechanical help for the site is being arranged

Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council is not, after all, to be abolished !!

No 15 Dragonfly Nov 1981

Kingshill: A photo and short article about the clean-up here

Wootton Bassett: A summary of correspondance about the pipes laid in the canal, particularly concerning how the bed of the canal is defined.

Secretary's Report is largely concerned with the Uffington to Grove section and present and future negotiations for survey and work on the canal. It seems likely that a general clearance will take place in the coming months at West Challow. A call for more W&B; Group Council members and experts is made.

Southern Canals Association: A visit to the Wey and Arun Junction Canal is reported by Neil Rumbol

No 16 Dragonfly June 1982

Calne Branch reports on work at Chaveywell Bridge current and planned.

Dauntsey Site: Towpath clearance continues

Secretary's Report: The future of the Group depends on more active support forthcoming.

Southern Canals Association: Wilts & Berks hosted the gathering on Sunday 23rd May. Visits were made to various sites on the Wilts & Berks Canal.

No 17 Dragonfly Nov 1982

Editorial: Great concern is expressed over the gradual demolition of Chaveywell bridge, and various in-fillings, "making mockery of our first aim" (see also Calne Branch report)

Calne Branch report: It is hoped to eventually rebuild the drawbridge at Mosses' Mill

Secretary's Report: A Sales and Fund Raising Officer and Archivist have been appointed. The stretch of canal between Uffington Wharf and West Challow bridge has been surveyed and survey will be continued towards Grove and ultimately Abingdon. The final proposals will be discussed with various parties concerned. The North Wilts District Council has asked for and been sent a report on the section of the canal in their area. There is an urgent call for a brickwork restorer and also surveyors, designers and engineers. The continued intransigence of Wilts CC over Templar's Firs is noted.

No 18 Dragonfly Aug 1983

Secretary's Report: Experts are required to add technical details to canal reports

Moredon Junior School: It is hoped for a project on an old aqueduct over the River Ray near Swindon as part of studies on transport.

Industrial Archaeology: An article on work by the Group on the W&B; Canal

Book Review: Waterways Postcards 1900 - 1930 by Hugh McKnight

No 19 Dragonfly Nov 1983

Cover Picture: This drawbridge stood at the point where a public right-of-way now crosses the canal near the end of Castle Walk in Calne

Editorial: Looking to the future we need to do much more to emphasise that the various isolated bits of the canal are part of a long-distance waterway which is still substantially intact.

Secretary's Report: There is need for a publicity officer, a permanent editor and worksite organisers. Various major schemes are suggested for development but if we don't make REAL progress during the next 12 months we might as well give up !!

Calne Branch: Work has continued steadily on the Calne worksite. The site is about to double in size due to the purchase by the North Wilts DC of the eastern end of the branch.

Templar's Firs Project Wootton Bassett Council "trying for fairer terms for the lease and have laid claim to a small area of unknown ownership"

Southern Canals Association: October 23rd visit to view progress on the Basingstoke Canal

No 20 Dragonfly March 1984

The practical outcome of the Moredon School Canal Project is reported in the Wiltshire Star and further details are given in an article on Page 4

Editorial: The Moredon scheme is noted and also hopes to eventually link the K&A; Canal with the W&B; via the Avon.

Secretary's Report; Varies comings and goings on the Council are noted

Calne Branch; Repairs are going ahead at Chaveywell Bridge, and tree trimming on the Castle Park section.

Discussion Document; "Boats to Lacock and Beyond" The link from Semington onto W&B; is outlined in considerable detail (Pages 6 to 9)

No 21 Dragonfly July 1984

Secretary's Report: Proposals for the canal from the K&A; to Vastern Wharf have excited the interest of the Chairman of IWA who is to be taken on a fact-finding tour of the Western section of the Canal. We are also awaiting opportunity to survey and produce a similar plan for the Eastern Section ( Abingdon - Swindon).

K&A; Revisited: A report on the Courage - K&A; Walk July 1st and various works taking place on the K&A.;

Southern Canals Association 29th April: The visit was to the Stroudwater & Thames & Severn Canal Trust and a tour of various activities in this area.

The Politics of Restoration: A very interesting article on the history and politics of canal restoration from a time when "there had been a real prospect that the entire canal system outside the main river navigates would be closed for good" See also Dragonfly 22

No 22 Dragonfly Nov 1984

Editorial: Wiltshire CC's Landscape Local Plan now encouragingly adds in "opportunities for countryside recreational facilities" W&B; and North Wilts and other old canals" (previously only K&A; and disused railways featured at this point)

West-End Diary: An interesting diary of events related to the Great West-End Restoration (GWR).

Working Parties: Monthly parties are starting in January at Calne

Moredon Project: A Manpower Services Commission Scheme at Moredon has now begun - details are given.

Southern Canals Association: Gathering held at Newbury and visiting parts of the K&A.;

Politics of Canal Restoration: The second and final part (See Dragonfly No 21) of Michael Handford's article

No 23 Dragonfly March 1985

Secretary's Report: looks forward to examining a possible route for re-linking the canal to The Thames at Abingdon. Early thoughts on Charity status

Presidential Thoughts: Jack Dalby on pre-1971 exploration of the old W&B;

The future now seems safe: £2000 was needed to avoid infilling at the B4000 bridge at Shrivenham. Appeals donations brought some response, but thankfully these were not needed as the County Council decided to finance bridge repairs.

West-End Report: Philip Ogden Engineer to the K&A; Canal Trust has started investigating the feasibility and costs of the West-End restoration scheme .

Working Parties: Details are given of a number of working parties at Calne.

Moredon: A Garden for the Blind, the Canal Support Group, and a donation of £2000 are reported.

No 24 Dragonfly July 1985

Editorial: The help of outside groups with work parties is detailed.

Secretary's Report: The Regionalisation of the Group (West, Central & East) is noted. Shrivenham Bridge is now a listed structure. A new constitution is proposed prior to application for Charity Status Page 12 & 13.

West End (Melksham): Survey on the River Avon Links has continued and some rough costings have been produced.

Working Parties: Work has re-started at Dauntsey Lock. At Calne at excavator should be arriving on loan in September so dredging can begin.

Central News: Good progress is being made on various aspects of the work at Moredon.

East Enders: Problem sites at Abingdon, Grove & East Challow are discussed.

Southern Canals Association: Report of visit to Wey & Arun Canal

No 25 Dragonfly Nov 1985

Council Changes: Change of Archivist, and of catalogues onto computer.

Review of the Year: Many important activities, reported in earlier editions are reviewed.

West End Report: The possible route of the canal - Avon Link just north of Melksham and rough costings.

Dauntsey Lock: Buildings are being sold. It is hoped that these may be preserved.

Working Parties: The Eastern Parapet of Chaveywell Bridge is almost completed; the other parapet is postponed until Spring. The WRG Smalley excavator is unsuitable for dredging at Calne but will be used at Dauntsey.

Central News: Work on the Garden for the Blind at Moredon is described. A draft report "Navigation through Swindon" has been produced and submitted to Thamesdown BS.

EastEnders: Details are given of a report by Philip Ogden on 3 major problems of restoration at this end of the canal.

Higher Thames Trust has been formed with the objective of making it possible to use the existing right of navigation from Lechlade to Cricklade.

The Wessex Waterway Network: A meeting of various bodies and individuals is described (See Cover Map).

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