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The Whitchurch Waterway Trust has decided to continue seeking comments on the proposed canal basin design and not to make the Planning application until after the AGM on March 21st.
Heritage Centre Exhibuition
This exhibition, of drawings and 3D views, at the Heritage centre, was installed on Saturday March 3rd. It will remain until a little after the Waterway Trust AGM on March 21st.
Any new information or amended drawings will be added when available.
More Information
Below is a full set of current information and extract from the design and access statement, which gives an overview of the project.
Click "Read More" to view.
The current drawings and previous reports can be downloaded using the links below.
[ Download all drawing files as Zip File (7Mbytes) ]
[ View / Download Site Survey ]
[ View / Download Enviromental Survey ]
Status of our Planning Application
We are still accepting comments and it is still fairly easy for the design to be adjusted.
We have had assistance from experts who have made comments on issues such as the method of construction. These issues are still investigating with the aim of finding the best method which makes the basin a safe and easy to maintain structure.
The next stage is to collate all the comments received.
The more comments and suggestions we receive the better chance we have to develop a design that is acceptable to everyone. We really are open to suggestions so please tell us your views and thank you to all the people who have commented so far.
We hope to make our planning application very soon after the AGM which is on March 21st.
Comments From British Waterways
The plans and documents have been technically reviewed by British Waterways. They commented:
From an engineering point of view there is nothing problematic with regard to the basin proposal. The RC basin should be able to cope with the differing ground conditions at formation level across the site, providing any soft spots are excavated out and replaced in the normal manner. I would assume that they have gone for a hard structure across the basin to maximise available water-space and to cope with the ground.
The design of the basin should be to the current water retaining standard.
From old maps of the area, there is no evidence of any previous buildings on the site. Ground levels have altered at some point in the past as there is an amount of made ground across the site.
Otherwise looks okay to me.
Regards Joe Murphy Principal Waterway Engineer
More Information and Making Comments
See also web site www.whitchurchwaterway.org.uk where there is a facility for emailing comments and there is a lot more information than is shown here.
To Contact us: Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to
Lindsay Green (Hon-Secretary)
Whitchurch Waterway Trust, Chemistry Farm, Whitchurch SY13 1BZ,
Tel: 01948 662779/07740 870306
Extracts from Design and Access Statement
Here are some extracts from the Current Draft "Design and Access statement" ..(a document required for a planning application) which provides an overview of the Canal Basin proposal.
4.0 Development Proposals
4.01 The proposal will extend the current canal arm through Chemistry
Bridge (as the original arm) and into the Country Park via an
underpass below the public highway known as Meadowcroft.
This underpass was constructed in precast concrete box culverts by
the developer of the housing land on Meadowcroft to allow the future
extension of the canal. The box culverts are of sufficient height to
allow boats to navigate through with adequate headroom and
sufficient width to include a towpath.
The land to the West of the culverts and up to Chemistry Bridge was
prepared for future canal construction by the installation of steel piles
to provide earthworks retention on the South side during the re-
construction of the canal arm in 1993 and also gabions on the North
side.
4.02 The canal will terminate on the East side of Meadowcroft in a basin
which will provide space for a turning facility and moorings for up to
8 boats.
4.03 The existing public footpath from Chemistry Bridge to Greenfield
Way will be relocated along the canal towpath for part of its length
and linking up with the existing path East of the basin.
An accessible link to Smallbrook Road will also be provided along the
East side of the basin. There is a link from the current footpath to the
car park accessed off Meadowcroft. However, it is a steep slope and
not suitable for wheelchair or ambulant disabled use. Both new
footpaths will be constructed to comply with Part M of the Building
Regulations.
4.04 A picnic area has been allocated overlooking the basin and between
the two footpaths.
4.05 The existing car park provision will be maintained and improved by
surfacing and marking of parking spaces.
Disabled parking is proposed and access from the car park to the basin
area will be via the footpath on Smallbrook Road, complying with
Part M of Building Regulations.
Steps are also provided.
4.06 Attractive landscaping is proposed which will enhance the Country
Park and minimising the impact of the canal basin on the surrounding
housing.
5.0 Design
5.01 The existing canal arm is constructed from steel pile and puddle clay
and this type of construction has been considered for the extension
along with alternatives.
Consideration has been given to minimising construction costs, noise
during construction and long term maintenance costs.
A further consideration is the elevated position of the basin in relation
to Staggs Brook to the North East.
Staggs Brook and surrounding lower area is at risk of flooding as
confirmed on the Environment Agency Flood Map and the
construction of the new basin must be designed to eliminate the
possibility of leakage which will allow water to drain into a flood risk
area. The site of the basin is not in a flood risk zone.
5.02 It is intended to construct the canal basin entirely in reinforced
concrete which has a waterproofing agent added at the batching plant.
The supplier of the additive monitors the batching and also pouring of
the concrete on site and will provide a guarantee on completion to
confirm the concrete is completely resistant to water absorption.
The only concrete visible will be above the water line, approximately
300mm high and the top of the wall, approximately 300mm wide.
The towpath will be immediately adjacent the wall.
5.03 Cost appraisals show this method will be more cost effective than
piling / puddle clay and during construction will produce less noise
pollution than the constant effects from a piling rig drop hammer.
The potential effects from vibration on nearby property during pile
driving will also be removed.
5.04 Site investigation boreholes and soil sample testing have been
completed in the area of the basin and more importantly along the line
of the original canal which passes through the basin.
All tests confirmed the material to be within the inert waste criteria for
landfill.
All foundations for the basin will be at a level below any made ground
identified in the boreholes. It is anticipated a significant amount of
excavated material can be reused as fill and in reprofiling and thereby
reducing the amount of vehicle movements transporting material off
site. This is in accordance with Environment Agency
recommendations to retain excavated material on the site.
Retention of soil on site will also be used in improving the profile of
the footpath through the site to be accessible for wheelchair users.
5.05 As part of the construction design phase structural assessments will be
undertaken on Chemistry Bridge, the box culverts below Meadowcroft
and the existing piling and gabions embankments between these
structures.
Any remedial works or strengthening required will be undertaken as
part of the development.
5.06 An Ecology and Protected Species Survey has been undertaken and
the recommendations have been incorporated in the design. These
include reprofiling of the site to the North East towards Staggs Brook
which will be restricted to low profile slopes, removing the risk of a
breach of the embankments to the Brook and ensure the surrounding
land supports the habitat for water vole.
The lower profile slopes will also enhance the visual attractiveness of
the area.
5.07 The impact on local residents has been considered. The landscaping,
planting and fencing shown on the plans is indicative and will be
subject to a planning condition. The final design will screen the basin
from nearby property to maintain a level of privacy and security.
The level of the canal basin reduces the visual intrusion into nearby
properties and is demonstrated on Section B-B in the drawings.
The size of the basin and number of mooring facilities was also a
consideration in minimising the impact on neighbouring property.
Between 2 and 4 of the outer moorings proposed will be allocated as
permanent moorings and the middle moorings which are easier to
manoeuvre into and out of will be for visitors.
This will reduce the number of boat movements per day.
5.08 Involvement with the local community has been an objective of the
Trust during the early design stages and has comprised
- Drawings / documents accessible on the Trust website
- Articles in the local press
- Design information circulated to residents in the immediate
vicinity
- Promotions at the Boat Rally in September 2011 and the
Blackberry Fair in October 2011
5.09 There are some services within the area of the basin, however these
can be easily re-routed and will not cause any disruption.
Whitchurch Canal Arm Extension
6.0 Summary
6.01 The proposal is a stage in a long-term aim to bring the canal back into
the centre of Whitchurch.
It has the support of the Town Council and is an item on the
Whitchurch Parish Plan.
6.02 It will provide an attractive addition to the Country Park and enhance
the local area.
6.03 It will assist in promoting tourism to Whitchurch Town Centre.
6.04 It will make improvements to existing footpaths to enable use by
ambulant disabled and wheelchair users.
