Residents have a final chance to enjoy a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of a canal restoration project this weekend.
The local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is hosting the last of this year’s open days on the former stretch between Melksham and Chippenham.
The event is due to take place at Pewsham Locks, north of Lacock, this Saturday 12th October. It includes a pop-up café, and boat rides along the stretch, which has already been rebuilt.
The pop-up café includes outside seating and will be serving teas, coffees and cakes from 10am, when volunteers will also start taking small groups around the site, while the boat rides will operate from 12.30pm.
Refreshments and boat rides are available by cash donation or by scanning a QR code. The open day is due to finish at around 3pm.
The event is organised by the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Trust.
Spokesperson Brian Wright said, “This is our final open day of the year, so we hope people will pop along for a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of an active canal restoration project.
“We have already had lots of positive feedback from Melksham residents who enjoyed our previous events. It is a rare opportunity to take a closer look at an important piece of our industrial heritage and how it’s being brought back to life.”
There is no public parking on-site but the locks are just a short walk along a footpath from the edge of Pewsham. Directions are available at www.wbct.org.uk/mcc-events
For further information call 07510 326730 or email bright.wright@wbct.org.uk
The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon.
