Turf cutting marks start of Grand Western Canal repairs

An official turf cutting was held at the Grand Western Canal on Monday (8 July) to mark the start of restoration work.

The Canal suffered a serious breach of its northern bank near the Swing Bridge at Halberton on 21 November last year, after water spilled over the top of the embankment during torrential downpours and flooding.

It is estimated that more than 16 million litres of water (the equivalent of more than 100,000 bathtubs or 6.5 Olympic swimming pools) flowed through the 23-metre wide breach onto neighbouring farmland. Emergency services spent days pumping water away from the area to make the area safe.

Since then, Devon County Council and its partners have been developing plans to reinstate the failed section of the canal and to introduce measures to reduce the likelihood of a similar occurrence. As well as repairing the breach, further works will be implemented to ensure the long term future of the whole canal. This includes inspections of all infrastructure along the canal, the installation of a water level monitoring alarm system, as well as additional and improved stop boards. Over the next few years, water management and associated infrastructure will also be improved along the whole canal.

The progress of the work will be dependent on site conditions and weather but the current programme is to initially establish a works compound and construct a temporary access track before the main repairs to the breached section of the canal embankment start in August. The embankment will be rebuilt within its existing footprint, but it will be slightly higher in order to provide protection against future overtopping.

This will be followed by the installation of the new canal lining during November and December. The canal will be lined over the length of the embankment with an impervious material. This material will be covered and hidden and the repairs will eventually blend in with the existing canal. Much of the material that was washed out during the breach will be strengthened and re-used in order to limit the amount of material that needs to be brought to site by road. The speed of water flowing through the canal and discharging at the breach also caused significant erosion of the canal bed either side of the fault. This erosion will also need to be repaired.
The reinstatement of the towpath and refilling of the canal is then scheduled to be completed in early 2014.

Since the breach, half a mile of canal channel has been closed between Greenway Bridge and Rock Bridge, with a half-mile long towpath diversion in place between Swing Bridge and Watton Bridge.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Communities, said: “I’m pleased to see this scheme getting underway on the Grand Western Canal, because it is an important asset in Mid Devon. Everyone has been keen to see work started in order for the reinstatement to be completed in plenty of time for the anniversary celebrations next year. We have prepared a scheme that will improve the structure of this stretch of the canal, and while repairs are made to the breach, the opportunity will be taken to carry out other modifications.”

Councillor Des Hannon, Chairman of the Canal’s Joint Advisory Committee and County Councillor for Tiverton East, said: “This is a proper milestone in the Grand Western’s long history. It seems an age since the great breach of November 2012, but as public projects go this has been lightning fast. Now we can look forward to completion in the winter and a huge 200th Birthday Party for our canal in spring 2014. Meanwhile our Horseboat and canal-side businesses are all working as usual. Come and enjoy the Grand Western Canal right now.”

Councillor Ray Radford, Devon County Councillor for Willand and Uffculme and Mid Devon Councillor for Halberton, said: “I am delighted that the contract for re-instating the canal breach and the work required will be taking place immediately. Despite a misconception, the canal has always been open for business. It is a credit to Devon County Council that it has been able to pull out the stops to get the work instigated so quickly, recognising the importance of the canal to the local community, and as a tourist attraction. When completed the canal will be joined up again and have unrestricted access from Tiverton to Holcombe Rogus, in a better condition for the enjoyment of all.”

The scheme, which will be carried out by contractor South West Highways Ltd, is likely to last for around six months so that the canal can re-open in early 2014, which will be in time for the canal’s 200th anniversary.

Ben Pyle, Managing Director for South West Highways, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this project. It seems particularly fitting given that we were one of the first on the scene after the initial breach of the canal. SWH is proud to employ a local workforce of over 600 people who are dedicated to the area and the communities they live in. I am pleased that local people will deliver a project that is so important to the people of Devon.”

The Canal’s 200th anniversary will be celebrated with the Canal hosting the IWA National Trailboat Festival over the bank holiday weekend from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 May next year.

There will be a big public festival day held at the Mid Devon Showground on Saturday 24 May 2014, with smaller events happening at locations along the Canal over the remainder of the weekend, including an illuminated night time parade in Tiverton and a fun day in Sampford Peverell.