Working together to restore canal bridge
Volunteers spent four days on project to benefit the whole community
VOLUNTEERS from Harefield have become one of the first groups to take part in a canal project, Building Bridges.
Members of Black Jack’s Lock Residents’ Association spent four days refurbishing bridge number 178 on the Grand Union Canal near the village.
The volunteers also gave the lock gates and lock furniture a makeover, by repainting everything. They will return later this year to repaint the white bridge – finally restoring it to its former glory.
The scheme is organised by Waterways Recovery Group ( WRG) and the Canal and River Trust (CRT).
Miles Hendley, chairman of the residents’ association, said: “We’ve been concerned at the state of the bridge and lock for some time but didn’t know how to go about restoring it.
“I then read about WRG volunteers restoring Lady Capel’s Bridge on the Grand Union Canal, near Watford, and thought it was something the residents of Black Jacks could get involved in.
“Our residents’ association is initiating a number of projects to enhance the Black Jack’s and Copper Mill conservation area for the benefit of the local community and many canal users.
“I very much hope that the example of our combined efforts will prompt others to do the same. I can’t wait until we all get together again to repaint the bridge and complete the makeover.”
The Building Bridges Project aims to enable volunteers to carry out minor, and even some more major, repairs to canal bridges in desperate need of restoration, giving local people and communities the chance to come together and look after a structure on their section of canal or waterway.
For more details, contact WRG’s volunteers coordinator, Jenny Black by phone at 01494 783 453 ext 604 or email jenny.black@waterways.org.uk.