Canal Towpath Task Force report

Good Day all

Just a reminder, that this Wednesday we will be having a Fish & Chip supper as part of our evening's Towpath Taskforce event. The plan for this Wednesday (the 8th), has slightly changed, as we will be painting and refreshing Lock 13 and the surrounding "honey-pot" area, starting at 1700 hours with supper at 1800 hours.

Neville Preece will be paying us a visit and joining us as he is bringing along some new PPE and uniform recently ordered for our team, hence the slight change of plan and also Roger Birch will be completing the installation of the fence opposite the mill which will require staining as part of the evening's work.

Saturday, we will be refreshing the paint on composite lock gates on Locks 1, 3, 8 (head/top), 11 (bottom) of the flight in a rolling worksite, this is planned as we will be using grey mix metal paint, which has a short shelf life on Lock 13 on Wednesday, maximising the paint without it spoiling and minimising waste with paint-brushes.

The following Wednesday (15th of July) we will be painting Lock 10 and tidying around the mason's workshop, also installing the missing gutter with new clips.
On Wednesday the 22nd of July we will be tidying up around the Shroppie Fly and the wharf area, clearing mooring rings in the 3 main pounds and if need be, finishing off the tidying of the moorings on the off side.

I am proposing some additional evenings, listed below whereby I will be at Audlem undertaking some tasks in readiness for the transport festival, please come along and assist if you are free with any time you can spare:
Tuesday the 14th of July, 1730-2030 hours
Thursday the 16th of July, 1730-2030 hours
Monday the 20th of July, 1730-2030 hours
Thursday the 23rd of July, 1730-2030 hours
Desired task's to be completed before the event:

• Installing the ceiling in the services
• Trimming the hedge around the services sign
• Planting shrubs and flowers in the "Welcome To Audlem" sign trough
• Planting shrubs and flowers around the Mile Post adjacent to lock 6
• Completing the clearance of the off-side moorings below lock 14
• Trimming the vegetation on Lock 12/Bridge 78 access ramp
• Oiling/Lubrication of the lock paddle-gear, jack heads and collars
• Please let me know if you can assist with any of the above.

As you are aware also, as part of our Towpath Taskforce agenda is to undertake some trips out for educational purposes and to widen our volunteering knowledge and experience, certain visits and trips are still subject to confirmation but propose the following:

Wednesday the 12th of August, midweek evening taskforce, visit to Grindley Brook Locks to observe the operation of a staircase flight of Locks.
Wednesday the 3rd of September, Curry night at the Bridge Inn
Subject to confirmation:
Friday the 14th of August, either a boat trip out or a visit to Belvide Reservoir and Stretton Aqueduct
Best wishes and kind regards,
Dek Owen
Volunteer (Task Leader)
Canal & River Trust

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