Towpath improvements scheme begins
Gosh - was I cold! John Moss had asked Jill Hood and me to meet him on the canal towpath yesterday morning so that we could meet a couple of people from Groundwork, the firm carrying out the canal improvement scheme, and Phil Hardaker who has been commissioned by Groundwork to produce a piece of ‘community artwork’. So, for the best part of an hour and a half, we walked the towpath and shivered!
Phil has produced various examples of similar work and was looking to us to provide some ideas about the town’s history and heritage. He plans to involve local groups, businesses and schools in producing ceramic tiles depicting various aspects of Stone’s past and future which he will then use to produce a suitable piece of public art. I think we were able to give him a few of our thoughts and ideas. It sounds an interesting project.
Whilst we were on the canal-side, Jill and I went to see how Groundwork were getting on in Westbridge Park. They only started work this week but already they have excavated for the new path down to the towpath from the path beside the tennis courts. This will provide pedestrian and disabled access from Westbridge Park to the towpath.
Four years ago I was asked by Stephen Gay to propose that the Town Council investigate the possibility of building an identical path and put down a member’s item for debate. The then controlling Tory party, led by Cllr. Mike Carey, voted my suggestion down. Today I pondered how much more the path was costing due to a four year delay!
The whole canal project will cost £340,000 - two thirds funded by Advantage West Midlands through the Stone Market Town Initiative and the rest by Stafford Borough Council, British Waterways and the European Social Fund- and will involve the creation of additional moorings by Westbridge Park, a turning point south of Star Lock, new linking footpaths in Westbridge Park and to the anglers car park, towpath resurfacing and lighting under Star Lock Bridge. Hopefully all work will be completed by the beginning of the season in March 2008.
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