Lapal Canal Trust

Dear Friends –

Behind the Scout hut in Selly Oak Park …

Following our 2 ‘scrub bashes’ in December and January, we’ve repaired the towpath between what we believe to be the newest and oldest bridges in Birmingham.  Unfortunately, our whacker did not whack properly on the day so we’re trying to obtain a small roller to compact the aggregate properly.

From the attached photo, you can now imagine more easily how a restored canal will look, with a very wide basin behind the Scout hut, people fishing, kayaking, etc.  It will enhance the Park and provide further ecosystems for a greater variety of wildlife, especially with ‘clever’ planting.  The repaired towpath will help keep the weeds down and provides a better surface for pedestrians.  We’re really looking forward to connecting through to Battery Park where it will provide a safer route to the new shops, avoiding crossing busy roads.

One of the reasons for our activity, is to help Harvest (the Sainsbury’s/Land Securities partnership) and the Council appreciate the importance of a canal through Battery Park and that LCT is serious about the ‘follow-on’ stage, even in this awful economic time.

Below is an artist’s impression of the narrow bit of the canal as it would run between the shops in Battery Park.  (The canal will widen once it has passed the shops.)

website http://www.sellyoak-regeneration.co.uk/

We thank everyone involved who helped make this happen, those who support LCT aims and especially those who contributed their labour.

Ivor (Chambers) – if you have their email addresses, please would you pass this picture on to Geoff, and also those who helped at the Dec/Jan work parties.

Kind regards,

Helen (Jones)

Editor, Lapal Link