Double celebration for Wey & Arun

With the official opening of Loxwood canal bridge by the Rt.Hon Lord Sterling of Plaistow GCVO CBE, canal traffic can again pass under the road for the first time in 140 years, the £1.8 million project being one of the largest and most expensive anywhere in the country undertaken by a volunteer canal trust.

Celebrate end of five years work

Chairman of The Wey & Arun Canal Trust, Peter Foulger, says: "This is a great occasion for the Trust as we celebrate the end of five years work to reinstate the canal under Loxwood High Street for the first time in 140 years. Without help from so many people, we could never have reached today’s celebration."

Nearly 800 members, supporters and visitors enjoyed the day in Loxwood.

The three-year project was carried out in several stages comprising:

- Lowering of the water level in Brewhurst Lock to gain headroom under the re-built tunnel and lengthening the lock to take boats of up to 70ft.

- Re-modelling the Onslow Pound and adjacent towpath and constructing a new winding hole opposite the Onslow Arms.

- Building a new lock (Loxwood Lock) on the River Wey side of the re-built tunnel to raise the water level to its original height.

- Re-building the tunnel so that the previous road surface remained at the same height but the headroom beneath allowed boats to safely pass under. This involved major construction work, including the diverting of services including a sewer, water pipes and telephone cables.

In recognition of an £80,000 donation from the Wiggonholt Association towards the cost of the new all-electric boat, the naming of Wiggonholt was undertaken by Mrs Doreen Mann, a member of that organisation. The Wey & Arun Canal Trust will now have three boats in which to offer public trips or for private hire. Leading the ‘fleet’ Wiggonholt will be able to carry 50 passengers, Zachariah Keppel 30 and John Smallpeice 12 guests.

Following the naming of the new boat, Mr Peter Flatter and Mrs Doreen Mann of the Wiggonholt Association, Lord Sterling and other invited guests, boarded Wiggonholt and passed through the re-built tunnel. Lord Sterling officially declared the bridge open, followed by the opening of the new lock. In his speech he spoke about the historical significance and congratulated the Trust on achieving this milestone.

"This is something one only dreams about"

At the helm of Wiggonholt was Peter Wilding, a founder member of the Trust. "To commission a new boat, open a new lock and a new bridge is something one only dreams about," says Peter. "I am very proud to have been chosen to skipper Wiggonholt on its inaugural trip."

The celebrations continued in the afternoon with a small boat rally on the canal.