THE next stages towards the completion of a large canal restoration project by the end of 2022 are underway this month.

The Shropshire Union Canal volunteers began the fortnightly programme of restoration of the Montgomery Canal, near Crickheath, in March.

The main task of this work party, according to spokesman Fred Barrett, was to remove the massive clay dam which was towpath high and six metres wide, that retained the water in the previously restored 250metre section at Pryce’s Bridge.

He added: "This water and a massive accumulation between the dam and Crickheath Wharf took just over two days to pump out sufficiently, to allow the blocks, and four layers of liner that had waterproofed the inside slope, to be taken down.

"The Clay Bund, which is the technical name for the dam, had to be removed to allow the completed section measuring 250 metres to join the 330 metre section under construction, at the correct depth.

"When a length of channel is lined with four layers of waterproofing materials, it is then ‘paved’ with building blocks to weight down these materials.

"Last week it was just about possible to begin removing blocks and liner from the inner slope until the base of the channel became visible as the pumping out continued.

"The working conditions were, at worst very, very, challenging, and, at best difficult, with sometimes a foot of water in some places, but the 17 volunteers kept battling on with the dirty heavy work.

"By Saturday afternoon the removal of the Bund had begun using a large digger, and a dumper to transport the clay away, and by the close of play on Sunday three quarters of it had disappeared."

Fred added that 400 saplings were planted along the base of the outer edge of the towpath embankment, to stabilise a section of the of the newly constructed canal channel.

The next work party at the end of March will again, probably, spend two days pumping out water that has accumulated, to enable the removal of the remaining Bund.

Channel shaping can now take place to match the new section under construction to the existing completed profile.

It is anticipated to complete the work to Crickheath by the end of 2022.