Grantham Canal Update - Tina Combellack

22nd June 2023 Grantham Canal update – Tina Combellack

Tina’s passion for the Grantham canal came from her first marriage home in Kinoulton, eventually moving to Hickling, so the commitment has lasted.

Grantham Canal WATER restoration Group (GCWRG) was established in 2019 when the canal in Kinoulton ran dry and the Hickling canal basin lost a considerable amount of water level. The aim is to initially rewater the canal between Hickling and Wilds Bridge, then move to the remaining sectors of the canal, hopefully bringing together local Parish, Borough and County Councils, Grantham Canal Society, Canal and River Trust, Severn Trent Water, DEFRA and anyone else with interests.

Looking back British Waterways closed the canal in 1929, classing iit as a ‘remainder waterway’ and “of no use”! What about the contributions the canal makes to wildlife, walkers, cyclists, artists and the general impact on health and well-being?  Also ‘night soil’ was carried by the canal from the City to the Hickling basin and spread on the fields in that area, producing verdant growth in current times. (which may also have impacted on local Stilton?!

Positive activity so far has seen repairs to the leaks at Culverts 39 and 42. As the canal is a manmade structure, reservoir fed from Knipton, where work on the feeder has improved the flow.  Also, through successful lobbying, money was allocated from the UKSPF levelling up fund to Rushcliffe B C for works on the canal amounting to £k100 of which 27% has been used to clear reeds from the Rushcliffe boundary to Lady Bay.

Obviously, there is still a lot of work to be done to maintain this valuable asset, so they are campaigning to get as many volunteer groups to help in this maintenance work.

Tina fielded a number of questions regarding possible links to the Trent, possible Health support through the County Councils with aplomb. Adrian provided the Vote of Thanks suggesting how impressed he was with Tina’s energy levels, but likened it to “if you want something done, get a busy, energetic person to do it!” He thanked her for her very interesting presentation and said it “certainly floated his boat!” The members joined him in the usual manner.                            AR