BW take volunteering lead on the K&A

British Waterways have appointed a volunteer leader for the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Rob Labus was previously a length inspector on the K&A and he has worked on the canal for 14 years. He will work directly with volunteers on projects along the whole canal.  

BW has set up this scheme as it prepares to move to become a charity in April 2012 and is asking people to give up a few hours a month to help maintain the canal.

K&A Volunteer Leader, Rob Labus front with 

volunteers, Stuart Goldthorpe, left and John 

Butler at yesterday's working party at 

Aldermaston. Picture by Bob Naylor©

Waterway Manager, Mark Stephens, said, “The Kennet & Avon Canal is a beautiful stretch of waterway but unfortunately British Waterways has limited resources to keep the canal looking as good as we would like. We hope that local people will join us to help with tasks such as cutting back overgrown vegetation so the towpath is kept clear, as well as painting lock gates and clearing litter from the canal.”

Monthly working parties are planned at Reading, Aldermaston, Newbury, Kintbury, Crofton, Great Bedwyn, Devizes and Bath. 

Each session will run from 10am – 3pm and volunteers will be supplied with all the safety equipment needed for the towpath tasks. The working parties will be run throughout the year.

Volunteer sessions will be taking place at the following locations and dates between 10am-3pm.

Reading: 1^st Tuesday of the month

Aldermaston: 2^nd Tuesday of the month 

Newbury: 3^rd Tuesday of the month starting 15.02.11

Kintbury: 4^th Tuesday of the month starting 22.02.11

Crofton: 1^st Thursday of the month starting 03.02.11

Bedwyn: 2^nd Thursday of the month starting 10.02.11

Devizes: 3^rd Thursday of the month starting 17.02.11

Bath: 4^th Thursday of the month starting 24.02.11

Anyone interested in taking part in the BW K&A Canal volunteering scheme should contact Karen Fishwick on 07917 424590 or email her at: karen.fishwick@britishwaterways.co.uk