In 1968 Council described K&A Canal Trust scheme as 'pie in the sky'

A grant application for £100 from the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust was not well received by Devizes Rural Council according to a report in the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald in February 1968. Councillors felt that the scheme to restore the canal was 'pie in the sky' and that the trust should be asked to produce plans showing how the money was to be spent, lest it be squandered on a small part of the canal with nothing to show for the money after 12 months.

Councillor Maurice Lesley of Bishops Cannings said that he was not against the canal being developed… if it could be done at a reasonable cost, but he complained that when he had asked Trust Chairman, Sir Hugh Stockwell, what was planned for the canal, how much it would cost and when it would be done he got no reply.

Coun MJ Read said that the cost of putting the canal right  could run into thousands of pound and he said: "It leaks like a sieve and in the summer it smells and is full of scum" and he went on to say that because of this children hated having to visit the bird sanctuary between All Cannings and Stanton.

Coun Harold Angell said: "They could quite easily spend £100 on a very small part of the canal and within 12 months it would be entirely wasted".  He felt that the trust should be asked to produce a co-ordinated scheme from Devizes to Pewsey before a grant of £100 could be made.

Troubled canal trust needs administrator

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust which has had a troubled financial and administrative recent history is now looking for an administrator to replace the General Secretary — who replaced the General Manager at the end of last year.

The job is advertised on the K&A Canal Trust Website at: K&A Canal Trust job offer

The Devizes based job offers a salary of up to £17,000 for a 37½ hours week working 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday and the advertisement says that some flexibility will be needed to support early evening meetings on occasions.

For an application form, job description and more information contact Pauline King, Trustee at: staffing@katrust.org.uk 

The financial and leadership crisis at the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust together with falling membership led to the the Trust Chairman — and former General Manager — Mike Rodd to admitting in May that the Trust now does little to benefit the canal but instead puts most of its energies into simply 'sustaining' itself. 

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