Whitchurch Canal Breach Update, First Rebuild Plans Are Here!

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:00]Hello everyone. So, we're back again with some big news. Um, so Canala River Trust have released um some plans, some ideas on uh what's going to be going on uh with the next steps. Now, we're expecting this with the um ground testing uh coming to an end, the drilling rigs um they stopped um working on site. I think it was Monday. Um, so that side of things is all done. Of course, we saw the ground probe uh a few weeks back. All the results from that must be back and I'd imagine um for the most part the more recent uh drilling samples and everything will be a lot of the same story admittedly. Uh and of course if they find something in those samples then they'll change the plans accordingly. I'd certainly guess. Uh but yeah, the statement released as a lot of you may have seen and if I remember I'll try and put the link uh down in the description of this video. Uh so it's the update from the 11th of May, although um this has been added to uh today. Um so we'll start from the beginning. Uh we've now drained around 50 million lers of water from the flood field. Now, I can tell you it was more than that. Uh, when we saw the Silk Buster, the last reading we saw um was just over 18 million, between 18 and 19 million. Um, but yeah, so that's one bit of news, but we all already knew that to be fair. This allowed us to clear up the the field and unblock the culvert. So, of course, we have certainly seen that and that has been very exciting to film.

[00:01:48]Uh we'll be carrying out a full check of the culvert, but early signs suggest it's in good condition. So that of course must mean that uh the camera probe we saw um them send into the main culvert uh last Saturday. Uh they must have gone through all that and been happy with that result. Um and then the next bit is the ground investigation will be finished this week. Uh we've saw that of course um with the drilling rig.

[00:02:16]Uh we've started digging out the embankment. So it will be rebuilt using a strengthened earth method where layers of reinforcing material are built into the ground to make it more stable.

[00:02:31]And that makes sense. So I think a lot of the material we've seen them add back. Unfortunately, um I would certainly guess anyway uh that some of that will be removed um to some degree.

[00:02:45]and how deep they'd have to go with that, I'm not sure. Now, we've seen as well with the remaining embankments, my theory anyway, is that a lot of them or a lot of that will have to be removed. And now, a sign of that for me is how they cut all the trees down on the left hand side, as you can see on the video there for a second. Um, as you can tell, I'm just using some old uh footage just to get this news out to you as quick as I possibly could. Um, but yeah, so they trimmed all those bushes and trees on that left hand side, which I was wondering why were they doing that? You know, was it for a crane?

[00:03:28]That's was my initial thought in all honesty. It looked like a good spot to put it. Uh, but now my certain guess would be that they're removing that. um those trees and everything uh in preparation for them digging away that bank. Now, like I say, you'll see the old track dumper shot there. Uh this is an old video. Um so, it just needs something in the background. Um so, yeah, that's very interesting. And then at the end, the biggest part now, the thing that we've all been guessing for a long time, or at least we have on this channel, is that the canal channel itself will be rebuilt using concrete.

[00:04:10]So, that makes sense. Now, we've said uh for a long while now that uh my personal belief and a lot of people's belief uh would be that they're going to rebuild the canal using uh pre-cast concrete sections.

[00:04:26]I'm still on that side now. It's a bit ambiguous. Um rebuilt in concrete uh is the words used. That could mean a lot of things. um whether the that hints at it being uh cast on site certainly hints at it, but at the same time I have my doubts personally. I really do. Now, before we go uh into the video any any further, I just want to say if you haven't subscribed already, really would appreciate if you did. Certainly helps me out and the channel out tremendously.

[00:04:58]And once again, real quick thank you to everyone that's been supporting on Pioneer Coffee and through Super does help out. So, thank you very much. Now, that's the main bit. So, and we'll go through it again. It will be rebuilt using a strengthened earth method where layers of reinforcing material are built into the ground to make it more stable.

[00:05:21]Now, I mean, talk about ambiguous again, but I'd imagine that's just a case of similar to what we've been seeing across site is layers of material tampered down, more layers tampered down. That certainly be my guess and I think that's a pretty safe guess. But yeah, the uh using concrete is certainly the biggest news out of that and certainly the bit I find most interesting I would say. Now, I do find it interesting as well. On screen, you'll see an old shot of the Culver exit. So, that is a bit of a contrast to what it all looks like now.

[00:05:59]And to think, you know, the the clues were there all along. And comparing that to now is it's unbelievable really, you know, just thinking that whilst I was filming that there was two extra culverts that led into the stream and we're all scratching our heads a bit on exactly where that water was going.

[00:06:17]Yeah. Very interesting, I must say. But, uh, the update goes on to say, uh, we're continuing to pump water across the brereech site, moving 40 million L a day towards Hston. So, that of course is where, uh, the drinking reservoir, drinking water reservoir uh, for crew is, crew, Nantich, and a few other little areas. Of course, this canal does supply drinking water to those areas, which is why it's so important to keep that flow, and those pumps are based at the marina. Um, and I I would also guess that's another reason why they're um really cracking on with this work. Not only because it's drinking water, but because that pumping setup is costing a fortune, and they couldn't just uh keep it going like that forever. It wouldn't take too long for that to become the more expensive option, unfortunately.

[00:07:12]Um, and it also says at the end, which I found quite interesting whilst reading this, uh, we're also looking at whether we can safely or whether water can safely be channeled through the breach area.

[00:07:28]Now, what does that mean? I mean, once again, ambiguous.

[00:07:33]I'll I'll talk you through it again cuz I messed up my words. We're also looking at whether water can safely be channeled through the brereech area.

[00:07:44]No idea. Absolutely no idea. I'll I'll get Dave to uh ask that actually. Um like I say, they've got the uh meeting down there today. Uh and I think that would certainly be a question I would want answering. Um that along with the 15 million liters pump from the flood field. Um but yeah, so whether that means that they're looking to not use uh the current setup at the marina um whether that's obviously it's quite an expensive setup, but when they're hoping that uh they can change it in a way to pump water through the actual brereech itself. Uh I'd imagine still in uh like pipes and things. I can't imagine it would just be allowed to free flow obviously. But yeah, very odd. Very odd, I must say.

[00:08:38]And I've certainly got a lot of questions, but it is typical as well, is it? You get these updates and you you're hoping that it will answer questions, but if anything, it creates more than it answers. But either way, uh I mean, really excited for the weeks ahead, admittedly, and I'm glad to see that this bit is cracking on. I was a little concerned that um waiting for all these samples to come back that nothing would be going on and the plans would take a while uh until they were all finished and sorted and then then the main work could go on. But by the sound of it, that's not the case, which is uh very nice to hear. And uh yeah, interesting.

[00:09:21]But if any of you guys, like I say, have got any questions, um, the CRT meeting today isn't the only one. There will be more in the future, I believe. Um, so if you've got any questions that I can ask, uh, I believe there's a few different people from CRT and and the workers themselves. So, if you've got any questions for those guys, do feel free to uh, whack it in a comment and I'll ask that when we have the next opportunity, which by the sounds of it and hopefully uh, won't be too far away.

[00:09:50]So either way, thank you very much for watching. I hope you're all having a a great week so far. And uh once again, if you've got any ideas on what this all means, then uh do feel free to drop a comment. But thank you very much for watching. Have a great day. Take care.