The field behind out house is muddy - really muddy - at the moment - so I thought I would explore the route down Bowerhill to the Kennet and Avon Canal, which had been rumoured to be blocked a while ago.

I have to say "I'm impressed".

There's been a major improvement to the walkway and cycle way (this we knew about) just outside our house in conjunction with giving good bicycle access to the new Melksham Oak Community College.


The access onto Bowerhill Lane, looks much better, and there are two more (and much more recent) accesses I found by going the long way around from the newer section of the estate (what I'll call the "Hornchurch Road" end). Gypsy and I have some more exploring to do there.


Finally, the path down the side of the field to the canal which used to be a mudbath in winter has been improved out of all recognition - as you can see here. I'll say it again - "I'm impressed". There's a stretch of about 20 yards yet to be done that is "earth soup" [mud] at the moment; I just hope that doesn't turn into one of those sometime -> never projects like the A350 and station link roads ;-) but at least it's passable.

With a cycleway to the canal, and a cycleway to the Melksham Oak school, which connects in turn to the cycle route that is somewhat off road into Melksham Town Centre, Bowerhill is really being set up to be a community that's less dependent on the car. Let's look forward to the day when the bus runs for those who can't or don't want to cycle every half hour, not twice in quick sucession then a gap for the rest of the hour [why?], and perhaps to some difference of routing of extra services when the Asda bus starts (a good opportunity there to cover Hornchurch, and also link through to the business part of Bowerhill to let people use buses to / from work on Bowerhill).


Bowerhill is - surprisingly heavily - a walking community already; we live on the walking route between the main town and the Bowerhill Community, and there are lways people about on foot. And it is a lovely walk with the green buffer zone on the way; I'm not surprised that there has been a strong negative reaction to the suggestion that the fields (and back gardens of The Spa too) be filled with housing. But that's a story for another day ... like next Saturday's meeting that I wrote about [here].
(written 2010-01-17)

 Z101 - Health
  [611] Look out for the motor cyclist - (2006-02-17)
  [1032] Chronic fatigue help - a new discussion forum - (2007-01-13)
  [1776] Does fruit and veg drag on? - (2008-08-28)
  [2858] The healthy option - away from the private car - (2010-07-07)
  [3034] Birth Notice - Aeryn Cassandra Ellis - (2010-11-07)
  [3521] Emergency First Aid at Work (HSE) training in Melksham - places available for 19.1.2012 - (2011-11-15)
  [3525] Melksham has a heart - come and see the pictures. Sunday, 11 to 3, Assembly Hall - (2011-11-18)
  [3733] More hazards of modern life - (2012-05-15)
  [4514] An update - and my absence in recent weeks - (2015-09-23)
  [4600] A big change in August - (2015-12-25)

Back to And and Or illustrated by locks

Previous and next or Horse's mouth home

Forward to Freddies Wood and the K and A Canal

Melksham Hotel, B and B or business accommodation?
A healthy, local breakfast in Melksham
Your PHP code does not work? Here is where to start looking.
Freddies Wood and the K and A Canal
Bowerhill as a cycling community
And and Or illustrated by locks
Consultation in Melksham, on Melkshams future
Melksham Food and Drink Festival, 2010
Reducing image size on digital photos - PHP
Starting to arrange the picture library