THE residents of Fitzford Cottages in Tavistock have been celebrating the success of their community project to regenerate the canal bank and improve access facilities to the area in front of their properties.

In June 2003 the canal bank was unkempt and overgrown and this, together with the dumping of refuse and general access difficulties on the lane, led to residents forming the Fitzford Residents? Association to try to tackle the problems.

The resulting Canal Bank Regeneration Project aimed to improve the parking area and enhance the appearance of the bank by sympathetic planting and ongoing maintenance.

To date, a combination of volunteers and specialist contractors have cleared the refuse and overgrown vegetation, installed kerbstones, laid new tarmac and have begun to replant the area.

Dave Sharp, project co-ordinator, said they were grateful for the support they had received from Awards for All, West Devon Council, Tamar Valley Services, Tavistock Town Council, South West Water and the WestDEN Communities in Action project.

?Together with our own fundraising activities, this has allowed us to ensure that the canal bank is aesthetically pleasing, both for residents of Fitzford Cottages and users of the canal footpath opposite, which forms part of Tavistock?s heritage walk known as Drake?s Walk,? Mr Sharp said.

County councillor Roy Connelly said he admired the hard work and dedication shown by a small group of residents determined to improve their local environment.

?You do not have to be a large community group to succeed. Small groups such as this have demonstrated that, with the energy and desire to see the project through to completion.?

l Pictured are Esther Richmond from West Devon Borough Council, county and borough Cllr Roy Connelly, Stephen Russell from Tamar Valley Services, Clare Williamson-Cary and Caroline Down from the WestDEN Communities in Action project, and Fitzford residents Dave Sharp, Debbie Shepheard, John Olorenshaw, Sheila Fowler, Des Ruston, Diane Ruston and Edna Bailey. West Devon Council communities project and Tamar Valley Services each presented £500 cheques to the project, and the town council £100.

Picture by

James Bird