Western landing stage at Lodgemore takes
shape
by: David M
There are
two main types of landing stage – single-level, and those with an additional
lower level for canoes. However they all
differ in other ways depending on the nature of the location. Lodgemore West is a single-level stage, but the
bank is high and the space has no extra width for the landing stage to have a
sloped bank.
Due to the
vertical bank face, we had an extra week or two of hard work transporting,
wire-brushing, painting and fitting steel plates to sit behind the rear OBB
piles to hold back and support the towpath.
First to go
down is a weed-deterring membrane, and the wooden frames sit on steel
cross-pieces every 3rd pair of piles.
The slight offset of the frames one with another is for aesthetic
reasons, as the aesthetics don’t matter once the anti-slip green topping is in
place!
Armco is
bolted to the front face, top surface screwed down, and bollards concreted
in. The final touch from the high bank
is a set of steps, made of bricks and concrete lintels. The cygnets are bigger now, but still paying
close attention.