October 8th – Chasewater. It’s all a bit sad. Yesterday, there was a media binge by Staffordshire and Lichfield Councils, who have been working on repairing the 212 year old dam at the currently drained reservoir. Celebrations were afoot because, apparently, the ‘plug’ was going back in and the reservoir would now be allowed to refill naturally. Sadly, the weather has to do the rest and we’re in the driest of dry seasons. The tone of the press releases and media focus was such that whilst stood photographing the unfinished works, several people came up to me and expressed their dismay at the clearly unfinished works. They thought the dam was repaired and the lake full again, which is very far from the truth.

As these images show, although the work on the outlet culvert is now complete, the dam bridge, spillway and other works are still to be finished.

The old outlet culvert is now chambered, and had been built up behind the sectional piling that made up the cofferdam. Slowly, it’s filling up with water.Those square section pipes are what, at the moment, passes for the old bridge, and the dam road is still closed off and impassible. Work here will continue for some months, and a large part of the park will remain inaccessible.

I have real concern for the clubs and businesses that rely on Chasewater for their livelihood. This situation has gone on too long.