CEO’s message for May 2022

CEO recruitment

The recruitment of my successor as CEO is in full swing. After reviewing many applications for this position, the Trust has narrowed them down to produce a shortlist of three. These candidates will be interviewed in June by a panel of five, three from the Trustees and two from the Executive Committee. We expect to be able to announce the successful candidate’s name before I step down on 30th June. I have told the Trustees that I want to continue my involvement with our project by becoming one of them. I will be standing for election at our October AGM.

Update on the M4 Crossing story

Our Phase 1 report to National Highways (NH) on the economic and environmental impacts of our M4 Crossing project has been reviewed by them. It has produced favourable internal commentary on the benefits it will produce. The next step will be a decision, to fund Phase 2 or not, by NH’s Investment Decision Committee at its next meeting on 13th June. Fingers crossed, please! If the NH decision is favourable we will have taken a major step forward in the removal of the single biggest obstacle to our canal’s complete restoration.

Roll-out of updated Health & Safety (H&S) procedures

A live, real people meeting on 13th May made the decision to adopt the Trust’s updated Health & Safety procedures and to commence their roll-out to our Branches and their WPOs. Our H&S consultants, RLB of Bristol, who have played a big part in the preparation of the procedures, were on hand to give an overview presentation to launch this very important piece of work. Jon Coates, our Chief Engineer, who has led this large enabling project for WBCT, published the full document set on Monday 23rd May. It is now accessible online for everybody that needs to read and understand its implications for their work