Dawlish News

Dawlish Water Wheel Project has already come across the first unexpected problem. When lifting the wheel off the bearing housing it was found that both were broken in half. These will now need to be repaired, adding to the
cost. This first phase should be completed early in the new year.

The next phase will be the rubbing down and painting of the main wheel structure. Also, the pointing in of the brickwork around the wheel sump and walls, plus the painting of the wall.

This work is to be done by volunteers. The project already has a list of people wishing to help, but if there are any more wanting to help, please contact Geoff or Helen Wills on 01626 862424. There is plenty to be done to get the wheel completed and working by the summer.

The new replacement buckets have been ordered. This was partly due to the cost of steel rising by 15 per cent per month over the next three months. The project has sufficient funds to cover these, but not yet to cover the fitting of them on to the wheel.

Money is coming in for this part, which has been helped by a donation from the chamber of trade and Dawlish Town Council. Teignbridge Council has already given £5,000, which has been match-funded.

Having now raised a further £4,000, the project is to write to the district council again to ask to have the same amount released towards the next phase. As well as this, it has applied to Lottery Awards for All for a donation.

There are also still buckets available to be sponsored at a cost of £25 each.

More work has to be done once the wheel itself is completed. This will entail organising a water supply and some sort of barrier to make the area safe.