Roundponds Farm, Shurnhold, Melksham, SN12 8DF
Tel: 01225 708306,
Fax: 01225 703061




Working for Melksham's past and Melksham's future
Home Page
About the Trust
Current activities
Wilts & Berks Canal
Millennium Lake
Contacts Meetings



Survey - Questionnaire
A Millennium Lake for Melksham
Emerging plans for the canal and river will present an opportunity to examine other possibilities. Each year the flooding of fields to the south of Melksham show the attractions of water adjoining the town. The Trust continue to promote the idea of forming a permanent lake one mile long in the river valley. Such a feature could be engineered as a reservoir to hold around five hours of peak river flow, this may have flood control possibilities which could help Bradford on Avon. Many engineering and environmental studies are required to develop this idea.
Challymead fields in flood
Illustrations of a linear lake with canal and sailing craft, sited between Melksham Forest and the river.


The environmental and economic benefits of waterside amenities at the Cotswold Water Park and in adjoining towns such as Devizes, Bradford on Avon, and Bath are very evident, we hope that Melksham will also be able to enjoy its water resources?
Another possibility is that any canal route coming into the town and through to the Kennet and Avon canal could be widened to provide for other water interests such as sailing.


60 acre Challymead lake south of Melksham

20 acre Forest lake north of Melksham

Illustration of Forest Lake
Visitors