The Trust has scooped a highly commended place in the prestigious Waverley Design Awards for its Compasses Bridge project.

Project engineer Tony Ford was presented with the award in the Environment and Landscape category by Councillor David Else at a ceremony in Farnham, Surrey, last week. The awards, which celebrate good design in planning, architecture, sustainable development and landscaping, are organised by Waverley Borough Council and sponsored by The Haslemere Society. 

Judges said: “The Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s work at Compasses Bridge has opened the whole area up to the light and created a canalside haven. We have been impressed with the passion of the volunteers and that the whole community has been involved, and hope the commitment is mirrored in future projects.”

Compasses Bridge has been the Trust’s most ambitious project in Surrey. Construction at the entrance to the Dunsfold Aerodrome site at Dunsfold/Alfold began in June 2015 and the bridge was officially opened in October 2016 by Dame Penelope Keith. The project involved removing a concrete causeway created in the 1930s, along with constructing a new road and pedestrian bridge. The project cost £770,000, all funded by Wey & Arun Canal Trust members.