Lucky escape from New Cut mud

A man in his 30s had a lucky escape when he got stuck in the mud in the Avon New Cut. Fire crews turned up in Coronation Road after the man was spotted late last night. Fire and Rescue staff had to use ropes and lines to rescue the man, who was taken to hospital as a precaution.

A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Firefighters managed to navigate the steep banks and rescue the casualty from the mud.' Nobody seems to know how the man became stuck or what he was doing at the time.

New Cut 200 - further celebrations

A Celebratory party with Irish band "Sergeant Early's Dream". Monday 4 May, 7pm to 11pm on the Grain Barge. Tickets £4 each from the Southville Centre. Available now!

Celebrate 200 years of the New Cut on 4 May

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Avon New Cut and Feeder Canal and the opening of Bristol's Floating Harbour, there will be a Fun Day on 4 May by Brunel's SS Great Britain.

The original celebration in May 1809 featured a party where a hog roast and a specially brewed beer was enjoyed by the Irish builders and Bristol townsfolk alike. For the 2009 celebration, Brunel's ss Great Britain will host the hog roast, while the Bristol Beer Factory has produced a special Cut Blaster beer.

There will also be entertainment for the whole family including:

• Tales of the Cut with an Irish actor and "Show of Strength".


• Irish dancers and Morris dancers.


• A jazz band (also performing on the Harbourside train).


• Sea Shanty singers


• A treasure hunt plus other fun and games for children.
  

May celebrations for New Cut anniversary

Preparations are being made for a major celebration to mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of the New Cut. Events will include a hog roast, street theatre with Show of Strength, music, dancing, and fun and games for all the family. This will be held adjacent to the ss Great Britain during the afternoon of Monday 4th May – make a note of the date in your diaries now!

Clean up the Cut on 7 March

Do you want to help clean up the Avon New Cut? On Saturday 7 March you can join a working party cleaning up the Cumberland Road riverbank between Gods Garden and the Chocolate Path. Meet at 10.00am at Gaol Ferry Bridge. Wear strong shoes and warm clothing. Free coffee and cake afterwards!

Lend FrANC a hand on 7 Febuary

If you want to do your bit for the environment, then the Friends of the Avon New Cut (FrANC) are inviting volunteers to join a working party to clean up the Coronation Road side of the riverbank. If you'd like to help out for a couple of hours, meet at 10am at Gaol Ferry Bridge and don't forget to wear warm clothes and strong footwear.