Towpath Telegraph

British Waterways towpath telegraph – December 2009

Welcome to the December 2009 newsletter for waterway stakeholders. Please see a selection of tales from the towpath below.

Creating a ‘national trust’ for the waterways.
The ‘foundations’ of waterway funding.
The power of waterways.
‘Moor’ the merrier.
Addressing mediocrity in waterside development.
Bumper year for ‘Ratty’ on Britain’s canals.

Creating a ‘national trust’ for the waterways

Britain’s historic inland waterway network is one of the finest examples of industrial heritage in the world and deserves a long-term plan for its future. Earlier this year British Waterways, which cares for roughly a third of the surviving network, proposed setting up a ‘national trust’ for the waterways. The recently published report – Setting a new course: Britain’s waterways in the third sector – sets out some of the opportunities such a path would offer.

By moving into the third sector British Waterways aims to increase the level of public and volunteer participation in the waterways and widen the network’s supporter base. As a third sector organisation, a wider range of community stakeholders could have a say in new governance arrangements, whilst British Waterways’ directors and management could work to much longer horizons with the security of an agreed long term government funding contract. If it were a UK charity, British Waterways would be the 13th largest by income; comparable to charities such as the British Red Cross and Barnardo’s.

Tony Hales, chairman, said: “I believe the third sector is the best and only feasible option to continue the renaissance of Britain’s aging waterways. Moving to the third sector would secure a more socially, environmentally and economically sustainable future for this important national treasure.”

The proposals have received warm support from a range of stakeholders and partners and British Waterways will put forward firm recommendations in the Spring.

Click to see the full report.

The ‘foundations’ of waterway funding

In December the Government ended speculation about the sale of British Waterways’ property endowment in England and Wales by announcing its preferred approach to “consider alternative models for the business as a whole, such as mutual or third sector structures”.

The new approach, contained in the Asset Portfolio, which accompanied the Smarter Government White Paper, confirms and builds on previous Treasury conclusions in April 2009 that there was no economic case to sell off British Waterways’ property assets and such a sale would not achieve best public value.

British Waterways’ management of its property endowment has been integral to the widely acclaimed renaissance of the 200-year old waterways over the last decade, and helps to fund around half of British Waterways’ annual maintenance budget. British Waterways is influencing and enabling an estimated £10 billion of waterside regeneration across the country and each year its canals, rivers and docks deliver approximately £500 million in public benefits to the country.

British Waterways’ property endowment is fundamental to any future move into the third sector and speculation about its potential disposal has already led to one of the ten largest e-Petitions on the No.10 Downing Street website.

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The power of waterways

Britain’s waterways are multi-functional forms of infrastructure supporting local communities and economies. Canals and rivers underpin hundreds of SMEs and thousands of jobs within the marine sector in manufacturing, tourism and services. Attractions in their own right, they are proven catalysts for regeneration and community cohesion.

This role can only be realised through strong partnership and British Waterways has created a new regeneration directorate which will focus on delivery in all of these key areas. By working with local partners over coming months, the team will help ensure waterside communities realise the full potential of their local canal or river.

British Waterways supported the publication earlier in 2009 of the Town and Country Planning Association’s policy advice note on inland waterways – Unlocking the potential and securing the future of inland waterways through the planning system. Waterways support communities’ recreation, health and sustainable transport facilities. They also provide valuable cultural, heritage and environmental benefits and promote community interaction. The report concluded that waterways need to be addressed and supported at all the different planning policy levels to help unlock the diverse range of public benefits they offer and secure their long-term sustainability and use as publicly owned community assets.

A copy of the report is downloadable here: http://www.tcpa.org.uk/pages/inland-waterways.html

‘Moor’ the merrier

British Waterways is currently inviting views on its proposed policy for both leisure and residential moorings in England and Wales. Addressing some of the challenges arising from the sustained growth and popularity in boating, the consultation primarily considers how mooring space along the waterways should be managed.

The consultation looks at where, and for how long, boats should be permitted to moor in areas of particularly high usage. This could see rules pertaining to length of stay being set through a process of local, stakeholder-led mooring strategies which, in certain instances, could include the levying of daily charges for overstaying boats. Residential boating is also considered, including BW’s policy to encourage further official residential moorings at suitably located sites.

Robin Evans, BW’s chief executive, comments: “The consultation looks at how we best manage the limited space along the line of the canals to protect the qualities that make them so special, not only to boaters but to the public at large.”

The consultation will be of interest to boat owners, particularly residential boaters, boating trade and anglers, but also waterside businesses, neighbours and local authorities. Comments are invited by 31st January 2010. See www.britishwaterways.co.uk/mooringconsultation09.

Addressing mediocrity in waterside development

British Waterways is the custodian of the third largest estate of listed structures in the UK, from towering aqueducts and world heritage sites to humble bridges and lock cottages. Once vital in supporting the Industrial Revolution, England's 200-year-old network of canals, rivers and docks is now experiencing a vibrant renaissance and is more popular than ever for leisure and recreation purposes. Savvy developers and local authorities have understood the benefits of creative regeneration of the historic waterfront but mediocre development can be more harmful than simple neglect.

To address this issue, British Waterways has partnered with English Heritage to produce: England's Historic Waterways: A working heritage, promoting high quality waterside development. This publication demonstrates how good contextual design that embraces the historic character of the waterfront is central to success.

British Waterways and English Heritage launched the publication at a breakfast debate attended by more than 120 professionals from the architectural and regeneration sectors and chaired by Paul Finch, programme director for the World Architecture Festival.

You can download the publication or listen to the audio recording of the debate www.britishwaterways.co.uk/our-work/delivering-public-benefit/heritage. Alternatively, for a hard copy of England’s Historic Waterways email florence.salberter@britishwaterways.co.uk

Bumper year for ‘Ratty’ on Britain’s canals

The water vole, the UK's fastest declining mammal, seems to be making good use of canals, with twice as many sightings recorded across the country in British Waterways’ latest waterways wildlife survey. The water vole, immortalised as ‘Ratty’ in The Wind in the Willows, joined nearly 300 different species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and other mammals that were spotted by waterways visitors during April to October.

Dr Mark Robinson, British Waterways’ national ecology manager, said: “Canals and rivers are ideal wildlife corridors that support a vast array of wildlife. Whether you are in the middle of a city, or somewhere more remote, you are almost guaranteed to see some exciting wildlife on the waterway. If you look a little harder you might even see something rare or unusual.

“Each record helps us to monitor, protect and preserve the amazing biodiversity found on our waterways. With 50 per cent of the UK’s population living within five miles of a freely accessible canal or river, there’s never been a better time to get closer to nature.”

Rare butterflies, otters, a porpoise and even an alligator snapping turtle were among the less common of the 42,500 sightings recorded. To find out more, visit www.waterscape.com/wildlifesurvey