Merseyside
Working through the Merseyside Canal Partnership, British Waterways has drawn up a blueprint for developing the Leeds & Liverpool Canal all the way from the urban heartland of Liverpool to the edge of rural Merseyside at Aintree racecourse.
The Merseyside Canal Corridor Study identifies opportunities and calls for a range of measures to be introduced, designed to improve the quality of life along the waterway. It focuses on:
- Identifying sites where canalside businesses can flourish
- Developing safe, accessible moorings and marina developments
- Introducing access and conservation measures that enhance existing canal features
- Expanding leisure, tourism and recreational amenities for all
- Engaging local communities in projects that develop a sense of shared ownership
The North West Development Agency and South Sefton Partnership are supporting these measures from which will flow a five-year action plan that will see swathes of canal side transformed.
Towpath improvement works are already planned by Sefton MBC as part of the Sustrans Initiative, linking with the Trans Pennine Trail. To complement this the study proposes improvements to canalside boundaries, creation of communal garden areas for functional use and the opening up of existing green spaces and views to the canal to help create a safer and more attractive environment. The study also examines spin-off benefits such as housing developments and centres for recreational pursuits like fishing, cycling, canoeing and boat hire, as well as covering every aspect of the canal's potential. Local communities, wildlife and visitors to the area will all benefit from this renaissance.
The local branch of the Inland Waterways Association, together with the Mersey Motor Boat Club - reputed to be the oldest such club in the country - have campaigned long and hard for the canal through Merseyside. One recent attention-grabbing exercise was a flotilla of over 25 narrowboats which cruised to watch the Grand National horse race at Canal Turn.
Communities along the whole length of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal are starting to care for sections of canal as their own, creating picnic sites and safe recreational areas to benefit their neighbourhoods. At the end of the canal in Liverpool, the Eldonian Village is at the forefront of community-focused regeneration and it highlights the attractive aspect of urban canal side living. Christine Wall, Regeneration Officer, says: "A vital component to this scheme is engaging local communities. We want to ensure the views of everyone are taken into account." (For more information, you can contact Christine on 01925 847700 or email christine.wall@britishwaterways.co.uk.)
Keeping the canal clean
An 18 mile stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Merseyside is kept safe, clean and tidy by a dedicated team of five British Waterways staff. They maintain structures such as locks, bridges and towpaths, and their work includes grass cutting, bank repairs, cleaning and giving assistance to boaters and other users on the canal.
Over the past couple of years, the team has worked hard to clean up the canal and create a more attractive environment for residents, visitors and boaters to enjoy. In 2000 and 2001, the Stanley Lock flight won first and second prizes respectively in the national British Waterways Lock & Bridge Competition, reflecting the improvements to the area. Since then, new lock gates have been installed, a special weed-cutting vessel purchased, and a new service station built for boaters.
But according to Steven Bergquist, their supervisor, the most time-consuming job is dealing with people's rubbish. "During the summer months, the Liverpool section of the canal suffers badly from people throwing in litter and fly-tipping, and much of the team's time is taken up on surface-dredging the canal."
contact us
print page