Boaters’ Update July 2008
This month we cover freight by water to the Olympic Park, a photo competition to celebrate 200 years of the Kennet & Avon Canal and the EFRA Committee restoration project.
Wakefield warehouse a top ten industrial building
An article in the Guardian newspaper with the headline 'Run of the mill they’re not', listed Navigation Warehouse, part of the BW led regeneration of Wakefield Waterfront, in a top ten of industrial buildings whose reuse is making a lasting impression on West Yorkshire’s regeneration.
Richard Curtis, from BW's development team comments: "Whilst the city's waterways have played a significant role in the city’s industrial heritage and economic prosperity, they have not been fulfilling their potential for some time. It is delightful to see the waterside coming back to life. I am particularly proud of the sensitive restoration of Navigation Warehouse which will see the original character of the building retained."
Read about the Wakefield’s waterside regeneration
Freight by water to the Olympic Park
Aggregate Industries UK Ltd has won the contract to move aggregates to the Olympic Park – including 25% by water (equating to some 250,000 tonnes). The company will be the sole provider of sand, gravel, crushed stone and the recycled concrete needed for the construction of the venues and infrastructure for the Olympic Park. The use of the Bow Back Rivers for moving waterborne freight required is only being made possible by the construction of Prescott Lock, and water control structure.
Aggregate Industries (via their subsidiary Allen C Bennett & Sons Ltd) plan to use two 100 tonne barges (Lee Class) and three 350 tonne barges to provide a typical daily delivery by water of between 500-1000 tonnes.
Dave Allen commercial director of Allen C Bennett & Sons Ltd comments: "We are delighted to get freight traffic back on the river. This is a lovely reward for both ourselves and BW and is as a result of championing and promoting the idea of using the Bow Back Rivers and building Prescott Lock."
Read more about freight movements on the Bow Back Rivers
Vacancies at BW's long term moorings
The tendering trial continues with evidence that boaters are becoming more confident in using the system. The average day sees one vacancy being advertised somewhere on the BW network. There are still bargains to be had, but generally closing prices are running ahead of the guide.
Remember to have your formal say before Wednesday 20 August on how we should allocate vacancies in future by responding to the public consultation.
More about British Waterways mooring consultation online
Photo competition celebrates 200 years of the K&A
BW has teamed up with newspapers in the south west to launch a photo competition to create a calendar to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Kennet & Avon Canal.
The rules are simple; all you have to do is get out along the canal with your camera and take a photo of anything you like, from wildlife and people to boats and the landscape – the choice is yours. The final 12 short listed photos will be published in a limited edition calendar to mark the bicentenary of the Kennet & Avon Canal in 2010.
Find out more about the K&A photo competition
Antonine Wall gains World Heritage status
The Antonine Wall in Scotland has been awarded World Heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), elevating it to the same level of importance as renowned sites such as the pyramids. The wall follows much the same path as the Forth & Clyde Canal, joining the West and East coasts of Scotland.
Read more about the Antonine Wall World Heritage status
If Government wants to obtain the public benefits of canal investment, it should bear the risks, concludes House of Commons Committee. In a report published in early July, the Committee says that canal restoration can produce knock-on benefits such as more jobs and visitor income. But the risks have to be spread more widely among the public sector instead of just BW, which often gets little immediate direct benefit from such work.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee concludes that British Waterways should not be expected to bear most of the financial risk for the restoration of canals. The Government needs to develop a mechanism to score and prioritise public investment in canal restoration according to the external benefits created, and decide how the financial risks of such projects should be borne.
The Committee inquiry was prompted by BW's decision in February this year to withdraw from the partnership to restore the Cotswold Canals because of the financial risk involved, and BW’s increased obligations arising for the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal breach.
Commenting on the report British Waterways' chairman Tony Hales said: "This is an extremely useful contribution to the debate. The Committee's main conclusion that the bodies which benefit most from waterway restoration should also bear the risks involved goes to the heart of the matter. I am grateful to the Committee for the time they have given to debating and raising awareness of this important subject, its work can only help to enhance the prospect for future waterway restorations and that must be a good thing."
Read more about the EFRA report
Richard Bowker named BW's new Vice Chairman
Richard Bowker has been named the new vice chairman of British Waterways. Richard is a keen boater who has cruised the waterways extensively on his own narrowboat. Having been a board member for the past four years, Richard is also the Chief Executive of the National Express Group plc and a former chairman and chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority.
Waterscape weekly update returns
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