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Waterways partnerships


In 2012, British Waterways’ canals and rivers in England and Wales will be transferred to the care of a new waterways charity, called the Canal & River Trust. The government is placing these waterways in trust for the nation, and that means that it is important for the people who use them to have a greater say in how they are run. One of the ways that this will happen is through the Waterways Partnerships.

There will be thirteen of these partnerships – eleven representing administrative waterways regions, one for the charity's waterways museums and attractions, and one for Welsh issues. They will be made up of a range of people representing different waterways interests - such as boaters, walkers, cyclists and anglers – and people with relevant expertise in areas like volunteering, fundraising, environment, heritage and community engagement.

Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust, is working with local waterway managers to recruit chairs for the Waterways Partnerships. Roger says: “Waterways Partnerships shape the strategies for each waterway, guide decisions about spending, and help develop external funding and volunteering. They will champion the interests of the waterways and develop local engagement.”

What stage is your local Partnership at?

North West

A trial Partnership is already in place. It is made up of experienced businesses leaders, community figureheads and local canal enthusiasts. Its progress will be reviewed before the launch of the charity, with a view to releasing it from trial status.

It has been confirmed that Professor Steven Broomhead will become chair. Currently professor of entrepreneurial education at Liverpool Hope University, Steven previously spent eight years as chief executive at Northwest Regional Development Agency, prior to which he was chief executive at Warrington Borough Council. He has held the position of chair at a number of private and public organisations.

Read more about the members of the North West Waterway Partnership

North East

Mark Penny, previously Yorkshire Water Director of Customer Service and Networks, has been appointed Chair of this Partnership. We
we are now looking for the other Partnership members.

Manchester and Pennine

Professor Walter Menzies has been appointed as chair. Previously chief executive of the Mersey Basin Campaign, a third sector partnership dedicated to sustainable development through the improvement of waters, the regeneration of watersides and the engagement of communities and businesses. Walter has also held non-executive positions at Waterwise, Healthy Waterways Trust, Land Restoration Trust and Look 2011.

We are now in the process of selecting the members of this Partnership.

North Wales and Borders

Jim Forrester has been appointed as chair. Jim is currently director at Imperial War Museum North in Manchester where he has delivered services to over 2,500,000 visitors over the last ten years and drawn in champions, stakeholders and potential funders, raising substantial capital and revenue funding each year. Previously a boatbuilder on the canals, Jim has spent the last 27 years working within charities in a variety of roles; from boat conservator to director of a new branch of a national museum in the region.

We are now in the process of selecting the members of this Partnership.

West Midlands

A trial Partnership is already in place. It is made up of experienced businesses leaders, community figureheads and local canal enthusiasts. Its progress will be reviewed before the launch of the charity, with a view to releasing it from trial status.

It has been confirmed that Peter Mathews CMG will chair the Partnership. Peter is past chair of the Black Country Consortium, which works to coordinate regeneration in the Black Country area of the West Midlands, and chairman and managing director of Black Country Metals. A prominent business leader, Peter has held the position of chair at various national and international organisations including The World Recycling Conference, UKTI Advanced Engineering and the Midlands World Trade Forum.

Read an update on the West Midlands Waterway Partnership

Central Shires

Charlotte Atkins, former MP,has been appointed Chair of this Partnership. We are now looking for the other Partnership members.

East Midlands

Danny Brennan, Company Director, has been appointed Chair of the Partnership. we are now looking for the other Partnership members.

South Wales and Severn

Jack Hegarty has been appointed as chair. Jack has been managing director of Wychavon District Council since 2004, where he leads a complex public sector organisation, builds relationships with Ministers, MPs and Councillors and deals with local communities and partner organisations at a national and local level. He was directly involved with the Droitwich Canal restoration for 11 years.

We are now in the process of selecting the members of this Partnership.

South East

John Best, former Chief Executive, Milton Keynes Council, has been appointed Chair of the Partnership. We are now looking for the other Partnership members.

Kennet & Avon

Fleur de Rhe Philipe has been appointed as chair. Fleur has been a member of Wiltshire Council since 1997, currently as cabinet member for economic development and strategic planning. As company secretary of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust for ten years Fleur was instrumental in setting up the partnership which achieved a grant of £25 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to complete the restoration of the waterway.

We are now recruiting for members of this Partnership.

London

Brian Fender,previously Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding Council for England, has been appointed Chair of this Partnership. We are now looking for the other Partnership members.

All Wales Partnership

Dr Mark Lang has been appointed Chair of this Partnership. Dr Mark Lang is committed to the building of a strong Welsh civic society, and to best practice regeneration and economic development activities. He is a Fellow of the Centre for Regeneration Excellence Wales, and is Director of Communications for Cambrian Transport. Formerly a political advisor to a member of the National Assembly for Wales, he has a PhD in Political Science from Cardiff University.

We are now recruiting for members of this Partnership.

Museums and Attractions Partnership

Laurence Newman will chair the Museum Partnership. Chairman, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. Previously, Laurence spent 20 years with KPMG where he was the partner responsible for their Leisure and Tourism Consulting Group. He is also a non-executive director of Grove End Housing Ltd, a trustee of Creativity, Culture and Education and a member of the Advisory Board of The Foundation, a growth and innovation consultancy.

We are now in the process of selecting members for this partnership.

Last updated: 18/04/2012

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