Waterway Oscars seek nominations

The second 'Waterway Oscars' are being planned, and the organisers are looking for nominations.

The Waterways Renaissance Awards 2003, backed by the BBC's Countryfile presenter John Craven, seek to recognise the best waterway regeneration and restoration schemes throughout Britain. They are organised by the Waterways Trust and the British Urban Regeneration Association. The categories are:

• Community: sponsored by British Waterways
• Design: sponsored by ISIS Waterside

Regeneration

• Heritage & Conservation: sponsored by

English Heritage

• Partnership: sponsored by AWG Construction

Services

• Tourism: sponsored by the Department for

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• Waterside Development: sponsored by the

Environment Agency

• Youth Projects & Education: sponsored by

Regeneration & Renewal

The Awards will be judged in the autumn by an independent panel of waterway experts, and presented at a prestigious ceremony hosted by John Craven on 16 March 2004. The panel of 18 will be chaired by Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of the Waterways Trust, and also includes John Fletcher of the Inland Waterways Association, Judith Grice of British Waterways, Eileen McKeever from the Environment Agency, and BURA's Professor Peter Roberts.

All projects wishing to enter The Waterways Renaissance Awards 2003 will need to complete a nomination form and supply supplementary information. The closing date for nominations is 12 September 2003. Nomination forms are available from BURA, 63-66 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8LE (0800 0181 260), or e-mail awards@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk.