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New life for Britain's best-loved rivers

9th Jan 2004

Britain's best-loved rivers are set for a bright future, according to a strategy unveiled by the Environment Agency at the Schroders London Boat Show attraction yesterday.

The Agency controls rivers including the Thames, the Wye, and the waterways of East Anglia. It is one of the partners behind Waterscape.com - together with British Waterways, which runs the Severn, Yorkshire Ouse, and several other rivers. The Agency is now planning to build more than 50 miles of new navigation, attract thousands more boaters to the Thames, and secure a new future for boating on the historic River Wye.

The new strategy, Your Rivers for Life, sets out for the first time an integrated plan for the development of the Agency’s waterways.

"We want to develop our rivers so that they offer facilities comparable with the best in Europe," said Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency. "Our rivers are cleaner than they ever have been, and provide wonderful opportunities for leisure and relaxation. Yet too often the boater, rower, sailor, walker or just the casual visitor finds it more and more difficult to access the river, is faced with disappearing marine and leisure facilities as well as an ageing infrastructure. Rivers used to be the lifeblood of their communities, and we would like to see them return there."

Your Rivers for Life sets out a 20-year vision for over 600 miles of river, headlined by three ambitious projects:

  • Thames Ahead seeks to improve facilities and

promote boating on England's Royal River. The project has already
started to turn around the decline in boat numbers on the
Thames.

  • The Cathedral Cities Link envisages a dramatic

new waterway linking the under-used waterways of Eastern England,
directly connecting the cathedral cities of Lincoln, Peterborough
and Ely. New marinas and waterside villages would be created along
the way, as part of "the biggest rural regeneration project in
Europe".

  • The River Wye in the 21st Century aims to

encourage eco-friendly boating on the beautiful river through the
Welsh Marches.

As well as setting out the longer-term aspirations, the strategy also sets out a number of smaller but substantial steps, supported by new 28 navigation policies, which the Agency will use to direct its work to over the next five years. These include:

  • A 'Waterway Plan' for each of the Agency's rivers.
  • More visitor moorings, frequent slipways, and easier-to-operate

locks for boaters.

  • Encouraging waterway freight to use the largest rivers.
  • Waterbus services in congested cities.
  • Identifying potential waterside developments that could help

bring in funds for navigation.

  • Encouraging electric boats with discounts on boating

charges.

  • Drawing up a "rational, logical, fair and equitable" system for

boat registrations, replacing the current fragmented charging
regime. Boaters will be able to register their craft online
through Waterscape.com.

David Lawrence, Head of Recreation & Navigation for the Environment Agency, said he saw an exciting future for these "magnificent rivers". He continued: "We see our rivers not only as a home for an abundance of wildlife but also, equally, as a source of enjoyment for residents and visitors and as a provider of jobs and local wealth. Ultimately, we can offer a balance of benefits that are good for people, good for the economy and good for the environment."

Last updated: 22/10/2008