The Atkins Report
At last, though delayed over six months by further technical
investigations, the Draft Atkins Report is now out. Broadly speaking, the
restoration of the Sankey is said to be both feasible, and financially
justifiable over a reasonable pay-back period. A more detailed summary of
the Report will appear in a future CUTTINGS.
At present, it is being evaluated by Officers of the three Boroughs,
Warrington, St Helens, and Halton, which commissioned it. SCARS has also,
of course, received copies, and they are being studied closely by Members
of our own Executive, and by Consulting Engineers whom we can call on
through the Inland Waterways Association.
This initial evaluation period will go on until mid-July. The Final Report
will be drawn up in the light of that process, and the results forwarded,
by September, to the relevant Committees of the Borough Councils.
During September and October, it is hoped that the Councils will receive
the Report with enthusiasm, and authorise their Officers to proceed with
putting together plans to take the work of restoring the Canal forward.
In November, if all goes well, a Reception will be held to release the
Report, and to launch the Restoration Project which will hopefully see the
Sankey back in navigable use by its 250th Anniversary in 2007.
In the meantime, SCARS is looking at procedures for the setting up of a
Trust for the Sankey. This Trust will co-ordinate efforts to raise the
funds for restoration, undertake the letting of contracts for the
restoration, and be the organisation which will run the restored canal.
The membership of the Trust will be drawn from statutory, business, and
voluntary organisations. Some will already be involved with the Sankey,
but others will be drawn in to provide the most workable means of achieving
our restoration schedule. Of all the tasks ahead of those concerned with
the Sankey, the establishment of this Trust is probably the most important
and significant.
We would be very grateful for any advice our readers can offer in this
matter. If you have any experience in this field, or can offer any
professional services (legal, financial etc) to SCARS to assist this
process, please get in touch with our Secretary, Steve Freeman, at the
Groundwork Trust, St Helens.
Serious work on establishing the Trust will begin with our Executive
Meeting on August 15th. Anyone who is able to help us can ask for an
invitation to that meeting (telephone Steve on 01744 739396).
In a related vein, presentation of the case for restoration in order to
attract the very high levels of funding required will be very important.
Having seen some very glossy and well-produced bid documents for funding
for many different projects, we are under no illusion about the standards
we have to aspire to. However, SCARS does lack anyone with talent in the
field of illustration and presentation... as far as we know. However,
there may be a Member, or supporter, reading this who can offer us their
skills. If so, we need you, please get in touch....
Canal Cuttings Issue 3.4 Index
David@SCARS.demon.co.uk
http://www.blacksheep.org/canals
Web Edition Edited by Phil Long
(http://www.geocities.com/broadway/1701/index.html)