|
THE CANAL RESTORATION SOCIETY CONFERENCE
One of the highlights of the Canal Restoration Societies’ year is the opportunity to meet representatives of other societies, to exchange information, offer support, seek assistance and generally meet people with similar interests. This year’s conference was again at Sandwell in the Midlands and was even better attended than previously, with every seat taken and extras set out in the main body of the hall.
To cover more ground the meeting adopted a new formula whereby instead of having the main speakers during the earlier part of the day and the Societies’ input at the end, (often being unable to contribute through lack of time) they were intermingled, a main speaker followed by two or three societies then a break and so on.
During his welcoming address the IWA Chairman, Mr.Richard Drake, named the five new IWA Vice Presidents (including Martin Grundy who has served on SCARS Executive Committee). Proceedings continued with Tony Harrison the ResCom Chairman distributing awards: the Tim Wilkinson Award went to the Wendover Arm Trust, whilst the Neil Pitts Award went to the Droitwich Canal Society. Liz Pane, the acting chair for the day, then introduced the first speaker.
Nature Conservation and the Inland Waterways
John Pomfret : Environmental Consultant
John went through the various site designations which Restoration Societies might meet in the course of their work, the SSSIs, SPAs, SACs and Natura2000 sites, and emphasised that each site will have documentation which specifies the habitats and species which have to be protected. Societies must allow for this protection by building it into the proposed plan of work.
Where work is intended application must be made to the appropriate authority, e.g. English Nature, to obtain authorisation to carry it out. Hitherto it has been the case that where no consent has been given after four months it was assumed that it is a positive response and work commenced. This has now been reversed and a lack of response must be regarded as a refusal. It was suggested that wherever a special site lay in the path of restoration work early contact should be made with the appropriate authorities to plan well in advance of the project.
Navigation and wildlife can co-exist but some points need to be remembered:
All early navigations and canals were used by non-motorised sailing craft with no conflict of interest.
Some canals have authorised bodies entitled to abstract water supplies along their courses.
Powered vessels can give rise to pollution.
Restoration can result in the temporary and permanent loss of habitats
Navigation can arrest the natural succession ( any slowly moving lake or watercourse will, over time, silt up to form new land) and maintain bio-diversity.
Whilst boat propellers can stir up silt and thus damage a habitat they can also oxygenate the water, discourage weed growth and break up the spread of algae.
John concluded by outlining the sequence of actions needed when contemplating work in a special area. Whilst these included such items as establishing facts, listening and talking, collecting relevant data and so on, they boiled down to the need for all the groups involved to co-operate and compromise to produce and progress an acceptable and efficient Management Plan.
Society Reports:
Ashby Canal Progress Report.
Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Report. At present this group is experiencing difficulties with English Nature which would seem to prefer the canal to become a succession of water based nature reserves rather than a restored canal.
Huddersfield Narrow Canal Society. The spokesman reported the rapid progress which has taken place since The Waterways Trust and British Waterways took an active interest in the restoration. Its commitment to environmental protection was displayed by the efforts made to preserve the freshwater crayfish and freshwater sponges which have colonised the canal.
Pocklington Canal Society Progress Report. This Society has experienced problems with an SSSI. A new Draft Management Plan has concentrated more on nature conservation rather than heritage, historical or canal restoration benefits as previously. The protection of bio-diversity is now a powerful encouragement to restoration.
Barnsley Dearne and Dove Canal Trust. Initially set up as a pressure group to promote action by the local authority the trust is now more practical in orientation, carrying out lock clearance, tow path renewal and channel dredging. Its experience of environmental conflict concerns an accusation of damaging water vole habitats. A whole set of expensive measures was demanded for the voles including bankside ledges, willow planting and off site silt disposal. However an actual survey revealed the existence of just one vole. Future plans will create suitable habitat conditions for voles to colonise. Again it was stressed that there should be forward planning and agreement between all interested groups, and that if applications were slanted towards conservation there is plenty of funding available.
The Waterways Trust
Roger Hanbury : Chief Executive.
The Trust was described as an independent charitable body, set up by British Waterways with a UK wide remit working for charitable purposes within Charity Law, and governed by its own independent Board of Trustees. In this form it can do things which other statutory bodies are unable to do such as raise funds and finance projects. It is more flexible and less bureaucratic than other bodies, being able to move without Ministerial approval. Its major brief involves the promotion of partnerships which will extend the success of waterway regeneration. Its vision is “to see the U.K. waterway network supported, valued and enjoyed by all sections of the community”.
After its foundation in 1999 the Trust took over the three national waterways Museums, making them eligible for government funding which had previously been denied them; launched a £40M restoration programme, much of it in Northern England; developed a ‘fundraising template’ to simplify funding applications; received Government endorsement via the paper “Waterways for Tomorrow” (June 2000).
B.W. contract funding was made available to the Trust for its first four years to raise its profile in further fundraising.
Roger then went on to emphasise that sustainability should be regarded as vital for all projects.
There will be more public involvement via volunteer groups, improved access to waterways and greater recreational use.
Greater emphasis will be placed on education, promotion, interpretation and research.
Consideration will be given to the built and natural environment.
Planning will aim for social and economic benefits through regeneration and redevelopment.
At present there are four Active Restoration Schemes, The Ribble Link, The Rochdale Canal, the Huddersfield Canal and the Millennium Link (Scotland). The next set for attention may involve the Droitwich Canal, the Cotswold Canal, the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal and the Foxton Inclined Plane. Feasibility studies will be considered by IWA and IWAAC to firm up priorities.
Strategic Aims
To champion community benefits.
To work in partnerships.
To raise funding.
To facilitate waterway regeneration.
To facilitate the engagement of accredited volunteers for a range of activities from greeters to lock operators.
To facilitate public enjoyment of, and recreation along waterways.
To develop portfolios of museum archives and visitor facilities.
To promote educational initiatives, conference events and competitive awards.
To build financial strength
The Anderton/Rochdale model was commended as the way ahead with restoration schemes. Roger went on to discuss fund raising, partner organisations and the accredited volunteer scheme before concluding with “What Next”, drawing together many of the above strands of activity, stressing dialogue, mutual co-operation, education and partnerships.
A brief questioning session revealed that the proposed membership scheme will not be adopted although financial contributors may be termed ‘members’. The Trust will also become involved in ‘new’ waterways, linking existing canals to offer alternative routes. The trust will also promote the switching of commercial traffic back onto the waterways.
Anderton Lift Appeal: Waterways Trust. Roslyn Calderley extended the thanks of the Trust to those members present who had promoted the appeal, the first Gold Patron Award going to IWA. The original target of £250,000 has been reached but circumstances have meant that further £100,000 will be required. Audrey Smith (another ex SCARS Executive Committee Member) presented a cheque from IWA NW towards this appeal.
Health and Safety
Mike Palmer, Waterway Recovery Group Chairman.
Mike began by asking the why should we bother with such requirements and how to implement them?
The ‘Why’ part is straight forward in that the Health and Safety Executive and insurers will demand that H&S regulations are observed. On a less formal basis, societies have responsibility towards their members and the general public who will all respect those measures which are taken to protect them. Efficient forward planning can reveal problems before they occur, make the project operate more smoothly and save both time and money. Untrained volunteers can cause problems so they need to prove their competence through training. The simple answer to the ‘How’ is to work via the Practical Restoration Handbook, copies of which have been sent to all restoration groups.
The Waterway Recovery Group has tackled a wide range of projects from simple lock gate painting to a week’s camp involving complex logistics and elaborate programmes using heavy plant. On registration, volunteers are given a copy of the green safety booklet and the safety talk. This may be the WRG information or this may be augmented with information concerning a specific site. It is intended that the safety talk should be put onto video to eliminate repetition when volunteers arrive at different times. This assumes that video equipment will be available at base camp.
Working with Local Authorities
Bruce Hall.
The Local Authority is “a statutory body with responsibility for the administration of public services.” This may be a District Council, a County Council or a Unitary Authority, but it is the Waterway Movement’s task to work closely with them all.
Initial contact should be via an elected member of the district at the weekly Surgery. Approaches can also be made to the respective Officer for e.g. Transport, Planning, Forward Planning, having determined which category is applicable to canal restoration.
Aim to assemble large groups of those officers who have the authority and responsibility and hopefully the willingness to support restoration projects. Ask for advice, take officers along the tow path and show them the society’s plans. It pays to establish where the power lies within any authority, be this the Chair of the Council, the Leader of the Council or political party spokesmen and make direct approach to them.
In most Councils discussion of financial matters to round off the financial year in April takes place in November of the previous year. Thus appeals for ‘spare’ finance need to be submitted then.
Many LA’s are unaware of the many funding packages which they may be eligible to tap into, so societies should point these out where appropriate to their aims.
Societies should ‘drip in’ to LA’s ideas about restoring freight carriage, perhaps transporting waste by water, indicating a suitable funding source.
A much broader vision is needed than simple ‘restoration to navigable standards’. Emphasis should be placed on a wider span of users, walkers, fishermen, cyclists, aimed at promoting the countryside, heritage, history, transport, tourism and increased job opportunity of the region.
Societies should never publish information which has been provided by L.A. spokesmen unless this has been specifically agreed, and they should always be give credit to the L.A. for any actions which support the objectives of the society.
Huddersfield Canal Society: Is there life after Restoration?
This group has tended to work independently of the IWA since it formed its own contracting company. It still however drew from time to time on the resources of WRG and IWA restoration funding and officers from the latter have given their time as committee members.
Now that the restoration is well under way under British Waterways the Society is looking to the future. A website has been developed and will be regularly updated. A formal partnership is to be drawn up between the Society, the Millennium Commission and English Partnerships to monitor the future of the canal.
Regular Festivals are to be held and a promotional video prepared. Further links are to be established with other societies so that assistance and expertise can be offered. The Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre will be staffed by Society representatives as will the water taxi to be used to take visitors to the tunnel mouth . There will be a Volunteer Co-ordinating Officer to work on the planning and control of volunteer groups who will work on the canal environment
Return to frontpage
|
