This event was something of a milestone in canal history in that a group of Canal Restoration Societies was holding its conference on premises belonging to British Waterways. This would have been unheard of only a few years ago and is indicative of the changes in attitude of both groups of representatives. BW's new Leeds headquarters lies on the bank of the navigable River Aire, just downstream of the entrance locks to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, immediately across the river from the site of the new Royal Armouries building. The lower floor of the building is raised on stilts in case of flooding, and judging by the silt deposits on the tow path, this foresight has paid off.

The morning session took the form of a news update from the Societies present. Such was the input that many societies were unable to contribute within the time allocated, but a great deal of encouragement was forthcoming from the various representatives who did so. The majority of reports, whatever their scales, were very positive: from the long awaited recommissioning of the Anderton Lift this coming September and the reopening of the Huddersfield Canal on the day following the conference, to the increased in-water section of the Ashby Canal, the official preservation of the line of the Caldon Canal and the agreement of The Waterways Trust to carry out an audit of the Derby Canal Trust to identify the latter's next steps towards restoration.

The first phase of the restoration of the Foxton Incline Plane has now been financed, the Colgrave section of the Grantham Canal is now back in water, BW has funded a ground survey to identify the causes of the leakage at Buxworth Basin, work on the Pocklington continues, using a welcome grant from Heritage Funds, whilst The Louth Navigation Trust has completed the purchase and restoration of its warehouse and is now addressing the problem of finding a permanent Manager.

Obviously all the projects cannot be progressing as well as societies would have liked. The foot and mouth outbreak has prevented dredging work from going ahead on the Upper Reaches of the Lancaster Canal, so this work has been postponed until next year. Shortages in funding have limited the length of the new locks in the Ribble Link, but efforts are in hand to raise the shortfall to allow full length boats to access the Lancaster canal at Preston. Meanwhile in the Midlands, the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Society is still battling with the local authority regarding the considerable damage which would be done to the waterway if the proposed northern relief road is built as planned.

The afternoon session commenced with Ian White of B W North East speaking as a last minute substitute for David Fletcher, the intended speaker, who had been detained to appear in a television interview about the waterways. Ian congratulated NCA on the progress it had made on since its inception, not on small-scale activities but on large projects which have, and will have, long-term benefits. He also commented on the positive attitude of the Association towards British Waterways grateful that the mutual mistrust of previous years seems to have gone for good. He went on to praise the developing partnership between B W and IWAAC, stressing the benefits which can be achieved as a result of such co-operation.

BW has become much more involved in canal restoration on both the practical level and in providing the necessary funding. Many millions of pounds and a great deal of effort have already gone into the works on the Kennet and Avon Canal, the Huddersfield Canal, the Millennium Link in Glasgow, the Rochdale Canal, the Anderton Boat Lift and the Ribble Link, whilst future consideration is being given to other projects such as the Grantham Canal, the Chesterfield Canal, the Sleaford Navigation, the Ashby Canal and the Derby Canal. The latter group it should be stressed are only at the consideration stage and no firm decision has been taken as to which will form the second tranche of projects.

Ian concluded with consideration of the main issues for the waterway restoration movement. Funding will not be made available for 'canal restoration' schemes in future. Projects must become involved in conservation work, both of the natural and built environment, wildlife and heritage. All should progress via feasibility studies which establish their impact assessment and their strategy for dealing with any difficulties which might emerge. There remains a vital role for the voluntary sector, which has much to offer in its accumulated skills and abilities and its close involvement with public access and the social consequences of restoration.
The next speaker was Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust who went through the foundation of the Trust, the reasons for its existence, the sustainable benefits to be obtained from its activities and how it was intended to bring these about. These details have been covered in a previous issue of Canal Cuttings.

He went on to describe the characteristics of a restoration scheme which would be most likely to be adopted by the Waterways Trust as a suitable project for the next tranche.
(These are of vital importance to SCARS and are as follows:-)
· Projects should be deliverable over a five year period.
· Projects should be well developed technically through professional consultation.
· Projects should have their environment, social and economic studies completed for consideration including future management and sustainability.
· Projects should have their funding strategies completed.

There are now four categories of waterway restoration projects:
Category 1: those which fit all the above criteria, their future benefits being clearly set out.
Category 2: those which are in development but awaiting funding or other input.
Category 3: those which are at the very beginning of their lives with little achieved so far.
Category 4: those which have been rejected ( none known in this category at present).

Details were given of the Trust's plans to make waterways archive materials available to all, across a wide span of technology, and requested assistance eventually from all the Societies present in setting up such a resource bank. He suggested that societies should record their completed projects with whatever materials was available, text, plans, maps, diagrams, photographs etc which could eventually be included in the national archive.

Roger concluded with reference to the Trust's fund raising intentions, the need to develop partnerships, and stressed the willingness of the Trust to speak to any funding sources which may dismiss a small society but would take greater notice of a Trust Representative.

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