Trustees' Report and Accounts - Canal & River Trust

Waterways
partnerships
Our partnerships have made a great start at putting the waterways at
the heart of local communities and on the agenda of businesses and local
authorities. They are each developing visions and action plans that will
shape their waterways over the next decade. In the short term they are
already making a difference and here is a tiny snapshot.
Manchester & Pennine
“A top priority project for the Waterway is the transformation of the
canal corridor right through the heart of the City of Manchester,
linking Castlefield with Piccadilly Basin. Securing the first £15,000
has enabled us to make a start on this, working closely with
Manchester City Council and Cityco.” – Walter Menzies
North Wales & Borders
“As part of establishing the North Wales & Borders Partnership, we’ve
met with key potential partners from Cheshire & Warrington Local
Enterprise Partnership to Welsh Asembly Members to highlight the
importance of waterways to the region’s economic agenda. The future
is all about collaborative working.” – Jim Forrester
North East
“Through our partnership we are working with the Mirfield Community
Partnership and volunteers to make river and canal banks safer, tidier
and more accessible. This exciting project will create a new four-mile
walking and cycling route from Cooper Bridge, Huddersfield to Calder
Bridge, Ravensthorpe.” – Mark Penny
North West
“We have been able to put canals on the local authority agenda
in the North West. The CEOs for the five local authorities have
agreed to establish the Pennine Lancashire Canal Sub-group,
with representatives from senior levels from each authority and the
Chamber of Commerce taking part.” – Steve Broomhead
East Midlands
“We have taken the view that engaging with the communities around the
waterways and our partners must play a central part in building a solid
foundation for what we do in the future – so we are making sure our
plans are both realistic and locally relevant.” – Danny Brennan
West Midlands
“We’ve worked closely with The Wildlife Trust to embed our priorities in
their Nature Improvement Area bid. That has meant we have become a
key partner in this project and ensured waterways are a cornerstone in a
wider environmental improvement project.” – Peter Mathews CMG
Central Shires
“Spotting a grant opportunity we were able to work with the Trust
to make a successful application for £20,000 to help promote a
local destination site. This was much-needed investment and has
also enriched our relationship with the local community.”
– Charlotte Atkins
South Wales & Severn
“Goytre Wharf is currently in decline in terms of visitor infrastructure
and offer. One of our Partnership members has extensive property
experience and is now chairing a Steering Group to help arrest this
decline and improve the site.” – Jack Hegarty
Kennet & Avon
“We have taken a fresh approach to managing mooring controls on
this very popular canal and are working to engage with canal users
over complex mooring and navigation issues.” – Tamsin Phipps
South East
“We are delighted to be building strong community involvement
through record volunteer numbers and community group canal
adoptions. Our challenge as a rural waterway is to engage with
many more smaller communities, including parishes. We are also
broadening our reach by involving more of our boating communities
in a Partnership sub-group.” – John Best
London
“We are developing projects to improve each of London’s very
varied local waterways. The first is to improve access for the
disabled in Harlow. We are also strongly backing Transport for
London’s investment in improved towpaths for cyclists – and
other users.” – Brian Fender
Museums and Attractions
“Drawing on expertise from our Partnership we have been able to
establish the National Waterways Museum as a focal point in the
Waterfront Strategy for Ellesmere Port.” – Laurence Newman
Trustees’ Report & Accounts
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