Chapter 1
Introduction1.1 The White Paper on the Future of Transport A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone [1], published in July 1998, described the Government's plans for developing an integrated and sustainable transport system. This document follows up the White Paper by setting out the Government's proposals for the inland waterways. These cover the entire range of waterway activities and follow the guiding principles set out in the Government's White Paper on Sustainable Development A Better Quality of Life [2], published in May 1999.
1.2 The Government wants to promote the inland waterways, encouraging a modern, integrated and sustainable approach to their use. We want to protect and conserve a vital part of our national heritage. At the same time, we want to encourage their best and, where appropriate, innovative use, maximising the opportunities they offer for leisure and recreation; urban and rural regeneration; education; and freight transport.
1.3 The document explains how we plan to do this. It is in three main parts.
1.4 The first part (Chapter 2) outlines the changing face of the inland waterways and the system today. It summarises the many uses and benefits of the waterways, and describes how the navigation authorities responsible for their management go about their business.
1.5 The second part (Chapters 3, 4 and 5) explains how the Government proposes to take forward its plans for the waterways, building on the principles of sustainable development including partnership. It also responds to the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council's reports Britain's Inland Waterways: An Undervalued Asset [4].
1.6 The third part (Chapter 6) describes how the Government intends to integrate its policies for the waterways with other, related, policies to maximise the contribution the waterways can make to the life of the country.
The scope of this document
1.7 This document is about the inland waterways - that is the canals and navigable rivers - of England and Wales. Most of the inland waterways are non tidal and the document concentrates on these waterways. However much of its contents apply also to tidal inland waterways. For brevity we often refer to the inland waterways in the document simply as waterways.
1.8 The Scottish Executive will consider whether to issue a separate document covering the inland waterways of Scotland.
1 A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone: Cm3950. The Stationery Office July 1998
2 A Better Quality of Life: Cm4345. The Stationery Office May 1999
3 Britain's Inland Waterways: An Undervalued Asset: IWAAC March 1996
4 Waterway Restoration Priorities: IWAAC June 1998[ Previous ] [ Contents ] [ Next ]
Published 27 June 2000
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