Chapter 3
The Government's ApproachA vision for the inland waterways
3.1 The inland waterways are an important asset for future generations to enjoy and the Government is keen to see them maintained and developed in a sustainable way so that they fulfil their social, economic and environmental potential. We want to ensure that the many benefits and opportunities they provide are used to the full.
The Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council
3.2 The Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council (IWAAC) was created by the Transport Act 1968 to advise the Government and British Waterways about the use and development of the latter's waterways for recreation and amenity purposes. In 1993 IWAAC was asked by the then Government to concentrate on providing strategic policy advice on issues such as widening the customer base, balancing the needs of conservation and greater use, and development and regeneration. IWAAC has since published two important reports, each covering the entire inland waterways system.
Britain's Inland Waterways: An Undervalued Asset
3.3 In 1996 IWAAC published its consultative report on Great Britain's waterways - Britain's Inland Waterways: An Undervalued Asset. [9] The Government is grateful to IWAAC for a comprehensive and well-considered examination of the inland waterways. Although the Council's remit does not cover freight, the report and its subsequent Final Recommendations [10] to Government have made a valuable contribution to Government thinking about the future of the waterways.
3.4 The central message of IWAAC's report was that
"Britain's inland waterways are a national asset and should be retained and conserved for their built heritage and environmental qualities and sustainably developed to encourage best use and maximise the contribution they can make to national, regional and local goals."
3.5 IWAAC saw the waterways as still the "Cinderella among our heritage and conservation assets" and said "the system is not a museum but a useable asset and its heritage a living one". It pointed to the diverse and important, sometimes vital, functions it plays and concluded that not nearly enough was being done to give waterways the support they need.
3.6 IWAAC called for action on three related fronts, broadly seeking
- a higher status at local, national and international level, in order to
- promote more money coming into the system so as to
- preserve its long-term value, by shaping its future development and uses to conservation-based objectives through sustainable partnership management.
3.7 IWAAC considered that while the publicly financed waterways needed more resources, so too the other navigations required a means of securing their future. The Council recognised that not all the money could or should come from Government which already contributed significant sums each year, or the direct users. The income from these sources would have to be augmented from other sources such as local authorities and national and regional funding agencies.
3.8The Government has carefully considered the report. We endorse its overall conclusion that the waterways are a major national asset which must be conserved and developed in a sustainable way for future generations to use and enjoy. We recognise the benefits of a well maintained and vibrant waterway system and the important benefits it can bring to public enjoyment and recreation, and to local economies and communities.
3.9 We have also considered the ten key final recommendations derived from the report's 31 conclusions. Appendix 1 contains our response to each recommendation addressed to the Government. Some of the issues raised are also referred to in the body of this document.
Waterway Restoration Priorities
3.10 The restoration of derelict and disused waterways has become an important part of the waterways scene. Inspired by the voluntary sector, more than 400 miles (640 kms) of inland waterways have been restored to navigation since the 1950s. At the outset, work was carried out mostly by volunteers but voluntary bodies have increasingly formed partnerships with British Waterways, local authorities and other public bodies, opening the door to large grants from European, national regeneration, and lottery funding sources.
3.11 The increased availability of funding for viable and beneficial projects has boosted waterway restoration activity and given rise to hopes that many derelict waterways will be restored. However competition for funds is fierce and project development complex. To help funding agencies assess the merits of individual schemes, and to highlight good practice for restoration bodies, IWAAC produced in 1998 its report Waterway Restoration Priorities [11].
3.12 The report was the first to consider waterway restoration systematically on a national basis. It provided a comprehensive account of the restoration scene in the United Kingdom and reviewed 80 current restoration projects. The review considered the objectives and significance of each project; the benefits it would bring; the stage it had reached; and what remained to be done. On the basis of this information, the report identified each project as being likely to be ready for main funding in the short term (one to five years); medium term (five to ten years) or longer term (beyond ten years).
3.13 The report was widely welcomed by funding agencies and restoration bodies and IWAAC is currently updating its findings.
3.14 The report made a number of recommendations to Government and others about funding for waterway restoration and also repeated calls in the Undervalued Asset report for comprehensive revised planning guidance for waterways, and on new roads affecting disused waterways. We have considered these recommendations and our responses are set out in Appendix 2. Some of the issues raised are also referred to in the body of this document.
The way forward
3.15 The Government is determined to increase the contribution the inland waterways can make to the life of the country. We will do this by encouraging initiatives and uses which make the most suitable and sympathetic use of the waterways in their evolving role. These will be built on the principles of sustainable development including partnership.
3.16 The waterways contribute directly to the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Development in a number of ways. These include the conservation of the waterway environment and heritage; social and economic development through urban and rural regeneration; integrated transport; and educational opportunities.
3.17 In practice, sustainable development is an issue that affects all aspects of the waterways and their use. The need to strike a balance between diverse and sometimes potentially conflicting requirements is found at all levels and presents a challenge which must be overcome if the system is to deliver all the benefits of which it is capable.
3.18 All navigation authorities should ensure that the principles of sustainable development underpin their actions, and that they employ management processes to support this approach. They should aim to apply high standards of conservation and care for the waterway environment and heritage; seek to enhance biodiversity; and make the best use of natural resources. They should continue to identify new ways of working, and new opportunities to help sustain the waterways. And they should form strong partnerships with the public, private and voluntary sectors. In this way they will safeguard the environmental, social and economic value of the waterways for this generation and the next.
3.19 It is of course vital to protect and conserve the waterways as an environmental and heritage asset but, as IWAAC have pointed out, the system is not a museum. Navigation authorities should explore and develop new ideas and uses which, applied sensitively, can help secure the future of the system.
3.20 Partnership is fundamental to the future of the waterways. Management of the existing system is fragmented and the different navigation authorities must therefore work together and harmonise their working practices. By extending partnerships to the public, private and voluntary sectors they will be able to increase the benefits the waterways can provide for everyone.
3.21 The Government's overall aims for the waterways are to see an improving quality of infrastructure; a better experience for users through more co-operation between navigation authorities; and increased opportunities for all through sustainable development.
3.22 We will seek to achieve these aims in three main ways.
- In February 1999 we increased public investment in British Waterways and created a new framework to help it to care for and develop its assets. British Waterways is taking forward initiatives to develop a closer relationship with its users, to work with the voluntary sector, and to establish new public/private partnerships. We will reinforce our call to British Waterways to harness public, private and voluntary sector skills and enthusiasm to unlock the full potential of its waterways. Chapter 4 contains more details.
- We will continue to encourage navigation authorities to work together on issues of mutual interest to provide a higher quality and more consistent experience for users. We will continue to support the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA), encourage a wider advisory role for IWAAC, and promote joint working between British Waterways and the Environment Agency. Chapter 5 describes the way forward.
- We will continue to integrate the waterways more effectively with other areas of Government policy. Chapter 6 reviews each subject area and describes the progress being made.
9 Britain's Inland Waterways: An Undervalued Asset: IWAAC March 1996
10 Britain's Inland Waterways: An Undervalued Asset: Final Recommendations: IWAAC June 1997
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Published 27 June 2000
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