Chapter 8
Summary of policy measures8.1 The measures contained in this document will help to achieve the Government's aim for the Sustainable Development Indicators set out in Quality of Life Counts [19] published in December 1999, to move in the right direction over time, or, where a satisfactory level has been reached, to prevent a reversal.
8.2 The measures are as follows: the paragraph numbers correspond to those in the main document.
5.8 The Government sees a positive and developing role for AINA as a representative body for navigation authorities, and for IWAAC as an advisory resource for waterways generally. We wish to see both bodies foster partnership among navigation authorities to help harmonise management of the waterways.
We will help fund AINA's future work including its action plan to take forward its national navigation strategy.
We will encourage AINA to draw on IWAAC's help and advice in carrying out its work.
We will encourage IWAAC to provide advice on waterways generally.
5.10 The Government welcomes the progress British Waterways and the Environment Agency have made in developing joint working arrangements and we look to the two bodies to implement the full provisions of their Collaboration Agreement as quickly as possible.
We will review the progress made in implementing the Collaboration Agreement as part of the quinquennial review of the Environment Agency to be carried out later this year.
We will also look at the Agency's navigation responsibilities as part of this review.
6.16 The Government wants to encourage people to make use of the inland waterways for leisure and recreation, tourism and sport.
We will support the greater recreational use of the waterways for all, including the towpaths and waterside paths, where practicable.
We will encourage British Waterways and the Environment Agency to enter into long term voluntary arrangements with public, private and voluntary sector partners to improve facilities on the towpath for walking and cycling, and for other recreational users, where practicable.
We will encourage navigation authorities to increase access to the waterways for the young, disabled and disadvantaged.
We will look to holiday hire-boat operators to respond to customer demands and help contribute to the development of tourism on the waterways.
6.42 The Government supports the protection, conservation and enhancement of the waterways' heritage and their built and natural environment, and the use of the waterways as an educational resource.
We expect new waterside development and waterside improvement and restoration to respect, conserve and, if possible, enhance the waterway scene creating a worthwhile legacy.
We will encourage navigation authorities to manage their waterways so as to maintain and, if possible, enhance their environmental and heritage value.
We will support action planning to conserve and enhance the biological diversity of the waterways.
We will encourage navigation authorities to provide and promote facilities for electric boats where practical and economic.
6.54 The Government wants to increase the economic and social benefits offered by the waterways by encouraging their improvement, development and restoration, wherever possible in partnership between the public, private and voluntary sectors.
We will promote the waterways as a catalyst for urban and rural regeneration.
We will encourage navigation authorities to work with the Regional Development Agencies and local authorities in conserving and developing the waterways.
We look to the Regional Development Agencies to take account of the waterways in their strategies and to support worthwhile proposals for their improvement, development and restoration.
We will issue guidance in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges dealing with new road proposals which affect waterway restoration projects.
6.60 The Government supports the provision of passenger boat services on the inland waterways, wherever practicable and economic.
6.68 The Government wishes to encourage the transfer of freight from roads to water-borne transport where this is practical, economic and environmentally desirable.
We will consult about extending the FFG scheme to encourage additional applications for inland waterways projects. Options will include grants for waterway projects covering non-capital as well as capital costs (as for rail) and the opportunity for grant to be paid directly to navigation authorities for the the provision of freight infrastructure.
We will sponsor an inland waterways freight study group including representatives of British Waterways, other members of AINA, commercial operators, waterway user groups, local authorities and the private sector.
We will invite the freight study group to examine cost-effective and practical ways in which freight transport on the inland waterways can be increased, and whether there is a need for further studies examining issues such as whether the niche market for freight carrying on the historic narrow and broad canals can be expanded.
6.73 The Government will support the development of the inland waterways through the planning system.
We will continue to review each PPG when it is revised with the aim of developing the potential of the inland waterways through the planning system.
We will invite IWAAC to prepare a good practice document with a view to it being published jointly with DETR, explaining the contribution that inland waterways can make to regeneration and other projects, and highlighting examples of good planning.
Your views
If you have any comments or questions on this document or if you would like to contribute ideas and proposals to help the Government develop its policy for the inland waterways, please contact
Richard Bradley
Inland Waterways Branch (IWB)
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
5/D9 Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6DE
Phone 020 7944 6064
Fax 020 7944 6569
E mail: richard.bradley@defra.gsi.gov.ukFurther information
You can find further information about the inland waterways from the organisations listed in Appendix 4.
19 Quality of Life Counts: Indicators for a strategy of sustainable development for the United Kingdom: a baseline assessment: DETR December 1999
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Published 27 June 2000
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