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The dredging was carried out by Blue Boar
contractors under the management of British Waterways, and demonstrates the
commitment of the Northern Reaches Restoration Group to the re-opening of
the entire 14 miles of the Northern Reaches. All eight of the partners
contributed to the project, in particular the Inland Waterways Association
and the Lancaster Canal Trust. An additional £5,000 grant was obtained by
The Waterways Trust from Land Fill Tax.
The Lancaster Canal Trust will be operating
the Waterwitch narrowboat on the Crooklands section of the Lancaster Canal
from the 5th May this year. A registered charity, the Trust are an
enthusiastic and active group of volunteers that support British Waterways
through carrying out restoration and interpretation projects, including the
construction of a new landing stage by Crooklands. All trips on the
Waterwitch are free of charge, but a donation to support the work of the
Trust would be appreciated. The Waterwitch will run on Sundays and Bank
Holiday Mondays until the end of September, for further details ring 015395
63351.
Claire Chapman of British Waterways
commented ‘There is such a huge amount of public interest over the
restoration of the canal to Kendal, and its going to have a really positive
impact on peoples lives in this area. People can show their support for the
Northern Reaches restoration by using the Waterwitch, and if anyone would
like updates on the project they can contact me on 01524 751888 for a
regular newsletter.’
Notes to editors
The Northern Reaches Restoration Group aims
to restore the Lancaster Canal to Canal Head, Kendal, and comprises of seven
partners - The Lancaster Canal Trust, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster
City Council, Cumbria County Council, South Lakeland District Council, The
Inland Waterways Association and British Waterways
The 14½ mile (25km) Northern Reaches of the
Lancaster Canal were effectively blocked in the 1960s by the construction of
the M6 which severed the waterway in three places.
A feasibility study on the restoration of the Northern Reaches of the
Lancaster Canal has been produced. The proposed scheme tackles three
motorway and four trunk road crossings and includes the enhancement and
conservation of 52 historically important and listed structures. A desk top
Conservation Plan study of the area has been commissioned, with a view to
having a full conservation plan established by March 2003. The group is also
in discussions with the NWDA, who will commission an economic impact study –
showing the full value of the project to the north west.
A strategy for funding of this vast scheme
has also begun to take shape, and is being led by The Waterways Trust, who
have become the eighth partner in the Northern Reaches Restoration Group.
Project statistics and projections:
 14½ miles (25km) long
£30million scheme
could create nearly 2,000 jobs
would attract more than one
million visitors per year
would generate over
£14million/year income from visitors
For further information please contact:
Claire Chapman Marketing Officer British Waterways 01524 751888 or 07789
980770 |
