Kennet & Avon Canal cruises into the future
16 July 2010
Almost 200 years to the day that it was first opened, 20 years since the navigation was opened once more, and 10 years after the hugely successful Lottery supported restoration project, the Kennet & Avon Canal could soon reclaim its status as a fully-fledged, working canal. The reclassification, backed by British Waterways, The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and by canal supporters, would see the historic, 87-mile long waterway upgraded from ‘remainder’ status – one step above a derelict canal – to that of a national ‘cruiseway’.
A six week public consultation will begin on Friday 16 July to gauge opinion on the move. Following the consultation, a decision to re-classify will be made by a Minister from the waterways sponsoring government department, the Department for Food and Rural Affairs.
Mark Stephens, British Waterways’ waterway manager, said: “British Waterways has, in reality, been managing the Kennet & Avon Canal as if it has had cruiseway status since its multi-million pound restoration.
“We think that the formalisation of this status is beneficial to the canal, helping to secure its long term future by legally stating that the canal should be maintained to a level whereby cruising craft, such as narrowboats, can safely navigate the length of the canal. Here at British Waterways we believe that this is the appropriate classification for this popular and much-loved waterway, which this year is celebrating its 200th anniversary.”
Whilst the canal is classified as a remainder waterway, legally, the maintenance requirements are significantly lower, as technically the waterway doesn’t need to support navigational craft.
The reclassification of the waterway during this the canal’s bicentenary year would be especially poignant, and a way to acknowledge the amazing works undertaken by volunteers and partnership groups to save the canal from oblivion and turn it back into a thriving leisure resource, a piece of working heritage and a linear wildlife habitat.
The Kennet & Avon Canal is regarded as a blueprint for successful waterway restoration and regeneration and the restored canal managed by British Waterways, working with volunteers from the local community and local authorities, is one of the inspirations behind plans to establish a new ‘national trust’ for the waterways.
David Rees, Chairman, Kennet & Avon Canal Trust said: “The Trust welcomes British Waterways desire to change the status of the canal from a remainder waterway to a cruiseway canal. It has long been the ambition of my predecessors to gain this objective for we see this as a commitment from British Waterways to the long-term future of the canal and a public promise to maintain this wonderful historic waterway that brings enjoyment and pleasure to so many people.”
The re-classification notice regarding the change in status will be advertised in a variety of local and national papers, online at www.katrust.org and will be posted in British Waterways’ information boards along the length of the Kennet & Avon Canal.
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Gill Owen, British Waterways
T. 020 7985 7227 M. 07733124580 gill.owen@britishwaterways.co.uk
TRANSPORT ACT 1968
THE SECRETARY OF STATE gives notice that he is proposing to make an Order under section 104(3) of the above Act removing the existing limited entry in Part 2 of Schedule 12 to the Act relating to the Kennet and Avon Canal and replacing it with an unqualified entry “the Kennet and Avon Canal from High Bridge, Reading to the tail of the bottom lock at Bath”, so that the main navigable channel of the entire Kennet and Avon Canal shall be a cruising waterway for the purposes of section 104(1)(b) of the Act (not just the present three stretches).
IF THE ORDER IS MADE it shall be the statutory duty of The British Waterways Board under section 105 of the Act to maintain the length of the Kennet and Avon Canal for use by cruising craft, that is to say vessels constructed or adapted for the carriage of passengers and driven by mechanical power which are suitable for use on the restored Kennet and Avon Canal.
It should be noted that, pursuant to existing obligations with third parties, The British Waterways Board is already maintaining the length of the Kennet and Avon Canal to cruising waterway standard, accordingly no additional boat traffic or maintenance liability will result from any re-classification. However, re-classification will safeguard the length of the Kennet and Avon Canal to through navigation for cruising craft for the long-term future.
ANY PERSON MAY OBJECT to the making of the proposed order within the period of 42 days commencing on 16 July 2010 by notice to the SECRETARY OF STATE quoting “the Kennet and Avon Canal”, addressed to c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, Westminster, London, SW1P? 3JR.
In preparing an objection it should be borne in mind that the substance of it may be imparted to other persons who may be affected by it and that those persons may wish to communicate to the objector about it.
Sarah Nason, Deputy Director Environment Agency Sponsorship and Inland Waterways, 2D Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London, SW1P? 2AL
On behalf of the SECRETARY OF STATE for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
The Kennet & Avon Canal in 2010
In 2010 the Kennet & Avon Canal celebrates the 200th anniversary of its opening in 1810. The canal winds its way 87 miles from Reading to Bath, before joining the River Avon and linking to Bristol. The canal is a 200-year-old feat of engineering, originally built as a trade route, now supporting a thriving leisure industry following a record £25 million restoration project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Kennet & Avon Canal is managed and maintained by British Waterways, in partnership with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, local authorities and numerous volunteer groups. The canal is a diverse wildlife habitat, home to an impressive array of historic industrial architecture, a leisure boating route, a long distance path, a holiday destination and much more to many thousands of people who visit each year.
The K&A 200 steering group, including British Waterways, Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, VisitWiltshire? and Wadworth & Co. Ltd, has joined forces to promote the canal during 2010, its bicentenary year. Through a series of activities and events, organisations, local groups and national bodies will be celebrating the canal’s history, enjoying its beauty and looking forward to its development beyond 2010 as a much-loved asset to the communities through which it passes and connects.
British Waterways cares for Britain’s 200-year old network of historic canals, rivers and docks, which attract over 13 million people each year for walking, cycling, angling, boating or simply the peace and quiet. We wish to establish a ‘national trust’ for the waterways in order to secure the network for future generations and to give local people a greater say in how they are run. www.britishwaterways.co.uk
The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust When the canal fell into disuse and was facing abandonment in the 1950s, the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust was formed to campaign for its restoration. The Trust has, over the years, collaborated with and complemented British Waterways through the Trust’s mission to Protect, Enhance and Promote the waterway. ‘Powered’ by its many volunteers the Trust runs four trip boats and operates cafes and shops along the waterway. Additionally by volunteer effort the Trust has restored and operates two original pumping stations and its Canal Museum in Devizes. To find out more visit www.katrust.org.uk