Unlocking the benefits of Leicestershire's waterways
On 24 November 2009 the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council will join the River Soar & Grand Union Canal strategy group to launch plans to realise the full social, economic and environmental benefits of Leicestershire’s waterways.
Following a £100,000 study and consultation, commissioned by the River Soar & Grand Union Canal Strategy Group - with £76,000 awarded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) - Roger Wilson, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council is launching the Group’s plans to unlock the benefits of the County’s waterways at Leicester City Football Club. These include: creating new visitor centres; waterside restaurants; trip boats; marinas; upgrading towpaths for walkers and cyclists; and improving signage and access points. The Strategy looks at ways to improve and promote the River Soar and Grand Union Canal from Loughborough Meadows to Kilby Bridge, south of Leicester - covering 23 miles and crossing five local authority areas. The organisations which make up the Strategy Group are: The Waterways Trust, British Waterways, Blaby District Council, Charnwood Borough Council, the Environment Agency, the Inland Waterways Association, Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, Leicester Shire Promotions, Oadby & Wigston Borough Council and Prospect Leicestershire. The new strategy sets out an action plan around four key elements:
• Strong partnership to deliver the full economic potential of the waterways;
• Development of hubs for visitor improvements at: Kilby Bridge, South Wigston and Blaby; Aylestone; Leicester City Centre; The Belgrave and Abbey Meadows; Watermead Country Park; Barrow-upon-Soar; and Loughborough.
• Improving access along the waterways with upgraded towpaths and access points, plus new signage; and
• Promotion of the waterways to visitors and investors. Roger Wilson, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, says: “Our waterways are a fantastic resource - rich in wildlife, history and leisure opportunities. With our partners in the River Soar & Grand Union Canal Strategy Group we are delighted to set out our plans to realise the full economic potential our waterways, for the social and environmental benefit of the people of Leicestershire.” Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust and Chairman of the River Soar & Grand Union Canal Strategy Group, explains: “Waterways offer great places to live, work and play and provide so many possibilities for enriching people’s lives. Our strategy to unlock the economic benefits of Leicestershire’s waterways, which was launched for consultation last November, proposes a series of actions based around the themes of a Green Waterway, a Visible Waterway and an Accessible Waterway. It also looks at ways of balancing increased access to the waterways with the need to conserve and enhance its landscape and ecological value.” Tony Harvey, Head of Regeneration for British Waterways in the Midlands, comments: “By working together, the River Soar & Grand Union Canal Strategy Group can realise the potential of the County’s navigable waterways. All across the country, the waterways renaissance is bringing huge benefits to local communities and we want to maximise those benefits in Leicestershire. We want to strengthen the attractiveness of Leicestershire’s waterways as a leisure destination and enhance their role as a valuable green space for the surrounding communities to enjoy.” The River Soar & Grand Union Canal Strategy was undertaken by consultants Arup and Lathams. A summary of the strategy, which has been endorsed by all five local authorities, is available by clicking here. For more information about visiting Leicestershire’s waterways, go to www.waterscape.com Ends
For further press information contact:
Stephen Hardy, Communications Manager (Midlands)
T 01636 675703 mb 07920 077190 Debbie Walker, Communications Manager, The Waterways Trust
T 01452 318208 mb 077486 40577
email: debbie.walker@thewaterwaystrust.org.uk Notes for Editors: 1. The Waterways Trust is a national charity which works in partnership with individuals, communities and organisations to conserve, restore, improve and interpret all aspects of the UK’s inland waterways. www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
2. British Waterways is the public corporation responsible for the care and enhancement of the nation’s 2,200-mile, two centuries-old network of canals and rivers. We work in partnership with public, private and voluntary sector organisations to realise the full social, environmental and economic potential of the waterways for the benefit of all. www.britishwaterways.co.uk
3. Leicester Shire Promotions is a private, not-for-profit company formed in July 2003 as a partnership between Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership. The company is the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) responsible for promoting Leicester and Leicestershire to visitors, based on a coordinated place marketing strategy that focuses on destination leadership and coordination, attracting and visitors, services for and visitors, and services for the tourism industry. For more information, please visit www.goleicestershire.com 4. East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development. Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
Had a significant impact on the region's economy
Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times. Over the long term, emda’s aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations. The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for 'a flourishing region' can be achieved. For more details visit www.emda.org.uk
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