WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Three Year Action Plan – Waterways for People
Strategic Strategic Priority Key Initiative / Project Delivery Delivery Waterway Potential Crossing Delivery Project Priority Mechanism(s) - Lead Partnership Partners Cutting Timescale Status № Key Partners & Role Potential Funding Rollout a Parish Council Roadshow by Waterway Short Term Project Building and broadening community Ambassador / WP supported Lead Parish Councils 1 Partnership members (waterway wide initiative) - Commenced engagement and ownership and instilling Engagement by Planning Local Authorities Programme of engagement with Riparian Parish Councils and On-going community pride Team County Parish Forums to promote the use and value of canals Community Groups to local communities, their health and wellbeing and their local economies. Where Riparian Parish Councils intend to undertake neighbourhood planning which will enable them to access future neighbourhood funds and where Parish Councils will be involved in priority setting of net Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies to be spent on local infrastructure, the Planning Team will undertake the necessary follow up by engaging in the neighbourhood plan and “Place Plans” preparation process. Volunteer Co-ordinator to establish two new community Short Term Project Volunteering WU & Monitoring Parish Councils based volunteer groups per annum e.g. Tipton Task Force Commenced Volunteering Local Authority On-going Team Neighbourhood Partnerships or Groups Volunteer Co-ordinator to accessing existing networks and Short Term Project Volunteering WU & Advisory & Community Service volunteers to work on canals by linking with existing partner Commenced Volunteering, Monitoring Volunteers, BTCV, organisations where they already have an established On-going Heritage & Existing Friends of volunteer base but do not currently carry out volunteering Environment Groups, Scouts and activity on canals and by developing propositions with them Teams Guides, Army e.g. heritage and environment based activity, etc Cadets Increase number of Community Payback days spent on the Short Term Project Community Enterprise & Monitoring Current Probation canals – Enterprise Team with the Waterway Unit to Commenced Payback WU Services and promote the use of canals by Probation Trusts and private On-going potential Private sector delivery partners to deliver required outputs and to Sector Suppliers prepare and submit bids as part of bidding process in December 2013 Programme of engagement with Religious and Faith Leaders Medium Term Under Ambassador / WP supported Lead Christian Boaters by Waterway Partnership members to gain a better Development Engagement by Enterprise Group, Community understanding of different communities needs and explore & WU Groups, Local role the canals do and potentially can play in their lives so Authority that initiatives can be designed and tailored to meet specific Neighbourhood community needs Partnerships Planned programme of positive articles in local newspapers Short Term Project Changing perceptions of people living Communications Communicatio Ambassador BBC, ITV, Regional 2 and other forms of regional/sub-regional/local media Commenced and working in the West Midlands to ns Team & Radio, Newspapers, On-going attract more local people to use, enjoy WU Social Media and value their canals Engagement with at least five corporates and strategic Medium Term Under Ambassador / WP & Lead Local Chambers of companies based in the West Midlands per annum Development Engagement Fundraising Commerce, Local (Waterway wide initiative) to explore opportunities for Team Business Forums, sponsorship, adoption, promotion, volunteering and active WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
participation in canalside boundary improvement campaign Business (where appropriate) – building upon the work undertaken to Improvement date by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Districts, Institution of Directors, LEPS within West Midlands Support Dudley Canal Trust with their learning hub project Ambassador / Dudley Canal Advisory DCT, Dudley Medium Term Under to explore opportunities for promoting the canals of the Engagement Trust Council, Dudley Development West Midlands to local and national visitors; to educate College, HLF, ERDF people on the heritage and history of our canals Waterside Care – Continue to support the joint initiative to Volunteering Enterprise, Monitoring, Severn Trent, Short Term Project Encouraging positive and responsible 3 encourage local communities to improve and maintain their Environment Ambassador Environment Commenced behaviour towards the waterways and local water course, be that stream, river or canal, in a teams, WU Agency, Keep their environs within the West Midlands sustainable way Britain Tidy, Local Businesses, Community Groups, Schools Share the Space Drop Your Pace Campaign – Raising Engagement / Enterprise and Monitoring, Sustrans, Cycle Medium Term Under awareness and encourage towpath users to be considerate Education WU Ambassador Touring Club, Local development towards each other, particularly across differing user group Authorities, sectors Campaign Groups Responsible Use of Canals Campaign – Aiming to reduce Engagement / Enterprise, Monitoring, Local Authorities, Medium Term Under littering, anti-social behaviour, and dog fouling so that Education Environment Ambassador Keep Britain Tidy, development resource can be spent on improving the canals in the West teams and Local Community Midlands WU Groups, Neighbouring Business Corporate Social Responsibility – getting local business to be Engagement / Enterprise, Monitoring, Local Businesses, Medium Term Under respectful of their adjoining canal and promote respectful Education / Environment Ambassador Keep Britain Tidy, development use of that environment. This can be achieved through Volunteering teams and Local Authorities, sponsorship, adoption, direct action on their doorstep/canal WU Environment frontage, or wider afield. Agency, Local Community Groups, West Midlands Police, Chambers of Commerce, Institute of Directors Heartlands Rings Phase 2 – learning from what we’ve Engagement / WP supported Lead Lottery Fund, Local Medium Term Under Attracting people from all age groups, 4 achieved in the first phase of the project and apply to other External Funding by Enterprise Authorities, Local Development abilities, different socio-economic and areas and specific communities. Neighbourhood ethnic backgrounds living and working Partnerships, within the West Midlands to use, enjoy specific Community and value their canals Groups, Faith Groups Projects to improve and promote safe access for disabled Engagement / Enterprise Advisory / Lottery Fund, Medium Term Under visitors – improving the access in key locations around the External Funding Monitoring Centro, DfT, Development waterway to promote access for all Disability Groups, Local Authorities, Local Neighbourhood Partnerships, specific Community WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Groups, Faith Groups Local information – providing localised literature and Strategy / Enterprise, Advisory / Local Authorities, Medium Term Under information to encourage visits by people from across the Engagement Comms Team Monitoring Local Tourism Development waterway. This can include the “It’s All Free” campaign linked and Waterway Centres, Visit to the mobile app and Hidden Gems Leaflets, plus local canoe England, Local guides and healthy walks Businesses, Tourism Attractions, Historical Societies Canal & River Trust Explorers – Working with central Medium Term Under Engaging with children and young people Learning / Central Ambassadors & Local Education 5 education team, via the Explorers project, to engage with Development living within the West Midlands and Engagement Education Monitoring Authorities, School primary school children to promote a positive learning encouraging them to the use the canals Team and WP Governors, experience of canals. Focusing on adjoining primary schools so that they become “future supporters” Wildside Centre, of the canals Adjoining Schools Work with Further Education Establishments to develop Short Term Project Volunteering WU Ambassador & Further Education volunteering opportunity / work experience proposition Commenced Monitoring Colleges, On-going Universities, Community Service Volunteers “Paddle to the Heart” initiative with Canoe England – axial Short Term Project Learning / External WP, WU & Lead Canoe England, canoes routes into City of Birmingham aimed at encourage Commenced Funding / Enterprise (& Birmingham City new canoe users from across the waterway to Birmingham. On-going Partnership Property) Council, Sport Develop canoe trails across the West Midlands. Opportunity Working England, to help support the business case for the creation of a new Birmingham Health Water Sports Centre of Excellence at the Edgbaston Reservoir Commissioning (potentially Reservoir House) adjacent to Icknield Port Loop, Board, Local Canoe working with Birmingham City Council and Sport England Clubs Produce and implement Local Stakeholder Engagement Short Term Under Strategy / WP Lead Black Country Strategy (including stakeholder mapping) & Local Development Engagement Consortium, Local Community Engagement Strategy (waterway wide Authorities, MP’s, initiatives) Local Neighbourhood Groups, Chambers of Commerce, Community Groups Future Welfare to Work Programmes – Look for Medium Term Under Training / External WU & Monitoring Central opportunities to engage and/or employ young people using Development Funding Enterprise Government, Government led opportunities as they arise building on the Training success of the Future Jobs Fund Organisations, Job Centre, Local Authorities, Local Businesses, Specialist Providers Expanding the Joint Initiative with the Army Cadets across Engagement / WU Monitoring Uniformed Groups Medium Term On-going the waterway – Using the successful model established with Volunteering the Stourport Army Cadets to promote the mutual benefits to other units and regional divisions.
WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Supporting the Hubs Project - Working with project partners Engagement Hubs Steering Ambassador and Birmingham City Short Term Project Encouraging and supporting adult and 6 to encourage participation in and expand the Activity Hubs /External Funding / Group Monitoring Council, Sport Commenced children to participate in sport, formal Project activities on and around the waterways of Ambassador England, Health On-going and informal recreation and learning Birmingham. Look for opportunities in the long term to Commissioning activities on, and by, the canals and expand the project across the region Board, Sport Edgbaston Reservoir Governing Bodies, Canoe England, British Cycling, British Rowing, Local Sports Clubs, Bear Creek Canoe Centre Promoting Informal Recreation and Activities on the Canal - Engagement / Partnership, Lead and Local Authorities, Medium Term On-going Promotion of the canals in the West Midlands as an Ambassador Boating Trade monitoring / Sport England, alternative location for water based sports and activities for Team, WU Ambassador Health example Brownhills Canoe & Outdoor Centre, Wildside Commissioning Activity Centre, Ackers, Stourbridge Canoe Club, Gailey Board, Sport Reservoir Governing Bodies, Canoe England, British Rowing, Local Sports Clubs, Local Canoe and Sailing Clubs Youth Angling Strategy – Engaging with angling clubs to Engagement / National Monitoring / Environment Medium Term Under promote responsible angling on canals amongst the young, Education / Angling Team, Ambassador Agency, Get Development with potential for organised coaching sessions Ambassador WU Hooked on Angling, National and Local Angling Groups Environmental Education Programme – Educating primary Engagement / Environment Monitoring / Local Primary Medium Term On-going school children about the natural environment Education Team, WU, Ambassador Schools, Sea Life Waterway Centre, Wildlife Explorers Trusts, Wildside Team Activity Centre, Centre of the Earth, Ackers Centre Medium Term Project Promoting and utilising canals and Engagement with four new Health & Well Being Boards1 Policy (Planning) / WP supported Lead & Ambassador Health & Well 8 Commenced reservoirs as part of the “natural health (which go live in April 2013) and local health forums in the External Funding by Planning & Being Boards, Local On-going service”, particularly in helping to tackle West Midlands to: Enterprise Authorities, Local
health inequalities in deprived o gain understanding of the emerging strategic needs; Teams GP’s, Health communities within the West Midlands o influence Health & Well Being Strategies – to Charities, Sport promote canals as part of the natural health service; Governing Bodies, and Local Health o establish CRT as a delivery partner in implementing Establishments preventive health measures to tackle inactive adult and children participation in sport and promote mental health and well-being Medium Term Under Promote the development of physical activity referral Ambassador / WP supported Ambassador Health & Well Development
1 The Health and Social Care Act 2012 establishes health and wellbeing boards as a forum where key leaders from the health and care system work together to improve the health and wellbeing of their local population and reduce health inequalities. Health and wellbeing board members will collaborate to understand their local community's needs, agree priorities and encourage commissioners to work in a more joined-up way. Health and wellbeing boards will be made up of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), local authorities, patient representatives, public health, and children’s and adult social care leaders in each local authority area to shape local health and care services, decide how they will be commissioned and support joined-up working across health and care services. The health and wellbeing boards combined with their Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies (JHWSs), which will set out the local needs and agree priorities to underpin local commissioning plans. WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
schemes with GP surgeries. British Trust for Conservation Engagement / by Enterprise Being Boards, Local Volunteers Green Gym and a physical activity referral External Funding Team Authorities, Local scheme, including independent and guided walks along GP’s, Health canals have been successfully operating in Sandwell MBC Charities, Sport area Governing Bodies, Local Health Establishments, BTCV, Walking for Health Groups, Ramblers Association, Local Access Forums Promote canals as part of the natural health service within Medium Term Under Planning Planning Team Monitoring Health & Well four statutory development plans Development Being Boards, Local Authorities, Local GP’s, Health Charities, Sport Governing Bodies, Local Health Establishments, BTCV, Walking for Health Groups, Ramblers Association, Local Access Forums, Breeze Rides Work with Walsall MBC Neighbourhood Teams and hire Medium Term Under Engagement WU & Boating Monitoring Walsall Health & boat companies as a pilot to develop the concept of water Development Trade Well Being Boards, based rest bits for primary carers Walsall MBC, Local GP’s, Health Charities, Sport Governing Bodies, Local Health Establishments, BTCV, Walking for Health Groups, Ramblers Association, Local Hire Boat Operators, Walsall Local Access Forums Friends of Canal Groups Pilot – Working with Birmingham Engagement / Partnership, Lead Birmingham City Medium Term Project Growing and widening the volunteering 11 City Council to investigate the opportunities to expand Volunteering WU Council, Friends of Commenced base to reach communities that currently Birmingham’s existing network of “friends of Open Spaces” Open spaces On-going do not connect, engage, value or use our groups into Friends of Canals Groups Groups canals and help build transferrable skills of local people Sustaining the Heartlands Groups – with the Heartlands Engagement / Enterprise, Monitoring Birmingham’s Short Term Under Project currently being wound up we need to establish a way Volunteering WU, Enterprising Development to sustain the current momentum and engagement with the Environment Communities Team, existing groups and communities Local Schools, Faith Groups, The Ackers Trust, Local WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Businesses, Community Groups, Educational Establishments, Universities Identification and possible creation of new residential Engagement / Enterprise, Monitoring, Local Authorities, Long Term Under Creating new opportunities to live afloat 12 mooring sites across the West Midlands – The canal network Enterprise Mooring, Advisory Planning Development on the network of canals in the West in the West has the potential to create numerous Property, WU Committees, Midlands opportunities for creative uses of redundant waterspace e.g. and Planning Landowners, Holly Bank Basin and Tividale Quays. Using the 2003 Black Teams Commercial Country Tourism Strategy as a baseline widen the study area Operators, to the whole of the waterway and use the criteria established Community in that report to create a consistent lust of priority sites Groups, Boating Groups, Canal Societies, Developers Extending and/or developing existing mooring sites - Strategy, Income Moorings Advisory, Local Authorities, Long Term Under Review of our existing long and short term mooring sites to Team, WU, Monitoring, Lead Planning Development establish the potential for residential moorings, increase in Enterprise Committees, mooring capacity and improvement in facilities to enhance Landowners, the opportunities for people to enjoy a life afloat Commercial Operators, Community Groups, Boating Groups, Canal Societies, Developers
Project Status Key Initiative / Project Commenced Key Initiative / Project Committed or under development Key Initiative / Project not commenced or at concept stage
Delivery Timescales
Short term 0-2 years Medium Term 3-5 years Long term 5+ years
WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Three Year Action Plan – Waterways for Prosperity
Strategic Strategic Priority Key Initiative / Project Delivery Delivery Waterway Potential Crossing Delivery Project Priority Mechanism(s) - Lead Partnership Partners Cutting Timescale Status № Key Partners & Role Potential Funding Infrastructure Critical Priorities (planned / aspirational) Major Works / Technical Monitoring Local Authorities, Short Term Project Maintaining and improving the safe 13 o Cast Iron Bridge & Aqueduct Refurbishment External Funding Team HLF, Historical Commenced working condition of the waterway Programme on BCN Groups, English On-going infrastructure, facilities and environs Heritage including addressing water resource o Sluices Refurbishment Programme on BCN to assist Major Works Technical Monitoring Local Authorities Medium Term Under management issues water control Team Development o Bowyer Street Pumping Station Enhancement Major Works Technical Monitoring Medium Term Under Team Development o Spot Dredging Programme across the West Midlands Major / General Technical Monitoring Boating Groups, Short & Project Works Team / WU Environment Medium Term Commenced Agency, Local On-going Authorities, Canal Societies o Lapworth Locks Chamber Repairs, Stratford Canal Major Works Technical Monitoring Local Authorities, Medium Term Under Team HLF, Historical Development Groups, English Heritage, Canal Societies o Repairs to Piercy Aqueduct (badly leaking structure), General Works WU Monitoring Local Authorities, Medium Term Under Tame Valley Canal talk to Ian Lane for confirmation HLF, Historical Development on whether work completed Groups, English Heritage Towing Path & Waterside Priorities (planned /aspirational) External Funding / Enterprise / Ambassador DfT, Centro, Local Short Term Under Encouraging and facilitating greater use 14 o Improvements to Towing Paths used as Commuter Planning Obligations Planning Authorities, Development and activity on and along the canals as Routes in the West Midlands & Conditions Teams Sustrans, part of the strategic and local sustainable transport, tourism and green o Improvements to Stourbridge Town Arm Towing External Funding Enterprise Ambassador Sustrans, Dudley Medium Term Under infrastructure within West Midlands Path for Cycling Team Council, Stourbug, Development Private Sector Planning Gain, Stourbridge Navigation Trust o Expansion of Wolverhampton Interchange scheme External Funding / Enterprise / Ambassador Wolverhampton Medium Term Under to include canal regeneration through Planning Obligations Planning City Council, Development Wolverhampton to include 21 lock flight & Horsley & Conditions Teams Centro, Jaguar Land Fields Rover, Neptune Developments, Virgin, Network Rail, County Councils Infrastructure Critical, Towing Path & Waterside Priorities External Funding / Enterprise & Monitoring DfT, Section 106 Short Term Under (committed) Planning (Secured Planning from Developers, Development o Local Sustainable Transport Fund – Black Delph S106 monies) Teams County Councils, (Dudley & Stourbridge Canals) Centro, Local o Safe Routes to Schools Funding – Deans Road ( Authorities, Wyrley & Essington Canal) Sustrans, o Planning Section 106 monies – Winson Green (Main line Canal); Wordsley Section 106, Stourbridge WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Canal; Selly Oak Hospital Section 106, Worcs & Birmingham Canal; o Dft Bids for Birmingham and Black Country o Stratford-upon-Avon Canals Phase 2 Mapping of routes and activities – Working with Marketing Communications, Enterprise, Lead, Advisory, Birmingham City Medium Term Under Supporting the sustainable growth of 15 Birmingham to improve the visitor experience within the Marketing & WU Monitoring Council, Marketing Development waterway related tourism and leisure to City by establishing consistent and visible way marking for Promotion Birmingham, increase visitor numbers, satisfaction and local, national, and international visitors. Centro, Business spend in the West Midlands Improvement Districts, Birmingham District Groups Mapping of routes and activities – Using the Birmingham Communications, Enterprise, Lead, Advisory, Local Authorities Long Term Not Pilot as a model to expand this improvement project across Marketing & WU Monitoring Centro, Business Commenced the waterway Promotion Improvement Districts Work with Centro to produce new and update mini walking Communications, Enterprise, Lead, Advisory, Centro, County Short to Project and cycling guides. Work with county councils to produce Marketing & WU Monitoring Councils, Local Medium Term Underway similar literature for their respective areas Promotion Councils, Metropolitan Area Authorities Birmingham City Centre Street lighting – work with the city Partnership working WU, Ambassador, Birmingham City Short to Project council to resolve the current issue of & External Funding Enterprise monitoring Council, Centro, Medium Term Underway ownership/maintenance of the towpath lighting. Progress Amey, Business the Birmingham City Centre Lighting Strategy with the city Improvement council and other partners Districts Canal Tourism Strategy - With reference to the Black Marketing & Partnership Lead Visit England, Local Medium Not Country Canals revisit the actions and opportunities Promotion, Strategy, Businesses, Local Commenced identified within the Black Country Canals Tourism Strategy. External Funding Authorities, Boating Review potential to spread across the whole of the West Trade, Heritage Midlands Bodies Planned programme of positive articles in national Communications Communicati Ambassador BBC, ITV, Regional Short Term Project Improving the perceptions of existing and 16 newspapers and other forms of national media ons Team & Radio, Newspapers, Commenced potential visitors to attract more WU Social Media On-going frequent and longer visits to the canals Enterprise Zones – promoting the role that canals can play Engagement / Enterprise Ambassador Enterprise Zone Medium Term Project in creating an attractive place to invest and work; and the Partnership Working Team Boards, Private Commenced need for investment in canals for that role to be fully Sector, Local On-going realised. CRT is now represented on Management Authorities Committee of the Black Country Enterprise Zone with scope to join other enterprise zone boards Review Waymarking and Welcoming Signage across the Marketing & Enterprise Ambassador Local Authorities, Medium Term Under West Midlands – Improvement of the access and egress Promotion Centro, Visit development signage to help visitors understand where they are on the England, Local canal and what attractions, and public transport links, Community surround them. Recognising the large number of canal Groups, Canal junctions across the West Midlands as points of interest Groups and/or destinations, including where possible a programme of improvement and enhancement. Introduce a series of “Welcome to” signage across the waterway particularly at local authority boundaries. Sub-regional Visitor Economy Sector Plan - Work with Local Strategy / External Enterprise Ambassador LEP’s, Tourism Medium Term Under Linking the canal to other existing 17 Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) to ensure canals are promoted Funding Team Boards, Visitor Development tourism attractions within or close as part of the visitor offer. Seek opportunities to attract Attractions, Canal proximity to the canal corridor to investment into improving canal based facilities and Side Businesses strengthen the visitor offer connections with the key tourism hubs identified by the WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
LEPs, in order to strengthen “the day out offer” along the canal corridor. Black Country Urban Park – Continue to work with LEP and External Funding Enterprise Ambassador Black Country Long Term Under Local Authorities to promote and integrate the canals as the Team Consortium, Black Development “heart” and “spine” of the Black Country Urban Park concept Country LEP, Four and to deliver the suite of canal based improvement projects Local Authorities, originally included within the unsuccessful Big Lottery bid Wildlife Trust Use of Digital media to reach new audiences inside and WP with Lead Short Term On-going and Marketing & Private Sector outside the sub-region - Develop CRT website pages and Marketing Under Promotion Businesses, Tourist applications (APPs) with National Team development) to Team Development Attractions, LA promote tourism hubs, circular routes, heritage and nature Cycling and Walking trails, waterway dependent businesses, etc Officers, Wildlife Trusts, Community Groups Develop and promote circular routes for walking and Short Term Project External Funding / Enterprise & Ambassador Centro, Local cycling (see suite of initiatives currently being discussed with Commenced Marketing Authorities, Centro under strategic issue № 9. Centro have been Marketing On-going Teams & WU Ramblers awarded £32million from the Government’s Local Association, Sustainable Transport Fund to increase walking, cycling and Sustrans, Roy public transport within the West Midlands. Watson Work with and support developers such as Walsall Planning, Strategy, Planning & Advisory, Private Developers, Short to Project Working with others to use the canals as 18 Waterfront, Wolverhampton Interchange, Birmingham Partnership Working Enterprise Monitoring Local Authorities, Medium Term Commenced the focus for regeneration and place Eastside, Kidderminster, Leamington Old Town, Bilston Teams LEPs, Regional On-going shaping to improve the urban offer and Urban Village to ensure the canal is seen as a major feature Growth Fund competiveness of the different cities and of those developments, and to maximise benefit from the towns within the West Midlands waterway
Environmental Apprentices – Work with Walsall MBC, Walsall MBC, Short Term Project Utilising the canals for training and Engagement / WU, Ambassador 19 Wildlife Trust, Groundwork, Environment Agency & Forestry Wildlife Trust, Commenced developing the skills base of local people Education Environment Commission to create Environment Apprentice roles – Groundwork, On-going to help revitalise deprived communities Team, HR currently Walsall MBC has secured funding for 500 places Environment and neighbourhoods within the West but only 150 of those places are committed to date Agency & Forestry Midlands Commission Craft Apprentices – continuation of the on-going craft Engagement / WU, HR Monitoring Framework Medium Term Project apprenticeships on the waterway to help preserve canal Education Contractors, Local Commenced related skills such as lock gate fitting and heritage brickwork Further Education On-going and stonework. Colleges HLF Skills for the Future Initiative – Dependent on securing External Funding, WU, Monitoring, HLF, Local Colleges, Short Term Under funding this HLF funded project will deliver training of two Heritage, Education Enterprise, Ambassador Conservation Development local people per year for three years in heritage skills, maths HR, Heritage Offices and English. Bradley Arm Canal – Help preserve the line of the Engagement, Partnership, Lead Wolverhampton Medium to Under Supporting new strategic links to expand 20 abandoned section of the Bradley Canal through Fundraising, Enterprise City Council, Long Term Development the network through restoration where waymarking and interpretation, with a view to securing its Partnership Working Community connections to places and people need to long term restoration Groups, IWA, HLF be strengthened and would make the Partnership Working, Enterprise Advisory, Lichfield District Short to Long Project network more sustainable in the West Lichfield and Hatherton Canals – provide support and advice Midlands to the L&HCRT on planning, water supply and funding Planning, Monitoring Council, Walsall Term Commenced opportunities MBC, South Staffs On-going DC, Staffordshire County Council, Environment Agency, Land Owners, IWA WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Lapal Canal – Working with Lapal Canal Trust to preserve the Planning, Planning & Advisory, Lobbying, Lapal Canal Trust, Medium Term Project line of the canal, and to ensure the surrounding Engagement, Enterprise Monitoring IWA, Birmingham Commenced developments do not compromise the functionality of its Partnership Working, Teams City Council, On-going future restoration. Campaign Harvest, Sainsburys, Dudley Council To be completed by the project engineering team Medium Term Project Mitigating impacts and exploiting 21 Commenced opportunities arising from High Speed On-going Two Phase 1 and other nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) upon the canal corridors, potential future restoration projects and water dependent businesses and tourism Planning system Medium Term Project Encouraging waterside businesses and Planning (Policy & Planning Engagement / Local Authorities, 22 o Promote new development to positively address and Commenced landowners to benefit from their location Development Team Lobbying / Planning contribute to the canals as well as to encourage and On-going and in turn make a positive contribution Management, Monitoring Inspectorate, improve access to, along and from the water within to canal environment and to the visitor Enforcement) Developers, Canal the statutory development plans; experience Societies, Boating o In role as statutory consultee, the Trust needs to Groups, Enterprise ensure that the key considerations on safeguarding Zone Boards, the canals from inappropriate development are Planning properly considered in development management Consultants, CABE, guidance and decision making by Local Planning Local Councillors Authorities (LPAs); o Encourage LPAs to take enforcement action of breach of planning consents and conditions e.g. unauthorised storage adjacent to waterways Engagement with at least five corporates and strategic WP Lead Medium Term Under Sponsorship / Local Chambers of companies based in the West Midlands per annum Development Adoption / Commerce, Local (Waterway wide initiative) to explore opportunities for Volunteering Business Forums, sponsorship, adoption, promotion, volunteering e.g. CSR Business Activity with Deutsche Bank, Amey, HSBC, BT, and Improvement Sainsbury’s in Oldbury Districts, Institution of Directors, LEPS within West Midlands
Develop & implement a boundary improvement campaign Campaign / WP Lead Local Chambers of Medium Term Under strategy supported with a strong enforcement regime supported by Commerce, Local Development Enforcement / jointly with a LA as a pilot and target worst 20 waterside WU, Business Forums, boundaries in environmental quality and maintenance terms Environment Business within the pilot LA administrative area , Planning, Improvement Marketing & Districts, Institution Legal Teams of Directors, LEPS within West Midlands Engagement with Birmingham Business Improvement Partnership, WU, Ambassador Birmingham City Short to Project Districts at Jewellery Quarter and Broad Street – to integrate Engagement, Enterprise Business Medium Term Commenced the canal within the plans and investment strategies External Funding Teams Improvement On-going Districts, individual Businesses, City Council
WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Project Status Key Initiative / Project Commenced Key Initiative / Project Committed or under development Key Initiative / Project not commenced or at concept stage
Delivery Timescales
Short term 0-2 years Medium Term 3-5 years Long term 5+ years
WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Three Year Action Plan – Waterways for Places
Strategic Strategic Priority Key Initiative / Project Delivery Delivery Waterway Potential Crossing Delivery Project Priority Mechanism(s) - Lead Partnership Partners Cutting Timescale Status № Key Partners & Role Potential Funding Foreign Language signage, Birmingham City Centre and Marketing & Enterprise Ambassador Marketing Medium Term Concept Connecting visitor attractions, hubs, 24 Stratford as potential sites – working with Marketing Promotion, Birmingham, nodes and places of interest along the Birmingham to explore opportunities for multi-lingual Partnership Working Brasshouse canal network to create strong day out” signage Language School, offers at key locations which will attract Visit Birmingham, more foreign and domestic visitors from Stratford DC, outside and within the West Midlands Warwickshire and increase the duration of their visit County Council, Local Tourism Centre Development and Promotion of further canal “rings” within Marketing & WU, Ambassador, Local Authorities, Medium Term Concept Exploiting the unique feature of the West 25 the West Midlands and surrounding waterways to Promotion Marketing Advisory Visit England, Midlands being the largest concentration encourage visitors to lesser used parts of the waterway Boating Trade, of canals in the country forming a Tourist Information network which has the potential to link Centres communities, places and opportunities Develop Waterway “Adventures” by foot by bike – Engage Marketing & WU, Ambassador, Roy Watson, Medium Term Under with local enthusiast to develop and promote waterway Promotion Marketing Advisory Sustrans, Ramblers Development adventures across the West Midlands and publicise through Association, Local websites and apps Authorities, Health Commissioning Bodies Work with adjacent housing associations, local authorities Engagement, WU, Ambassador Local Authorities, Medium Term Concept Improving environmental quality and 27 and management organisations to encourage the Planning, Environment Housing image caused by presence of large tracts enhancement and maintenance of canal side frontages. Volunteering Team Associations, of derelict land, poor canalside industrial, Residential Groups, commercial, residential and agricultural Environment boundaries Agency, Community Payback Engagement with housing developers to ensure that new Engagement, Planning, Ambassador Developers, Local Short to Long On-going developments make best use of canalside setting? Planning Enterprise Authorities Term Work with local authorities and transportation bodies to Planning, External Planning, Ambassador, Local Authorities, Short to On-going Connecting different communities and 28 better utilise the canal network for sustainable travel. This Funding, Strategy Enterprise Monitoring Developers, Centro, Medium Term places along the canals and improving could include improved linkage with tourist attractions, Tourist Attractions, connectivity between the canals, shopping centres, and major services such as hospitals (trip Hospitals, Network attractions, facilities and services within generators). Where major new developments are planned Rail, Community the West Midlands we will work with developers to ensure that arrangements Groups are made for provision of high quality canal infrastructure. List of projects within parts of the West Midlands being Short Term In Connecting the canals and the towpath External Funding Enterprise Ambassador Centro, Local 31 promoted by the Trust to be funded through £32million Development network to other routes, Sustrans, green Team Authorities, awarded to Centro from Government’s Local Sustainable infrastructure and trails, and other Sustrans, DfT, Transport Fund to increase walking, cycling and public modes of public transport and facilities transport within the West Midlands such as car parks o Wolverhampton to Bilston A41 Corridor – improve Mainline Canal from Wolverhampton Station to Lower Walsall Street WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
o Sandwell A41 Corridor – connecting A41 and the Walsall Canal o Production of Leaflet showing routes & connections o Improved access to Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Birmingham o Access to Stations programme University, Selly Oak , Five Ways, Coseley, Wolverhampton Develop a project to introduce signage / interpretation at External Funding WP Lead Local Authorities, Short Term On-Going in entrance points across the four metropolitan borough areas local communities, Certain – Dudley MBC to lead canal societies boroughs Planning system - Promote canal towing paths as both Planning Planning Engagement / Local Authorities, Medium Term Project sustainable transport and healthy routes for walking and (Infrastructure Plans Team Lobbying / Developers, Committed cycling within the statutory development plans and secure & CIL, Local Plans, Monitoring Planning towing path and access improvements as part of third party LTPs & Development Committees, Health waterside planning applications where appropriate Management) Commissioning Boards Future works with Sustrans and Local Authorities to External Funding Enterprise Ambassador Centro, Local Medium Term In develop and enhance high quality routes linked to Team Authorities, Development Enterprise Zones and Major Employers Sustrans, DfT, Work with Centro to promote canals as walking cycling Engagement, Enterprise Ambassador Centro, Local Medium Term In routes e.g. through mapping and literature, or even an App Marketing, Team, Authorities, Development Interpretation Marketing Marketing Birmingham, County Councils, Sustrans Google Street View of canal network in City Centres to Marketing, GIS, Ambassador Google Short to In enhance the visitor experience and improve the provision Interpretation Marketing Medium Term Development of geographical information location Programme of introducing Red Industrial Heritage Long Term Project Conserving, promoting and interpreting Interpretation, Enterprise & Monitoring Transport Trust, 32 Interpretation Plaques on BCN Commenced the rich industrial and cultural heritage Marketing Heritage Civic Societies, On-going value of the canals in the West Midlands Teams Local Authorities, Canal Societies, HLF, Heritage Groups Develop a programme of guided Heritage Canal Walks Volunteering, WP Lead Canal Societies, Medium Term Project Marketing Civic Societies, Commenced Local Authorities, On-going HLF, Groundwork, Heritage Groups Planning system - Promote the protection, conservation and Planning (Policy & Planning Engagement / Local Authorities, Medium Term Project enhancement of the waterways’ heritage and their built Development Team Lobbying / Canal Societies, Commenced environment within the statutory development plans and in Management) Monitoring Planning On-going responses to planning application consultations received as Committees, statutory consultee Heritage Groups NVQ Waterway Operative Heritage Skills – Subject to Short Term Under Education, WU, Ambassador HLF, Local Colleges funding utilising a HLF project to provide NVQ level 2 Enterprise Development training in waterway heritage skills for waterway staff Nature Improvement Area Status for Birmingham & Black Birmingham and Short Term Project Improving the living landscape, ecological External Funding WP Monitoring 33 Country – Designation successfully secured by WP (through the Black Country Commenced value and biodiversity of the canal supported by /Ambassador Birmingham and the Black Country Wildlife Trust) and now Enterprise & Wildlife Trust, Local On-going WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
corridors as part of the green implementing a schedule of projects. Natural England Environment Authorities, infrastructure network in West Midlands funded biodiversity works Team Community Groups Environmental Apprentices – Work with Walsall MBC, Volunteering WU, Ambassador Walsall MBC, Short Term Project Wildlife Trust, Groundwork, Environment Agency & Forestry Environment Wildlife Trust, Commenced Commission to create Environment Apprentice roles – Team Groundwork, On-going currently Walsall MBC has secured funding for 500 places Environment but only 150 of those places are committed to date Agency & Forestry Commission Planning system - Within the statutory development plans Planning (Policy, CIL Planning Engagement / Local Authorities, Medium Term Project and in responses to planning application consultations & Development Team Lobbying / Canal Societies, Commenced received as statutory consultee promote the: Management) Monitoring Planning On-going o protection, conservation and enhancement of the Committees, waterway landscape and biodiversity character, Environmental features and the quality including waterway related Groups habitats and protected species, both fauna and flora o protection, conservation and enhancement of the waterways as a water resource including improving water quality, managing land drainage and avoiding, reducing and managing flood risk o the waterways and towing paths as an integral part of the green infrastructure and open space network, performing a multiple functions Tackling anti-social behaviour to tackling issues of graffiti, External Funding / WU / Ambassadors and Local Authorities, Medium Term Project vandalism, loitering, abusive behaviour and fly tipping in Education / Enterprise, in some cases Lead West Midlands Commenced West Midlands Volunteering / Education & Police, Crime On-going Environmental Volunteering Commissioners, Management / Teams Local Community Partnership Working Groups, with Police, LAs & Environment Other Partners Agency, Land Owners, Neighbouring Businesses, Community Payback Environmental priorities – individual projects detailed in Environment Medium Term Project External Funding / Environment Monitoring, the waterway Environmental Prospectus Agency, Local Commenced Volunteering Team, WU Ambassador, Wildlife Trusts, On-going Enterprise, Engagement Community Fundraising, Groups, Keep Education & Britain Tidy, Severn Volunteering Trent, Adjacent Teams Landowners, Local Authorities, Landfill Tax, Community Payback, Volunteers Heartlands Ring Environmental Arts Project (CRT Launch Fundraising Fundraising Ambassadors, Deutsche Bank, The Short Term Project Fundraising Project) Team, Fundraisers Bond, Local Commenced Enterprise Businesses, On-going Team Community Groups Galton Valley Nature Trail Galton Valley nature trail: The Fundraising Fundraising Ambassadors, HLF, Wildlife Trust, Short Term Project WEST MIDLANDS WATERWAY PARTNERSHIP Developing the Three Year Action Plan
Trust is hoping to raise £5,000 towards a £20,000 project to Team, WU, Fundraisers Sustrans Commenced reinvigorate the Nature Trail to its former glories Environment On-going Team Doormouse Corridors (CRT Launch Fundraising Project) - Fundraising Fundraising Ambassadors, Wildlife Trust Short Term Project Staffs to Wolverhampton Team, Fundraisers Commenced Environment On-going Team, WU Butterfly & Bumble Bee Highways (CRT Launch Fundraising Fundraising Fundraising Ambassadors, Wildlife Trust Short Term Project Project) – Great Bridge to Galton Valley Team, Fundraisers Commenced Environment On-going Team, WU Greening Birmingham (CRT Launch Fundraising Project) Fundraising Fundraising Ambassadors, Broad Street Short Term Project Team, Fundraisers Business Commenced Environment Improvement On-going Team, WU, District, Wildlife Enterprise Trust, Birmingham City Council, Local Businesses Otter Habitat Creation (Year Two Partnership Fundraising Sea Life Centre, Short Term Project Fundraising Fundraising Ambassadors, Project) Team, Fundraisers Commenced Environment On-going Team, WU, Enterprise Engage with developers at the pre-application stage to Engagement, Planning, Advisory, Developers, Local Short to On-going Supporting appropriate new 35 influence their proposals such that the schemes make Planning Enterprise Ambassador Authorities Medium Term development which respect and enhance positive contribution to the canal corridor the canal corridors and promoting innovative and sustainable solutions to Work with local authorities to ensure that their planning Engagement, Planning, Advisory, Local Authorities Short to On-going Planning, Strategy Enterprise Monitoring, Medium Term create a new context for urban and rural strategies fully identify the adjacent canal as a valuable Ambassador development and living resource and asset Promotion of the canal infrastructure as facilitator for Engagement, Planning, Advisory, Developers, Medium Term Under sustainable environmental solutions – for example, hydro- Strategy, Planning Enterprise, Monitoring, Universities, Energy Development electric generation, heating and cooling, low carbon travel, Utility Team Ambassador Companies combined heat and power generation
Project Status Key Initiative / Project Commenced Key Initiative / Project Committed or under development Key Initiative / Project not commenced or at concept stage
Delivery Timescales
Short term 0-2 years Medium Term 3-5 years Long term 5+ years