Recreational use of Towpaths A Study Commissioned by the Inland Waterways Committee of the Heritage Council By Roger Butler Inland Waterways Consultant 1 © An Chomhairle Oidhreactha / The Heritage Council 2009 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, now known or hereafter invented, without either the prior written consent of the publishers or licence permitting restricted copying in Ireland issued by the Irish Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd The Writers’ Centre 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 Published by the Heritage Council Kilkenny, Ireland 2009-03-23 Telephone: +353 (0)56 7770777 Fax: +353 (0)56 7770788 E-Mail:
[email protected] www.heritagecouncil.ie Heritage Council of Ireland Series ISBN 978 1 906 304 07 2 2 Table of Contents Foreword 5 Executive Summary 6 Achoimre Fheidhmeach 7 1 Introduction 9 1.1 Why were towpaths built? 9 1.2 Contemporary role of towpaths 9 1.3 Towpaths in Ireland 9 1.4 Funding for towpath work 9 1.5 The need for this guide 9 2 Towpath improvements: benefits, opportunities and issues 10 2.1 Why improve towpaths? 10 2.2 Heritage and Environment 10 2.3 Regeneration 10 2.4 Transport 10 2.5 Sport and Recreation 11 2.6 Tourism 11 2.7 Issues to consider when planning a towpath project 11 2.8 Maintenance 12 3 Policy context 12 3.1 Waterways Ireland 12 3.2 Heritage and Environment Legislation 12 4 Built heritage 13 4.1 Unique and