Association of Inland Navigation Authorities A strategy for Freight on Britains inland Waterways Introduction Background In the light of the interest generated by the This strategy is based on the assessment History has left the current inland waterways In Waterways for Tomorrow, the Government Government’s Integrated Transport White of the existing inland waterway network network with a diversity of navigation acknowledges that the inland waterways still Paper, A new deal for transport: better for and its potential development. It does not authorities with varying levels of skills, powers carry some freight but only a small amount in everyone , there has been a significant examine the case for new waterways, which and resources. The largest part of the network national terms. Most freight traffic is found on demand for a strategic analysis of the if proposed would be at European Class Vb (3,250 km) is owned and operated by British the tidal inland waterways. On the non tidal ways in which the UK inland waterways standard. However, the impact of proposed Waterways, a public corporation partially system, freight carrying survives on only a few network could be developed to carry more links within the existing broad beam network funded by Government. A further 875 km is waterways, mainly river navigations managed freight. In so doing, it may be possible to are considered where appropriate. operated and managed by the Environment by British Waterways; and the Manchester as certain what could be achieved by Agency which is a Non Departmental Public Ship Canal. transferring 3.5 per cent of road freight Body partially funded by Government. movements to water - an aspiration of the The remaining 1,000 km or so of navigable The revision of the Department of the Government. AINA believes it should be waterways are owned and operated by a Environment, Transport and the Regions’ accepted that a major portion of this shift wide range of navigation authorities including (DETR) Planning Policy Guidance Note on would be as a result of growth in estuarial development companies (e.g. the Manchester Transport (PPG 13) will encourage more and coastal traffic, with approximately 1 Ship Canal Company); drainage freight to be carried by water. Local per cent of freight movement on the commissioners (e.g. the Middle Level authorities, through their Local Transport inland waterways. Navigations); the National Trust (the River Wey Plans (LTPs), will be expected to consider Navigations); port authorities (e.g. the Port opportunities for new developments that of London Authority on the tidal Thames); are served by waterways. charitable trusts (e.g. the Upper Avon Navigation Trust); local authorities (e.g. the The DETR Guidance on Full Local Transport Basingstoke Canal Authority); and even Plans confirms the Government wish to see original canal companies (e.g. the Chelmer better use made of inland waterways for the & Blackwater Navigation Limited). carriage of freight, thus reducing HGV movements and distances travelled. UK Government Policy The guidance encourages the business community to work with Government, through In A new deal for transport: better for freight grants, to protect the environment and everyone research indicates a potential to tackle road congestion. Consideration is being divert about 3.5% of the UK’s road freight given to extending the Freight Facility traffic to water by the following means: Grant Scheme, which is available to inland waterways, to coastal and short sea shipping. G ships re-routing to ports nearer to origin and destination G bulk and unit loads shifting to coastal traffic G greater use of the UK’s estuaries and inland waterway network. The paper encourages greater use of inland waterways where there is a practical option and economic benefit. The rules of the Freight Facility Grant (FFG) regime are to be re- examined with a view to encouraging more applications for inland waterway projects. It is the Government’s intention to see the best use made of inland waterways for transporting freight and consequently to reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles (HGV’s) on UK roads. Recognition is given to the fact that the inland waterways also have an important role to play in providing leisure and tourism opportunities and can provide a catalyst for urban regeneration. Inland waterways can be part of strategies To achieve these, some of the following On studying all current UK Government advice No assessment is carried out of the for walking and cycling and providing a safe high level policy objectives were identified: as mentioned above, it is clear that there is a coastal/one-way/short sea shipping environment for travelling to school or work. It G Making more effective use of the existing considerable amount of positive thinking in opportunities associated with the estuarial is clear that local authorities need to maximise infrastructure to reduce the direct and favour of waterborne freight. Achieving the routes or ship canals where the bulk of any this potential for waterways and set out their indirect cost of congestion. stated aspiration to divert 3.5 per cent of all increase in traffic would occur. With regard to proposals in their transport planning. freight traffic would indicate that some 60.4 Scotland, the Caledonian and Crinan Canals G Making better use of regional transport million tonnes per annum should be lifted and are considered, along with the Millennium Link The Government guidance states that LTPs infrastructure to promote the development that some 5.6 billion tonne kilometres should between Edinburgh and Glasgow currently will be assessed against criteria which will of regional economies. be moved from road to water. In defining this under restoration. include showing “clear evidence of effective G Improve transport integration and strategy AINA has investigated the feasibility partnership with navigation authorities, rail inter-modality and making transport of achieving such a shift and this is Current Situation infrastructure providers and freight operating more accessible to all. summarised within. companies to promote greater use of Statistics from the DETR indicate that in 1998 alternative modes for freight distribution”. G Promoting sustainable development by Geography Opportunities 1,727 million tonnes of goods were lifted for Planners will also need to show evidence reducing the environmental impact of road traffic within the UK, whilst at the same that they are taking account of greater use transport, including improving the local The main inland waterway network in Britain time 149 million tonnes were lifted for of water and rail freight in their land use urban environment. lies within a box, the four corners of which are transportation by water as sea-going traffic planning decisions. London, Bristol, Liverpool and Leeds, with the (Table 2). Below these high level objectives there heart of the system located in the West A recent Government Task Force has were several secondary objectives: Midlands. For the purpose of this review it is The corresponding figures, in terms of goods produced a foresight report, Actions for G Developing better integration and inter- assumed that east-west links could take place moved, were: for road 159.5 billion tonne sustainable transport: Optimisation across modality so that demand can be managed via the Kennet and Avon Canal and the kilometres (65 per cent of the total moved), modes , which sets out the need to maximise more effectively. Leeds-Liverpool Canal, both of which are with water being responsible for 57.2 billion the benefit of transport assets over the next broad beam (4.27m). Diagonal routes across tonne kilometres (representing 23 per cent 20 years and also indicates the steps that G Improving maintenance and construction the box exist from London to Birmingham and of the total). should be taken to improve the capacity of the technology to make better use of the then to Northwich; from Worcester and existing transport infrastructure to cope with existing infrastructure assets. Stourport to Birmingham and then across to the expected growth in demand within the Nottingham and the Humber; and from UK. It was particularly concerned that the To assist in these, various policies are London to Birmingham and then to Leicester scale of congestion on the UK’s road likely to be drawn up which will include: and Nottingham all at narrow beam (2.13m). network is a major national problem leading G Establishment of improved management to significant infrastructure stress throughout and control systems throughout all transport The large river and commercial navigations are the system. networks and making better use of coastal also considered on their own merits, namely shipping and inland waterways. the River Severn, River Weaver, River Mersey, The most urgent need in the transport sector River Ouse (Yorkshire), the Aire and Calder is to find ways of making more effective use of Within the policies there is a requirement Navigation, Sheffield and South Yorkshire the existing infrastructure, including improving for research and development as follows: Navigation, the River Trent, River Lea, River operational management and finding publicly G Information provision - communication Thames, River Nene, the River Great Ouse acceptable ways to reduce demand and system monitoring and real time forecasting. and the Manchester Ship Canal. Approximate increase capacity. It is only through these payload capacities of selected navigations are measures that the transport sector can play G Sustainable freight distribution, logistics and shown in Table 1. its part in maintaining the UK’s competitive supply chain management. position. The Task Force also recognised that G Inland waterway and coastal shipping, the many environmental concerns including development of transhipment facilities and congestion, air pollution, climate change and improved operational management. noise should be properly considered within future transport policy development. G Development of handling techniques for freight transport, transfer between road/rail/water transport systems.