OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY CANALS TASK GROUP

Update Report

22nd November 2007

PURPOSE OF REPORT

To update Members on work undertaken for the Canals Task Group.

This report is public.

RECOMMENDATIONS

(1) That the definition of a Community Asset as set out in 2.1 be adopted for use by the Canals Task Group.

(2) That the History and Development of the Canal be noted.

(3) That the work undertaken by other Councils be noted.

(4) (i) That the position of within the City Council’s Policy Framework and County Council’s Transport Plan be noted and consideration given to how the Council should be positioned in the policy framework.

(4) (ii) To consider whether a change of status is needed to enhance and protect the canal.

(5) That the information on residential moorings be noted and future work considered.

(6) That the information on the Disability Discrimination Act in reference to be noted.

(7) That the Task Group note that there are no current maps of access points to the Canal and consider different ways to gather this information.

(8) That the Task Group consider the maps showing ownership of the canal and discuss how to ascertain responsibility for the canal, maintenance and an understanding of the relationship between the City Council and British Waterways.

(9) That the information in this report, recommendations and discussion thereon be forwarded for consideration in forming the recommendations of the Canals Task Group

This report is part of the evidence gathering process of the Task Group and may not indicate the views of the Task Group.

1 Introduction

1.1 Press Release

A press release regarding the Canals Task Group was released and appeared on BBC ’s Website, in the Lancaster Guardian and the free local newspaper the Reporter. BBC Lancashire Radio also requested an interview and this was broadcast on 25th October 2007 during ‘drive time’,

The press release requested that members of the public send any representations regarding the canal to Democratic Services. Three representations from members of the public have been received thus far (Appendix 1). Other representations have been found in the letters pages of local newspapers.

British Waterways are currently running a test marketing campaign in Lancaster, as well as four other sites around the country. Billboard signs have been used in Lancaster City Centre and leaflets have been distributed stating that the canal is an everyday get away.

1.2 Parish Councils, Ward Councillors and Lancaster District Chamber of Commerce have been asked to make representations to the Task Group. Members of Lancaster Canal Trust, Lancashire County Council, British Waterways, the Inland Waterways Association, Carnforth Area Regeneration Partnership and Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership have been invited to the meeting.

2 Details

2.1 Community Asset

A Community Asset can be defined as an asset being used by the public and/or an asset developed by the community. The asset could be material as in buildings such as health centres and school facilities or non-material as in information and/or ideas/ideology such as security information of a particular country or community or the normative and belief systems of a community.

Water bodies are important community assets through their provision of open space and recreational resources and their interaction with the built environment, forming both divides between urban areas and the centre of towns. Still waters such as Lancaster Canal are used extensively for recreation.

2.2 The History and Development of Lancaster Canal

Lancaster Canal was originally designed in the late 18th century as a line from the at Worsley through to Kendal. The plans were redrawn several times, and the Canal as it is today bears little resemblance to the original proposals. The Lancaster Canal is unique. It is a contour canal which means it was built along the natural lie of the land and has 41 miles without locks, the longest stretch in the country.

The original purpose of the canal was to transport coal from the Lancashire Coalfields and limestone from Cumbria. In 1820 the Glasson branch was added to allow cargo to be transported from sea going vessels that could not travel up the . In its prime the canal carried up to 460,000 tons of cargo a year between and Lancaster. John Rennie, the designer of Lancaster Canal, had originally designed two aqueducts, one over the Lune and one over the Ribble at Preston. Local merchants had demanded that the Lune aqueduct be built in stone instead of brick to match the area and subsequently the company ran out of money to build the Ribble aqueduct and a tramway was built instead. The north section and the south section of the Lancaster Canal were only ever joined by the tramway and eventually the south section became part of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. It was thought that Lancaster Canal and Leeds- Liverpool Canal would be eventually joined, but this never happened.

Lancaster Canal has architectural heritage of national importance. 166 structures along the canal are Grade II listed and is know as the ‘Architectural King of the Waterways. The Lune Aqueduct is one notable structure.

North of Preston, the Lancaster Canal prospered with express passenger services from Preston to Kendal running regularly. The passenger service continued to be successful after the introduction of train services, but was damaged by roads. The M6 was constructed through the line of the canal, isolating 14 miles of the Northern Reaches at Tewitfield.

Lancaster Canal has recently experienced a revival with the numbers of boating holidays increasing. The new Millennium Ribble Link was opened in 2002 and connects Lancaster to the national network via the , the River Douglas and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

2.3 Other Councils

Lancaster Canal falls within the boundaries of Lancashire County Council, South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria County Council, Preston City Council and Wyre Borough Council as well as Lancaster City Council. These Councils have been contacted to gauge what work they have undertaken with regards to Lancaster Canal. Cumbria County Council are supportive of the restoration of the northern reaches of the canal but the County have not carried out any analysis or scrutiny. Further replies are still being waited on.

Lancaster Canal Restoration Partnership is a partnership of South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria County Council, Kendal Town Council, British Waterways, Lancaster Canal Trust, Inland Waterways Association, The Waterways Trust, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council. This Partnership is currently working towards the restoration of the Northern Reaches. The restoration of the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal is an ambitious multi-million pound project to re-open the most northerly 14 miles from Tewitfield to Canal Head in Kendal.

The Preston City Link Canal Trust was formed in 2003, the aim being to restore the filled in section of the Lancaster Canal from its present terminus in Ashton, Preston to a proposed new marina in the Maudland area, near to the University of Central Lancashire. A further aim is to restore part of the disused Preston to Longridge Rail Line which will pass over the marina by a viaduct, and continue as far as Gamull Lane to connect with Park and Ride facilities.

2.4 Biological Heritage Status

Biological Heritage Sites are the most important non-statutory wildlife sites in Lancashire. Together with the statutory SSSIs they make a significant contribution to Lancashire’s biodiversity, by means of the habitats and the species they support. Particular concentrations of Biological Heritage Sites are evident in Lancaster and Ribble Valley districts. Further information on Biological Heritage Status is being awaited from Natural England and Ecologists from Lancashire County Council.

2.5 The Canal within the City Council’s Policy Framework and County Council’s Transport Plans

Documents within the City Council’s Policy Framework and County Council’s Transport Plans including the Lancaster and Morecambe Vision, the Local Development Scheme, the Community Strategy and the Corporate Plan were searched for reference to Lancaster Canal.

Lancaster Canal does not appear within all of the Council’s policy framework or the County Council’s Transport Plans. However, it is included in the following policies and strategies:

Within the Tourism Strategy – Tourism Vision for Rural Areas

The proposed re-opening of the Lancaster Canal to Kendal will enhance rural tourism.

Long term action:- To encourage the restoration of the Lancaster Canal to Kendal to enhance sustainable tourism through the Northern Reaches Group.

Within the Lancaster District Local Plan adopted 16th April 2004.

Section 5 – Environmental Protection and Enhancement:

The City Council proposes to develop and safeguard green corridors along the River Lune, Lancaster Canal and rural cycle paths. The limited expansion of existing uses will be permitted. The banks of the River Lune provide relief from the built up area and access to the countryside. The Lancaster Canal provides a similar function in both Lancaster and Carnforth.

Section 6 – Recreation and Community Services

The City Council proposes to develop a new park in central Morecambe and concentrate on other initiatives on the River Lune, the Lancaster Canal, Morecambe Promenade and Lancashire Coastal Way.

The Canalside Park

The Lancaster Canal is highly valued by visitors and residents for its quiet attractions and the unusual and contrasting views it offers both within the urban areas of Lancaster and Carnforth and in the open countryside. The Canal is navigable south of Tewitfield whilst the spur to Glasson Dock provides access to the sea.

In total, there is public access to around 40 km of canal towpath within the District. This in turn gives access to Kendal in the north and Preston in the south. Although the canal was bisected by construction of the M6, the Lancaster Canal Trust is committed to restoring the northern reaches for cruising and amenity use. If this did occur, the recreation potential of the canal would increase.

Boating activity is concentrated in Lancaster and at the marinas located in Galgate, Carnforth and Tewitfield. There is no indication at present that boating activity or demand for mooring space will increase during the plan period. Initiatives will therefore concentrate on improving the towpath for walking and cycling, promoting opportunities for better pedestrian links to the canal towpath and between the canal and surrounding areas.

Within the Community Strategy – Local Context

There are important ‘wildlife corridors’ such as the canal, M6 and the railways where people can appreciate our more common mammals and birds such as hedgehogs and ducks.

How we will achieve our vision…Contributing to the ongoing plans to reopen the whole Lancaster Canal from Preston to Kendal within this decade and benefit from increasing canal based tourism and development.

Within A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire – Landscape Strategy

Water Bodies and Water Quality Lancashire’s two canals; the Leeds and Liverpool and the Lancaster canal and their corridors are important landscape features. The increased use of river and canal corridors for recreation can disturb plant and bird life in particular and, locally cause bank erosion. Variations in agricultural practices and increases in visitor pressure may result in the increased occurrence or magnitude of these problems.

2.6 Residential Moorings

Alison McGurk, Council Tax Manager was contacted to establish whether Canal Boats had to pay council tax.

It is the residential mooring rather than the boat that is banded for Council Tax purposes. It is usual course for a boat, when it received a Council Tax bill, to move on. The nature of this type of dwelling makes it difficult to pin down for billing purposes. At the moment the Council has approximately 6 residential moorings that it is currently billing but the figure does fluctuate. It is rare if this figure rises to more than 10.

2.7 Disability Discrimination Act

Information was gathered from the British Waterways Disability Equality Scheme to determine the effects and constraints of the Disability Discrimination Act on Lancaster Canal and British Waterways.

British Waterways is a public corporation, accountable to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Many of the waterways are ideally suited for people with disabilities. People can view the natural environment by boat, some of which has been specially adapted to accommodate disabled people. Towpaths are often quite level and broad. British Waterways acknowledge that it will never be possible to provide perfect access for all people with disabilities everywhere along the waterway system.

British Waterways are constrained by statutory and other considerations, such as health and safety and the waterways’ heritage and environment. They have been working to improve and promote access for a number of years, for example through the Waterways Access for All programme. The Disability Equality Scheme builds upon previous work to develop a Policy for Disabled Access.

Actions from the British Waterways Disability Equality Action Plan include access for all requirements being built into all major schemes, access to towpaths by powered buggies and guidelines to govern this and to implement identified improvement measures when funding is available. If sites cannot be brought up to a reasonable standard within a reasonable period, reasons why will be documented.

2.8 Access to Lancaster Canal Currently, British Waterways have no information of their access points in the Lancaster area. This information is being collected across the country, and we do have it for some parts of the UK yet but not the Lancaster area.

2.9 Ownership of the Canal

Maps have been obtained from British Waterways and Property Services at Lancaster City Council showing ownership of the Canal and land adjacent to the Canal. These maps will be made available at the meeting of the Task Group.

S151 OFFICER COMMENTS

The S151 Officer has been consulted and has no further comments.

MONITORING OFFICER COMMENTS

The Monitoring Officer has been consulted and has no further comments.

BACKGROUND PAPERS Contact Officer: Sharon Marsh Press release issued by Lancaster City Telephone: 01524 582096 Council. E-mail: [email protected] Lancaster Canal Trust Information Website Ref: Tourism Strategy Lancaster District Local Plan Community Strategy A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire British Waterways Disability Equality Scheme Waterscape – A History of Lancaster Canal

Appendix 1

Representations Taken from the “Canal is in a shocking state” Letters Page in the The land surrounding the dry dock near the centre of Lancaster has Lancaster Guardian not been cleaned up for at least a year. The British Waterways cleaning barge does go up and down every week, but it fails to pick up this mess. Passers by continue to throw litter and other garbage in the canal, we’ve even seen a settee floating gently by. Taken from the “Scruffy canal is a health hazard” Letters Page in The I think that part of the problem is that although the canal is cleaned Citizen by British Waterways, the path, where most of the rubbish that ends up in the canal accumulates, is cleaned by the council. I jog most days and collect 1-2 bags of rubbish in a small distance – but it is a losing battle as the rubbish simply piles up again. Besides putting some more bins out (the purple bags the council puts out also end up in the water), it would be good to have signs trying to encourage people to use them. If all else fails, fines and enforcement should be a priority. This is not just an eyesore but also a health hazard for me to have a pile of rotting rubbish under my windows. (Borrowdale Road). By email. I consider the lack of facilities at Lancaster to be a dismal shambolic waste. There is more going on at Carnforth! The Lancaster Canal now connects with the rest of the system but the Council (and British waterways) seem to have overlooked this fact. Other authorities are taking on board the potential of getting (and keeping) tourists into the area, so why isn't Lancaster? There seems to be a perceived idea that the canal is a dumping ground for rubbish, a congregation area for down and outs/drunks and other assorted dross of society and the input from BW seems as lacking in this area as our erstwhile Council. As mentioned above there are no facilities - no water point, diesel or pump-out station, neither is there a convenient supermarket. The only facilities seem to be a run-down pub, The Water Witch and a corner shop. The area is surrounded by student accommodation, there is no convenient car parking and the area in general is probably as welcoming as your average urban sprawl. The trip into Lancaster from the South is reasonable, passing through Aldcliffe but once in the basin it deteriorates remarkably. The Northern reaches through what is known as the "canal corridor" is not welcoming in any way - probably the reverse! Apart from one canalside pub there is nothing but a general air of decay. Passing between housing estates is always a slightly risky procedure for canal boaters and the Ridge/Newton enclave is no different. Once over the Aqueduct things change back to a more pastoral image with less rubbish and a sense of foreboding is lifted from the wary traveller. I think the Council should work closely with BW to provide more facilities in the basin area - why can't the Kiosk be reopened for starters? Plus a sweep round and litter pick wouldn't hurt either. If the status quo is unchanged in 2 years when I have exchanged my house for a boat, Lancaster basin will NOT be a place I would want to moor for any period of time. Finally, if you want to see how it should be done, take a trip to Skipton! By email I walk into work along the stretch from Chancellor's Wharf to the White Cross every day and really like being able to do that; as an open green space it's great. I walk out the other way with friends every so often and like being able to do such an easy walk straight into the countryside; again, the greenness and wildlife are what make it so nice. The dog poo isn't so great, although it's easier to see now on the tarmac'd bit. I like having the tarmac stretch as far as it goes, but wouldn't be happy to see it go further - it seems like something that should be urban, not rural. And whilst it's a great surface for cycling on, the towpath isn't really wide enough to be safe for both pedestrians and cyclists. A friend of mine has been hit once on the path by Haverbreaks. Maybe cycle tracks could be routed separately from the towpath on the narrow bits? It'd be a real shame to lose the grass and hedges. Anti-social behaviour - I do actively avoid the corner under the bridge by Moor Lane (by the St Martins residences) because of the reports of assaults, the blind corner, and the convenient place for people to sit drinking. I'll go there in the day, but not at night. Not that increased lighting would really change the situation; think I'm more nervous of out-of-hours drunks. From Councillor 1. Cyclists approaching from rear often do not give any warning of Histed, Cabinet their presence. Sometimes also insist on right of way. Member with Special 2. Dog waste bins often overflowing. Responsibility for Rural Areas 3. Ordinary litter bins would be helpful.