Report Reference: 10.0 Policy and Scrutiny Open Report on behalf of the Executive Director for Communities Report to: Economic Scrutiny Comitteee Date: 19 June 2012 Subject: Waterways Projects Update KeyDecision decision? Reference: No Summary: To update members on waterways projects in development and delivery, placing them in context with the Fens Waterways Link and then looking at proposed future projects too. Actions Required: Members are asked to: 1. Note the progress to date of the waterways programme and the impact it has had on the economic prosperity of the county 2. Comment on the projects that are currently being developed 3. Comment on the use of the remaining waterways capital budget and the ongoing role of the County Coucnil in relation to the Fens Waterways Link 1. Background Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership In 2000, the county council and partners undertook a review into the opportunities for using tourism to drive economic growth. The review identified three main priorities: Historic Lincoln, destination management system, and Lincolnshire Waterways. In order to deliver the waterways programme, the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership (LWP) was established. The partnership is co-ordinated by the county council and also includes the Environment Agency and British Waterways. The framework for the LWP comprises eight objectives: Improving the existing resource Extending the network Developing Regional Links Page 1 Developing Recreational Use of the Network Promoting the Waterways Urban and Rural Regeneration Engaging with Local Communities Developing the Partnership As well as delivering locally focused schemes, the main challenge for the LWP is to support the delivery of the Fens Waterways Link which will connect Lincolnshire’s waterways with those in the fens through the creation of a navigable link between Boston and Ely. Progress to date To date the LWP has delivered £16m of projects ranging from infrastructure such as new or improved moorings, slipways, locks, surfaced trails and bridges. Projects have included working with a wide range of stakeholders to increase levels of participation and realise positive impacts on health and the environment. Increasing levels of participation in a range of activities such as angling, walking, cycling has improved the sustainability of the clubs and other organisations by increasing incomes and volunteer activity. Stakeholders with whom the LWP has worked in this context include the cycling charity SUSTRANS, The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, Angling and Canoeing clubs, The Grantham Canal Trust, The Slea Navigation Trust, The Louth Canal Trust and many others. The other important stakeholder group is the local residents. Our projects have delivered improved access to and alongside our waterways. The facilities we have created, especially the safe, surfaced multi user routes alongside the River Witham, The Fossdyke Canal and the Horncastle Canal are all available for local residents to use and have all been very popular and well used. An evaluation of the LWP’s work was undertaken in December 2008. The evaluation included a questionnaire to businesses that were close to the LWP projects. The evaluation showed that: 62.2% of businesses that responded believed that their business had developed or been safeguarded as a result of the LWP’s work 56.3% of businesses that responded considered that the number of customers and visitors had increased as a result of the LWP’s work 62.5% of businesses that responded felt that their turnover had increased Projects currently being developed A number of projects are currently being developed. Executive Councillor decisions will be required for some of them, so the views of the Economic scrutiny Page 2 committee will assist the Executive Councillor for Economic development in taking his decisions. Fens Waterways Link: the extension of the Fens Waterways Link is initially being pushed forward by high level studies to identify opportunities and constraints, the delivery options and estimate magnitudes of cost. The Spalding Waterspace Study is the most recent of these and identifies opportunities and constraints relating to the waterways of the Spalding area. It is consultation based and draws from Statutory Undertakers as well as other stakeholders to create a document that paves the way to realising waterways development opportunities and to raising the external funding that will be required for projects to be delivered. This study takes us to the furthest point of current LWP project development for the Fens Waterways Link. It is high level and precedes more detailed development of individual schemes in the area that will deliver on specific objectives set out in the 2008 framework. The Boston Barrier: members will be aware that LCC is supporting the EA in its proposal to develop a tidal barrage (the Boston Barrier) at the Boston Haven. This is designed to facilitate access between the Witham and the South Forty Foot Drain whilst providing a critical new flood defence for Boston. The barrier will protect Boston from inundation by an incoming tidal surge of sea water by lifting up from the bed of the Haven to form a dam and thus preventing the sea from flooding the town. During the boating season the barrier will also be raised daily on the outgoing daylight tide. This will maintain level water between the River Witham and the Boston Haven enabling leisure boats to pass between the Witham and the Black Sluice for seven or eight hours each day. Progress continues on this project with discussions with the Port of Boston around working in partnership to improve access to the port entrance. This will increase their freight capacity and help secure their future. Discussions with the fishing fleet also continue to progress with the possibility of their relocation to the port, which has long been an ambition of the fleet. The completion of this project in March 2018 will also complete the delivery of Phase 1 of the FWL. Black Sluice and River Glen connection: at present the Black Sluice is navigable as far as the A52 road bridge at Donington. This project link will extend the navigation to Surfleet Seas End on the River Glen. Its connection to the River Glen will extend our navigable waterways by 27km. The two waterways will be connected by a combination of widening and deepening existing channels, the creation of new sections of canal and the construction of a new lock to address the difference in levels between the Black Sluice and the River Glen. The EA have since secured funding to carry out a more detailed evaluation of these options to produce a short list by the early summer of 2012 and to identify a preferred option by the end of March 2013. The preferred option will be Page 3 supported by a business case that identifies costs and funding opportunities and routes to delivery for the link. This project, whilst being funded by the EA, is being developed via the LWP. LCC fulfil a client role during this development stage and will be represented at Board level when the project moves to delivery. Routes not Barriers: this project consists of four schemes each of which will deliver infrastructure that will overcome existing barriers to accessibility of our waterways. The Spa Trail Connection. This trail links Woodhall Spa to Horncastle and the original length, along the disused railway line, was constructed in 2009/10. This was extended into Horncastle in 2010, partially along the line of the disused railway and partially along the canal towpath. The Spa Trail connection will connect the trail at Woodhall Spa to the Water Rail Way at Tattersall Bridge. Construction is due to be completed and the trail in use by December 2013. Canoeing facilities on the Black Sluice. Canoeing facilities on the South Forty Foot Drain ( Black Sluice). At present the only point of access to the Black Sluice for boats is the Black Sluice Lock. This scheme will see a new slipway constructed at Hubberts Bridge, providing a new point of access and improving this settlement as a waterways destination. The new facilities will include slipway access for boat trailers and a vehicle turning point plus moorings and ancillary facilities. The Black Sluice Trail: This will be the first section of the strategic route that will connect with other local and national cycle networks. A new surfaced trail to connect Hubberts Bridge to Boston and vice versa. This will connect the Black Sluice Lock and residents on the south side of Boston to Hubberts Bridge. It will provide a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists and further enhance Hubberts Bridge facilities. Boston Bridge. The widening of this bridge coupled with reduced gradient ramping will bring this facility into DDA compliance and provide for shared use (with cyclists) to link the Water Rail Way. This will benefit a wide range of stakeholders including the LWP and LCC Highways would benefit from improving the St Botolphs footbridge which connects the railway and bus stations in Boston with the Boston Stump and the Market Place. Sutton Bridge Marina. This project was brought to the attention of the LWP by the Sutton Bridge Community. Their proposal was to create a new facility for leisure boats, both from the marine and inland waterways sides, with floating moorings, ramps to a riverside walkway, office space and car parking. The proposal fits directly with objectives 67 and 68 of the Lincolnshire Waterways for the Future (2009 – 2018) development framework: to identify opportunities to develop new marina facilities to increase boating use and to identify locations for new nodes along all the waterways that could provide enhanced boating facilities. Page 4 This project will attract boating visitors from our inland waterways, the Wash and travellers on the A17 from which the marina will be visible to an additional 13,000 potential visitors per day.