Welcome

Caledonian Canal Customer Forum 2017 Agenda

10:30am Welcome

10.35am Operations Overview () by Russell Thomson, Head of Customer Operations

10.55am Overview of Customer Operations by Ailsa Andrews, Customer Operations Manager

11.15am Communications overview and Pricing Consultation by Josie Saunders, Head of Corporate Affairs

11.30am Growing a Tourism Business by Mark Smith, Head of Tourism & Destinations

11.45am Q&As followed by refreshments

12.30pm Ends Russell Thomson Head of Customer Operations

Operational Overview (Scotland) Revenue split by year

70%

60%

50%

40%

Own Income GIA 30%

20%

10%

0% 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 Total income

Release of capital grant Interest 2% 0%

Commercial income 22%

Grant-in-aid 40%

Retail income 13%

Freight Income 1% Third party contributions Cost recoveries & sundry 20% sales 2% Commercial income

SWD Premiums 4%

Commercial Craft Licences Leisure Moorings 4% 11%

Property Rents 25% Craft Licences 11%

This is the split of Bigg Regeneration the 22% of Own 14% Income that is classed as Utilities Commercial 31% Income

Insurance re-charges 0% Canal income & expenditure

Lowlands Caledonian Crinan

Craft Licences (Nav. 38,283 263,555 168,355 Licence & Short Term/Transit Mooring Fees 151,643 193,724 84,425

Commercial Income 27,117 208,970 127,396

Total Boating 217,043 666,249 380,176 Income Total Expenditure 2,845,387 2,196,064 1,051,520 Capital Spend Top 20 Assets 1 11 Ness Weir Refurbishment : lock gates 2 Tomnahurich Bridge M&E 12 Upgrade Caledonian Canal: Lock grouting 3 13 Avon Aqueduct 19 Caledonian Canal Leakage Repair 4 Linlithgow Embankments 14 Crinan Canal Leakage Repair Leakage Repair 5 Muirtown Bridge M&E 15 Lowlands Canals Leakage Repair Upgrade 6 16 Ardrishaig Swing Bridge 1 - M&E TFW Site Works repairs 7 17 Kytra & Cullochy Locks, Weir Oich Weir and Reach repairs. 18 Manual Bascule Bridge 8 Ardrishaig Lock 1 - 3 Refurbishment Works 9 19 Twechar Bridge 17 Lowlands Bank Protection Works 10 20 Bonnybridge Bridge 10 Lowlands Canals: lock gates Emergency Preparedness Linlithgow Embankment Study Linlithgow Stop Planks & Safety Gates

New stop planks and safety gates on at Preston Road, Woodcockdale, Manse Road Basin, Wilcoxhome, and Battockbridge Linlithgow Embankment Study Ness Weir

Due to continued scouring of the weir structure, we are developing a solution to provide a robust weir structure to protect Ness Weir

Overflow Weir Service Weir Ness Weir Ness Weir

Before After Ness Weir Scotland-wide

Lowlands

• Linlithgow Embankment • Veg Management • Towpath Upgrades • Masonry Repairs • Water Control • Weed Management • Dredging

Crinan • Continuation of Yot Spot Assisted Passage • Refurbishment of pontoons • Crinan Facility Block • Tarbert pontoons to Crinan Rings • Marketing to flotillas • Towpath upgrades • Bridges • Repairs and veg management Towpath Upgrades Bowling Harbour Bowling Harbour

Harbour wall before Bowling Harbour

Harbour wall after Bonnybridge & Twechar Bridges Monkland Canal (Forth & Clyde West Team)

Extensive weed cutting on the Monkland Canal using the truxor weed cutter with the new implement. Actually rips the weeds out / folds back rather than lifting and cutting. Monkland Canal (Forth & Clyde West Team)

Both open sections of canal have been worked on but the section between Woodhall intake sluices and Cairnhill Weir has been totally opened up. The canal hasn’t been this wide since it was last dredged in the 1980’s. This is the main feed for the Forth & Clyde Canal Volunteering Volunteering September 2016 – March 2017 Partners Volunteering

Works have included: • Painting locks • Litter Picks • Veg Clearance • Survey work for NGIWMS • Falkirk Wheel • Ratho & Auchinstarry • Lochrin Inverness West Link

Phase 1: 2016 – 2017/18

Phase 2: 2019 – 2021

Winter closure December 2020 – March 2021

Summer ( 2 days ) closure – Date set and communicated well in advance Speed of large craft Ailsa Andrews Customer Operations Manager

Operational Overview – Caledonian Canal Caledonian 2016 / 2017

• 1170 visitor licences sold 3% down on 2015 / 2016 • Income down 9%to £235,515 but approx. same as 2014 / 2015 • 71% visiting boats from Britain • 29% from elsewhere – Norway, Germany, Holland, France, Sweden etc • USA, New Zealand, Australia • c150 long term berth holders – slightly fewer overwinter than 2015 / 2016 • 19 commercial operators brought £209k, increase of 27% on 2015/ 2016 • 1530 registered paddlers on Canoe Trail 21% down on last year World Canals Conference Clachnaharry Gate Lift Swing Bridge Middle District

• ram pit covers • Refurbished transit pontoon at Laggan Locks & new jetty for Eagle barge • Redecked Cullochy pontoon • Filming for ITV drama series ‘The Loch’ • New pontoons for Cruise ’s new boat • Scrub cutting • Canoe Trail slipway repair East District

• Clachnaharry lock gate refurbishment • Dochgarroch Boat Lift Oct / Mar • Pontoon redecking at Dochgarroch • Redeck Clachnaharry Sea Lock reach jetty • Replacement fencing rails at Dochgarroch East West District

• New transit pontoon installed at Banavie Top • New marine fuel tank at Corpach – doubled fuel capacity • Scrub clearance and chipping • Pothole repairs • Fencing repairs • Repainting all facility blocks Maintenance Team

• Clachnaharry Sea Lock gates refurbishment • Aberchalder Bridge breakdown resolution • CCTV at Seaport Marina • Renovated power packs at Neptune’s Staircase • LED floodlighting at Seaport, Cullochy, Kytra • Muirtown swing bridge gear box replacement • Gairlochy swing bridge – traffic damage repairs • Shore power bollard repairs The season ahead • Ness Weir upgrade project c£1.5m May – Sept • Hire fleets very busy – Great Canal Journeys • Pontoon redecking programme continues throughout canal • Construction of new wharf for Jacobite Cruises • New public toilets at Dochgarroch • Scottish Highlander’s sister barge arriving • Filming for series Thomas Telford Corpach Marina Josie Saunders Head of Corporate Affairs

Communications Overview Pricing consultation 2% Response published 14th February 2017 4% 8%

32% 14%

40%

• Residential 32% • Leisure 40% • Transit 14% • Groups 8% • Commercial 4% • Other 2% Pricing consultation

Weighted issues and developed response Raised comparable marinas and cost of renting 2 bed flats with Gerald Eve 721 Leisure - Not benchmarked against English marinas issues Residential - 2 bed flat rents reflect market and are not in direct comparison

16 categories Outcomes

• Gerald Eve/GVA’s recommended prices will be adopted

• Mooring costs will not increase by more than £100 per year, plus inflation

• Inflation set by CPI

• Standardised Terms & Conditions

• Monthly/upfront payment – same price

• No mooring transferred with boat sale

• Security of tenure for residential customers = min 1 year agreement

• Five yearly review Outcomes

Changes introduced 1st June 2017 and 1st April thereafter

Full price implemented if £100 or less

Phased price increases limited to £100 pa plus CPI (1.6% in 2016)

20+ years for some customers to reach Gerald Eve’s recommended price Outcomes

Navigation licence remains £195 + CPI

Transit licence cut by 25% on Lowlands

25% discount on transit fees for charities’ non commercial activity

Facilities Charter by Sept 2017

User operations of locks & bridges policy by April 2018

Letters issued in March Outcomes

Navigation licence remains £195 + CPI

Transit licence cut by 25% on Lowlands

25% discount on transit fees for charities’ non commercial activity

Facilities Charter by Sept 2017

User operations of locks & bridges policy by April 2018

Letters issued in March 2016 World Canals Conference

355 delegates 84 speakers 25 countries 4 days 1 app 1 awards ceremony Cost-neutral WhatWhat delegateshappened… said…

Speakers rated WCC 2016 4.3 / 5 355 delegatesoverall rating 4.6 / 5 84 speakers 25 countries 4 days 1 app 1 awards ceremony Cost-neutral

Networking Social aspects 4.2 / 5 4.6 / 5 “The best conference I’ve been to in my 37-year career” Phil Wright Director at Peter Brett (Sponsor)

“We would like to attract more events of the scale of “We met everyone we had the WCC to Inverness. It hoped to. We would be happy really was an out-standing to support Scottish Canals event” again in the future” Stuart Black John Lauder “This event was brilliantly Director, The “It was a first canal Director Scotland, Sustrans conceived and executed, I Council (Partner) conference for us to (Sponsor) could not have had a participate in and we are more positive experience” very pleased that we did. We Gavin Landry are very confident it has Executive Director of promoted our national and Tourism New York State international status.” (Partner) Saeid Naelini Director AMX (Exhibitor) “An incredibly successful “A world class event with worldwide event involving a top flight speakers and diverse range of parties all decision influencers in sharing a passion for canals at attendance” home and abroad.” Chris Brown Andy Dalrymple Founder of Igloo Managing Director, (Sponsor) Mackenzies (Sponsor) Mark Smith Head of Tourism & Destinations

Growing a Tourism Business Growing a Tourism Business www.scottishcanals.co.uk 53 Regeneration Initiatives Nodal Strategy • Maximise the revenues available from the canals • Capture their uniqueness and monetise it • Great customer experiences • Repeat business Inverness planning & investment Muirtown Basin inspiration

Clachnaharry inspiration

West Link Road Torevean – Gateway to Inverness Torvean –Inverness Western Gateway Holiday Cottage Portfolio Revenue – £230kpa Fort Augustus Southern Gateway to Loch Ness A82 Caledonian Canal Centre Tourist Context Loch Ness Caledonian Canal Centre

Original VC The Abbey Ft. Augustus Caledonian Canal Centre Macvean’s – Creating a Destination • Scottish Canals Purchase Supermarket • Major Intervention • Funding Sought

• Catalyst to a wider regeneration

• Private Sector Investors Caledonian Canal Centre The Gateway to Loch Ness Caledonian Canal Centre Fort Augustus • Acquisition £600k (inc. fees) • Tender Returns • £1.3m

• Start – June 17 • End – December 17 • Open – March 18 Caledonian Canal Centre Fort Augustus Investment £1.6m Revenue - £350kpa Vision

• Sit in and relax and share • Simple, focused quality offer • Local retail food • Complimentary offer to existing Local Scottish Manufacturers – Collaborative working Ft. Augustus – the next steps.

• Third party funding to support redevelopment to make it truly world class • Attracting private sector investors • Putting Fort Augustus at the heart of marketing initiatives • Developing further partnerships with local businesses Scottish Scenic Routes Partnership Laggan Hub Revenue - £25kpa • Laggan café and glamping pods • Part of the scenic routes network • Activity offer – part of the Caledonian experience 90% occupancy over summer Banavie and Neptune’s Staircase

www.scottishcanals.co.uk 77 Neptune’s Staircase inspiration

Q&A