Community Vision for Caledonian Canal

Kilmallie Community Council October 2014

Consultations on ‘Masterplan’ for Corpach to Gairlochy 28/29 September 2011 19 April 2012 11 December 2013, new proposals for Banavie

Background to this community vision report In September 2011 British Waterways held a two day consultation event in Banavie to develop a ‘masterplan’ for the Caledonian Canal between Corpach and Gairlochy. This followed a number of interactions between the local community and British Waterways following concerns over planned housing developments directly beside Neptune’s Staircase. Although British Waterways never produced a record of this event, Kilmallie Community Council did attempt to record the views put forward in written notes (see http://www.kilmallie.org.uk/have-your-say/consultations/canal- masterplan/). This event was followed by a one day event in April 2012. There is no complete record of this consultation but Scottish Canals (which had taken over responsibility for the canals in Scotland from British Waterways) did produce a list of ‘key themes’. However, based on feedback that FOCAL (Friends of Caledonian Canal Lochaber) and KCC received afterwards some people were concerned that the key themes were misleadingly presented as if they had already gained community support. Following these events, KCC was informed by Scottish Canals on 30 July 2012 that they had decided to suspend the consultation process.

Scottish Canals organised a public meeting on 11/12/2013 to describe plans to promote Neptune’s Staircase as a tourist attraction and to promote the canal as a leisure resource more than as part of the transport infrastructure. It was noted that the ideas and opinions expressed in consultations regarding the Masterplan had not been taken into account in developing the new proposals.

Local people had put considerable effort into the previous consultations and many of the concerns and ideas expressed are still just as valid now. This document is an attempt to summarise these views from the community together with subsequent suggestions.

What makes the canal special?

The canal is of great importance to the local area. However, we believe it is a mistake to just view it as a tourist attraction rather than a working waterway. It is clear from talking to visitors at Neptune’s Staircase that the main attraction is watching boats of all shapes and sizes, both recreational and commercial. It is the diversity of boat traffic, the engineering feat of lifting large vessels up a flight of locks and the historical context that hold most interest for visitors.

Boat of all shapes and sizes, commercial and recreational

Friendly, helpful, enthusiastic local staff

The local staff do a tremendous job not only of operating the canal efficiently but also explaining the workings and history to visitors. Watching boats travel up or down the staircase allows visitors to watch real people doing real jobs rather than a synthetic tourist experience. In developing facilities that have no connection with the canal as a working waterway it is important that the unique attributes of the canal are not lost.

Events on the canal have been a great success including those organised by the Waterway’s Trust such as Go Wild, natural history, heritage and photography workshops.

Fun events

Educational events

The canal is a great place to see wildlife, particularly birds but roe deer and otters can sometimes be seen and badgers are known to live close by. The canal is also important habitat for bats and on a summer evening it is often possible to see three species flying around the locks at Banavie.

Interacting with wildlife

Water in action Tranquility

Timelessness

Unique history

Connection with water

Community concerns from consultations and subsequent developments

We recognise the financial constraints of operating and maintaining the canal.

But ...

The canal is expensive to operate and maintain. Scottish Canals currently rely on government subsidy for around 60% of their costs but are hoping to reduce this to 50%. KCC recognises the need to generate new sources of income but developments should enhance rather than undermine the canal. The subtle features that combine to give the canal its unique character are the ones that are most likely to be lost through unsympathetic developments but also the ones that are most important to the community and visitors in the long-term.

Does this view really need a modern toilet block that is the size of a small house?

Should these trees really be cut down just to improve the view from the car park?

Plans to urbanise the canal by cutting down trees and erecting car park barriers would seriously detract from the canal and surroundings.

It’s the canal that is special, not the car park. This line of trees frames the canal and provides a useful wind break.

Is this ...

... really compatible with this?

There is considerable concern about creeping urbanisation of the canal and its surroundings. Although Scotland’s canals are an important part of urban environments, this is not the case for the Caledonian Canal. Scottish Canals described their objectives for consultations about developments along the canal to inform the ‘urban design and use of development sites’. For example, Scottish Canals have proposed barriers and car parking charges for the car park in Banavie which is currently free access and is used by locals as well as visitors for stops at Banavie play park. The plans also included felling the line of trees currently separating the canal from the car park to improve the view from the car park. This line of trees currently separates the canal from the car park and helps to

7 preserve the surroundings of the canal rather than allowing it to just become an extension of the car park. The design of recently proposed buildings by Scottish Canals has also been criticised for being more appropriate to an urban rather than a rural setting including the camping pods and the toilet block at Laggan Locks.

Detail and historic connections are important

• Plans for camping pods at Banavie would have broken the route of the old railway line to Banavie pier •Plans for an extension to the Moorings hotel will break the line of the old road and swing bridge

Repairing detailed masonry work with randomly piled blocks results in loss of character

Suggestions from the community consultations None of the recent proposals that have been put to the community by Scottish Canals relate to the canal as a working waterway. There may be scope to increase numbers of boats using the canal which would bring in more income. If more freight could be transported on the canal this would also reduce pressure on the roads.

There are a large number of yachts based on Loch Linnhe in the summer that look for sheltered winter berths. More of these could be encouraged into the canal. There is also scope for better co- ordination with other boating groups to offer improved services. For example Achintore Moorings Association often have free moorings off Fort William and some arrangement could be reached to allow yachts to stop off beside the town on their way into or out of the canal.

It is currenlty difficult for small boats launched from trailers to use the canal because they have to be launched on Loch Linnhe and then come through the sea lock. It would be difficult to build a fixed slipway into the canal but there may be scope for a floating slipway that could allow such boats to be launched. This would be an ambitious engineering challenge but could then be used anywhere along the canal.

Encouraging more boats would bring in direct revenues

•Encourage more boat owners to over winter in the canal •Connect with local groups to improve boating facilities on Loch Linnhe •Ways to launch small boats at Banavie e.g. floating slipway?

Interpretation signs

• Can be fun and informative but should not trivialise the overall experience •Should not detract from the canal setting, environment or architecture

• These should provide useful Marketing signs and information in key locations and could look good and enhance canal notices •Marketing should encourage people to visit the canal, not detract from the experience for people who have already decided to visit •Need coordinated policy on marketing signs for canal related activities in strategic locations

Gates. The Great Glen Way is a Core Path. Why not have gates that are easy to open and close, including from a bicycle or horse?

Towpath repairs should use materials that easily accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs.

The power of water

Develop small micro-hydro scheme at Banavie as a working visitor attraction. Showcase the larger hydro scheme that is visible from the canal.

There is current very little information for visitors at Banavie. There is scope for both marketing signage and interpretation boards to be discreet and carefully designed in a way that fits in with the canal setting and doesn’t trivialise the visitor experience. In addition, a visitor centre and exhibition could focus on the use of water for power and transport. This could be combined with a small demonstration hydro-power scheme using water running down the pipe to the east of Neptune’s Staircase. Planning permission was granted for a scheme there a few years ago but this could be combined with a visitor centre – perhaps using a glass section of pipe so that visitors can see the turbine itself. The exhibition could also feature the hydro scheme to the aluminium plant which is visible and conspicuous from the canal towpath.

Floating pubs and cafes are popular around the world – this design could probably be improved.

Boat trips to Moy Bridge and Gairlochy? •Add disabled facilities at Gairlochy similar to Banavie

There have been many suggestions for a cafe at Banavie. One option that would remove the need for land or any new building developments would be a floating cafe. This is a popular concept around the world and makes optimal use of the canal setting. If it became apparent in the future that there was insufficient demand it could be easily moved elsewhere.

The idea of a boat trip along the canal is likely to appeal to many visitors. This could link with one way cycling or walking routes to Gairlochy or Moy. Disabled boat access is possible at Banavie but not at Gairlochy. A similar facility at Gairlochy would allow wheel chair users to take a boat for part of a round trip. The Scottish Canal’s vessel MV Crinan seems very under utilised at the moment.

Floating pods?

•Half catamaran design supported by bank does not take up any operational waterway •Could be moored anywhere along canal to optimise location and avoid placing in iconic areas such as Banavie, Gairlochy and Moy just because land is available there. Location could be moved following user feedback. •Gives visitors a link to the canal and additional interest

Scottish Canals proposals for camping pods along the canal have caused concern both for their visual impact and potential competition with local accommodation providers. An alternative option to provide a similar service for kayakers, walkers and cyclists using the Great Glen Way would be simple floating accommodation units. These could then be located in more optimal positions not reliant on where Scottish Canals have land, could be moved as required anywhere along the canal, do not need any building developments, and would give visitors the added interest of sleeping afloat.