: Planning and Development Comminee I REQUEST FOR FUNDING rom : Director of Planning and Development ate : 21 August 1996 Ref: TP/9/5 PURPOSE OF TECE REPORT The purpose of the report is to seek the Council's financial commitment to the Millenium Link. BACKGROUND The aim of the Millenium Link is to restore navigation to both the Union and the Forth and Clyde Canals, creating links from coast to coast and from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The project aims to provide improved towpaths and provide access to the canals for millions of local people and .visitors. It is proposed to make the canal fblly navigable by the year 2000, and for the following ten years to continue work on improving navigable standards and environmental protection. It is anticipated that the propods will result k 1500 new jobs during constxzadiorr. and 4000 permanent new jobs with up to €400m private sector investment. Details of the project are given in the appendix. Last year British Waterways on behalf of a broad partnership of public organisations and interest groups submitted a bid to the Millenium Commission. The bid was given a B ljsting and hrther information was sought. A revised bid was made in November 1995. In April 1996, North Lanarkshire Council agreed to support the aims of the Millenium Lmk, and undertook to play a full part in the project. ritish Waterways has now received a clear indication the bid has been successful and fbnding of some 532m will be available, subject to confirmation of financial support fiom the fknding partners. British Waterway is ROW seekmg formal commitment and financial support from North Lanarkshire Council. ding package for the period 1996 - 2010 is 29533 with approximately 232m being the Commission. e remainder of' the fbnding come from the European nterprise agencies he business community, th oluntary sector and Ioc s. The contribution being SOU orities is 25m betw between 2001 and 2810. s involved are ci onshire Counc 78 As reported before, a relatively small financial input from the local authorities would result in a hnding package which is likely to bring major economic and social benefit to many parts of central Scotland. It is proposed that the riparian local authorities contribute flm annually for five years, and that this contribution be split in proportion to population as follows - Authority Population % pp Contribution (E) City of Edinburgh 44 1,620 23.37 23335 West Lothian 146,730 7.77 77,653 Falkirk 142,610 7.55 75,472 North Lanarkshire 326,750 17.29 172,923 East Dunbartonshire 1 10,220 5.83 58,33 1 City of Glasgow 623,850 33.02 330, 154 West Dunbartonshire 97,790 5.18 5 1,753 TOTAL 1.889.570 100.00 1.ooo,ooo It can be seen therefore that the sum being sought from North Lanarkshire Council is €1 72,923 each year for five years, commencing 1997/98. COMMENTS It is considered that the project will bring substantial benefits to North Lanarkshire, particularly to the northern area, and as noted above, the Council has already confirmed its support for the project. There has been no budget allocated at this stage however for the sum requested, and therefore, the matter will require to be fkther considered by the Policy and Resources Committee. It is recommended that :- 1 The Council affirms its support for the project 2 The Planning and Development Committee agrees in principle to the hnding seqcestttd. 3 The matter is referred to the Policy and Resources Committee iK- [w Staraley c Cook irector of Planning and Development For further information, please contact Shirley Linton 01236 72213 1 ext 2206 rlRlu?hnf Camlachie. Chiircli. Kii kiiililloch. Maryhill) :;t Mary's Cllurch Choir. Representative C~ouricil Kirkiritilloch Rotary Club Parkview Residents' Kirkiritilloch. WlieczzLirs' Chest Club. Cardross. Liiilithgow Twirrning Association St Mary's Parish Church. Busby Cathcart. Association. Platforin Kirkiritilloch. Woodllee Iiospitdl. Lenr!? Clirystori Mary Russell School. Prince & Princ-ess of Wales St Michael's Addictioii CraiqJocl;har?. Paisley I lospir e. Glasgow Group C,lydebaiik Last silt1 COMMUNIW COUNCILS MiI Milaap Cciilre, Hotary Clt~b01 Kirkiiililloch The Iravellers' Prolect (.critml Glasgow Rotaiy Cl~bof I drbert (Corriiiwi1ity Central lHs11. Abroiiliill Clydcbairl\ i:oii~iTrur-llly Mootliesburri Aim Rotary Club of I irdittryow Maryliill). Aririarlale ( UiltlCll For~lrll Developiiient Group. arid Bo'ness The Volunteer Centre Aucl lllilflCll Cedridys. 13-<I1 k 11a11. Mr 8 Mrs Grahairr Currie notary Club of Strathaveri (Comniuirily Central tiall. Muirnvonsidc Woriieir's Salvation Army Maryhill) Fosrreatt,. Guild (Surinysitle Eventide Watris Edge Project Sirrishill NHS Retired I-ellowship Horire. Edinburyh) Workirig Group Stockbridge. Open Uoor (Xib. St David's Meiriurtal Park (Weqtpr I Ides) l.illcross Clydebank. Cllurch. Kirkiiitilloch Westei Hailes Partnership Jrdechar. Strathkelviri. PAOOLE St Flarinan's 17C Church. Willie Docherty 1,~ptiallStation (Coininuiiity Cei-itral tlall. Kirkiiitillocli Wester t tailes VIllacJL? & C;E3lecnr-y, 81 83 m Y 0 0, 7 rc Ti 2 (P VI rc 0 0 c 3 : 0, Y - I. - 3 0 x 0 E --. 5. 3 ID P 3 3 D" CCI % U 3 ID -, w VI CT (D 7 2 !% 2. 5; Obstructions and dereliction will be clearccl. Natiiral Iiabitats will be improved ant1 the level paths will provide ;I uniquely accessible recreational environment for families, the elderly, and wheelchair users. People will visit, walk, riiti, cycle, fish. The entire length of the canal system will beconie ;I tnajor ktndinark ancl the Millenniiirn Wheel will attract thousands of visitors in its own right. A Milleiit~iuirr Fiind grant represents the only chance for this vision to be realised. l'lic Millenniuni Isink will create a broad grccii corridor linking urban arid rural, people and jobs, the second and third millennia - and the old rivals, IXnburgh and C ;lasgow. By restoring the two 1,owlarid Canals arid their environs, it will providc a natural focus for leisure and cultural activities, bringing 110 kni Firth of For:h of valuahlc watcrwaps and towpaths back into full use and supporting a chain of aniciiiries and visitor attractions right across Scotland. 'l'inie and again we have found that oncc waterways arc brought Firth 01 Clyde back to life, land-based activity will follow: and far more people :ire ;t t t t to ic t c w pa t s and s 11r undi ng amenities than act ual iy t :I I ra c cd L 1 11 ro kc Glasgow to the w:iter. A new momentum At its peak, constrLiction work will generate 1,500 jobs, with more than 4,000 permanent new jobs created by associatcd development in the canal corridor. l'rivatc sector invcstmcnt is expected to reach L4001n. (hnrnirnitics that once turned their hacks on the canals will have a ~iewfocus as the wntcrside becomes ;I desirable residential and business location with car& and restaurants, sliLops, galleries and museums. As wcll :IS jobs there will he training, not least through expanciing llritish Watenwys' existing partnerships with training agencies; and the new opportunities will extend to rural arc:is, where iincrnploymerit is One of the obstructio"1s nut o r i o usI y rec;i I c i t ra n t . on the Union Canal 4 85 Despite their long decline the I:CW pe~pletoday CZ~IIrei11ei11bcr the jAo\vl:ti1*3C::tnals at the height of tlicir glory, yet only a kcv generations ago these Lowlancl Caiials are in remarkably remarkable feats of engineering were the vitar arteries of good shape. Only 5 out of their 110 Scotland's industrial strength, prc-dating lie railways :is n mc:ins of shifting vital raw materials and finished goods. krns have I>een lost altogether, and l'he 1;orth and (:lyde was built as a se:^ to scii ship we kiiow that re-opening these cnnal, wllilst the IJnion (':anal was an inland witenvay des ig ne d for 1) ;i rges. '1 'hc heritage that surro LI nds t 11c 111 sectlol~:;is t)oth techiically includes no lewer tlian 3 1 lisrcd biiilcimgs, 30 ancicnt nrunuments, 5 sites of special sciciitific iiitert.st, 100 bridges, f e 3 si 1) I c ;I 11d e c o 11 o iiiic a 11 y viab le. 49 aquec1L1cIs, 35 10 and Scotland's oiily cmal timid. Restoring the links In the road-dorrIinated culture of thc 19fiOs, tile I:ortli aid Clyde mci Union Canals were finally closcci :o navigaiion :~ndbroken into short sections with limited LISC. I3orIi canals became badly silted in plnces, old fittings decayed, opcning bridges were removed and some structures b;tcanre derelict. Even so, the channels remain substan:i:tlly intact with ICw major obstacles.'l'hc longest break in the route is 3 kin. A complete restoration of thc L.owlailc! Can:lls :vill create a unique community asset and retreat.: sociirl and economic links between cities, towns :~ndvillages along the way. 'The 1 i in i ted progra m ines wh i c 11 I j :ive 3 1r :.xly t a kc n pl ace have given an enticing glimpse 01- the potcntial benclits. Open to ideas After 1eng thy disc iiss io n s w i rh pl :in n i I'.g a U th 1) r i t ies , 1 I is t o r ic Scotland, and environmental gruups we know that our plans have widespread support. Local communities across (kntral Scotlmd have heen involved in developing ideas for the p'oject. in one of Edinburgh's largest peripheral housin;; estates, whcre significant inlill has taken place, the potentiai for recreation and new jobs h:is won 'I'he Millcnniuin I,inlc some of its most enthusiastic supporters.