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 Lancaster Canal 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 British Waterways 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 Lancashire’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 Bridgewater Canal 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 River Lune. In its prime the canal carried up to 460,000 tons of cargo a year between Preston 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 River Ribble, 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.