Memorandum submitted by Lincolnshire Waterways
Partnership
Lincolnshire County Council first started working
with British Waterways on the possibility of developing a waterways
regeneration strategy for Lincolnshire in 2000-01. At this time
our county's waterways had become quite run down and were seriously
under utilised and under invested in. A series of workshops followed
and with the Environment Agency joining the group, we developed
a Lincolnshire Waterways Development Framework 2002-2012. I believe
that this is still the only countywide waterways regeneration
strategy in the UK and we have now commissioned a refresh 2008-2018
which should complete in April 2008. Lincolnshire County Council,
British Waterways and Environment Agency formed the Lincolnshire
Waterways Partnership (LWP) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding
in 2003.
Since then the LWP have submitted 14 successful
funding bids and are delivering (or have completed) some £16
million of works, including bridges, moorings, locks, nature reserves,
slipways, visitor facilities and shared use paths.
The tasks are divided up amongst the 3 partners
and we meet every month to discuss progress. This makes for a
very effective and efficient delivery model, which we believe,
is an example of best practice. The work of the LWP was recognised
in the Waterway Renaissance Awards 2006 Partnership Category.
They described LWP as "a mature and well managed partnership
achieving some excellent results" and "It has shown
what can result from close partnership, commitment and determination."
Five years of working with BW on a variety of
regeneration projects has only confirmed to me that our model
is a better way of working and one which delivers excellent results.
It is hard to describe how the LWP actually works in detail, but
I would describe our approach as consensual. When we originally
started we put great store by understanding and respecting how
each of the three organisations worked and made decisions and
the firm foundations that we set up then have stood us in good
stead ever since.
The LWP has strong officer and political support
from Lincolnshire County Council and because we promote our way
of working through a three times a year newsletter we receive
very strong support form the people of Lincolnshire and the boating
community nationally.
The LWP has work in delivery to 2010 and I would
happily recommend British Waterways as an effective partner organisation
and to our approach to partner working here in Lincolnshire, in
particular.
Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership
February 2008
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