Memorandum submitted by Sustrans
LETTER IN
SUPPORT OF
BRITISH WATERWAYS
Sustrans is the UK's leading sustainable transport
charity. Our vision is a world in which people can choose to travel
in ways that benefit their health and the environment. Every day
we are working on practical, innovative ways of dealing with the
transport challenges that affect us all.
The charity is probably best known for its role
as the co-ordinator of the National Cycle Network. Offering over
12,000 miles of walking and cycle routes on traffic-free paths,
quiet lanes and traffic-calmed roads, the Network now runs within
two miles of around 75% of the UK population.
Some 500 miles of the National Cycle Network
runs along the UK's canal network, much managed by British Waterways.
Sustrans has been grateful for British Waterways' support and
can quote many examples of ongoing partnership working that benefits
walkers and cyclists.
For example, between Birmingham to Redditch,
British Waterways have undertaken interim towpath improvement
works in the vicinity of Hawksley Tunnel in south Birmingham.
This has made the network in this local area much more user friendly.
In North Wales a £80,000 project has been
put together with support from Sustrans, British Waterways and
other partners to create the latest section of a continuous canal
side walking and cycling route out of Newtown. The path is designed
to be accessible to all—from cyclists and walkers to wheelchair
and pushchair users—making it a valuable local asset.
We look forward to continuing to work with British
Waterways both on the National Cycle Network and on Connect2,
Sustrans' project to revitalise walking and cycling in 79 communities
across the UK by creating new routes for the local journeys we
all make every day. In December 2007 this ambitious UK-wide project
won the public vote in the Big Lottery Fund's: The People's £50
million contest.
In total 17 of the Connect2's 79 schemes will
rely on the support of British Waterways if they are to be successfully
delivered. For example, on 29th February 2008 John Grimshaw, Chief
Executive of Sustrans, joined representatives of Rochdale Council
and British Waterways to update residents about the exciting plans
for the £1.2 million Rochdale Towpath Connections scheme
which will create new walking and cycling paths between the Rochdale
canal and the townships of Rochdale, Middleton, Heywood and Oldham.
Sustrans would urge the Committee's ongoing
backing for the British Waterways' work in the restoration of
our waterway heritage.
Andy Wistow
National Cycle Network Director
Sustrans
March 2008
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