Memorandum submitted by Park Royal Partnership
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. Park Royal Partnership (PRP) submits
this statement in support of British Waterways (BW) and their
regeneration and restoration role with specific reference to the
Grand Union Canal (Scrubs Lane to Ealing Road) in West London.
2. PRP has been working in partnership with
BW and local stakeholders to restore and regenerate the section
of the Grand Union Canal (GUC) as it passes through Park Royal.
This is a mature partnership with 6 years of successful collaboration,
project implementation and joint funding to achieve the significant
improvements to the GUC with attendant increase in usage of the
towpath for commuting cyclists and leisure uses. The improvements
to the GUC has also raised the image of the area and provided
an amenity for the businesses and their employees.
3. PRP have relied on BW as a delivery partner
to implement the improvements to the GUC, a role that they have
discharged promptly and in accordance with agreed budgets and
timescales. PRP view BW to be a very close and reliable partner
working in alignment with shared objectives for the regeneration
of GUC, Park Royal.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
1. PRP have worked closely with BW as a
strategic partner since the late 1990s to achieve the regeneration
of the GUC as it passes through Park Royal, West London. The relationship
has strengthened and from 2002, BW has been a key delivery partner.
There have been significant improvements to the GUC as a result
of this partnership with BW and local stakeholders including Borough
Partners—London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent
and Ealing.
2. In 2004, PRP sought to embed the existing
relationships with stakeholders committed to the regeneration
of the GUC through the establishment of the GUC project steering
group. This steering group focussed on the prioritisation of improvements
to the GUC using available public sector funding and to pool resources
where available. BW was a key member of this group and has participated
actively.
3. Collaboration with BW has been particularly
significant in 2005-2006, 2006-07, 2007-08 and into 2008-09. PRP
has invested significantly in the GUC using EU European Regional
Development Funds (ERDF) and Transport for London funds with BW
as the delivery agent. BW has proved to be flexible, accommodating
and efficient in discharging their role.
4. Joint working with BW has been particularly
intensive in 2007-08 with two parallel work streams being developed.
PRP are particularly grateful to BW for the efficient commissioning
of contractors and contract administration to achieve canal side
and towpath improvements, including towpath improvements. A key
project for Park Royal and LB Hammersmith and Fulham is the Scrubs
Lane Access Ramp. This project would not be able to proceed without
BW's endorsement and agreement to take on ownership of the resultant
asset. BW staff have proved to be responsive, exceedingly helpful
and effective in meeting the shared objectives of achieving improvements
to the GUC for the wider public and Park Royal's business community.
5. In early 2008, PRP took the decision
to wind-up the bespoke GUC steering group and have mainstreamed
GUC project issues into existing Transport fora serviced by PRP.
BW will be a key strategic partner at these higher level meetings.
This approach embeds the evolving, maturing nature of PRP's relationship
with BW. This is in keeping with the evolving nature of PRP's
regeneration programme for Park Royal and the GUC and more importantly,
reflects the changing nature of funding streams available for
canal side/towpath works.
6. PRP has every confidence in the strong
relationship it has developed with BW and that we will continue
to work in partnership to deliver continued improvements and regeneration
of the GUC, Park Royal.
Park Royal Partnership
March 2008
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