Memorandum submitted by World Class Stratford
Project
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. British Waterways need to be given every
encouragement to continue its positive and pro-active involvement
in regeneration and restoration projects where they are adjoining
the waterways. Their extensive knowledge and experience of work
of this nature is vital to encourage even areas such as Stratford
upon Avon to maximise the benefit that can be achieved from enhancement
of the canal and its surroundings.
TERMS OF
REFERENCE
2. British Waterways own and manage an extensive
canal network within the Stratford on Avon district. This includes
sections of the Oxford Canal, the Grand Union, and significant
lengths of the Stratford upon Avon Canal.
3. British Waterways have been a key member
of a partnership initiative called "World Class Stratford".
The initiative seeks to transform the visitor economy of Stratford-upon-Avon
and enable it to fulfil it's vital role of putting the region
and the UK more firmly on the international map. The visitor economy
is worth £4.8 billion to the west Midlands region alone and
locally sustains around £7,000 jobs. An early task of the
partnership has been to produce an overall framework document
for regeneration and restoration of Stratford upon Avon. Within
this document, which is called "The Urban Design Framework",
there are a range of key projects which British Waterways are
already engaged with and significant future plans where they plan
to work in partnership with other stakeholders for the benefit
of Stratford upon Avon and its visitors.
4. In the development of these plans and
in their implementation to date, British Waterways have been a
very important partner. They have been able to bring expertise
and knowledge on regeneration and restoration schemes from elsewhere
within the British Isles which has proved very helpful in the
development of current and future proposals.
5. As an example of a current project, the
World Class Stratford project team has been working in close partnership
with British Waterways to improve the Stratford upon Avon Canal
and Bancroft Basin immediately in front of the internationally
known Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST), in the heart of the town.
The RST is currently undergoing a major £120 million transformation
project. This area is seen as the key gateway into the English
canal system from the River Avon. The canal basin and adjoining
gardens are currently undergoing a £3 million remodelling
and restoration programme to which British Waterways have been
advising and supporting both in terms of design and operation
of the waterway elements of the scheme.
6. Throughout the development of the design
and its current implementation there has been a very fruitful
and active collaboration between the key stakeholders, including
British Waterways, to identify the issues and problems and in
finding suitable resolution.
7. Future plans for the World Class Stratford
programme include improvement to a significant area of the town
which is now being termed the "Canal Quarter". This
area, even though it is in a well-known town such as Stratford
upon Avon, needs significant regeneration. It provides the opportunity
for substantial improvement to what is otherwise a fairly rundown,
ex industrial area.
8. For further information regarding the
partnership, current and proposed schemes, please see www.worldclassstratford.net.
9. British Waterways need to be given every
encouragement to continue its positive and pro-active involvement
in regeneration and restoration projects where they are adjoining
the waterways. Their extensive knowledge and experience of work
of this nature is vital to encourage even areas such as Stratford
upon Avon to maximise the benefit that can be achieved from enhancement
of the canal and its surroundings.
10. I would hope that the Committee would
be able to take the points detailed above into consideration when
they reflect on the work of British Waterways in regeneration
and restoration.
Paul Ogden, Project Director
World Class Stratford Project
Working in partnership with Warwickshire County Council
and Advantage West Midlands
March 2008
| 
