Memorandum submitted by Rotherham Metropolitan
Borough Council
As Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's
representative on the Chesterfield Canal Partnership's Technical
Officers' Group I have been asked to respond to the request for
comments on British Waterways' regeneration and restoration role,
with particular reference to BW's decision to withdraw from the
Cotswold Canal Partnership. I have no comment to make on BW's
decision to withdraw from the Cotswold Canal Partnership, other
than to say that I believe it is due entirely to financial circumstances.
So far as the Board's relationship with this Council is concerned,
I can speak from personal knowledge of the last five years, dating
from just before the opening of the Rotherham section of the restored
Chesterfield Canal on 26 June 2003. During this time we have enjoyed
a close and amicable working relationship with BW regarding the
maintenance of the reopened canal. This will continue until at
least the year 2024 when the current legal agreement covering
maintenance of the canal expires. Meanwhile, work continues on
the completion of the canal through to Chesterfield via the Chesterfield
Canal Partnership, of which both this Council and BW are members.
In the unlikely event that BW withdraws from the Chesterfield
Canal Partnership, maintenance of the Rotherham section of the
canal is assured by means of the legal agreement and work would
undoubtedly continue on completing the remaining nine miles or
so to link the two sections of the restored canal.
Pete Cassy
Project Officer
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
March 2008
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