Memorandum submitted by English Heritage
1. English Heritage applauds the increasingly
constructive approach of British Waterways in careful stewardship
of its very extensive historic estate—particularly through
the adoption of a clear Heritage Policy and Principles and the
move towards adequately resourcing this duty by progressively
installing members of staff dedicated to this function in each
waterways business unit.
2. In addition to this to this necessary
allocation of resources, there is now clear evidence of the benefits
arising from practising these policies in projects such as the
Galton Valley canals summit level environmental improvements (Birmingham)
and, more significantly, the exemplary refurbishment of listed
buildings adjoining the canal basins at Stourport, Worcestershire,
where BW has boldly undertaken repairs and improvements to the
historic environment in advance of complementary new-build.
3. British Waterways has engaged very positively
in the modernisation of heritage protection by piloting a Heritage
Partnership Agreement (HPA) for Foxton Locks on the Leicester
Line of the Grand Union Canal. This agreement has identified ways
of significantly reducing bureaucracy through increased self-regulation
and the lessons learnt from the pilot have helped inform the detail
of the forthcoming Heritage Bill.
4. In this context, it is disappointing
and regrettable that in withdrawing from the Cotswold Canals Partnership,
BW has forsaken the opportunity to lead in extensive heritage-led
regeneration. A clear model for what could be achieved alongside
the highest reaches of the Stroudwater Canal between Stonehouse
and Brimscombe in the Golden Valley south of Stroud can be seen
in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire, where the significantly
improving environment of towns such as Hebden Bridge and Sowerby
Bridge owes much to recent restoration of the Rochdale Canal.
5. English Heritage acknowledges that BW
faces a very difficult challenge in managing its wildly fluctuating
grant-in-aid from government, now reduced and diminishing. Perhaps
its withdrawal from the major project (the Cotswold Canals Partnership)
of its waterways restoration activities indicates that BW needs
to revisit its priorities. English Heritage considers that the
highest priority should be attached to BW's essential function
of investment in maintenance, repair and restoration of historic
infrastructure. This work secures the features of the network
that make it attractive to residents, users and visitors AND acts
as a springboard for regeneration in which other partners participate.
Simon Thurley
Chief Executive
English Heritage
7 March 2008
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