Memorandum submitted by The Droitwich
Canal Trust
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
— The Droitwich Canal Trust (DCT) is
in a good position to comment on its close Partnership with British
Waterways (BW) in restoring the Droitwich Canals.
— The support of BW has enabled a full
Partnership to be formed and to progress the funding necessary
to complete this project.
— BW support has resulted in considerable
added value to for the Droitwich Partnership.
— The ongoing involvement of BW has
ensured a high quality restoration and has substantiated an exit
strategy.
— The actual value of the BW support
far outweighs the cost to BW.
— DCT greatly sympathises with the
Cotswolds Canals Trust and other restoration organisations following
this decision.
— DCT suggests that this announcement
has given the wrong message to any bodies who may be inclined
to support waterways restoration.
— DCT believes that the real solution
is for sufficient long term funding to support both retention
of the existing waterways system and its extension through restoration.
1. This submission is made on behalf of
the Droitwich Canals Trust Ltd (DCT) and has been approved by
its Council of Management. DCT has been both campaigning for and
actively progressing restoration of the Droitwich Barge and Junction
Canals since 1973. The restoration is now entering its final stage
and we are confident that completion will take place by the end
of 2009. During the past eight years, DCT has worked closely in
partnership with a British Waterways (BW) project team and our
experiences during this period may be of interest to the Select
Committee in its deliberations.
2. As with many canal restoration trusts,
DCT progressed the restoration for the first 25 years largely
without support or major grant funding. Although considerable
progress was made, it became clear to the directors that full
restoration would only be achieved in a reasonable timescale through
a partnership. With this in mind the support of BW was sought
and given by its then Chief Executive and this was soon followed
by a similar commitment from the Waterways Trust. Although these
commitments came without any guarantee of specific funding, they
acted as a catalyst to move the project forward.
3. This resulted in the formation of a Partnership
of the above organisations with the District and County Councils
who committed £1 million each as contributions towards the
full funding package. This enabled applications to the Heritage
Lottery Fund and Advantage West Midlands (the Regional Development
Fund) to be made successfully and with other grants, to achieve
£10.5 million of the required £11.5 million. Since then,
we have reduced the funding gap considerably through other applications
and private donations to the point where contracts can be let
for the full works.
4. Throughout this period, DCT and other
members of the Partnership have worked closely with a BW project
team which has gradually developed bringing in all necessary disciplines
as required. Although all funding has been obtained by the partnership,
we are well aware of the added value that the BW resourcing has
given to the project. Without it, it is extremely unlikely that
the grant applications would have been accepted. The directors
of DCT and our employees have benefited considerably from having
the range of expertise that BW has brought to the project, from
other completed restorations and from operating over 2,000 miles
of navigable waterways with all its inherent problems.
5. As we progress towards completion, we
believe that it is vital to have the input of BW in developing
an exit strategy. Without this in place, it is unlikely that most
of the funding would have been granted and the Local Authorities
are understandably reluctant to take on any long term commitments.
The ongoing support of BW as the project develops will ensure
that the canals will be restored to a sufficient standard to minimise
long term maintenance costs. Indeed, without this it is extremely
unlikely that BW would be prepared to take them over on completion,
given their current financial restrictions.
6. DCT is of the opinion that the actual
value that the BW project team has put into the project far outweighs
the cost to BW. It has been essential in convincing the local
authorities and others that the restoration is viable and in obtaining
the grant funding. Without it, DCT would probably have been forced
into continuing the work itself in a climate of increasing costs
and complex legislation which is mitigating against volunteer
effort alone.
7. We have every sympathy with the Costwolds
Canals Trust as their project has been managed very much in parallel
with ours sharing much of the BW resources. This has enabled them
to obtain considerable funding well in excess of the actual cost
to BW. This withdrawal of support, without prior consultation
with its partners, at such a critical stage in the restoration,
will undoubtedly caste doubts regarding the total funding and
the time scale to completion.
8. We wish to emphasise the benefits of
support from British Waterways in the more general context of
waterways regeneration and restoration. Many such projects are
at an early stage, kept alive by the enthusiasm and dedication
of volunteer. They can only progress, however slowly, by obtaining
small grants to cover their ongoing work and one off expenditure
such as commissioning feasibility studies. Where ever they seek
funding, from Local Authorities, other Trusts or from private
donations, some assurance on the viability of the scheme is essential.
9. We suggest that the withdrawal of BW
from the Cotswolds Partnership gives the wrong message to all
potential funders. Restoration Trusts have been very successful
in obtaining funding many times in excess of the financial support
from BW and this has now been made more difficult.
10. We are fully aware of the current difficulties
facing BW following the severe cuts in its grant aid and we understand
that difficult decisions must be made. We regret that this has
resulted in BW withdrawing from the Cotswolds Restoration. We
submit that the real answer is for Government to provide sufficient
long term funding to enable both the retention of the existing
waterways network to the highest heritage standard and its gradual
extension through the completion of restoration projects.
The Droitwich Canals Trust
March 2008
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