Memorandum submitted by Lee Valley Regional
Park Authority
BRITISH WATERWAYS—AN EFFECTIVE PARTNER
IN THE REGENERATION OF THE LEE VALLEY
1. The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
(LVRPA) was established by Act of Parliament in 1966 with a remit
to promote sport, recreation, leisure and nature conservation
along the Lea Valley. The waterways, which comprise the Lee Navigation
and associated rivers, form an integral part of the Regional Park
in terms of their contribution as a wildlife habitat but more
importantly as a leisure and recreation resource.
2. British Waterways has been a supportive
and effective partner of the Authority for many years and the
organisation is a co-opted member of the Authority's Board.
3. In recent years the Government has recognised
the value that the Regional Park brings to the growth area agenda
along the length of the Lee Valley. The development of new houses
and jobs at locations along the length of the Valley requires
enhanced public spaces and improved access. As a result British
Waterways has partnered the Authority in securing Growth Area
Funding (GAF) from Government to carry out a range of improvement
projects to the open spaces and waterways in the Regional Park.
4. Specifically, British Waterways has been
a key partner in helping to secure and deliver the following projects
over the past 4 years.
— Lee Valley Pathway—since 2004
there have been improvements to the towpath along major stretches
at Hackney, Enfield and Ware—costing in the region of £1
million in total. This has been part funding by LVRPA and Transport
for London Cycling with British Waterways co-operating and advising
at all stages.
— Waterside Centre, Tottenham Marshes—opened
in June 2006. British Waterways owns this centre which is used
to build links to the local community. They were a key partner
in securing GAF Round 1 (£300,000). The centre was developed
to bring the community into the Regional Park and onto the waterway
and is now community run. It hosts 2 schools weeks each year jointly
run by British Waterways and the Park to promote water safety.
— Towpath improvements through River
Lee Country Park—LVRPA supported British Waterways in securing
and then delivering £700,000 of GAF Round 2 contributions
that will improve access along the towpath and into the Regional
Park.
5. In addition, British Waterways are undertaking
a number of projects that will enhance the Regional Park. These
include
— Improving pedestrian access from
an ISIS development site at Tottenham Hale into the Regional Park.
— Working with a range of partners
to build new lock gates on Prescott Channel in the Lower Lea Valley
which will control tidal flows thereby enhancing water quality
and allowing increased water freight traffic in the Olympic Park.
— Together with partners such as Thames
Water and the Environment Agency, working together to improve
water quality in the Lower Lea Valley which potentially has important
implications for the quality of parts of the Regional Park.
6. It is anticipated that British Waterways
will continue to be a key partner in taking forward future projects
that will enhance the Regional Park, improve access to it or extend
its area. At present the possible future projects include:
— Towpath improvements along River
Stort with funding in the region of £300,000 from GAF Round
3.
— Creation of a new water based activity
centre at Broxbourne
— Delivering a cycling route to the
Olympic Zone at Walthamstow Marshes for which a grant application
is currently being considered by Transport for London for £300,000.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
March 2008
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