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Issue 102, April 2014
Anniversary year on the Grand Western
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The reopening of the Grand Western Canal following the 2012 breach heralds the canal’s bicentenary celebrations starting at the IWA’s National Trailboat Festival in May. This summer also marks the 40th anniversary of the Tiverton Canal Company’s horse boat trips, pictured. See anniversary feature P10, Towpath Treasures P106.
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PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON
Canal capital vision
FOXTON LOCKS WINS ART COUNCIL FUNDING BID P3
New waterside quarter in HS2 spin-off
ROVING MOORING PERMITS SCHEME SCRAPPED P6
A MASTERPLAN to transform Birmingham’s Curzon Street railway station could also create a vibrant new waterside area for Britain’s ‘canal capital’. The Canal & River Trust has welcomed proposals unveiled by Birmingham City Council (BCC) for the creation of a new canal quarter as part of the city’s vision for using HS2 as a catalyst for regeneration and growth. CRT has been leading the work, alongside BCC and other partners, to ensure the development of HS2
Stormdamaged trees are cleared by volunteers PHOTO: IAN MATSON at lock P14
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canal at Curzon Street and for the people who visit and live in Birmingham.” The historic Digbeth Branch of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal helped bring prosperity to the city over 200 years ago. As well as being an important historic and cultural space, it provides essential pedestrian and cycle connections between Birmingham City University, Eastside Locks and Digbeth and opportunities for visiting boats. The canal also forms an important waterway link into the city from the south, and is
critical to developing sustainable use of this corridor into Birmingham. As part of the plan, buildings are suggested on both sides of the canal stepping down from the street to the towpath level with new high-quality public spaces and access points, and active uses at the waterside level to animate the space. To the east of the canal there is also the opportunity to build beneath the new HS2 viaduct. IWA presents its case in HS2 consultation, P6
Sir Tony scoops IWA award Princess goes boating Canal tourism value revealed THE Princess Royal is expected to arrive by
FORMER Waterways Minister Sir Tony Baldry MP received the IWA’s Parliamentarian of the Year Award at a dinner held at the House of Commons. The award recognises his long history of support for the inland waterways. Sir Tony has been a member of the IWA for over 20 years and is co-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Waterways Group. A Conservative MP since 1983, he was knighted in 2012 and represents the North Oxfordshire constituency.
491 BOATS FOR SALE Starts on
iprotects and unlocks the potential of the canal in Eastside and Digbeth. Trust chief executive Richard Parry said: “The proposals to create a new canal quarter are a great opportunity for the Canal & River Trust and for the city and we are pleased that the council has recognised the potential of the canal corridor. “This is a creative and positive response to the challenge presented by HS2 which we believe will mean its impact can be a positive one for the
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narrowboat at Devizes Wharf when she visits the town on Monday April 7. She is due to take a brief trip on Kenavon Venture from the town bridge to the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust headquarters where she will present the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service which was awarded to the trust in last year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List and meet volunteers and staff.
A RECENT report by the British Marine Federation has revealed that ‘boating tourism’ in the Midlands Region generated £386 million last year – one 10th of the national total – and also accounts for 9985 full-time jobs in the regional economy, writes Bob Clarke. Nigel Hamilton, chairman of BMF Tourism said: “Boating tourism makes a valuable contribution to the economy of the Midlands. Prospects for future growth now look good as we expect participation rates to rise.”