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Boaters’ Update May 2009

This month we cover the results of BW’s strategic review and the Government’s decision on BW’s canalside property endowment. Find out what a photocopier, aeroplane propeller and fridge full of food have in common, plus there’s a reader offer to visit this year’s Crick Boat Show.

Changes at BW

BW has announced the results of a major strategic review which it believes will form the basis for the continued renaissance and long-term sustainability of the 2,200 miles of canals and rivers in its care.

The key proposals are to: increase efficiencies; open up new funding and partnership opportunities; create closer links with local communities and; start a gradual move over the next decade towards BW waterways achieving a ‘third sector’ trust or charitable status.

As a first step, BW is proposing an internal restructure of its operations in England and Wales with the creation of 11 smaller, ‘hands-on’ waterway units, the removal of a layer of management and, subject to consultation with BW staff and trade unions, approximately 100 redundancies from office staff. Together with other planned changes these proposals would enable approximately £10 million per annum to be redirected to waterways maintenance.

BW is seeking stakeholder views on the proposed new BW boundaries and welcomes suggestions for the naming of particular waterway groupings. For further information about the public consultation and for details about how to get involved see BW’s website www.britishwaterways.co.uk/ boundaryconsultationresponse. The deadline for responses is 6 July 2009 and BW will publish a short report following the consultation summarising the feedback received and any changes to the boundaries made as a result.

In the longer term, BW believes the time is right for some fresh thinking about what the waterways mean to Britain and how their sustainable future might be secured. This month BW will launch a public debate on the role of Britain’s former industrial canals and rivers, highlighting their considerable modern-day contribution to society and seeking views on its proposals for how they should be used, run and funded in the future.

Central to the debate will be BW’s view that the time is now right to consider the option of changing its structure to turn it, by 2020, into a third sector ‘public interest company’ or trust. BW believe such a change could: stimulate far greater participation in the waterways by volunteers and other individuals; enhance openness and accountability for communities and waterway users; create opportunities for new sources of income such as grants and donations and; ensure the historic network is held in trust for the nation.

BW directors seek customer views on nationwide tour this summer
BW’s marketing director, Simon Salem and operations director, Vince Moran, will be hosting a series of customer forums to meet with boaters, anglers, walkers, and other interested canal users. The series of regional meetings are an opportunity for BW to give a brief update on financing and management issues affecting the waterways before answering questions and gathering customer views and opinions about waterway priorities.

The 14 regional forums will take place between May and September and follow similar sessions held during 2008. The first meeting is scheduled to take place at Crick Boat Show on Sunday 24 May.

BW to keep canalside property

Following the Government’s review of BW’s waterside property as part of its Operational Efficiency Programme, BW welcomed the decision that it should retain its canalside property in single public ownership. BW’s chief executive, Robin Evans said: “This is the right decision. It recognises the importance of BW’s property endowment to the long-term sustainability of the waterway network, as well as the public value that we have unlocked from the estate.

“In the last decade canalside property has produced the largest source of commercial funding for our historic canals, rivers and docks, it has fuelled their recent renaissance, reinforced their importance to modern Britain, and helped to breathe new life into derelict watersides. This decision underlines the Government’s commitment to the long-term future of the waterways.â€

The next step is for BW to work with governments on the practicalities of setting up a wholly-owned BW subsidiary to develop its property management further.

The show is bursting with fun for toddlers, teenagers and adults alike both on and off the water! Activities include face painting, a traditional funfair, over 200 stalls, African dance and drumming workshops, story-telling, a bouncy castle, canoeing, colourful characters and juggling workshops. If your kids love animals then the miniature farmyard is a great area for them to meet and touch their farmyard favourites, whilst more exotic animal visitors to this year’s festival include skunks, snakes, scorpions and even meerkats!

Your ticket also includes a free boat trip on one of the prettiest canals in the country – who knows you may even end up buying a bargain boat.

When batteries need recharging there is a delicious selection of quality food from traditional fish and trips to tasty Thai…not forgetting a choice of 40 different Real Ales to wash it all down. Alternatively bring a picnic and watch the narrow boats drift by as you listen to an amazing array of toe-tapping tunes including blues, jazz and soul!
Where else will you get all that on May Bank Holiday?

For more information on Crick Boat Show and Waterways Festival visit www.crickboatshow.co.uk or call 0871 700 0685

Volunteers work wonders on the waterways
What do a photocopier, an aeroplane propeller and a fridge full of food have in common?

They are all items of rubbish removed by the army of volunteers that took part in BW’s most successful Towpath Tidy event ever. More than 1,700 volunteers joined 635 members of BW’s staff in clearing 149 tonnes of litter.

The event was supported by Encams, the Inland Waterways Association and many other local support groups and backed by Bill Bryson – president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Many thousands of items of waste were removed by volunteers from towpaths and the navigation. They ranged from the mundane to the outright bizarre, and as well as said fridge full of (out of date) food, an ice axe and 192 shopping trolleys!

BW’s national volunteering manager, Edward Moss said: “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part this year’s Towpath Tidy. Those volunteers involved have not only made an invaluable contribution to their local community, they have also helped BW to support wildlife and make the waterways more attractive to visitors.â€

Read more about volunteers working wonders on the waterways

Tackling fly-tipping at BW customer bin sites
BW is taking action to tackle the ongoing problem of fly-tipping at customer waste facilities. As part of its customer service provision, BW currently provides boaters with waste collection sites intended for bagged domestic waste only, similar to a residential doorstep collection service. However, there appears to be some confusion surrounding what can and can’t be left at these sites with, in some cases, inappropriate waste (including large domestic items) left by boaters encouraging others in the community to also use the sites as a general waste facility.

BW is unable to dispose of waste through local authority waste disposal services and instead is obliged to pay business-rates for the removal of fly-tipped waste – money that would otherwise be spent on the maintenance and upkeep of the waterways.

To help combat the problem, a number of informative posters will be installed at customer waste facilities, clearly stating what can and cannot be deposited, and alerting users to the fact that it is a criminal offence to fly-tip. The posters will also display the locations of the nearest recycling facilities.

BW’s environmental advisor, Hannah Graves comments: “Fly-tipping is a real problem at some BW waste disposal sites and we are urging boaters to dispose of their bulky or hazardous waste through their local authority waste disposal service. Local authorities provide excellent recycling and waste facilities and most will come and collect larger items directly from their residents who don’t have cars for a small charge.

“If everyone took responsibility for their own waste disposal, BW could redirect valuable funds away from clearing up illegal fly-tipped waste and towards projects of real value to customers.â€

Online boat checker submissions

BW has received over 110 sightings of unlicensed boats by members of the public logged up until the end of April. Of these reports 25% related to boats which had already re-licensed and a further 55% were already in our enforcement process, 8% resulted in new cases being opened for action, and the remaining 12% were boats which were not identifiable through a valid boat index number but the details have been passed to our enforcement teams for further investigation.

Winter stoppages 2009-10

Yes, it does seem early to start talking about this, but following feedback from boaters and discussion at a recent national user group meeting, BW has decided on a couple of changes to the way in which it communicates winter stoppage information. Now that access to the internet is so widespread, the plan is that the programme details will be maintained exclusively on waterscape.com/stoppages. This means that the risk of boaters making cruising plans on the basis of out of date information is greatly reduced. Anyone wanting a paper copy can still obtain it by contacting customer services who will print the latest information on the day the request is received.

Update on BW mooring vacancies – switching to open auction system
Following the public consultation last year, BW announced that it will replace the closed tender system with open auctions of vacancies at BW’s long term mooring sites. Work is well underway and BW’s web developer hopes the new system will be ready for testing during June. BW would like to recruit a few volunteers to help complete a series of specific test assignments to be emailed in mid June. If you’re interested, please keep an eye on BW’s mooring vacancies home page at www.bwmooringvacancies.co.uk for more information, or email siobhan.daglish@britishwaterways.co.uk.

You’re in good company

The number of people visiting the canals is on the up. Figures are measured recording numbers of visitors in a typical two week period, which during 2008, rose over 6% from 3.2 million to 3.4 million people. Waterways users are also visiting more often with the number of individual visits rising 7% from 245.3 million in 2007 to 262.6 million in 2008.

BW’s marketing director, Simon Salem comments: “Increased community involvement in projects such as Towpath Tidy and innovative marketing initiatives, such as the Yours to Enjoy campaign, help to encourage people to use the waterways as part of their everyday lives, whether that be to go boating, commute, socialise, fish, exercise, spot wildlife or simply take time out. These latest figures are particularly important when it is considered that the number of visits to inland waterways as a whole is in decline.

“Waterways are a valuable local resource for communities up and down the country to use and enjoy year round – making them a popular destination in these tough economic times. The continued increase in visitor numbers clearly shows how canals and rivers remain relevant to modern, local communities. More people enjoying the waterways helps us demonstrate to central and local government the need for the this country’s canals and rivers to be adequately funded for current and future generations to enjoy.â€