_tcm6-68420.jpg "Filming from a red and green narrowboat")
New Funds To Unlock Freight Potential Of London’s Canals
10th May 2005British Waterways (BW) and Transport for London (TfL) have jointly pledged over £1.6million as part of an initiative to revive commercial traffic on west London’s canals.
The funding, which includes £750,000 from TfL and £850,000 from BW, will go towards a number of key infrastructure projects and is part of a wider strategy to create an environmentally sustainable and congestion busting alternative to road haulage. The works are being prioritised to support initiatives to transfer construction materials and waste by barge and include:
· a new canal turning point (or ‘winding hole’) at Stockley Park near West Drayton, increasing efficiency for both new and existing freight contracts (at a cost of £106,000);
· a new canal wharf at Willesden Junction, serving Powerday’s planned recycling centre (at a cost of £304,000);
· dredging bridge holes and problem areas to accommodate freight barges and improve the canal infrastructure for existing boaters (at a cost of £1,050,000); and
· a major study by Peter Brett Associates on the freight potential of west London’s canal network, including business opportunities, locations for modern wharf sites and other recommendations for reviving commercial canal traffic (at a cost of £140,000).
Peter Hendy, Director of Surface Transport for TfL, explains: “Although enjoyed by millions for leisure, London’s waterway network has been a vastly under-used commodity for many years and, like much of the rest of the UK transport network, has suffered from under-investment.
“TfL, in partnership with British Waterways, are hoping to demonstrate the potential for transporting freight around the capital, taking some of the pressure off the hard-pressed road and rail networks."
”Mark Bensted, British Waterways’ director for London adds: “Waterways are playing an increasingly important part in the life of the capital. They are a tourist attraction and community resource, a focus for regeneration and a valuable wildlife habitat. We believe they also have the potential to work for their original purpose and offer a quieter, cleaner and more fuel efficient alternative to road haulage.
“We are delighted to be working with Transport for London on this exciting initiative. With their support, and with the help of our other partners, we believe that we are one step closer to turning this dream into a reality.”
For press enquiries and images contact:
Transport for London, Judith Adams tel 020 7941 4376 mobile 07841 230 975
British Waterways London, Debbie Walker tel 020 7985 7227 mobile 07733 124580
NOTES TO EDITORS
Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated body responsible for the capital's transport system. Its role is to implement the Mayor's Transport Strategy for London and manage the transport services across the capital for which the Mayor has responsibility. TfL is accountable for both the planning and delivery of transport facilities, which enables it to take a truly integrated approach to how people, goods and services move around London.
British Waterways cares for and manages 100 miles of canals and rivers and 110 acres of docks in London. As a not-for-dividend public corporation it works with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector partners to unlock the potential of the inland waterways for the benefit of the millions who visit and care for them.
Originally canals were built for freight but now with the extensive faster rail and road network they are primarily a leisure resource. However, British Waterways, the GLA and the Government believe freight initiatives can create significant local benefits without compromising the waterways’ role as an important national leisure and environmental asset.
The equivalent of 64,000 (25 tonne) lorry journeys is currently carried on British Waterways’ 2,000-mile network each year, earning the public corporation £0.74 million a year. British Waterways is committed to reversing the decline in freight traffic on its waterways and aims to double the amount carried by 2010.