INFORMATION REPORT
BWB 3405D
MEMORANDUM TO THE BO ARD
S C O T L AN D R E P O R T – J U L Y 2 0 1 0
Report by Director Scotland
1.
PURPOSE
1.1.
This report is to update the Board on the following topics:-
High level meeting
Helix
Partnership Working
Commercial Activity
Stakeholder engagement
2.0
RECOMMENDATION
2.1
Board Members are recommended to note and comment on the information in this report.
3.0
HIGH LEVEL MEETING
3.1
A high level meeting was held at Scottish Government’s offices on 7 July 2010 and was attended
by The Chairman, Duncan Sutherland, Robin Evans, Nigel Johnson and Steve Dunlop who met
with the Scottish Civil Service team, led by Jonathan Pryce. Normal Scottish business was
covered but the main focus was on updating the government on progress with progression to
mutualisation in England and Wales and the consequences and impact on Scotland.
[confidential information redacted].
4.0
HELIX
4.1
The Helix project progresses well, the first contract for construction work on path upgrading has
been let and is on site, the second contract for the access road has been tendered and won with
a saving to the original budget, it is anticipated that these works will be on site during August.
The current cost plan is circa 1.8m ahead of budget however a combination of value
engineering, procurement tactics and project sacrifices will be used to bring this back in line.
Relationships with BIG lottery have improved and a meeting was held recently with BIG reporting
that their technical monitor was satisfied with progress. A delegation from Scottish Government
visited Helix during June.
5.0
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
5.1
GLASGOW CANAL PARTNERSHIP (GCP) - Landscape Link
The seven month ‘Phoenix Flowers’ project was formally opened by Stewart Stevenson MSP,
The Scottish Government’s Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 28th
June 2010. The vibrant, towering aluminium flowers, which
range in height between five and eight metres and which have
two metre wide petals are part of the award winning
transformation of a run down underpass in the Cowcaddens
area of Glasgow.
They form part of an important and colourful gateway between
the city centre and the new developing creative and cultural
neighbourhood on the banks of the Forth & Clyde Canal at
Speirs Locks and are just one element of the Glasgow Canal
Regeneration Partnership's regeneration plans for the key
hubs on the Glasgow branch of the Forth & Clyde Canal,
which also include Maryhill.
The £1.5 mil ion project, which was recently awarded a Scottish Design Award in the ‘Future
Buildings & Spaces’ category, was commissioned by the Glasgow Canal Regeneration
Partnership and was designed by 7N Architects and Rankin Fraser Landscape Architects.
6.0
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
6.1
Terms have been agreed with Glasgow City Council and Bellway Home for the discharge of
surface water from 90 proposed units into the canal. There are some minor works which need to
be undertaken by Bellway to an overflow pipe, but this is the first step to using the canal as a
conduit for surface water in Glasgow. [commercially confidential information redacted].
We are currently modelling the capacity of the canal in metropolitan Glasgow, as there are
currently 10,000 homes in the pipeline over the next ten years that are constrained as they have
no commercially viable options for their surface water. The Canal will play a major part in
unlocking these very important North Glasgow sites.
6.2
[commercially confidential information redacted].
7.0
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
7.1
UNION10
British Waterways Scotland and all the canal societies that operate along the Union Canal
have come together to organise an event to celebrate 10 years since the re-opening of the
Union Canal. To date C. 50 boats of various types have signed up and will travel as part of
an eye catching flotilla from Edinburgh Quay to The Falkirk Wheel, passing through the many
communities that have benefited greatly by having the Union canal on their doorstep. The event
will take place between 24th-26th September 2010
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7.2
2nd EDINBURGH CANAL FESTIVAL
Ian Rankin OBE, author of the internationally acclaimed Rebus books and Edinburgh
resident, officially opened the 2nd Edinburgh Canal Festival held at Edinburgh Quay on
Saturday 26th June. Over 5,000 visitors came to the lively community-focused event which is
designed to showcase the capital’s vibrant new canal quarter at Fountainbridge.
As well as the entertaining and colourful Raft Race which takes centre stage during the day,
visitors enjoyed many shore-side events and demonstrations staged by canal enthusiasts, boat
builders, canal societies, community councils, local musicians and crafts people, traders and
community groups.
7.3
ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW
During the four days of RHS, we had over 600 participants take part in our ‘waterwalkerz’
to walk on water. This new activity continues to prove very popular with some people queuing for
2 hours, just to have their go.
This fits in perfectly with our overall aims of challenging public perceptions about how they can
use the waterways. Outdoor Trax, a canal side business operating from Auchinstarry Marina, is
now offering Water Walking at the Falkirk Wheel throughout the summer holidays.
7.4
PINKSTON PADDLE SPORTS
During May Pinkston Basin played host to a ‘mass paddle’
with aim of displaying the support amongst the paddling
community for the proposed new paddlesports facility
which is due to go to for planning permission. The whole
event was organised via ‘facebook’ and after 260 followers
within a week, 50 paddlers attended the event in North
Glasgow.
7.5
TOURISM GROUP
British Waterway Scotland is working in partnership with a tourism group which received more
than £6,000 from VisitScotland and has come up with a novel way of attracting visitors - its very
own currency.
The brainchild of Scotland’s Heartland, which comprises several businesses in the Linlithgow
and Falkirk areas, the ‘money’ is given to couples as part of a special holiday deal.
Included in a £250 short break for two, the £75 worth of vouchers can be used in exchange for a
number of pursuits in the area, including trips on the Falkirk Wheel, hiring bikes and canal boats,
pampering sessions in the hotel spa and even a few rounds of golf.
A proportion of any unused vouchers will be transformed into cash and given to the Waterways
Trust Scotland and the Strathcarron Hospice, near Falkirk.
7.6
CALEDONIAN CANAL
The Caledonian Canal is in the spotlight this week as British Waterways Scotland in partnership
with VisitScotland is specifically targeting Scots and capitalising on the popularity of staycations.
‘My Scotland’ is a £250,000 VisitScotland campaign that they expect will generate £7.5 million to
the Scottish economy.
7.7
VOLUNTEER COUNCIL
The first meeting of the volunteer council is planned for the Monday 19th July we will discuss with
societies and the third sector organisations their existing operations and objectives and explore
what wider role they would wish to play in the future of Scotland’s canals.
STEVE DUNLOP
Director Scotland
July 2010
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