Crosscut Sustainable Development of Inland Waterways Datblygiad Cynaliadwy Dyfrffyrdd Mewndirol Glenn Millar Economic Development Manager British Waterways

Interreg IIIB ä Interreg ä Community initiative to strengthen ä Economic & social cohesion in the EU ä Interreg IIIB ä Trans-national co-operation ä North West Europe ä Programme area ä Crosscut ä Successor to Interreg IIC ä Sustainable Canal Restoration ( )

Crosscut Partnership ä Belgium ä Province de Hainaut ä Ireland ä Strabane-Lifford Development ä Commission ä Netherlands ä Gemeente Apeldoorn ä Gemeente Utrecht ä Stichting Recreatietoervaart Nederland ä United Kingdom ä British Waterways (Lead Partner) ä Torfaen County Borough Council ä Devon County Council

Partnership Map

Timescale & Budget ä Timescale ä to 31/12/2006 ä Budget Total = £4.9 million (Eur 7.0m) Wales total project value = £1.9m ERDF to waterways in Wales = £1.1m Wales waterways involved:- ä Montgomery Canal ä Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Overall project objectives 1Strategic development of the recreational waterway network of North West Europe 2 a Interaction between boating & recreation and the waterway environment 2 b Integration of recreational waterways within the fabric of urban & rural areas 3Promotion & communications ä Education ä Tourism promotion ä Community involvement

Project elements

Montgomery Canal actions 1Ecological channel project ä To restore 1 km of the dry section of the canal in an ecologically sound manner 2Rural land management initiative By working with local landowners:- ä To extend the ecological corridor provided by the canal into adjacent agricultural land; and ä Encourage agricultural diversification through the opportunities opened up by canal tourism & recreation

Advantages of Interreg IIIb funding 1Benefits of working trans-nationally ä Sharing of expertise & techniques ä Developing common solutions to issues & problems 2Looking towards development of North West Europe-wide network of recreational canals, rivers & lakes 3Developing expertise in trans-national project management - important post-2006

Advantages of Crosscut to Wales 1Creates opportunities for employment & training, especially in rural areas 2Provides a local recreation resource delivering health benefits 3Promotes bio-diversity & good ecological management of natural resources 4Promotes Wales as a centre of expertise in restoring canals to navigation 5Draws in £1.1m ERDF funding

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten Ellie Harper Team Leader, Cwmbran & Strategic Projects Torfaen County Borough Council

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten INTERREG - Why bother? äNew ideas äBest practice (exchange of & develop) äFinance äIdentity in the EU äEnlargement & post 2006

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten INTERREG - What’s the Added Value? äDeveloping more innovative projects äJoint working & extending partnerships äNetworking äOfficer development

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten INTERREG PROGRAMMES ä Interreg II Programme NWMA ä C Strand - trans-national äInterreg III Programme NWE ä B Strand - trans-national

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten Successes & Benefits - INTERREG IIc 4 completed trans-national projects , ERDF funding around £500,000 ä Regeneration ä Heritage ä Tourism & Marketing ä Ecology ä Waterways

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten INTERREG III PROGRAMME ä4 continuation projects ä2 new projects äGrowth in partnerships äMore complex rules

THE INCLUSIVE NEW TOWN ä Partnership ä Research ä ENTP NEWTASC ä Toolkit ä Image & Identity ä Quality of life Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten REGENERATION

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten REGENERATION ENCOURAGE äEnvironmental sustainability for business parks äPositive factor for economic development äEnergy and waste reduction äGreen European standards äRaising awareness

ERIH I ä Partnership ä Masterplan ä Marketing ä Routes ERIH II ä Route Development ä Marketing ä Branding ä Communication Strategy ä Website Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten HERITAGE & MARKETING

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten REGENERATION & HERITAGE REVIT äGIS mapping of brownfield sites äInvestigating funding opportunities äExchange of best practice äIndustrial heritage

INTERNAT PARKS ä Heritage Lottery match ä Access & BBNP ä Marketing ä Strategy ä Events BOUNDLESS PARKS, NATURALLY ä WHS Landscape ä Gateways ä Rangers ä Stakeholders Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten ECOLOGY & TOURISM

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten WATERWAYS, TOURISM & ECOLOGY Sustainable Canal Restoration äEcological assessment äAccess assessment äEducation Project äInterpretation Project

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten

WATERWAYS, TOURISM & ECOLOGY CROSSCUT Sustainable Development of Inland Waterways äEcological basin & channel works äInvasive species äCommunity involvement & marketing äEducation Project II

Interreg IIIb - Ten out of Ten Overall Benefits - INTERREG II & III ä10 projects in Torfaen ä£3.5 million ERDF grant funding over II & III äImproving local/national/EU partnerships äExperiential learning/development/ best practice äCloser links with Europe/identity/profile äMaximise benefits post 2006

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb Arno Goossens City of Apeldoorn

The Apeldoorn Canal in the Netherlands

Urban city

Rural areas

Apeldoorn Canal in the city centre

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb ä Interreg IIc ä Sustainable canal restoration ä Feasibility study on navigation

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb Nature values Water quality

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb Cultural heritage… …of bridges and locks

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb Economical Benefits

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb Still not navigable

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb Benefits of Interreg IIc ä European funding € Shared expertise and knowledge Example projects

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb Excursion for local politicians to British Waterways in 2000

The Apeldoorn Canal and Interreg IIIb Urban city banks