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Waterways Renaissance Awards 2010 Winners

Projects from across the U.K. are celebrating after scooping top honours at this year’s Waterways Renaissance Awards, run by The Waterways Trust and BURA (British Urban Regeneration Association).

The eleven categories of entry saw a diverse range of projects, from community festivals to new activity centres, from across all four countries of the UK recognised for their achievements in revitalising our inland waterways.

A £15million flood alleviation scheme along 1.7km of the River Don corridor between Templeborough and Rotherham town centre won the inaugural Flood Risk Management Award. At the heart of the Rotherham Renaissance Strategy plans for the riverside of the town centre, this project has provided 1 in 100 year flood protection in a major gateway into Rotherham.

This year an award for Outstanding Achievement went to the Lough Neagh Regeneration programme in Northern Ireland. A well-deserved accolade after six years of developments to the lake, which is the largest body of water in the UK, which have transformed it into a key regional tourism destination.

Now in their eighth year, the Waterways Renaissance Awards aim to recognise best practice in sustainable waterway regeneration and development throughout the UK. The awards ceremony took place at the Lowry in Manchester on 17th March 2010 where the winners of each category gained the recognition they deserved. The event was hosted by Jim Hancock, former BBC Political Editor North West and now Associate, Vision Creative & Communications Consultants.

The nominations were judged by an independent assessment panel, comprising waterway, conservation and regeneration experts and chaired by Sir Peter Soulsby MP.

The awards this year were sponsored by Defra, Halcrow, May Gurney and Morrison Construction Ltd. The media partner was Regeneration and Renewal Magazine.

The Results for the eleven categories in The Waterways Renaissance Awards 2010 are:

Area-based regeneration – sponsored by May Gurney

Winner: Lough Neagh Regeneration Programme, Northern Ireland (Ulster)

At 300msq, Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the British Isles. Since 2003, the Lough Neagh Partnership has raised and allocated more than £10m of funding to regenerate the environment and communities surrounding the lough. Over 140 diverse projects have benefited from the funding, from marina development to reed bed creation; heritage boat building and festivals to heritage trails. Collectively these projects have helped to transform economic and social outlook of the locality.

Runner up: Clarence Dock, Leeds

Community

Winner: Middlewich Vision, Cheshire

Classified as a ‘failing’ market town, the community of Middlewich came together in 2007 to bring about its regeneration. Nineteen partner organisations have worked together to develop a strategic vision which has transformed the town. The aim is to connect the canal to the town centre and reduce both the physical and visual barriers that were causing the lack of connectivity. The master plan includes complementary community projects that record the town's history orally through music, diverse cultures, festivals and historic archive preparation.

Runner up: Village at War, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire

Design & Construction

Winner: Liverpool Canal Link

For many years there has been no access from the Leeds Liverpool Canal to the Pier Head in Liverpool, This new waterway extension running from the Eldonia flight of locks across Liverpool’s waterfront, to Canning Dock means that one can now cross England by waterway from the Humber to the Mersey. Taking eight years to complete, the project is now a key part of Liverpool’s waterfront regeneration strategy.

Runner up: Trent River Park Green Infrastructure

Commended: Restoration of Ynysbwllog Aqueduct, Neath

Education & Learning

Winner: Action Outdoors, Falkirk

An innovative Outdoor Learning centre that nestles on the bank of the Union Canal in Falkirk. Officially opened in April 2009 the centre offers people of all ages and abilities the opportunity of healthy waterside activities and a chance to try new experiences, meet new people, learn new skills, gain greater confidence, raised self-esteem and enable personal and social development.

Runner up: Ouseburn Explorer – Putting Children in Charge, Newcastle

Commended: The First of its Kind – Anderton Boat Lift

Commended: Brecon Gateway

Historic Environment

Winner: Railway on the Water – Relaunched! Yorkshire Waterways Museum

A celebration of Goole's 'Tom Puddings' in the 50th anniversary year of compartment boat tug 'Wheldale'. The Tom Puddings are a unique feature of Britain’s canal network, operated on the Aire and Calder Navigation (A&CN), they were invented by A&CN engineer William Hamond Bartholomew in 1861to transport coal from the Yorkshire coal mines. 'Railway on the Water - Relaunched' has involved the repair and conservation of the Tom Puddings, Wheldale tug and jebus, which headed the train of 19 pans. A 'Wheldale Weekend' in September 2009 brought the system to life once more, to public acclamation and festivity.

Commended: Allington Lock Site Enhancement, Kent

Flood Risk Management – sponsored by Halcrow

Winner: Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme Ph1 & Centenary Wetland Park

A £15million flood alleviation scheme alongside the River Don. In addition to providing 1 in 100 year flood protection, the scheme has created new access points to the river and an urban wetland park on a former industrual site. In addition to providing flood compensation capacity, the park forms an attractive natural centrepiece for the project. It has been designed, constructed and managed to encourage biodiversity by providing a refuge for wildlife, an opportunity for education and resource for the local community.

Innovation

Commended: Porters Lock Canoe Fishway, Kent

Commended: Kings Lock Visitors Centre & Lock Office Extension, Oxford

Natural Environment – sponsored by Defra

Winner: Trinity Broads Restoration, Norfolk

This project aims to restore the Trinity Broads to clear, species-diverse lakes and encourage the involvement of local community in the project. A variety of restoration techniques have been used – biomanipulating the aquatic ecosystem on a grand scale, restoring the fringing wetland habitats and reducing diffuse pollution. The local leisure and farming community are directly involved with the project. Local farmers are encouraged to contribute via land stewardship and by controlling the amount and type of fertilizer used on adjacent land.

Commended: Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme Ph1 & Centenary Wetland Park

Commended: Torrs Weir Fish Pass & River Mersey Fish & Wildlife Refuge

Partnership

Winner: Pride in our Promenades, Merseyside

A strategic approach to enhancing public access to the Mersey Waterfront which has seen £8m invested over 4 years in improving more than 14km of waterside routes. The traditional promenades along the Mersey Estuary waterfront have been upgraded, now boasting new visitor attractions and enhanced public access ranging from a children’s playground, informal lock-side recreation to improved heritage interpretation.

Runner up: Bigman 1 & 2 Festivals, Glasgow

Commended: Village at War, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire

Commended: Oil Mills Bridge, Stroud

Commended: Lough Neagh Regeneration Programme, Northern Ireland

Recreation & Tourism

Winner: Great Glens Ways Initiative

A partnership interpretation project for the Great Glen and its three sustainable 'Ways' - the Caledonian Canal, the Great Glen Way Long Distance Route and the Great Glen Mountain Bike Trails. By working together, the partners are celebrating the unique geography, culture and history of the Great Glen, whilst minimising the visual clutter that would be inevitable if the routes were interpreted individually. This joint working also brought the benefit of encouraging 'cross-over' between the users of the routes - people are exhorted to visit the Great Glen by Boot, Boat and Bike!

Runner up: Allington Lock Site Enhancement & Porters Lock Canoe Fishway, Kent

Commended: Viaduct Terrace, Knaresborough

Strategy & Masterplanning – sponsored by
Morrison Construction

Winner: Erewash Canal Access Strategy, Nottingham

Built in the 18th Century as a main transport artery, the Erewash Canal connected now disused Cromford, Nottingham and Derby & Sandiacre Canals to the River Trent. A significant asset for the East Midlands, this access strategy has been developed by the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association to help realise its true potential as a leisure destination by increasing access and connectivity. Visitor ‘hubs’ at strategic locations will create mini-destinations, enhancing the visitor experience while sensitive canal side development and access enhancements will improve local distinctiveness and bring tangible economic benefits to the towns that lie within the park.

Runner up: Middlewich Vision, Cheshire

Outstanding Achievement Award

Winner: Lough Neagh Regeneration Programme, Northern Ireland

Boater Bingo