Report of the Assistant Director, Neighbourhood Support Service to the meeting of Shipley Area Committee on 10 September 08

Transcription

1 Report of the Assistant Director, Neighbourhood Support Service to the meeting of Shipley Area Committee on 10 September 08 Subject: British Waterways Bingley-Saltaire- Shipley Destination Delivery Plan AA Summary statement: The Bingley-Saltaire- Shipley Destination Delivery Plan is being developed by British Waterways in partnership with a range of local agencies including Bradford Council to develop the waterway network as a leisure, tourism and recreation resource. The Plan will develop destinations at Bingley 5 Rise, Dowley Gap, Saltaire & Shipley in line with priorities of the Airedale Master Plan to improve the Airedale corridor and attract inward investment Name of AD / H0S Steve Hartley, Assistant Director, Neighbourhood Services Report Contact: Jane Hughes, Assistant Area Coordinator, Shipley Phone: jane.hughes@bradford.gov.uk Portfolio: Overview and Scrutiny Area:

2 Report to the Shipley Area Committee 1. SUMMARY The Bingley-Saltaire- Shipley Destination Delivery Plan is being developed by British Waterways in partnership with a range of local agencies including Bradford Council to develop the waterway network as a leisure, tourism and recreation resource. The Plan will develop destinations at Bingley Five Rise, Dowley Gap, Saltaire and Shipley in line with priorities of the Airedale Master Plan to promote tourism improve the Airedale corridor and attract inward investment. 2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 British Waterways is keen to promote and develop the waterway network as a leisure, recreation and tourism resource. The development of destinations is an important part of this process. A destination is a hot spot on the network which draws visitors or has the potential to draw visitors, has a heritage, environmental leisure or tourism potential, a degree of British Waterways land ownership and the possibility for development of joint venture partnerships. The aim is to raise the quality of the visitor experience and then keep it at this higher level thereafter. 2.2 A Stakeholder Group comprising waterway businesses, local authority and community representatives has been formed to work on a Destination Delivery Plan for Bingley-Saltaire-Shipley. A copy of the draft plan is presented as appendix a to this report. Consultation on this plan with a wider group of organisations, including businesses located on the canal corridor, and local voluntary and community groups is underway. This report forms part of the consultation with Elected Members. Copies of the draft plan will be provided to all Ward Councillors in Bingley and Shipley Wards. 2.3 The Plan will propose a 3 year programme of works and act as a vehicle for raising external funding to carry these works out. In subsequent years the destinations will be managed separately from the rest of the network to ensure this high degree of customer service is maintained. 2.4 British Waterways intends to seek funding from the Heritage Lottery Foundation for the development of development of a heritage interpretation project focusing on renovation of key buildings at three and five rise locks. 3. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 3.1 The project addresses priorities within the Airedale Masterplan, Shipley and Local Action Plans in Hirst Wood, Saltaire already endorsed by the Area Committee. 4. OPTIONS 4.1 The Area Committee is asked to note the content of the report and the draft Destination Plan set out in appendix a and to support the work of British Waterways and the Stakeholder Group to secure the necessary funding to deliver the plan 2

3 5. FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE APPRAISAL The project will be delivered by British Waterways working in partnership with local voluntary and statutory agencies. The land concerned is under the ownership of British Waterways. 6. LEGAL APPRAISAL No known issues at present. 7. OTHER IMPLICATIONS 7.1 Details of contribution to priorities within the Shipley Area Committee Action Plan Economy and Enterprise priority 1d: Maintain the quality and distinctiveness of the public realm and engender pride in the Shipley Area including particularly Airedale Regeneration, Saltaire World Heritage Site. 7.2 Equal Rights Improved access to destinations within the plan for residents with physical disabilities will be a major consideration in development of projects Sustainability implications There are no revenue implications for the Council. The Plan will contribute to the objectives of the Airedale Greenway project currently being developed by the Airedale Partnership to improve facilities of cyclists and walkers in the canal corridor. 7.4 Community safety implications Improving safety and security for visitors to the canal corridor will be part of the plan. 7.5 Human Rights Act There are no Human Rights Issues. 7.5 Trade Union implications There are no Trade Union implications. 8. NOT FOR PUBLICATION DOCUMENTS None 3

4 9. RECOMMENDATIONS That the Committee endorses the Bingley-Saltaire- Shipley Destination Delivery Plan and recognises the work of the Stakeholder Group in developing the draft plan. 10. APPENDICES Appendix A: Draft Bingley-Saltaire-Shipley Destination Plan. 11. BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS None. 4

5 BINGLEY-SALTAIRE-SHIPLEY DESTINATION DELIVERY PLAN (Final Draft) AUGUST 2008

6 Bingley-Saltaire-Shipley Destination Delivery Plan 1 Introduction British Waterways is keen to promote and develop the waterway network as a leisure, recreation and tourism resource. The development of destinations is an important part of this process. A destination is a hot spot on the network which draws visitors or has the potential to draw visitors, has a heritage, environmental leisure or tourism potential, a degree of British Waterways land ownership and the possibility for development of joint venture partnerships. The aim is to raise the quality of the visitor experience and then keep it at this higher level thereafter. A Stakeholder Group comprising waterway businesses, local authority and community representatives was formed to work on a Destination Delivery Plan. Each British Waterways region has a Business Development Team with expertise in the areas of Marketing & Communications, Planning, Estates Management, Leisure Development and Regeneration, which assisted with production of the Plan. In subsequent years the destinations will be managed separately from the rest of the network to ensure this high degree of customer service is maintained. 2 Destination extent The Stakeholder Group agreed that the Bingley-Saltaire-Shipley destination is the Leeds & Liverpool Canal from Bridge 199 (Micklethwaite Swing Bridge) to Bridge 209 (Dock Swing Bridge). The destination is subdivided into four areas: Bingley - from Micklethwaite Swing Bridge to Bridge 203, Dubb Bridge Dowley Gap - from Dubb Bridge to Bridge 207, Hirst Mill Swing Bridge Saltaire - from Hirst Mill Swing Bridge to Bridge 207E, Salts Mill Road Bridge Shipley - from Salts Mill Road Bridge to Dock Swing Bridge 3 Bingley-Saltaire-Shipley as a destination Each of the four sub-areas of the destination has its own distinctive character. Bingley attracts visitors to the historic Five Rise staircase locks, but the canal passes through the town itself almost unnoticed. The rural section of Dowley Gap is popular with walkers and there is the potential to link in with a series of circular walks available in the area. The World Heritage Site of Saltaire receives plenty of tourists/day-trippers attracted to the heritage quality of the town and the specialist shopping in Salts Mill. Shipley town centre doesn t have the same appeal for visitors, but offers a range of local shops and services. The canal runs close to the centre of all three settlements, but visitors to the towns are presently not encouraged to make use of the canal and vice versa. 4 Main customer types The canal is used by a wide range of people both on land and water, at different times of the day and different days of the week, both local residents and visitors. British Waterways categorises visitors into different types depending on how they use the canal. 2

7 Passionate Enthusiasts boating customers. Around 1,800 boat movements per year at Bingley Five Rise Locks, the busiest waterway in Yorkshire. Everyday Escapers walkers, cyclists etc. The towpath is well-used by school children, commuters and people living in residential areas such as Priestthorpe and Crossflatts as a traffic-free route. Activity Seekers largely day trippers and hire boat users. Silsden Boats, Pennine Cruisers and Shire Cruisers all have successful businesses operating in the area involving boat trips, daily hire and weekly hire. The canal in this area is also used by anglers and is leased to Saltaire Angling Association and Bingley Angling Club, with the section around Shipley Wharf being the most popular. 5 Baseline audit 2008 Bingley: Bingley is a market town on the outskirts of Bradford with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal running close to the town centre. Bingley Five Rise Locks is presently the main attraction in the Bingley sub-area, with the Three Rise Locks often overlooked, and the majority of the remainder of the canal in this section bypassing the town largely unobserved. The stretch between Micklethwaite Bridge and Five Rise Locks is popular with a variety of walkers and two local cruising clubs lease moorings along here. Facilities Visitor moorings: Bingley Town Visitor Moorings are situated below Three Rise Locks (70 metres, maximum stay 3 days), and at the sanitary station (18 metres). Long-term moorings: Leased to Airedale Boat Club (30 berths), Hainsworth boat yard (19 berths) and Craven Cruising Club (11 berths) between Micklethwaite Bridge and Five Rise Locks. Sanitary station: A sanitary station with Elsan disposal, male and female toilets, a unisex shower and rubbish disposal is located at the top of Five Rise Locks. Water points: Located adjacent to the Airedale Boat Club swing bridge (Crossflatts) and at the sanitary station. Access The towpath is generally in good condition in this area, mainly in crushed stone with a long tarmac section from Three Rise Locks past Bingley town centre, however the section above Five Rise Locks is beginning to deteriorate. This section provides a key link to the main road via Canal Road, and the towpath junction with Canal Road is regularly used for car parking. Pedestrian access is possible from all bridges and various other points, all of which are ramped. The section above Five Rise Locks is popular with pedestrians, while the stretch past Bingley town centre is less well used. Cyclists make use of the canal towpath as a traffic-free route. Pedestrian count information shows that 229,910 people visited Bingley Five Rise Locks in There is a significant lack of signage, both towards the canal from the town centre, main roads and residential areas, and from the canal to local shops and services in Bingley and Crossflatts. Pedestrian fingerposts do exist in Bingley town centre, but these are not clear or consistent. Several pay and display car parks are located in 3

8 the town centre and there are a number of brown road signs directing drivers to Three and Five Rise Locks and the defunct waterbus service, however it is unclear where these lead. Both Bingley and Crossflatts railway stations serve this section of canal, but no information about the canal is provided at the stations themselves. There are two fingerposts close to Bingley railway station directing pedestrians to Three and Five Rise Locks, but nothing at Crossflatts station. Several bus routes also run through Bingley and Crossflatts, but there is no signage linking them to the canal. Interpretation There is no interpretation at all along this section of the canal. Of the two information boards, only one (at the top of Five Rise Locks) provides up-to-date information about the Leeds & Liverpool canal, opening times, etc. The other, at Bingley Town Visitor Moorings is empty and the Perspex vandalised. Dowley Gap: The canal passes through the rural area of Dowley Gap, from where it is possible to make a detour onto various walks through Hirst Wood and alongside the River Aire. These are predominantly used by local people, dog walkers, etc. as the routes are poorly signed, but the area has fantastic potential. Facilities Visitor moorings: There are no official visitor moorings along this section, but good towpath mooring can be found above Scourer Bridge (south side towpath). Long-term moorings: None. Sanitary station: None. Water points: None. Access The towpath is in good condition along this stretch, the majority in crushed stone. Pedestrian access is possible from all bridges and several other points, all of which are ramped. Local residents and long-distance walkers make use of the canal towpath and connecting walks through Hirst Wood and alongside the River Aire. Signage is poor in this area, with very few fingerposts or footpath signs either to or from the canal. There are a number of circular walks incorporating the towpath, however these are used almost exclusively by local residents and dog walkers due to the lack of signage. An out-of-date sign indicates a waterbus stop adjacent to Scourer Bridge. There is a car park next to the canal at the entrance to Hirst Wood, but car parking can be a problem on days when Salts Sports Club are playing football matches, and public transport links are not so convenient for this section of the canal. Interpretation No interpretation panels exist in this area, but there is an information board at the Dowley Gap locks, giving details of opening times, etc. and information on the Aire Valley towpath route. 4

9 Saltaire: Saltaire is a Victorian model village founded by the mill owner Sir Titus Salt in A leading industrialist, Salt wanted to provide employment, housing and a high quality of life for his workforce, and commissioned local architects Lockwood and Mawson to design the village. Saltaire is well-established as a destination for tourists and day-trippers, who come to visit the World Heritage Site and the specialist shops in Salts Mill, but scope exists to enhance the existing attractions and extend the visitor experience. The canal runs close to the village centre, but is largely hidden from view and underutilised. Facilities Visitor moorings: Saltaire visitor moorings are located below Victoria Road Bridge (18 metres, maximum stay 6 hours). Long-term moorings: None. Sanitary station: None. Water points: None. Access The towpath is in good condition in this area, in crushed stone for the majority of this stretch. Pedestrian access is possible from all three bridges and various other points, although some of these are stepped. Pedestrians and cyclists make good use of the towpath, with the section between Hirst Lane Bridge and Victoria Road Bridge more popular than the stretch down to Salts Mill Road Bridge. Pedestrian count information shows that 199,786 people visited the canal in Saltaire in There is no signage at any of the towpath access points, apart from at the main access for Saltaire. Here a fingerpost indicates other attractions, such as Roberts Park and Shipley Glen Tramway, but there is no signage from the village centre directing visitors towards the canal. Saltaire railway station is conveniently located for both the village and the canal, however there is presently no signage or information about the canal at the station. Bus routes to Shipley, Bradford, Keighley and Leeds pass close to the village, but again there is no signage to the canal. There is a small pay and display car park near the centre of the village and parking is available for visitors to Salts Mill. Interpretation There are Saltaire (World Heritage Site) visitor information boards at various locations around the village, including on the canal towpath adjacent to Victoria Road Bridge, but nothing directly related to the canal. Shipley: Shipley is a small town on the outskirts of Bradford. The local town centre offers a number of shops serving residents of the surrounding areas, but does not benefit from any major attractions to draw in visitors from further afield. It does, however, boast a number of eating out places which could serve canal users. The canal passes close to the centre of town and is popular with walkers, cyclists and anglers. 5

10 Facilities Visitor moorings: Ashley Lane visitor moorings are located just below Salts Mill Road Bridge (39 metres, maximum stay 7 days) and there are also visitor moorings adjacent to Gallows Footbridge (30 metres, maximum stay 24 hours). Long-term moorings: Leased to BMEP at Shipley Wharf (approx. 11 berths) and Robinsons (between Gallows Bridge and Junction Stone Arch Bridge - 12 berths). Sanitary station: None. Water points: None. Access The majority of the towpath in this section is crushed stone, with a wide tarmac stretch opposite Shipley Wharf, all of which is in reasonably good condition. Pedestrian access is possible from all the bridges in this area and from several other points, but not all the access is ramped. The towpath is well used by pedestrians and anglers in the Shipley Wharf area and as a traffic-free route to and from the local residential areas. There is a significant lack of signage to or from any of the canal access points and only the cycle routes are signed. There are no fingerposts in the town centre directing visitors towards the canal. Shipley railway station is close to the canal, but there is no signage or information for visitors here either. A number of bus routes also serve the town centre. Interpretation This area lacks interpretation panels and information boards along the canal and at other places in the town. Waterbus: Previously, a waterbus service ran between Shipley Wharf and Bingley Three Rise. Stops were located at Bingley town centre (adjacent to Damart), the Fisherman s Inn at Dowley Gap, Hirst Lock, Saltaire and Shipley Wharf. There was also a stop at Gallows Bridge. The service was stopped in 2001 but there is the possibility of reinstating the waterbus, either as a scheduled service or to run on demand. Education: There are no trail packs or activities on WoW (British Waterways educational website and resource) relating specifically to the destination area. However, more general information about the Leeds & Liverpool canal and its history is available for both teachers and pupils. There are a number of schools in proximity to the canal (including Crossflatts Primary School & Nursery, Bingley Grammar School, St Joseph s RC School, Park School, Beckfoot School, Saltaire Primary School, Salt Grammar School, Shipley College, Wycliffe CE Middle School and Glenaire Primary School) and opportunities exist to incorporate the towpath as part of a wider Safer Route to Schools. 6

11 Marketing: Bingley Five Rise Locks is mentioned on the Visit Bradford website and also features on British Waterways waterscape website. There is a great deal of scope for future marketing projects and British Waterways is keen to create closer links with the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council working towards joint marketing initiatives. The towpath along the length of the destination forms part of the National Cycle Network (routes 66 and 69) and a map/leaflet showing the Aire Valley Towpath route is available to download from the Sustrans website. A map of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal (published by GEOprojects) and a Nicholson Guide to the canal can also be purchased. 6 Possible Destination Improvements Customer Facilities Improvements: Additional moorings above Five Rise Locks to encourage more boaters to overnight at Bingley. Creation of new overnight moorings at Saltaire, possibly near Salts Sports Club. Increased/improved visitor moorings at Shipley Wharf. Removal of fence obstructing access to benches outside Ibis hotel in Shipley. Access Improvements: Signage to direct pedestrian visitors to Three and Five Rise Locks via the footbridge from Bingley town centre. Signage to relate closely to the Airedale Greenway and other existing signage schemes. Restoration of the waterbus service (on a trial basis) from Shipley Wharf to the bottom of Three Rise Locks. Signage improvements from the town centres (Crossflatts, Bingley, Saltaire, Shipley) to the canal and from the canal to the town centres/local shops/services. To tie in with existing signage schemes, including the Airedale Greenway a branded walking/cycling route with the canal towpath at its heart. Creation of links to the railway stations, including signs on platforms, fingerposts and information about the canal at the four stations (Crossflatts, Bingley, Saltaire and Shipley). Improvements to the stepped access, including signage, from the towpath to Salts Sports Club. Access improvements to the riverside walk in Saltaire/Shipley, using Section 106 money from the Victoria Mill developers. Possible creation of visitor car parking on sports club land, either behind the garden centre or near the sports club drive. Investigation into the creation of coach parking and drop-off points, particularly in Saltaire. There is the possibility of creating coach parking somewhere near the canal and running a waterbus service for visitors. 7

12 Interpretation Interpretation improvements in the Bingley Three and Five Rise Locks area, accompanied by upgrades to access and signage, as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund bid. Improvements to access and interpretation of the listed aqueduct at Dowley Gap Provision of more visitor information on the internet, via a number of websites. Downloadable audio trails and maps/guides (e.g. for Bingley Five Rise) available from websites, including waterscape (British Waterways) and Visit Bradford. Creation of a heritage centre in Shipley to illustrate the history of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Provision of visitor information in Saltaire and at the public transport access points in the valley. Education Production of a package for schools relating to the heritage of the area, perhaps extending the existing primary curriculum concerned with Saltaire to include the canal. Promotion of safe routes to schools incorporating the canal towpath, in partnership with local schools. Marketing Joint initiatives with rail transport providers to promote use of the trains and canal towpath. Creation and update of maps/leaflets promoting circular walks, in association with the Bingley and Shipley Town Centre Managers e.g. walks incorporating the existing footpaths in Hirst Wood, the Millennium Way riverside walk along the River Aire at Dowley Gap, Bingley town centre heritage walk and the riverside walk at Bingley. Joint promotion (with local businesses) of the towpath as a recreation resource/traffic-free route to work for office workers based near the canal, to build upon the British Waterways Yours to enjoy anytime marketing campaign. Promotion of the canal and its use at local festivals, e.g. Saltaire Festival. Creation of links and joint marketing initiatives with local events, attractions and organisations, including Shipley Glen Tramway, Brackenhall Countryside Centre, Bradford Rowing Club (based at Hirst Weir). Developer-led Improvements Access improvements to the riverside walk in Saltaire/Shipley with Section 106 money from the Victoria Mill developers. 8

13 Possible improvements to the canal environment, moorings and access, including bridges and towpath surface, in connection with the proposed Sty Lane residential development. Other Improvements Creation of an arts trail, potentially a series of way markers, facilitated by a community arts organisation and designed in consultation with local residents. Replacement of the mural and installation of lighting under Otley Road bridge in Shipley. Scheme possibly to include installation of bat boxes. Removal of rusting metal fence bordering Salts Sports Club and replacement with a low fence, to open up views of the cricket ground from the towpath. Heritage Lottery Fund bid Following a successful meeting with the Heritage Lottery fund, British Waterways has been given the green light for a first round application in December 2008 for the Bingley Five and Three Rise Interpretation project. Central to the bid is the reconstruction of Bingley Three Rise Lock Cottage, a building that existed on the site from 1850 until the late 1950s. Its reconstruction serves to interpret the activities that went on at Bingley Five and Three Rise Locks, once a bustling industrial site, as well as providing shelter for people visiting and using the site to stop and learn about the heritage structures. The approximate project cost is estimated at 250,000, to include the Lock Cottage reconstruction and fit out, design and installation of interpretation and information about the site, public engagement and community involvement, research and delivery of a comprehensive programme of activities or events at the site. The bid proposal at this early stage still includes toilets at the site for public use. The facility would be open during the working hours of the permanent lock keeper at the site, opened in the morning and closed up at night. Other aspects of the bid are the development of a signage strategy from town centres, marketing material to promote the sustainable use of the site through the identification of public transport links, as well as marketing of other local amenities and attractions along the canal corridor within the destination area. Airedale Greenway The Airedale Partnership with Bradford Council and other partners are developing a branded walking/cycling route with the existing canal towpath at its heart. The route will eventually link the towpath with the three main towns of Keighley, Bingley and Shipley. As part of this process a signage strategy for the route has been developed. Access to Nature bid The Airedale Waterways Partnership is seeking to develop an operational stewardship of the waterways (the River Aire and Leeds & Liverpool Canal) in the Aire Valley. The partnership is preparing an Access to Nature bid which will be focused around educational opportunities and improving community access along the Airedale corridor. 9

14 7 Destination Management Once development improvements have been carried out, Bingley-Saltaire-Shipley will be managed as a destination through the following plans managed by a designated destination manager: Access Plan Visitor Safety Plan Maintenance Plan Signage/Interpretation Plan Marketing Plan 8 Policy Context The Destination Delivery Plan strategically fits with the broad aims and objectives of: Government policy advice: particularly PPG1 (Sustainable Development and Climate Change), PPG13 (Transport), PPG15 (Historic Environment), PPG17 (Sport & Recreation) and PPG21 (Tourism). Yorkshire & Humber Regional Spatial Strategy: This sets the framework to guide and direct where and how development and investment takes place across the region. Under new planning law, it will form part of the development plan for each local authority and be taken into account in determining planning applications. Yorkshire & Humber Integrated Regional Strategy: Entitled Growing Together, the strategy will help provide the framework to help regional and local bodies plan their work in a more joined up way, enabling the best use of resources to benefit people right across the region. Bradford Unitary Development Plan: The Unitary Development Plan (UDP) is the statutory Development Plan that the Council produces to fulfil its obligations under the 1990 Planning Act. The Plan is a land use strategy for the District and is the prime consideration when the Council makes decisions on planning applications. It includes policies to guide development, and proposals for the use of land, to ensure that the needs of the district's population for homes, jobs, shopping, recreation etc. can be met. The Airedale Masterplan: This was produced in February 2003 to provide strategic leadership for the regeneration of Airedale. This grouping of leaders from business, education and the community, in conjunction with Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward, saw the need for a strategic masterplan to deliver the aspirations of the Bradford 2020 Vision for Airedale. The aim of the masterplan and strategy is to establish a framework that will deliver a stepchange in the local economy that benefits local people and protects and enhances the environment. It will advise future planning frameworks and investment plans for the Bradford District and the wider region. 9 Possible phasing and timetable 10

15 10 Stakeholder Group and document status The Bingley-Saltaire-Shipley Stakeholder Group: British Waterways City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Airedale Partnership Dreamweavers Inland Waterways Association Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society Salts Sports Association Riverside Court Residents Association Saltaire Village Society Craven Cruising Club Document Status: This Bingley-Saltaire-Shipley Destination Delivery Plan represents the aims and aspirations of the stakeholders. All support the contents of the Plan, agree to work towards achieving the Destination Improvements outlined in the Plan and collaborate to obtain external funds in order to deliver the contents of the Plan. 11