LANCASTER CANAL REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP (LCRP)

Transcription

1 LANCASTER CANAL REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP (LCRP) LCRP MINUTES LCRP Full Partnership Meeting Date 11 th July 2017 Venue The Mintworks Kendal Attendees Chair Partner Members Audrey Smith AS (IWA) Robin Yates RY (Lancaster Canal Trust), Nick Smith NS (CRT), Wendy Humphreys WH (IWA NW) Chris Hogg CH (KTC) Tony Entwhistle TE (CRT) Officers Helen Moriarty HM (LCRP) Ruth Leahy RL (SLDC) Joanne Golton (SLDC) Apologies Chantelle Seaborn CS (CRT), Nick Cotton NC (CCC) Peter Jones PJ (LCT), Sue Sanderson SS (SLDC) David Gibson DG (CCC) Mark McTique MM (LCC) Alvin Finch AF (KTC) LCRP Full Executive Meeting 11 th July, The Mintworks, Kendal. 10am onwards, lunch provided. July Agenda 1. Welcome and Apologies AS welcomed all and noted apologies as above. Sir Robert Atkins (IWA) was introduced

2 as an observer to the meeting. 2. Review previous minute and actions Minutes agreed without amends. AS noted that the action to meet with C&RT Marketing Team to discuss branding options to combine C&RT brand with a Towpath Trail brand has been complete and was successful. AS confirmed that all other remaining actions are covered in the agenda. 3. LCRP Finance Overview 3.1 AS provided an overview of funding received. Action HM: Add account recommendation to PMG agenda. PMG to trial system and feedback to Executive in October. NS provided an update of the HLF Application. Action HM: Comment on C&RT HLF press release to ensure it reiterates current LCRP success such as Arts Commission project. LP to advice and liase with C&RT. NS also informed the partnership of ERADF opportunities regarding green infrastructure, health and wellbeing and enhancement of bio-diversity. Action NS: Link HM to opportunity to research Towpath Trail fit. 3.2 HM provided an overview of current LCRP funding proposals: Fells & Dales LEADER (Full EOI for 50,000 submitted 29 th June. 35,000 towards accessible stiles, 15,000 towards towpath trail branding) Lancaster University (Final year Marketing Consultancy Project. Market Research & Branding recommendations for targeted identified audiences) Sports England (Submitted April, Path improvements 50,000) Tourism Growth EAFRD (European Agriculture for Rural Development) / LEP - Possible support for PM, enquiry stage, CH and JG noted strong links to LEP priorities that may help a future application. Action HM: Keep CH & JG informed of progress Wheels for All letter of support LCRP wrote a letter to support the development of a hub at Kendal Leisure Centre. The hub aims to provide adapted cycles for people with various difficulties, LCRP wrote

3 a letter of support from the perspective that the accessible trail will make a great route for wheels for all users to enjoy. 3.3 AS provided an overview of LCRP accounts. 4. Kendal to Natland Project Update HM updated all regarding meetings with CCC officers, Land Agents and others. 4.1 Kendal Improvements Updates HM provided an overview of the improvement projects achievable in the short term. These include; Dunmail Drive Improve current access via new path and bollards. SLDC agree in principle to adopt desire line and timescales are to be confirmed. CH asked that residents are informed of proposed improvements. All agreed good project to proceed. Action HM: Chase timescales and adoption confirmation, task CCC with project, create info sheet for residents. Parkside Road HM reported that this area is inappropriate for CCC to contract manage proposed improvements as the Public Right of Way surface is in good condition. LCRP can independently contract improvement works to remove the bollards and create a more attractive desire line for the Towpath Trail. CH noted that the area belongs to SLDC and discussion followed about the opportunity for the area to become a car park to enable Towpath Trail users to park and ride in the future. All gave approval for HM to find quote for improvements. Action HM: Develop design brief and secure quotes. HM reported that the SLDC Funding Agreement for the capital grant is in progress with support from RL via SLDC s legal team, a provisional deadline of end of July has been set. 5. Access Strategy Update HM reported that a full draft was received mid-june. The PMG agreed amends and comments have been sent to Coles and Baxter. A key edit is the production of a Bite Size version for partners and download. LP commented that a third version should be considered as a leaflet for events to promote the work and direction of the partnership. Action HM: Provide LP with an overview to create leaflet version HM reported that Coles & Baxter have confirmed that revisions will be completed and final draft available for Project Management Group in advance of the 5th September. The final

4 report will be circulated in advance of Executive Meeting on 10th of October and a presentation of the full report will be given at LCRP's Executive Meeting on 10th of October. HM talked through the following table as an overview of the recommended projects outlined in the Access Strategy and where they sit in LCRP s current and proposed activity. In Progress Achievable Significant Development Required Aspirational Interpretation of heritage Improve surface of existing towpath, over time extend these lengths to create fully accessible trail. Development of Visitors Welcome brand Interpretation of Canal Environment Lancaster Public Realm Improvements Hincaster Tunnel improvements Additional accessible links to nearby destinations Visitors Welcome marketing drive Create a canoeathon and or series of annul sporting/challenge events Encourage use of the in-water, isolated, but locally navigable sections for trip boats, trail boats and canoeing. Visitor Hub & Café at Lune Aqueduct Local Transport Plans Create a series of cultural events such as living history enactments, storey telling, live theatre, etc. Create a North by North-West Festival built around acoustic, folk and new music to encourage additional boaters and non boaters to Lancaster Canal Construction and heritage skills training & education Borwick Hall Visitor Centre Skills Centre at Tewitfield Establish Education Training Group JG commented that the strategy was strong and provided a good framework for the partnership. CH commented on the sporting challenge recommendation and suggested the next Donor Walks could take place on the Towpath Trail. Action HM: Liaise with CH to explore idea further 6. Oliver East The Lanky Arts Council Project Presentation OE thanked the partnership for the opportunity to work on this commission and spoke about the process of creating the comic and the techniques used. OE highlighted some of the stories his research has uncovered which will be retold in the comic book. The pace of the stories will reflect the pace of a canal boat via a twelve-syllable approach. The stories will also be told in local dialect referencing many canal terms which will be translated in a glossary section of the book. OE also noted the colour choices and how sections painted in green are an accurate representation of what you can see today on the canal and yellow

5 sections represent historic use. OE noted that the final version will include the family names of boat owners. All agreed the book was fantastic. WH noted how horses were attached to the boats and all agreed the inclusion of a glossary and map would be useful. CH spoke about nurturing an Arts Council relationship going forwards and the current popularity of digital projects as an opportunity, he suggested music events streamlined into rural village halls as a possible link. Action HM: Contact Arts Council England to invite a relationships manager to LICAF guided walk. Consider how to take book forward and include as interpretation along the canal, explore links to HLF project. 7. AOB PR update Lynn Peglar provided an overview of recent PR success promoting the The Lanky commission including: AS interview on BBC Radio Lancashire Westmorland Gazette coverage Lancaster Guardian coverage Interest from Granada to film OE workshops LP also noted that the Access Strategy launch will provide an additional PR opportunity. Action HM: Share July newsletter draft for LP input. Keep LP informed as Access Strategy develops. Gooseholme Bridge HM reported on a successful meeting with SLDC & CCC regarding the repair of Gooseholme Bridge which was damaged in Storm Desmond. The bridge will be widened to accommodate cyclsits which presents an opportunity for SLDC to allow cycling along Gooseholme. If successful LCRP could consider Gooseholme as a central and attractive starting point for the Towpath Trail considering the waste disposal site at Canal Head. Action HM: Continue to attend meetings and keep partnership up to date. IWA update WH informed members that IWA have applied to host the IWA National Trail Boat Festival in 2019 at Countryfest. C&RT update TE promoted the Bicentenary planning event to members, taking place on the 19 th September at The Story Institute in Lancaster 5-8pm, members are welcome to contribute

6 to ideas to create a schedule of events for the bicentenary. TE also informed members that a new logo for bicentenary is in development. 8. Dates of next meetings. No August PMG 5 th September - Project Management Group (PMG), Galgate 10 th October - Executive Meeting 7 th November - PMG, Galgate 5 th December - PMG, Galgate 9 th January - Executive Meeting, Kendal 6 th February - PMG, Galgate 6 th March - PMG, Galgate 10 th April - Executive Meeting, Lancaster AS closed the meeting and thanked all for their contributions.