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4 November 2011
200-year vision of B&MK Waterway has never been closer
- Developers must take account of the route.
- B&MK Waterway “one of the most well thought-out and beneficial projects”: British Waterways.
- Linear ponds to be dug in Marston Vale early next year – newts permitting
- Waterway and community boat at the heart of Bedford Waterspace Study.
The vision of a waterway linking the River Great Ouse at Bedford with the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes first proposed on the very day 200 years ago was celebrated last Friday (4th November) at a conference and dinner when the Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson, said: “I don’t want there to be any more mayors before we have completion of the project.”
Dignitaries, mayors, councillors, academics, officials and members gathered for the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust’s second annual partnership conference and bicentenary dinner at The Barns Hotel, Bedford – the birthplace of Samuel Whitbread, who led a group of local businessmen to petition the then Mayor, Charles Short, to propose the original plan in 1811. The project was revived in the mid-1990s.
"The Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson, told the conference: "I have never been more convinced that we are getting closer to seeing the waterway happen."
| Graham Mabbutt, B&MK Waterway Trust Chairman with the Mayors and Mayoresses of Bedford and Milton Keynes - Mayoress Christine Hodgson and Mayor Dave Hodgson of Bedford and Cllr Alan Richards and Mayoress Christine Richards of Milton Keynes. |
| Jane Wolfson, vice-president of the B&MK Waterway Trust, accepts a specially framed photograph of the Waterways Trust awards ceremony earlier this year when the B&MK was winner in two categories and runner-up in a third – the pinnacle of her term of office. Graham Mabbutt made the presentation with Mayor Dave Hodgson and Mayoress Christine Hodgson seated and leading the applause. |
Click here for the A-Z Project Delivery Plan that was published at the Annual Partnership Conference.
Click here for the full news (press release).
October 2011
B&MK Waterway at the heart of new “waterspace” studies
“A revelation” – “not a bit like Milton Keynes”.
Oh, yes it is - and it might not be too long before these sights become just as familiar along the River Great Ouse in Bedford following the Waterspace Study.
These were just some reactions from more than a few of the guests aboard the Ocean Princess for the B&MK Trust’s annual Grand Union Canal trips recently. These aim to give representatives of local councils, community groups, commercial enterprises and educationalists an insight to the contrasts and benefits of a waterside environment.
The 2-hour return journeys started at Campbell Park and took in the canal-side development at Pennyland and Great Linford, courtesy of James Griffin Wyvern Shipping, Linslade.
Names of those pictured above, from the left:-
- Cllr Doug McMurdo, Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Culture, Bedford Borough Council
- Mick Callanan, Trustee, Connolly Foundation
- Patrick Hall, Director, B&MK Waterway Trust
- Cllr Sue Oliver, Portfolio Holder for Children's Social Care, Bedford Borough Council
- Cllr Colleen Atkins, Portfolio Holder for Performance & External Relations, Bedford Borough Council
- James Griffin, Wyvern Shipping
- Graham Mabbutt, Chairman, B&MK Waterway Trust
- PCllr Paul Harbottle, Aspley Guise Parish Council
- Gareth Lloyd, Reporter, Three Counties Radio
- Cllr Ken Matthews, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities - Strategic Planning & Economic
Development and B&MK Waterway Consortium representative, Central Bedfordshire Council - Dr Tony Wood, Chairman of Ouse Valley Branch, English Speaking Union
- Neil Hayes, Director, B&MK Waterway Trust
- Erin Witcomb-Vos, Fens Waterways Link Partnerships Manager and B&MK Waterway Consortium representative, Environment Agency
- Darren Gray, Growth Coordination Manager, Milton Keynes Council
- David Fowler, Director, B&MK Waterway Trust
September 2011
An eventful start to the month
The Trust have run a full programme of events on both weekends so far this month, despite everything the British weather has had to throw at us. The Trust stand at the two day Woodworks festival at the Forest of Marston Vale was positively buzzing with people interested in the project.
Then, we joined forces with the Bedfordshire Ramblers Walking Festival and Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity for a 5 mile walk of a section of the B&MK waterway route between the M1 and Marston Vale Forest Centre, with a talk about the regeneration of the Victorian Station buildings at Ridgmont Station at the outset (see picture).
This was followed on Sunday 11 September by a joint event under the "Heritage Open Days" banner, with talks and presentations on the history of the Grand Union Canal, the Iron Trunk Aqueduct at Cosgrove and the concept of the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway - all past, or approaching their 200th birthdays. The talks were held in the beautiful St Lawrence's Church, Broughton, with its fascinating mediaeval murals - do look out for George and the Dragon above the main door, if you visit. The morning talks were followed by a lunchtime barbeque in the grounds of the Old Rectory, where around 50 Trust members, supporters and members of the public gathered for fine fare and good conversation - and only a sprinkling of showers between the sunny spells.
A big welcome to all the new members we recruited at these events, your membership confirmations will be with you soon and we hope to see you at more events later in the year.
25 May 2011
Waterway Recognised for “Outstanding Achievement”
Triple Winners in National Waterways Renaissance Awards 2011
The proposed Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway (B&MK) made a big splash at the 2011 Waterways Renaissance awards by scooping a surprise extra award for outstanding achievement, as well as winning first place for strategy and masterplanning. The project was also runner up in the partnership category.
Explaining why the B&MK was selected for the special award, Helen Carey, chair of the assessment panel, said: “This year we wished to give special recognition to a project that has shown considerable dedication and resilience in achieving some remarkable success and their work to sustain the project in the face of many challenges and setbacks over the years.”
“This is a very inspiring project, mostly because so many people have said over the years that it couldn’t or wouldn’t ever be done. There is now a long term plan to build it and the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway is now unequivocally regarded as an established and deliverable entity.”
The B&MK team with their awards with Helen Carey, chair of the Awards Assessment Panel (far right).
Click here for the full news (press release).
Click here for the 2011 Waterways Renaissance Awards brochure, for more information on the winners in each category.
Spring 2011
B&MK Community Boat Appeal
PLEASE FLOAT OUR BOAT BY 2012
An appeal for sponsorship has been launched across the B&MK Trust membership, community groups, schools, colleges and local businesses seeking support for the Trust’s latest venture – the Bedford Community Boat – which we hope to get off the slipway and into the water by summer 2012.
We want to help people realise how much fulfilment and educational opportunity the riverside can offer, and to enthuse people about our own ‘waterway for all’ project – the creation of the missing 26k link between the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes and the Great Ouse at Bedford.
The Trust now wants its own boat to cruise throughout the summer in Bedford to build community support and involvement in its waterway campaign. The aim is to set up a trading company and launch a 60-foot, 50-seat broadbeam boat in time for the Bedford River Festival in 2012 and to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the original plan for the B&MK waterway.
It will cost £120,000 to get a new boat built, fitted out, train crew and get ready to cruise. There are grants the Trust can bid for but it needs to raise matching funding. So the initial target is £60,000 and the membership and local community are being asked to get on board with sponsorships. Please give us your promise of a gift or loan by September 2011. Founding Funders will be thanked with free trips and publicity.
Click the link to find out more about the Bedford Community Boat project.
Click here to see how you can join in the fun.
If you or your family would like to support the boat click here for a form.
If your school or college would like to sponsor the boat click here for a form.
24 May 2010
New B&MK Consortium Set Up
View the recent Anglia TV news item on the setting up of the
B&MK Consortium.
Courtesy of itv Anglia News.
Waterway FAQs
How long will the Waterway be?
26 km from the junction with the Grand Union canal in MK to the junction with the Great Ouse at Kempston. The 6 km of the Great Ouse from Kempston into Bedford will be brought up to full boating standard.
How wide and deep and what size of boats?
It will be a broad canal with a navigation channel 9 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep, but the total width will be 15 metres where possible. The locks will accommodate boats up to 22 metres (72 feet) long, 4.5 metres (14 feet) wide and 1.3 metres (4 feet) deep (draft). Boats up to 9 feet high above water level at their highest point will be able to pass through the bridges which will have a 3 metre clearance above the water level.
The canal will be the focus of a string of waterway parks which will be as wide as planning space allows with paths; planting; leisure space; attractions and facilities on either or both sides of the water. It is a current plan to have a “multi-use” path about 3 metres wide on one side of the waterway which can be set back from the water’s edge in some places to allow anglers to fish without obstructing the pathway for other users.
When will it be built?
This will be done in stages as funds are raised, over the coming 10-20 years. The Consortium are securing the route in local plans and seeking such funds.How will the canal cross the M1?
The canal will pass under the M1 through a tunnel, using the disused Cattle Creep (20 ft wide and 20 ft high) under the M1 just south of Junction 13 and just north of the Bletchley to Bedford railway tunnel. Negotiations with the Highways Agency have led to the Agency giving a memorandum of understanding that the planned modifications of Junction 13 will not preclude this solution.
