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June 2009
We’re on site and building!
This is the first structure funded for the Waterway; an underpass to carry the B&MK Waterway beneath the new A421 near Stewartby Lake, as at 7th June. Completion due Autumn ’09.
May 2009
The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway:
No longer just an idea but reality
“Destination Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway – making it a place people will want to visit. That’s the benchmark. We have progressed from an idea that might happen to an idea that can happen.”
So said Jane Wolfson, chair of the B&MK Waterway Trust, at its annual general meeting in Newport Pagnell (Thursday, 14th May).
The 26km waterway is the missing link between the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes and the Great Ouse in Bedford. This would allow navigation from the North Sea to the Severn, revitalising communities along the route. The vision for the new waterway is to create a series of waterway parks between Milton Keynes and Bedford.
An economic impact assessment of the proposal has found that over a ten-year period visitors to the waterway and linked facilities could pump £265 million into the local economy, whilst “place-shaping” and attracting additional economic activity could generate as much as £97 million to £373 million over the same period.
Jane said there had been great strides forward for the project in the way the Trust had been able to influence politicians at local, regional and national level. Among the priorities for this year is the creation of two showcase sections:
- Making the hidden gem that is the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes the catalyst for transforming Willen Lake and the surrounding area. The Trust and its local partners, including the MK Parks Trust, are working on plans to move the previously proposed route of the waterway northwards to the centre of the Newlands grid square, creating a dramatic section running from the Grand Union at the head of Campbell Park into the lake via a deep feature lock – possibly the deepest inland lock in England and potentially the next “big thing” for Milton Keynes.
- Another showcase section in Marston Vale between Stewartby Lake and Berry Wood which would extend the leisure options at the Forest Centre. At this point the new A421 dual carriageway is being built on embankment for much of its length and earth can be sourced by excavating the waterway.
It is hoped that by November the first new structure specifically for the waterway will have been built – a 30 metre concrete culvert incorporated into the A421 as the result of £250,000 provided through Government Growth Area Funds.
The meeting also heard from Mary Powell, the driving force behind tourism in Lincolnshire, where she has successfully bid for £16 million funding for projects linked to the county and Fenland waterways, which will eventually be accessible from the B&MK waterway.
Walking the walk
Nearly one hundred people joined the “Walk the Route” event (Saturday, 9th May) along a five mile section of the proposed waterway, covering 500 miles between them!
Starting at the Parks Trust Pavilion in Campbell Park grown ups, children and dogs strode out along the Grand Union Canal to the cablestay bridge over Broughton Brook, returning via Willen Lake. The walkers were divided into groups, each with a guide to explain how the waterway will take shape.
There was an exhibition at the Pavilion throughout the event, which recruited new members to the Trust.
Jane Wolfson, Trust chair, who led one of the groups commented: “It was one of the best turnouts for this annual event, which reflects what the waterway is all about – linking communities and creating safe, sustainable and appealing environments along a ‘green corridor’. The waterway is happening because people want it to. It is a real grass roots concept that is clearly on the radar of planners, politicians and developers.”
Setting off to Walk the B&MK Route from the Grand Union Canal in Campbell Park
Pausing at a B&MK interpretation board in Newlands, next to the Grand Union
Walking the B&MK Route near Broughton Brook
April 2009
Multi-million pound impact of Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway:
New Economic Assessment
Huge potential benefits from the proposed Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway are emerging as the result of an economic impact assessment which has started to quantify the scale of the project.
Over a ten-year period visitors to the Waterway and linked facilities, could pump between £167 million and £265 million into the local economy, whilst “place-shaping”, including attracting new businesses and additional economic activity, could generate as much as £97 million to £373 million.
The findings to date have been accepted by the Waterway Partnership Board. The assessment is being carried out by Diarmid Hearns and Willie Macleod, of SQW Consulting, specialists in economic and social developments. The new waterway has a strategic fit regionally in terms of sustainable transport, including freight, flood alleviation and water management.
Welcoming the report, Jane Wolfson, Waterway Partnership Trust Chair, commented: “We are seeing how the Waterway will shape the locality with a unique sense of identity and place, as well as linking communities across the region. With opportunities for innovation and regeneration, the project is well placed to assist economic recovery and sustained growth.”
The vision is to create a series of waterway parks which, in turn, are capable of hosting iconic structures and destination points along the route. This report emphasises that a waterway which is only a “trench”, without additional facilities would have only limited impact. Therefore, incorporating features to attract and capture visitors will be critical to achieving good economic impact for the project, which will run 26km from the junction with the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes to the junction with the Great Ouse at Kempston.
The greatest level of economic impact will be achieved where additional facilities are provided for visitors to spend their money. Locations where tourists and day visitors can take part in, or watch others participating in canal-based activity, will generate greatest appeal. Rural and urban waterside environments will create a 26 km “open gym” alongside high quality business and leisure locations.
A kick-start for the project would be the linking of the Grand Union Canal with Willen Lake in Milton Keynes, together with other leisure facilities to create a focal point for the new waterway. Other options might be to enhance current facilities at Marston Vale Forest Park.
Another feature for consideration could be an “iconic structure” close to Junction 13 of the M1, comparable in scale to the Falkirk Wheel - the world’s only rotating boat lift and capable of lifting eight vessels at a time. Depending on the scale of possible hotel, retail and other developments, such a structure could “brand” the project whilst generating significant numbers of visitors, tourists and residents to the area – all within a two-hour drive for half the population of the UK.
This would have the potential to create a visible, national gateway to Milton Keynes in the west, and Bedford in the east.
The report states that there is good evidence to show that high quality natural environments, opportunities for recreation and place perceptions influence businesses, families and individuals in their choice of locations, all of which place-shape an area. Therefore, the new waterway could also have a significant impact on new and existing job opportunities.
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 Trust and its partners 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.
June 2008
B&MK Waterway Trust Launch New DVD on YouTube
The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust have released a new DVD which is available to view on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/BMKWT
It is narrated by local Milton Keynes TV Actor Kevin Whately (Detective Sergeant Lewis in the popular “Morse” series) and features endorsements from:
- Richard Arthur, Chairman of Renaissance Bedford,
- Clifton Ibbett, Founder of the Bedfordia Group,
- Tony Talbot, Director of the Forest of Marston Vale.
The video highlights the proposed route of the waterway leaving Bedford near the Kempston Weir, alongside the new developments at Wootton, through Berry Wood, under the new A421 through a new 30m purpose built tunnel, the design of which, and funding for, has already been agreed, into the Forest of Marston Vale, over Brogborough Hill, under the M1 and into Milton Keynes.
Also highlighted are the regeneration opportunities surrounding the waterway through Marston Vale, and improved leisure use of the River Great Ouse at Bedford.
Last year a similar DVD was released on You Tube featuring the proposed Milton Keynes Waterway Park development. This has had in excess of 860 showings. http://www.youtube.co.uk/mkwp
B&MK Waterway Trust Project Director Jane Wolfson (who is also featured on the DVD) says: “We are making great progress – the first section of the waterway through a 30m tunnel under the new A421 has already been designed and is fully funded. The Waterway is in all the local plans, and in Milton Keynes we have planning permission.”
The DVD has been produced by volunteers of the B&MK Waterway Trust with support from local businesses and partners.
June 2008
Awards for All
Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust has been given the grant to provide signposts and interpretation boards along a section of the proposed waterway which will link the Grand Union canal at Milton Keynes to the Great Ouse at Bedford. Two years ago the Milton Keynes group from The Trust obtained similar funding for a section of the route in Milton Keynes.
Since last August Richard Wood, seconded from the Dept of Communities and Local Government, has been working with landowners and councils to create a permissive path along the rest of the route. This award will allow The Trust to mark out a section of the path from The Forest Centre, Marston Vale to Wootton.
The photograph illustrates an interpretation board already in place in Milton Keynes. The Trust always welcomes new volunteers and will be seeking support and exhibiting at Bedford River Festival so look out for the stand.
The Trust will also been seeking support from schools and pupils along the route as it would like their help in writing information for the interpretation boards.
January 2008
Waterway makes it into the plans!
The preferred route of the Bedford to Milton Keynes Waterway has been included in the latest land use plans drawn up by Mid Bedfordshire District Council. Known as the Local Development Framework the inclusion in the plans safeguards the route for the future and planning applications for new development will not be permitted to prejudice the future of the proposal.
The Waterway is planned to go underneath the M1 via an existing “cattle creep” and over Brogborough Hill via what will constitute an innovative, high profile engineering attraction akin to (but significantly different from) the Falkirk Wheel), and across the Marston Vale through to the River Great Ouse in Kempston. Linking Milton Keynes and Bedford and the Grand Union Canal with the Eastern waterways via a series of waterway parks, it will create a permanent green/blue corridor through the heart of the growth area, enhancing and preserving the best of the natural environment en route.
October 2007
Government Support for the Waterway
The Department for Communities and Local Government are supporting the project for a new waterway between Bedford and Milton Keynes by providing a Senior Implementation Officer on an eighteen month secondment to push forward the scheme for a Bedford and a Marston Waterway Park. The Senior Implementation Officer is Richard Woods who is based at County Hall, Bedford. The appointment is also co-funded by Bedfordshire County Council and the B&MK Waterway Trust.
Commenting on his appointment, Richard Woods said:
"I am excited to be working on this project. The Waterway Parks will be of great benefit to Bedford and the Marston Vale both economically in terms of creating jobs and encouraging tourism by widening the access to the countryside, but also environmentally by creating a continuous green corridor as well as a waterway from Bedford to Milton Keynes. This will encourage new wild life habitats, footpaths, and cycleway in partnership with SUSTRANS, and other forms of environmentally friendly leisure pursuits."
Richard's main objectives will be:
- to secure the route in all relevant local and regional plans
- develop a strategy to secure the land
- lead the development of studies which will result in a successful planning application
