Peter Birch.pdf - Waterways Forward

Environment and Heritage inBritish Waterways Waterways Forward 28 / 06/2011Peter Birch, Group Environment Manager, British Waterways

ENVIRONMENT ANDHERITAGE• Importance to BW and our customers• Built Heritage• Natural Environment• Environmental Management System

IMPORTANCE TOBW & OURCUSTOMERS

IMPORTANCE TO OUR CUSTOMERSHistory• 9 out of 10 of our customers sayheritage is part of their reasonfor visiting• Engineering endeavour –aqueducts, tunnels,embankments• Local history and reminder ofa bygone age

IMPORTANCE TO OUR CUSTOMERSGreen Corridors• 9 out of 10 also value the“haven for people andwildlife”• Access to the countryside• “Green Lungs” for towns• Landscape, wildlifeand water

IMPORTANCE TO BWBecause it is important to our customers & funders• Our VISION “…It will be regarded as one of the nation’s most importantand valued national assets…”• Heritage-led regeneration / restoration• Millions of pounds of investment from volunteer hedge-laying torestoring the Montgomery Canal and refurbishing Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

IMPORTANCE TO BWStatutory Duties & legal requirements• Transport Act 1968 - recreation and amenity• British Waterways Act 1995 “to further conservation… to have regardto… to take account of…”• “Register of Regulations” – over 130 entries

BUILT HERITAGE

BUILT HERITAGEProtected• 100 Scheduled Ancient Monuments – the UK’s most precious sites• 2,759 Listed Structures in our ownership – third largest owner in UK• 112 parts of waterways plus 199 discrete sites in our ownership aredesignated as Conservation Area – indicating historic character• 71 registered Historic Parks and Gardens adjoining• 9 Historic Battlefield sites• 1 WHS based solely on a Canal and 5 including in part.

BUILT HERITAGEThe Story

BUILT HERITAGELocally Distinctive

BUILT HERITAGE –WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

ChallengeNo1 =it’s just soOLD!

Challenge No2 =Easily damaged

Challenge No3 = Modern usesare different usesBasil Jeuda Collection

Challenge No4 = Differentworking practicesCourtesy of the Boat Museum, Ellesmere PortCourtesy of the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port

Challenge No5 = differentconstruction standards

Expensive? – yes,Lime costs 10x asmuch as cementMatching brickscost 3x as much asstandardsCost of new stone c.£2k per m2 of wallcompared to

So how do you do it right?“Three-legged stool” –• Understand the value,• Specify correctly,• Competent tradesmen and supervision on site.

Staffawareness andknowledgeStandard of work,condition of assetsManagementstandards

2004 REFURBISHMENT

TOWPATH

TOWPATH

LEAK STOPPING

RAILINGS

NATURALENVIRONMENT

NATURAL ENVIRONMENTLandscape

NATURAL ENVIRONMENTWildlife

NATURAL ENVIRONMENTDesignations• over 70 SSSI / SAC on or affecting / affected by our waterways.• Local examples:Designations on the Rivers Dee and Usk affect abstractions,Montgomery Canal – most of the length of the canal is designated.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:Management plans forspecial sites

NATURAL ENVIRONMENTDesignation vs. Public perception

NATURAL ENVIRONMENTALL canals• Trees and hedgerows• Fish• Nesting Birds• Protected Species – badgers, otters, water voles, bats, white clawedcrayfish, Great Crested Newts.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONPotential conflict with modern uses

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:What about outside the special sites?

NATURAL ENVIRONMENTWildlife is not all good – Invasive species• Knotweed etc• Signal Crayfish, Zander, Zebra Mussels

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONA changing agenda - sustainability• Recycled materials – paper, aggregates• Reducing energy & fuel use• Sustainable timber – 100% FSC• Reducing waste, reuse / recycling

ENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENTSYSTEM

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM• Risk Management approach• Based on ISO 14001

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMPlan• Significant aspects = “What are your risks andopportunities, and what are you going to do aboutthem?”• New issues, new laws etc.Do• Set targets and standards to maintain or improve• Implement control measures• Train and raise awareness of staff / contractors toimplement and look for new opportunities toimprove

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMCheck• Managers’ inspections• Recording incidents, near misses• Internal auditing• Reporting on good and bad outcomesAct• Review performance and feed into “Plan” again

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:staff awareness

ENVIRONMENTAL APPRAISAL

ENVIRONMENTAL APPRAISAL

SUMMARY• Highly valued• Distinctive• Management processes• Staff awareness• Part of EVERYONE’S responsibility