£3m plans to transform River Soar in Leicestershire
Water buses to take fans to football matches, a boat race, riverside restaurants and a floating market are all part of £3m plans to transform the River Soar.
A 23-mile stretch between Loughborough and Kilby Bridge is set to be transformed into a bustling hive of activity within a decade.
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The canal at Rally Park, off Tudor Road, in Leicester, could be transformed under the new waterway proposals
The plans were unveiled yesterday following a £100,000 inquiry into how best to develop the county's canals.
Roger Wilson, chairman of Leicestershire County Council, said: "The most exciting aspect of all this is opening up the waterways to people.
"Our waterways are a fantastic resource, rich in wildlife, history and leisure opportunities."
Mini masterplans will be drawn up for seven key points, including the city centre, Aylestone and Barrow-upon-Soar.
At Loughborough, there are plans for waterside festivals.
In the city, water taxis and boat trips could take fans to the Walkers Stadium and the Tigers ground, on Welford Road.
Other plans include a £1m visitor centre at Watermead Park, canalside picnic areas, in South Wigston, and a white-water canoe centre, in Aylestone.
Ross Willmott, leader of Leicester City Council, said: "Both the river and the canal are of huge significance to the city and they are yet to be exploited to their full potential.
"This strategy is fantastic and I want to see much greater access for everyone."
The Waterways Trust and British Waterways hope to raise cash, alongside the county, city, Charnwood, Oadby and Wigston and Blaby councils.
The scheme should be completed by 2020.
In Rally Park, off Tudor Road in Leicester's West End, Joanne Symmonds 42, of Woodgate, said: "I walk round here all the time. Putting money into this seems a good idea."
Jordan Mortimer, 23, said: "Anything that improves the canal is a good thing."
Roger Hanbury, chief executive of the Waterways Trust, and chairman of the River Soar and Grand Union Canal Strategy Group, said: "Waterways offer great places to live, work and play and provide many possibilities for enriching lives."
A spokesman for British Waterways said a "ball park" figure for the scheme would be £3m, including the visitor centre.
The Key Points: The seven planned areas for development
Key areas along the 23-mile stretch of canal and river to be transformed are:
Kilby Bridge: Developed as a tourist attraction and for boat hire; centre for canoe club in Glen Parva and picnic area at Crow Mills, South Wigston
Aylestone: Potential for white-water canoe park and hydro-electric generation at St Mary's Wharf, public art alongside the canal, boating and cycle hire centre
Leicester: Improved secure boating facilities, including short-stay City Wharf to encourage people to hire boats, looking into waterbuses which could be used to transport fans to Walkers Stadium and Tigers ground or run between key points along the river. Work has started on creating more than 3,000 homes, with restaurants, workspaces and leisure facilities.
Abbey Meadows: Micro-hydro-electric generation at weirs, looking at opening a marina at Redhill roundabout, opening of up the footpaths and towpaths to encourage more people to use the canal.
Watermead Park: Visitor centre to tell the story of the canals, installation of more public art, marina on Syston's Raynesway site with hotel and conference centres and introduction of a waterway festival.
Barrow-upon-Soar: Improved links between Barrow and Mountsorrel and opening of a cycleway on or next to the canal.
Loughborough: Riverside homes and businesses are planned for Windmill Road, canal to be linked to the university and use of the canal as a selling point to tourists brought to the town as it hosts the Japanese team during the 2012 London Olympics.
14 Comments
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by G, Leicester
Thursday, November 26 2009, 12:36PM
“The article mentions a floating market. Do this mean we will see another huge outcry from the Leicester Market Traders that the competition will be unfair?”
by Susan Eppel, Leicester
Thursday, November 26 2009, 12:23PM
“Recession? What recession?
Here we are again at the mercy of Leicester Regeneration, this time hijacking our waterways - is nothing sacred?
Whilst I agree that some areas of the canal definitely need improvement eg Frog Island etc - is there really enough space for water buses (think how many football fans there are), boaters, canooing, swans, ducks, fishermen and a floating restaurant - its not exactly the Thames.
What is currently a relatively quiet oasis for people to be in with excellent areas for nature could rapidly turn into a motorised, noisy and congested area where one thing leads to another.
Then in todays society everything is a commodity - even peoples' sense of well being!”
by David Davidson, Loughborough
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 3:09PM
“Epic fail ahoy! We should just burn the 3 million now instead of wasting it on developing the riverbank, watching it flood and then seeing the uninsurable derelict buildings be inhabited by skag heads.”
by Carl, Leicester
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 2:55PM
“it is a good idea in theory but its the cost that people have a problem with. The trouble is most of the money is spent on consultants and architects rather than the facilities themselves while paying over the odds for materials.”
by Fiona, Loughborough
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 2:48PM
“Can't win can we - people moaning that Leicestershire's a dump, then when something is proposed to improve it - still moaning. I think it's an excellent idea and agree with E, Leicester !”
by Carl, Leicester
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 2:13PM
“Another bridge across the river Soar so that fans can get to and from the game a lot quicker would be a better idea. As for the cost if someone can do a better job of working out how much it will cost instead of moaning about it then do so.”
by E, Leicester
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 1:37PM
“Excellent news for the city. Making our waterways more accessible to the public and providing more leisure and enterprise opportunities will be another major improvement to the city.
The idea of water buses sounds great, providing another means of travel into the city, as long as you live near a water "bus stop", of course. Roads will be a little less congested on match days too.
I was surpsied to see that it would only cost £3 over 20 years. It would be helpful to know how much of this estimate is to come from public funds, and how much from the private sector. The local Councils need assurances built into private partnership contracts that share the onus of any overspends or, if possible, places the onus entirely on the private sector. The funding for the Curve project was a fiasco, with the City Council having to plug the financial gaps.
The visitor centre will also help to educate our children about our waterways heritage. I feel that this is being lost, so anything to restore this has to be an improvement.
Very interesting project. Let's see if it lives up to its potential.”
by Geoff Davies, Leicester
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 12:47PM
“3 million quid eh? , I think it might be more like 30 million or even more if past estimates are anything to go on! I will believe we I see it , More pie in the sky! Its ok the rate payer will afford it ! Bit like 13 million to make 90 million ! We will see !”
by anon, cardiff
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 12:18PM
“About 10 years behind the times and that is at today's date; water buses have been in operation here for years!”
by Mick, whitwick
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 12:06PM
“Do they really think that folks are going to use a water bus to the Walkers ? Where is the start point going to be and where will I be able to park my car there ?”