Two British Waterways projects on the K&A Canal were recognised at a ceremony in Birmingham when the Avon Vale team and the Bath Flight project were both runners-up in their classes.
The passion of the Kennet & Avon Canal's early supporters who fought to save the canal from closure and abandonment has been re-kindled by a group of British Waterways volunteers based in Devizes who saved and restored as sunken BW work-boat and put it to work to help controlling offside vegetation who were runner-up in the 'Volunteering' class.
John Kirby, the project leader, said: "We are delighted to have our work recognised in this way — and we are also not at all sorry to have come runners-up to the Waterways Action Squad who work with 1000s of 16-25 year old youngsters on Waterways volunteering projects in the North West of England. We need young people to get involved with the canals and rivers and they are worthy winners."
The BW scheme to restore the Bridges & Chimney on the Bath was runner-up in the 'Historic Environment' class.
The project received praise for the way that historic fabric had been retained where practicable and sympathetically replicating the original pattern. The bridges have been restored, making them safe for public access, without losing their patina and character. The judges also commended the scheme for the retaining the intricate detail of the chimney’s masonry which they said now stands proud once again overlooking Bath’s rolling hills and downs telling its story for many years to come.
The results in full
Area-based Regeneration
Winner: Granary Wharf, Leeds
Community
Winner: Canals for the Community, Stoke on Trent
Runner-up: Ladywell Fields, Lewisham
Commended: Dewsbury Waterways
Commended: Revitalisation of the Monkland Canal, Glasgow
Design & Construction
Winner: The Peace Bridge, Derry/Londonderry
Runner-up: A11 Bow Riverside
Commended: Dutton Upper Horse Bridge, Cheshire
Commended: Granary Wharf, Leeds
Education & Learning
Winner: Lagan Legacy, Belfast
Runner-up: Beauchamp Lodge’s On the Waterfront
Commended: Waterways Action Squad
Flood Risk Management
Winner: White Cart Flood Prevention Scheme, Glasgow
Runner-up: Tregaron Flood Alleviation Scheme
Historic Environment
Winner: Heritage Boatyard & Restoration of Mendip, National Waterways Museum
Runner-up: Bath Bridges & Chimney Restoration
Commended: Cefn Flight of 14 Locks – Education through restoration
Innovation
Winner: A11 Bow Riverside Footbridge & Walkway
Commended: Kings Cross Central Canal Fund Masterplan
Natural Environment
Winner: Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail
Runner-up: Beam Parklands
Partnership
Winner: Wallbridge Project, Cotswold Canals
Runner-up: Leeds Waterfront Festival
Commended: Long Preston Deeps
Commended: Tregaron Flood Alleviation Scheme
Commended: River Nene Infrastructure Improvement
Recreation & Tourism
Winner: Leeds Waterfront Festival
Strategy & Masterplanning
Winner: Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy
Runner-up: Bedford Waterspace Study
Commended: Spalding Waterspace Study
Commended: Kings Cross Central Canal Fund Masterplan
Volunteering
Winner: Waterways Action Squad
Runner-up: Avon Vale, Kennet & Avon Canal
Commended: Langley Mill Swingbridge, Nottinghamshire
Outstanding Achievement Award
Droitwich Canals Restoration
