Slow Boats to Stratford
07 October 2009
British Waterways and the
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) have launched
their search for an operator to run a new commercial boating base
at Limehouse Basin, which will include a waterbus service to the
Olympic Park.
The project is part of
the leisure and regeneration plans for Limehouse Basin and the
Lower Lea Valley. The vision for the Limehouse Quay scheme includes
moorings for restaurant barges, community boats and Thames sailing
charters as well as waterside businesses.
As the lead regeneration
agency for the Lower Lea Valley, LTGDC’s aim is its transformation
into a vibrant, high quality and sustainable mixed use city
district with unrivalled landscape containing new high quality
parkland and water features.
Mark Blackwell, Business
Development Manager, British Waterways said: “The London 2012
Olympic & Paralympic Games, coupled with the construction of
the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and nearby Stratford City, provide a
superb opportunity to breathe new life into east London’s canals
and rivers, creating a world-class waterway legacy for London. The
vision for the Lower Lea Valley is for a ‘Water City’ – a new
destination where leisure and business opportunities are created
around the waterway.”
“We are looking for an
operator who can help us turn Limehouse Quay into a leisure
destination, that’s got colour and character. It’s perfectly
located with its own DLR station and a direct waterway route to the
Olympic Park.”
Limehouse Basin on the
banks of the Thames is at the start of a waterway route to Old Ford
Locks on the River Lee Navigation, where visitors will be able to
access the Greenway and the western spectator entrance to the
Olympic Park. The route will also take in Three Mills Island,
Bromley-by-Bow, which is home to the world’s oldest standing tidal
mill.
John Middleton, Head of
Economic Development, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
said: “The River Lee is the heart of east London and was once a
key driver of its economy. Our ambition is to improve access,
awareness and enjoyment of the river by realising its potential to
connect and regenerate the areas along its course. With a creative
operator on board I'm hopeful that we can focus east
London's past strength as the vehicle to delivering a
vibrant and renewed future for the Lower Lea Valley as a
whole.”
The waterbus service to
the Olympic Park will be one of many floating business
opportunities on offer at Limehouse Quay. Mark Blackwell
commented:
“At 4mph the waterbus
service is realistically going to appeal more to those visitors
wanting a leisurely journey to the Olympic Park, seeing east London
from a different perspective.
“The service will be able
to offer visitors an unusual way to travel to the Olympic Park via
its surrounding network of historic canals and rivers.
"The waterways are rich
in history and wildlife and will, we believe, surprise and delight
visitors in the lead up to, during and after the 2012 Games.”
Information for potential
boating base and waterbus operators is available from www.britishwaterways.co.uk/limehousequay
and an open day for interested businesses and entrepreneurs will be
taking place at Limehouse Basin on Friday 16 October 2009.
Ends
For more press information and an artist’s impression of
Limehouse Quay and water bus please contact:
Gill Owen E gill.owen@britishwaterways.co.uk
T 020 7985 7227 Mb 07733124580
Notes to editors
British Waterways cares
for and manages 100 miles of canals and rivers and 110 acres of
docks in London. As a not-for-dividend public corporation it
works with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector
partners to unlock the potential of the inland waterways for the
benefit of the millions who visit and care for them. http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/
For further information about enjoying the capital’s canals and
rivers in your leisure time visit http://www.waterscape.com/
London Thames
Gateway Development Corporation is the key government
agency responsible for delivering social and economic growth to
transform the London Thames Gateway, part of Europe's largest
regeneration project.
It has significant powers
to effect change, by helping to improve the prospects for new
homes, jobs, services and environmental improvements for local
people.
LTGDC is the lead
regeneration agency for the Lower Lea Valley and the London
Riverside - the two areas with the greatest potential for growth in
London and the Thames Gateway.
For further information
please go to http://www.ltgdc.org.uk/