Disused urban railways and underused canals are in the spotlight as the think tank Demos calls for an urban ‘Right to Roam’ similar to that introduced to the countryside 10 years ago. Demos would like to see this extended to towns and cities in order to regenerate run-down and recession hit areas.
It believes that guaranteeing the public access is the first step to opening sites up to creative re-use and has released a publication called Resilient Places, which argues that heritage infrastructure can play an important part in addressing the challenges of today.
The publication calls for “old, disused infrastructure to become heritage that is characterful and meaningful to people” and uses a number of waterways examples to illustrate what is possible. Demos believes support should be given to communities to help them use such sites for leisure and events like festivals.
BW supports the report, which very much reinforces proposals for moving the waterways into a charity with greater public involvement. Chief executive, Robin Evans commented: “Forty years ago we tore down the fences that prevented local people from using and enjoying their waterways. The results have been astonishing. Communities across Britain now use their canals, rivers and towpaths in ways that their original builders could never have foreseen.”
Read more about the Resilient Places report from Demos
via Boaters’ Update June 2010.
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