New Life For East End Rivers
28 February 2007
The first step towards the restoration of the waterways around the Olympic Park area was taken today (28 February 2007) as British Waterways announced the go-ahead for a new lock and water control structure on Prescott Channel in Bow.
The lock is funded by British Waterways, the Department for Transport, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and Transport for London and will reinstate an historic structure which previously existed at this location and maintained the water upstream at a navigable depth. Crucially, the new lock will enable large river barges to access the area by water, helping to take hundreds of lorry journeys a week from local roads and save thousands of tonnes of CO2.
The new structure is part of an £18.9m project that comprises twin water control gates and a 62m x 8m tidal lock, providing access for 350-tonne barges . The lock will open up the waterways in the area and help the ODA meet its aspiration to transport 50% of construction materials by sustainable means . In the longer term, it will provide access for barges carrying construction traffic and recyclables between Stratford and the Thames, and create new opportunities for leisure boats, water taxis, trip boats and floating restaurants.
The new lock is part of a Defra-backed recommendation for the sustainable restoration of the waterways in the Lower Lea Valley . The recommendation was developed by British Waterways, the Environment Agency and Natural England, together with a broad range of stakeholders, and promotes a green and accessible corridor along the waterways, with a series of towpaths, cycleways, wildlife habitats and restored waterways alongside new sustainable developments.
Construction of th e new lock will be managed by British Waterways and undertaken by design and build contractors Volker Stevin Ltd, with a supporting team including Tony Gee & Partners LLP, Bennett Associates, Clague Architects and Weetwood Environmental Engineering. Works will begin in March 07 and be completed in Summer 08, ensuring that the lock is accessible for barge traffic by the start of the main Olympic construction period. For further information visit: www.britishwaterways.co.uk/olympics
Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, Olympics Minister
"The restoration of the neglected waterways of the Lea Valley will be vital to achieving our commitment to make London 2012 environmentally sustainable. The new lock at Prescott Channel will make a significant contribution to the quality of life in the area as well as helping to deliver our aspiration to transport 50 per cent of all construction materials, by weight, to the Olympic site via rail or the waterways, considerably relieving congestion on the road network. This is what the Games can do: the sustainable regeneration of a long neglected area and the creation of a lasting improvement in the environment for generations to come."
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London
"I am committed to ensuring that the 2012 London Games are the greenest games ever and deliver a social, environmental and economic legacy long after they are over. The plans for this new lock are another example of the many concrete steps we are already taking to deliver on these commitments. This exciting project will shift construction traffic from lorry to barge, reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion, but will also provide a lasting legacy helping the regeneration of East London ."
Tony Hales, Chairman of British Waterways
"This is a tremendously exciting project and one that British Waterways is proud to be taking forward. What gives Prescott Lock particular poignancy is that it not only supports the sustainable regeneration of east London , but also enables the use of age-old water transport to help solve 21st century environmental challenges. I would like to thank the project partners for their steadfast support in bringing this scheme forward and to pay tribute to the huge number of individuals and organisations who have backed it along the way."
Peter Andrews, Chief Executive, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
"This project provides an exceptional opportunity to rejuvenate the waterways in the heart of the Lower Lea Valley . As the lead regeneration agency for this area we're very happy to be one of the majority funders for a scheme which is an early step in our vision to create a new world-class park north from the Olympic Park up to the Lea Valley Regional Park and south down to the River Thames. Together we'll stimulate further regeneration and improvements to the environment to bring a wide range of benefits to local communities."
David Higgins, Chief Executive of the ODA
"Today's announcement is an important step forward in improving the waterways for 2012 and beyond. The new lock will enhance the water quality in the Olympic Park and help enable the much-needed regeneration of the riverwalls."
Peter Hendy, Transport for London Commissioner
"Prescott Lock is an essential project that will allow tens of thousands of tons of construction material to be transported by barge. This will mean a significant amount of freight transferred from roads to the river making local roads less congested and reducing CO2 emissions considerably. This is just one example of the TfL? Freight Strategy for London to make sustainable freight transport more possible."
Dr Stephen Ladyman MP, Transport Minister
"The Department for Transport welcomes the construction of a lock in the Prescott Channel and very much supports the aim to transport construction materials by water to the Olympic site. The project should enable the removal of lorry journeys from UK roads, thereby contributing to the government's agenda of developing sustainable transport solutions."
Barry Gardiner MP, Waterways Minister
"I am delighted that this major project is going ahead. Defra is working to make the 2012 Olympic Games green and sustainable, and Prescott Lock is a key element of that effort. This development will breathe new life into and unlock the potential of a neglected asset, bringing huge environmental, economic and social benefits. Britain 's inland waterways are important, which is why this government has put record levels of funding into restoring and reviving hundreds of miles of derelict and abandoned canals and rivers after decades of underinvestment."
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FOR MEDIA INFORMATION CONTACT:
British Waterways Debbie Walker T 020 7985 7227 mb 07733 124580
Ed Fox T 020 7985 7226 mb 07801 049829
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The scheme has evolved through detailed discussions with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. In addition to the project partners, the lock enjoys cross-party and industry support and is backed by arrange of organisations that includes: London Borough of Newham, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Port of London Authority, Leaside Regeneration, the Water City Group, Sea & Water, the Parliamentary Waterways Group, Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council, Inland Waterways Association, London Waterways Commission, National Association of Boat Owners, Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs, River Association for Freight, Freight Transport Association, Transport 2000 etc.
Prescott Channel takes its name from a past Chairman of the Lee Conservancy Board, which carried out the last major works to the waterways in the 1930s.
Detailed designs and studies have been undertaken by the project partners and a number of specialist advisors including: Peter Brett Associates, WS Atkins, Terry Farrell & Partners and Halcrow Engineering.