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Ambitious plans for River Nene revamp
The River Nene could be attractive for leisure user. Photo: Peterborough ET
AMBITIOUS plans to turn the River Nene in Peterborough into a wealth-creating hub for the city have been unveiled.
The multi-million pound venture proposes a raft of measures to increase commercial and leisure uses on and around the Nene, and to improve links from the waterway into the city centre.
Key features of the blueprint drawn up by the Environment Agency include:
- Construction of an education and research base at Ferry Meadows Country Park
- A new marina
- New moorings along stretches of the river.
- Building a riverside heritage wharf.
- Installation of several hydro-power devices.
- Creation of space for an event and festival arena downstream of the South Bank towards Whittlesey.
The Peterborough Waterspace Strategy also envisages linking Peterborough to Boston and Lincoln via the Fens Waterways Link and on to Ely.
Chris Swain, the Environment Agency’s principal planning officer, said the proposals would bring about a variety of benefits for the economy and environment, as well as for people’s health.
He said: “We will have a much greener and more attractive river in Peterborough that connects much better with the city centre.
“It will mean visitors will associate the city with the river more closely and visit regularly. That improved image helps draw in investment to the river area.”
The strategy has been developed with the support of Peterborough City Council and its success will hinge on a mix of private and public funding sources.
A council spokeswoman said: “One of the main aims of the agency’s strategy was to open discussions around options for the river and raise awareness of its potential.
“Individual ideas contained within the strategy will need further exploration, consultation and detailed viability testing before schemes could be developed.
“The strategy is a useful starting point.
“We hope that in the long-term a wide range of city partners will be able to work together to ensure that the river plays a key part in the development of the city centre.”
Council leader Cllr Marco Cereste welcomed the agency’s aspirations, feeling it would be a chance to make more of the Nene, which he felt was an under-utilised asset in Peterborough.
He said: “We really don’t make much of it at all.
“How many cities are lucky enough to have such a beautiful river running through the centre of it. In a lot of places where they have used the river as a focal point it has worked really well.”
Maxine Palmer, communities team leader from the Peterborough Environment City Trust, welcomed the strategy in light of Peterborough’s ambitions to become an Environment Capital.
“It helps the city be greener, cleaner and healthier, and that’s what the Environment Capital is about,” she said.
Making the most of the Nene
THE Peterborough Waterspace Strategy is just one of a number of large-scale projects designed to make the most of the River Nene.
Peterborough City Council has a sum of £600,000 in its budget for the 2014 financial year for “water taxi infrastructure - park and ride”.
The authority hopes to shuttle thousands of commuters and tourists up and down the River Nene via a “park and glide” river bus.
The cost of the water taxis would be met by external funding as well as with Section 106 money, which is paid by developers to help ease the impact of new projects.
What do you think?
Contact our news team by email news@peterboroughtoday.co.uk, telephone 01733 588719, on Twitter - @peterboroughet or use our Have Your Say form
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 18 comments to this article
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jacquihskating
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:38 AMAn apt demonstration of the City Council's "beautification" of the river can be seen at 45-55 North Street, Stanground. The developer wanted to construct houses that would be in keeping with the area. Six sets of plans later it was forced, by the City Council's Planning Department, into a wholly unsuitable scheme that contravened a number of the City Council's own Planning Policies and important Police Guidelines. How has this "beautified" the river - well have a look. The houses are an admixture of architectural styles that would put Frankenstein to shame. And the jewel in this particular crown? A massive car park immediately adjacent to the river and in full view of an important international conservation site.
Mavis Enderby
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:07 AMI am quite sure that I remember seeing this, "Park & Glide" idea in the "Nene Valley Living" magazine at least five years ago. Has it taken all this time for everyone else to catch up? I must have a look and see if it is still about - I keep them for the recipes and look at them from time to time!
Marco_the_Clown
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:47 PMComment removed by moderator
Kevin
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:04 PM"The cost of the water taxis would be met by external funding as well as with Section 106 money, which is paid by developers to help ease the impact of new projects." Lets examine that statement. Of any 106 money 25% of the 60% to be used in the strategic pool (2011 POIS first review) can be spent on Transport and Communication. £600,000, should it all come from 106 monies, equates with a 106 of £4,000,000. The Southbank or Carbon Challenge would have given a 106 of £1,500,000 so there needs to be a development of at least 3 times the size of that, I say at least because the council in it's wisdom reduced the 106 for the Carbon Challenge to £500,000. Given the same circumstances where the council waives 66% of the 106 to encourage the developer the taxis would equate to a defined 106 of £12,000,000 or a development which would be about 9 times the size of the carbon challenge. It's not going to be cable cars we see above our heads it'll be pie. Still we could hope that the council will listen to the views of the tax paying citizens - may as well forget the cable cars and pie and just look for pigs!
Ma Hubbard
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:37 PMHas anyone been to Orton Mere recently? I am not sure what those boat dwellers are eating but the whole area stinks of what I can only guess is effluent. Lovely.
mrblackbird
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:45 PMThe first water taxi will arrive just as the last shop in Bridge Street goes out of business. The pricing will be too high. The council will make their usual mistake of pitching parking & taxi fares to what they need for a good payback rather than what users are prepared to pay.
J J Carter
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 06:31 PM@10 Not right away thought, the PCC will run it for a couple of years then transfer to Enterprise (Afloat) Peterborough and the charges will sky-rocket for lesser service.
rogerandrew
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:42 PM''Peterborough City Council has a sum of £600,000 in its budget for the 2014 financial year for “water taxi infrastructure - park and ride:'' I agree with JJ Carter..stop this vanity project and cut the ever increasing council tax. Marco really needs to be ejected from the council,he is not fit for purpose,any purpose..
DonB
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:21 PMMooring charges will make council tax look like a stroll in the park.
ladyska
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 01:38 PMPhew! Finally! at last! The much needed water taxis will soon be here! I hope they clean up the river with some of the money they get as I go past it virtually every day and yes it is lovely but I have noticed that there is quite a bit of rubbish discarded there, beer cans, the odd shopping trolley, take away cartons and more. What a lovely sight that will be for all as we float past in our water taxis. :-)
BRITkev
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:35 PMHow about allocating an area for FIREWORK displays !!!...(sorry, too much to ask.)
polcop
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:09 PMCouncillor Cereste has had this 'bee in his bonnet' about a water taxi for the last few years - fine give it a go as long as it does not come at a personal cost to me as a council tax payer. Agree there could be a lot more to brighten up and utilise the river. Finally can the ET please turn on their spell checker or get someone to proof read their articles more carefully as I'm still not sure what 'The River Nene could be attarctive for leisure user' under the photo caption means - my dictionary does not recognise the word attarctive!
P19WKR
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:41 AMThe River Nene is a huge asset and is greatly under-used, the Embankment wants cleaning up and crime wants sorting out, more bars and restaurants are needed as well as boat hire and an area safe for swimming. The river has been crystal clear for the past few years, i think much more should be invested in the whole area. Its out city, lets get the best out of it.
Two slips and a gully.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:59 AMLike the FM bit, new marina and wharf. All major towns and cities are based around their river, you don't need a consultation to find that out, but it will waste a few thousand quid to state the obvious. It doesn't need a few new boats, it needs building along its route around town. PCC will be keen on the idea though, they'll be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of continuing its present traffic light policy to ensure the Nene also gets its share of lights every 100m to control the 1 water taxi a day, it might struggled installing the unecessary roundabout to go with them as well though!! Oh and please, stop the green this, cleaner that and healthier other when talking about every plan - can they prove it will add healthy years to all our lives?
Bamboozler
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:47 AMI would see the sense for a river like the Cam in Cambridge, as it winds in different directions. The Nene goes straight through, does not pass go and hence will not collect £200. There would be only two stations for this water taxi, Town and Orton Mere. Only residents in Orton Waterville might possibly use it and even that is a doubt. The council should save their money. Re-invest in the Lollipop peeps, Childrens services etc...
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