Mayor hails key role of city’s waterways

SOULSBY HIGHLIGHTS THEIR BENEFITS TO HEALTH, TOURISM AND DEVELOPING GREENER TRANSPORT

CITY Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has stressed the important role the region’s waterways play through improving health and wellbeing, increasing tourism and providing routes for sustainable transport.

He was speaking at the annual public meeting of the Canal & River Trust’s East Midlands regional advisory board, which brought together local authorities, healthcare providers, boating organisations and community groups.

Opening the meeting, Sir Peter reflected on recent achievements on the city’s waterways and looked ahead to how they can be improved further.

He said: “Leicester has transformed its waterside over the last few decades, but there is still work to do to give more people the opportunity to get the benefit of this amazing asset.

“We look forward to working with the Canal & River Trust and other partners on the continued regeneration of the waterside, and ensuring that all communities have easy and safe access to it.”

Attendees also heard how the trust, a charity that cares for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in England and Wales, is working with local partners, community groups and volunteers to improve waterways.

They learned more about how the region’s formerly industrial waterways, which are free to access.

With ever increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, and other debilitating conditions, as well as rising levels of stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions, the trust believes waterways are uniquely placed to help improving the wellbeing of the nation. In Leicester alone, more than 100,000 people live within 1km of a waterway.

The meeting, which took place at Voluntary Action Leicester, also provided an opportunity for the Trust to highlight its Community Roots project, which aims to increase awareness of the waterways and create a sense of community ownership of them.

The project recently saw a sevenmile neon laser beam, marking the line of the River Soar, light up the city’s skyline as part of the Diwali celebrations

East Midlands regional advisory board chairman Anil Majithia said: “Working with partner organisations and local volunteers we’ve made great strides in making towpaths more accessible and welcoming as well as providing additional facilities for boaters, bringing more visitors into the heart of the city.

“However, there is still so much more potential we’re keen to explore

SCENIC CITY: A walk along the towpath at St Margaret’s Way and we want to encourage local authorities, community groups and people living and working in the city and beyond, to get involved and help make our waterways the best they can possibly be.”

Investment in the city’s waterways has enabled towpaths to be upgraded and new boat mooring facilities installed at Friars Mill.

In addition, the trust has sought to attract more visitors to the waterways through a programme of events and taster sessions giving residents the chance to try activities such as fishing and paddleboarding.