On the waterfront

London’s Waterway Partnership, created to make the capital’s canals and rivers "a catalyst for regeneration", is keen to show that they can be an alternative to road haulage for carrying bulk cargoes. But the future is not all about big barges of waste. The waterways can be environmental amenities, leisure facilities for local people and tourism, areas of urban tranquillity and open space. In its focus on local communities, the Partnership (which involves British Waterways, the Groundwork Foundation, Thames Water, the 15 London boroughs and a range of other public, private and voluntary sector bodies) is offering grants to groups that put forward projects for their local waterway. It also foots the wages bill for a community project manager to help them achieve their objectives.

Groundwork, Helen Woolard, 020 7922 1230; www.lwp.org

18 October 2001