Navigation – Future Plans.
We all want to see improvements made to the navigation and this requires a combination of:
- Continued financial support from the Middle Level Commissioners
- Prompt receipt of licence fee income
- Collaboration with the Environment Agency, Cam Conservators and the Canal & River Trust
- Partnership working and match funding
Our initial commitment with the passing of the Middle Level Act (2018) was to spend at last 25% of annual gross income on provision of facilities on the link route between Stanground and Salters Lode locks until the IWA recommendations for facilities provision has been achieved.
A plan for future improvements needs to blend the above with the essential safety and operational needs of existing Middle Level Commissioners’ assets along with the aspirations and ideas of navigators.
The main improvements planned for 2023/24 are replacement gates at Marmont Priory Lock and site improvements at Stanground Lock. We also hope to install further rural moorings.
Based on feedback received from license holders, there are three main themes for improvement that have been raised.
- Replacing the Ramsey Forty Foot rural moorings with permanent moorings
- Supporting Fenland District Council in bringing their West End Park/Parkside mooring back into use
- Turning our licensing forms into forms for online submission
We welcome feedback and ideas from our licence holders and this helps the discussion and decisions of the Navigation Advisory Committee. Please contact us via admin@middlelevel.gov.uk
As we have now been licensing for a few years, we have an information base to better forecast future income. The next step is to develop a 5-year Business Plan for the Middle Level Navigation with user input and consultation. Watch this space!