Canal development set to boost area's tourism prospects

It was the latest in a series of plans for a marina at Lower Park stretching back 25 years, but Coun David Whipp said he hoped this one would be built in the near future.

Several conditions were attached to the planning consent to minimise disruption to wildlife in the area and protect the amenity of nearby residents.

Members of Pendle Council's West Craven committee visited the stretch of canal, between Cockshott Bridge and Kelbrook Road Bridge, before their meeting on Tuesday. They were keen to see the site for themselves before deciding on the outline planning application.

Planning officer Janet Filbin told the meeting an amended plan had been submitted which slightly altered the line of the new access road to the proposed marina, taking it further away from Cockshott Bridge - a listed structure.

The applicants had also said they were willing to sign a legal agreement to the effect that if the new application were granted, they would not proceed with plans for a separate marina on the opposite side of the canal. Those plans were approved in 1996 and renewed in 1999, but have never been implemented.

Caroline Sterratt spoke to the meeting, representing The Inland Waterways Association.

It has campaigned for 54 years for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of England's inland waterways.

She said the organisation would like to see more boats using the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and welcomed any new facilities for mooring.

It would prefer a "canal basin" type marina rather than the "lay-by" type proposed, but that was preferable to simply mooring on the towpath and narrowing the navigation channel.

Mrs Sterratt said with the lay-by type marina, passing boats would have to slow down to avoid creating a wash that would rock the moored boats and could be dangerous if, for example, someone on board was pouring boiling water.

An outline application seeks only permission in principal for a development and a full and detailed planning application will still need approval before any work can begin.

However, the outline application, submitted by Lower Park Marina Limited, showed quite a lot of detail.

The proposed marina would mean excavating approximately 185 metres of banking on the west side of the canal to a depth of around six feet.

The marina would be formed by widening the canal by approximately 20 metres along that length.

Twenty-six berths would be created, all but one with a capacity for two narrowboats. The proposed new access would be off the existing single track from Kelbrook Road to Lower Park Marina.

The junction with Kelbrook Road would be improved and a passing place provided on the track.

Other details relating to parking and landscaping would be dealt with in a full application.

Coun Whipp said he would have preferred to see the earlier plans for a basin-type marina on the opposite bank implemented, but understood that was unlikely.

Even so, he welcomed the new plan, saying: "A development of this nature is a very great boost to tourism, attracting visitors to the area."

He had been concerned that the "sedge" - grasslike plants that thrive in wet conditions - growing all along the stretch of banking would be lost, as it was an important wildlife habitat.

However, he had been advised it could be transplanted to the new banking and he asked for a condition requiring that as part of the planning consent.

A note will also be added stating that important reed beds nearby - but not part of the application site - should be preserved or relocated.

Coun Whipp successfully proposed permission be granted subject to those and other conditions.

"I've been looking at planning applications for a marina in this area for what must be 20 years or more, and I hope this one does come to pass and succeed," he said.

He added that he had recently spoken to a newcomer to Barnoldswick who had first visited the town by canal boat, fallen in love with it and had now come to live there.