Dublin City Canals Study – Opportunities & Proposals – Jul 2010

Dublin City Canals

[Recreational Tourism and Commercial Product Identification Study and Development of an Investment and Maintenance Framework]

 

The following are just some extracts from the final version of the Dublin City Canals Study, a 75 page document published by Waterways Ireland at the beginning of July. The full document shows Issues, Opportunities, Proposals and an Implementation Plan for the Royal Canal, the Liffey, Grand Canal Docks and the Grand Canal. There is detail for each ‘Zone’, for example, Zone A on the Grand is GCD, Zone B is the Dart Rail Bridge, Zone C the canal to Macartney Bridge. The complete document is available on-line at WI Dublin Study Part I and WI Dublin Study Part II.

 

 

1.0 Introduction and Background

 

Scott Wilson were commissioned by Waterways Ireland in conjunction with Dublin City Council, Failte Ireland and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority to undertake a study to identify the recreational, tourism and commercial potential of the Dublin City Canals (Royal Canal and Grand Canal) and associated docks within the Dublin City Council boundary. The project seeks to examine existing activities on the Canals; identify achievable projects; and establish the necessary investment and maintenance framework for the Dublin City Canals.

 

3.1 Consultation Responses

 

3.1.3 Stakeholder Survey and Waterway Users Survey (2009)

 

Between 12th January and 6th February 2009 a web based questionnaire was made available to identified stakeholders with an interest in Dublin Canals and Dublin Residents. 450 full or partially completed questionnaires were received, and the following is a summary of their responses.

 

Nature of Respondent

90% of the respondents (407) were individuals, 2.4% (11) were Community Groups, 2% (9) were Canal Groups and 1.1% (5) were recreational groups.

 

Location

56% lived near the canal, while 45% were canal users and 21% worked near the canal.

 

Canal Responsibility

The majority of respondents recognised Waterways Ireland as being responsible for the upkeep of the canals (56%). However around one in five (21%) thought that it was the responsibility of the relevant local authority, mainly Dublin City Council. Around one in ten (11%) assumed that it was a shared responsibility, principally between Waterways Ireland and the local authority.

 

Frequency of Use

Over four out of ten respondents used the canal daily (21%) or several times a week (22%) 17% of respondents used the canals once a year or less

 

Nature of Use

By far the most popular activity along the canals is walking, either recreational walking (72%) or walking to a specific destination (53%), with other significant proportions using the tow paths as part of their commute to work (22%) or as access to the LUAS (13%) or for jogging or running (16%). Boating was the next most significant activity, involving over a quarter of respondents (28%). The next two most popular activities were cycling (28%) and sitting (27%). Visits to waterside cafes/restaurants or bars were taken by 23% of respondents. There was a wide range of other activities undertaken by a smaller proportion of visitors, namely nature studies, visiting events, fishing, visiting tourist facilities, canoeing and rowing.

 

Main Attraction of the Canals and Docks

The recreational use of the canals was the main attraction of 72% of respondents. With nearly as many (66%) were attracted by the ‘peace and quiet’. The wildlife (55%) and the heritage (36%) were also important.

 

Problems Encountered

Around a dozen different problems were raised by respondents, but nearly half specified antisocial behaviour (26%) and litter/dumping (22%) and often these issues were linked together. Nearly 20% mentioned the problem of poor maintenance and nearly 10% mentioned poor access to or along the canal. Other significant problems were poor navigation along the canal, e.g. depth of water, poor facilities e.g. lighting, poor water quality, nearby traffic and weed growth

 

Factors behind non-use

Of the 40% of respondents who were not users of the canal, the four key factors behind their non-use were access problems (30%), safety concerns (30%), security concerns (28%) and lack of awareness (10%).

 

Management measures proposed

The main thrust of responses was in relation to general improvement to the standards of maintenance along the canal and its environs (29% of comments), followed improvements to surveillance and security, such as through increased patrols (20%). Other general comments related to:

• Improved footpaths and cycle paths (8%)

• Increased amenity facilities e.g. benches, signage (5%)

• Improved dredging to ensure adequate depth for navigation (4%)

• Create a new body to manage the canals and their environs (4%)

• Improved mooring facilities (2%)

• Greater support for live-aboards (2%)

• Better promotion of the canals (2%)

• Greater use of volunteers (2%)

• Manage as a park facility (1%)

 

Constraints on use /attractiveness of the canals

By far the most significant constraint for greater use or attractiveness of the canals was the lack of security due to anti-social behaviour. Thus was identified by 61% of the comments. The next two significant constraints were the planning system not recognising the canals as an asset (10%) and a lack of promotion (11%).

 

Opportunities for greater use or attractiveness

The key opportunity was identified as a greater range of tourism and leisure facilities and activities, including restaurants, cafes, shops and canal based recreation (15%). This was accompanied by the need for more boats on the canals (13%), creation of a lined network of footpaths and cycle paths (12%) and general environmental improvements (11%). There were also a wide range of suggestions, ranging from the strategic to the specific, such as:

• Treat the route of the canals as a major park/eco-zone (7%)

• Increased levels of water-based recreation (7%)

• Greater support for live-aboard boats (6%)

• Creation of a low-carbon transport network (6%)

• Scope for more water taxis and boat trips (5%)

• Increased interpretation and promotion (5%)

• Increased range of events and entertainment (2%)

 

 

5.0 Vision and Objectives

 

A Strategy for the Dublin City Canals:

 

The following pages set out the proposals for the Dublin City Canals based on the issues and opportunities observed in the previous section and on the objectives of Dublin City Council, Waterways Ireland, Failte Ireland and Dublin Docklands Development Authority. Although each of these bodies has its separate objectives and interest in the canals, their corridors and communities, the bodies have agreed a vision and a set of joint objectives for the area as follows:

 

1. A healthier canal corridor with safe spaces for people and wildlife to enjoy and which contribute to an improved quality of life for the communities of Dublin

2. A wealthier canal corridor with thriving and attractive business, social and residential districts

3. A vibrant and attractive canal corridor which attracts visitors from far and wide, with an appeal based on the canal heritage and opportunities for activity.

4. A sustainable canal corridor where people can move freely without cars in a high quality environment

5. A well used, well managed and well maintained inland waterways heritage.

 

In order to achieve this, a set of objectives were agreed, to provide integration between the objectives and actions of the different agencies:

1) Economic and Commercial Objectives

i) To stimulate economic development, redevelopment and regeneration within the canal corridors and docklands area

ii) To stimulate the development of viable private sector services and activity opportunities beside the canals and within the docks

2) Recreation and Tourism Objectives

i) To stimulate more boating activity by local people and visitors on the canals

ii) To increase the numbers and types of canal towpath users (Access for all)

iii) To increase the number and range of visitor services along the canals

iv) To provide further visitor attractions with high appeal within Dublin and its Docklands area

v) To create linkages between heritage sites and attractions in Dublin and elsewhere

3) Social, Community and Health Objectives

i) To increase the extent to which canal side communities value and protect the canals

ii) To provide more facilities for healthy exercise on the canals for canalside communities

4) Safety Objectives

i) To improve community and visitor safety (physical and psychological) within the canal corridor

5) Environmental Objectives

i) To maintain the nature conservation interest of the canals

ii) To enhance the function of the canals as wildlife corridors within the city

6) Awareness and Image Objectives

i) To improve the visual appeal and image of the canals in Dublin

ii) To raise awareness of opportunities for visitors and local people along the canal

7) Function, Management and Maintenance Objectives

i) To maintain the structure of the canals, bridges, jetties and locks and associated infrastructure of the navigations as important heritage and recreational features of the City

ii) To improve the function of the canals and towpaths as recreational and environmental assets

iii) To provide sustainable transport corridors within the city

8) Development of an Operational Liaison Structure

i) To develop a joint operational structure

ii) To adopt and deliver the Dublin City Canals Vision

iii) Adopt a series of 3-year operational plans

iv) Deploy staff resources to deliver the Dublin City Canals projects

v) Engage a wider range of partners

 

Any strategy for the Dublin Canals also needs to respond to current issues and the context – chief amongst these are:

a) Major developments within the Dublin Docklands area, including the surroundings of the Grand Canal Dock and Spencer Dock and the restoration of the sea locks to the River Liffey

b) Dredging of the Canal channel

c) Waterways Ireland’s progress towards reopening the Royal Canal between Dublin and the Shannon in 2010

d) Technical and resourcing issues Waterways Ireland faces in maintaining navigability in the canals and in maintaining canal structures.

e) Dublin City Council and Dublin Tourism focus on the development of new tourism products for the city

f) Changes in transportation systems around the canals including new LUAS and rail stations and the potential of cycling

g) New interest in healthy outdoor activity by Dublin’s communities

h) Greater interest in active holidays by visitors to Ireland

i) The current under-use of the Grand and Royal canals in Dublin City Council area as a recreation and tourism resource

j) Anti social behaviour along some stretches of the canals

k) Areas of the canals that have little visual appeal due to the nature of canalside buildings and boundaries.

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