The project seeks to investigate how the waterway network in the North Sea region can be developed and promoted further. Activities include promoting tourism linkages, developing the inland waterway network and developing the relationship between the waterways and their surroundings (local communities and businesses, natural and cultural heritage). The project should lead to improvements in the viability and use of the waterways and in tourism and economic development along the waterways.

Rivers, lakes and canals have played a major role in transport throughout the North Sea region for many thousands of years. During the industrial revolution, canals were constructed for freight traffic, while today recreational and tourism usage of canals and the surrounding land are increasingly popular. The aim of "Canal Links" is to investigate how the region?s network of navigable waterways can be developed further on the bases of the cultural and environmental heritage of the waterways, while ensuring that recreation and tourism are not in conflict with other canal users

Expected Outcomes

The main outcomes of Canal Links will be the development of tourism linkages. Another important outcome is the improvement of canal accessibility for owners and tourists through the development of promotional packages and material, including brochures and a website, the setting up of mutual marketing and promotion of partner waterways, and provision of improved information for boating users of the waterways. Finally, an investigation of the feasibility of establishing a permanent tourism promotion structure for inland waterways will be carried out.

Activities

Canal Links is divided into four specific actions. The first, North Sea Links, will carry out a number of analyses (e.g. market potential, constraints and the needs of boat owners) for promoting tourism links across the North Sea and will create a promotional website and investigate the establishment of a permanent structure for the development of the Canal Links network after the end of Interreg funding. Strategic Development of the Waterway Network will implement projects including: the classification of tourism waterways; identification of missing links and bottlenecks in the canal network; an investigation into the impacts of wastewater from boats; the restoration of the Bradford Canal (UK); and developments to improve canals in Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium. The third action, Entrepreneurship, Business and Community Development, will carry out a number of projects for estimating the economic and social impacts of waterways and waterway projects. A network of local businesses, to stimulate activity through the exchange of ideas, both locally and overseas, will be established and centre-based multi-activity tourism ?packages? and self-drive boating holidays will be developed. Information systems on waterway banks will be piloted to inform boaters of services and facilities established.

Reported Outcomes

The first project period saw the initiation of many of the project activities. Some of the pilot projects were initiated, and there have already been some results related to that. On lake Vänern in Sweden, the 60 meter long, 3 meters deep channel were strongly in process. Completion of the works and the official opening of the channel have taken place in June 2005. Moreover, the trailer system for the "Varma" route has been set up, and investments were made into landing stages, outdoor dry closets, mooring equipment, etc. In Falkirk, Scotland the construction of the boating facilities has been completed, which should at a later stage be the basis for the development of tourism packages. In Telemark actions have targeted the revitalisation of former industrial sites along the Telemark Canal, and a strategy document has been completed for property development alongside the waterway. The involvement of local people, volunteer organisations, schools and businesses had been sought. From the second half of 2004 some further results have been taking shape. For example a boaters' guide to the Lowland Canals has been produced giving information about what to see and do while traversing the canals. In Telemark, Norway planning has been completed for works at the four entrance harbours to the Telemark Canal. It is aimed to achieve common standards, management and promotion. A map depicting the recreational waterway network in the North Sea Region has been developed and a feasibility study has indicated that it is pliable to restore the Bradford Canal in West Yorkshire. In the Netherlands, a bridge spins over the Langedijk Canal and a study for navigation in Langedijk is being completed. In the Bremen-Teufelsmoor area work is in progress for the development of harbours and moorings. Also an innovative activity is focusing on investigating into a design of a peat boat concept. As one of the main project themes is linked to stimulating entrepreneurship and community development, some activities have been targeting awareness raising and involvement of the business community in the project. An interesting example is the meeting between British Waterways and Asian business met in West Yorkshire in order to discuss and promote opportunities for the Asian business community along the canals in the Leeds/Bradford area. At the beginning of 2005 Canal Link website has been also completed and lunched under www.canallink.com, where more information about the project can be found.