Annual Report for 2008
Summary
Promoting Conservation, Protection and Improvement. This is QWAG’s core activity. QWAG held a very productive review meeting of the Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS). The low flow of the river through Sutcliffe Park remained a concern throughout the year. Elsewhere, tree felling in the Weigall Road Flood Storage Area was a concern, and a user group was formed for Manor Park, an important priority for whom is the creation of a new entrance to the park.
Progress on Lewisham Gateway has fallen victim to the ‘credit crunch’, with physical works now unlikely to start until 2010. QWAG considers the scheme will be unviable for several years and may possibly be undeliverable in its current form. The planning application for the Quaggy along the east side of Lewisham High Street was approved, ending QWAG’s vision for integrating a restored river into its surroundings, forming a green corridor through the town centre.
Two years after planning permission was granted no works have begun on the controversial 36-56 Lee High Road site. Numbers 58-64 have also been acquired. Neither has work started on the 104-120 Lee High Road site, as a new planning application is now under consideration.
Interacting with the Local Community. Promoting the potential of urban rivers as community assets is an important activity. QWAG organiised a highly successful river clean up of Himilayan balsam along a stretch of the river. Our display stand at People’s Day proved popular again.
Opportunities for walks were limited. Nevertheless QWAG led two successful ones – Ladywell Fields Fun Day and the Annual River Walk – and participated in the Green Chain Festival. Meanwhile QWAG’s educational activities have increased in frequency and diversity. Two schools borrowed our purpose-made displays and we hosted two school visits to Sutcliffe Park.
Informing the Wider World. In publishing information about its activities QWAG wants to encourage and inspire others to improve rivers. The website attracted more visitors this year, many of whom subsequently contacted us with comments, suggestions and requests. On the downside, a lack of resources continued to delay improvements.
This year’s edition of the newsletter, again received praise for both its content and layout. And, despite the publication delay, significant numbers were placed in selected local libraries with excellent results.
QWAG ~ Bringing an Urban River to Life. 27 people attended QWAG’s AGM in January. An average of 15 people attended the 5 other meetings during the year and the management committee also met 5 times. A simplified membership structure and the increased use of email contributed to membership growth this year.
QWAG’s Spring Walk and Social was possibly the first ever to take place in the snow. Unfortunately its
autumn counterpart had to be cancelled. QWAG has entered for the 2008 BURA award for Community-Inspired
Regeneration. We have been short-listed and another visit took place in January.
Ray Manchester
21st January 2009
Download the reports as Word documents
Full Annual Report for 2008 (116kb)
Treasurer's Report for 2008 (87kb)