On 12th February 2010 the Inception Meeting of the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Consortium was held under the capable chairmanship of David Hackforth from MK Council. David described the Consortium as an 'exciting way of taking the project to the next level – locking up in boating terms!'
The Consortium is the new body taking the Waterway forward into the next stages of planning and design. The founding member organisations were:
The three local authorities through which the route passes: Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Milton Keynes Council
The two navigation bodies involved: Environment Agency, British Waterways
The local growth agency in Milton Keynes: Milton Keynes Partnership (part of the Homes and Communities Agency) and, in Bedford: Renaissance Bedford (since closed)
The two local charities which take care of green and blue spaces: Milton Keynes Parks Trust, Marston Vale Trust
… and of course, us, the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, as the community-based campaigning body which maintains the vision of the waterway.
MKSM (Milton Keynes & South Midlands – since closed) accepted the invitation from the Consortium to join as the 11th member, representing the regional perspective and drawing on regional government connections.
The Terms of Reference was officially signed by a representative from each organisation on 24 May 2010. The Secretary to the Consortium is Paul Vann of Bedford Borough Council, who succeeded Drew Marchant of Renaissance Bedford. Mayor Dave Hodgson was appointed Chairman in June 2010 following David Hackforth’s retirement.
The Consortium meets twice a year, with the main work taking place through two local Steering Groups:
>Milton Keynes Waterway Park Steering Group: Milton Keynes Council, Milton Keynes Partnership/Homes & Communities Agency, British Waterways, Milton Keynes Parks Trust, B&MK Waterway Trust.
>Marston Vale & Bedford Waterway Parks: Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council, Environment Agency, Marston Vale Trust, B&MK Waterway Trust.
As the Consortium takes on the design and delivery of the waterway, the Trust will reinvigorate relationships with all our stakeholders and partners in the community.
