Asked by: Lord Fearn (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which shipwrecks are known to exist in the River Mersey and its estuary taking in the beaches of Formby, Ainsdale, Birkdale and Southport.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
There are a total of 1,141 wreck records in the River Mersey geographical box bounded to the west by the Wirral, to the east by Widnes, to the north by Southport, and to the south by Ellesmere Port. The majority of these will be documented wreck events for which no archaeology exists or which have only been tentatively identified with archaeology. There are 890 records in this category. The earliest recorded wreck in this area dates from 1246.
The remaining 251 records comprise wreck sites, including nine recorded hulk assemblages in riverbank or estuarine contexts (one or more vessels abandoned in an unseaworthy condition, sometimes for environmental purposes). Wreck sites may be positively identified, tentatively identified with a possible relation to a documented wreck event, or not identified at all.
The majority of wreck sites will have been dispersed. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB) was active in the River Mersey and Liverpool Bay in the dispersal of wrecks from the mid-19th century onwards, typically flattening them level with the river- or seabed, and many more were dismantled in situ where they stranded. English Heritage wreck records do not contain the dispersal data for every vessel.
The best source of dispersal information would be the MDHB records held at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Further information about specific shipwrecks on the River Mersey and its estuary can be found on the English Heritage PastScape webpage: http://www.pastscape.org/
Asked by: Lord Fearn (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what sea defences have been built in north-west England during the last 10 years, and where.
Answered by Lord De Mauley
The following is a list of sea defences that have been built in the North West in the last 10 years by the Environment Agency or the local Coast Protection Authority. The list does not include any sea defences built by any third party/private asset owners.
Defences | Location | Date |
Maryport Harbour and Sea Wall works | Maryport, Cumbria | 2004 |
Morecambe Coast Protection Scheme (Ph 5 & 6) | Morecambe | 2007 |
Crane Wharf River Defences* | Chester | 2007 |
Thornton Cleveleys Coastal Defences (Ph 2 & 3) | Thornton and Cleveleys, Wyre | 2008 |
Hesketh Outmarsh West | Hesketh, West Lancs | 2008 |
Lower Lancaster Flood Alleviation Scheme (Ph 1 & 2)* | Lancaster | 2009 |
Stanah Sea Defences* | Poulton Le Fylde, Wyre | 2009 |
West Kirby Coast Protection Works | West Kirby | 2009 |
Cleveleys Coast Defence Improvement Works (Ph4b) | Cleveleys, Wyre | 2010 |
River Wyre Embankment Stabilisation Works* | Fleetwood, Wyre | 2010 |
Groyne works, Cleveleys | Cleveleys, Wyre | 2010 |
Blackpool Central Area Coast Protection Scheme | Blackpool | 2011 |
Cleveleys Beach Recharge Works | Cleveleys, Wyre | 2011 |
Dubb Mill Point Highway Coast Protection Works | Allonby, Cumbria | 2011 |
Eskmeals Highway Coast Protection Works | Eskmeals, Cumbria | 2012 |
Hightown Dune Restoration Works | Hightown, Sefton | 2012 |
Teal Bay Shingle Migration Works | Hest Bank, Lancaster | 2013 |
River Mersey Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme (Ph1)* | Warrington | 2013 |
Sunderland Point Coast Protection Works | Sunderland, Lancaster | 2013 |
Whitehaven Harbour Emergency Works | Whitehaven, Cumbria | 2014 |
West Shore Park Emergency Works | Walney Island, Barrow in Furness | 2014 |
Fylde Dune Restoration Works | Lytham St Annes, Fylde | Ongoing programme |
Sefton Dune Management Programme | Formby, Sefton | Ongoing programme |
*Tidal River Defences
There are sea defence capital works currently on site in the following locations -
Asked by: Lord Fearn (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many inland waterways are open to the general public; and how access by ramblers to such waterways is facilitated.
Answered by Lord De Mauley
Canals and rivers are an important asset for tourism and recreation, which the Government aims to protect and promote. According to The Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA), in 2011 there were 873.8 million visits to waterways around Britain, 23.4 million of which were to visit a specific attraction. There were 293.2 million visits for leisure walking and 234.5 million visits for dog walking, making walking by far the most popular activity participated in.
The majority of Britain's waterways are managed by the Canal and River Trust (CRT) which is funded by Defra. One of the key objectives on which this funding depends is ensuring public access, including for recreation and tourism. The land managed by the CRT includes 3148km of towpaths, all of which are open to the public, and a number of monuments and historic sites including 5 UNESCO world heritage sites.
Asked by: Lord Fearn (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy towards inland waterways and their contribution to tourism.
Answered by Lord De Mauley
Canals and rivers are an important asset for tourism and recreation, which the Government aims to protect and promote. According to The Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA), in 2011 there were 873.8 million visits to waterways around Britain, 23.4 million of which were to visit a specific attraction. There were 293.2 million visits for leisure walking and 234.5 million visits for dog walking, making walking by far the most popular activity participated in.
The majority of Britain's waterways are managed by the Canal and River Trust (CRT) which is funded by Defra. One of the key objectives on which this funding depends is ensuring public access, including for recreation and tourism. The land managed by the CRT includes 3148km of towpaths, all of which are open to the public, and a number of monuments and historic sites including 5 UNESCO world heritage sites.
Asked by: Lord Fearn (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance is available to communities that seek to improve their First and Second World War memorials.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The DCMS-run Memorial Grant Scheme can be used by charities and faith groups to reclaim the VAT paid on repairs and maintenance to war memorials.
War Memorials Trust website offers a wealth of information on available grants and advice for communities planning to repair and conserve their war memorials.
The Government has just announced that it will give the War Memorials Trust up to £3 million over the First World War centenary period to boost the funds available to local communities for the repair and conservation of war memorials. English Heritage, Imperial War Museums and Civic Voice will together be given £1.5 million over the same period to deliver better protection through Listing, a greater pool of specialist skills, a national register of war memorials, and a network of trained volunteers.