A Scottish example: the Millennium Link
The Millennium Link has restored the connection between Scotland's two largest cities and helped rejuvenate the whole of central Scotland.
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The Millennium Link Monitoring report, July 2004,
shows that
the project has been a major success.
Excerpts:
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This report sets out to monitor the economic and social aspects arising from the reopening of The Millennium Link against forecasts produced at the time of the original funding of the project. The system of indicators has also changed since the Post Construction Monitoring report, June 2003. Overall, the report compares the results to the original forecasts of the project, and gives outputs such as:
- Training activities linked to the Lowland Canals that have been successfully completed since April 2003
- Jobs created in new development sites in the vicinity of the Millennium Link since April 2003: 810
- Number of new homes built in the vicinity of the Millennium Link since April 2003: 125
- Level of investment generated in these development sites completed since April 2003: almost £25 million
- Progress to date on a number of tourist related projects along the Millennium Link
- Change in number of towpath users between July-Dec 2002 and July-Dec 2003: +200,000;
- Projected economic impact of increased towpath usage in terms of average spend: 6 FTE jobs;
- Potential investment in opportunity sites within the Lowlands Canal Corridor: over £900 million;
- Change in number of commercial vessels operating along the Millenium Link: +9
- Increase in the number of moored private boats: 47;
- Anticipated changes in services operated by charity locations on Millennium Link:
In July 2004 all but one of the 14 forecasts of user traffic and tourism operations for 2006 were judged achievable.
The forecast of visitors for 2006 has already been met: 11 million visitors in 2003. It implies that benefit and job forecasts are met too.
Falkirk Wheel and Visitor Centre success story
This site completed in 2003 is the first major visitor destination opened under Millennium Link and the key focus for current day trip activity. British Waterways Scotland (BWS) has invested substantial finance into improving facilities since its opening.
Employment numbers on the location rose to 38 FTE jobs (2003-2004), including employees of BWS' offices, the Visitor's café, skippers of the BWS boats and operation of the wheel and locks. During the 6-month season, the number of jobs reached 57.
Boat trips through the Wheel prove popular. BWS invested in two new trip boats with disabled access. BWS also develops links to other attractions in the area, via footpaths, interpretive facilities and boat trips on the Union canal. A venture with the private sector to promote greater use of towpaths to Edinburgh returns an annual rent.
ERDF grant to publicise more widely the Lowlands Canals corridor facilities (£350 000 over two years) has enabled production of a video and the appointment of a sales and marketing manager.
Income from the 600 000 visitors amounted to £2 million (Apr 2003- Mar 2004), of which 40% from boat trip tickets. A majority of visitors came from the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Falkirk areas, attracted partly by the quality of motorway and rail connections.
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