London,
19
March
2021
|
15:46
Europe/London

Camden Electric Moorings project funding awarded

Camden Council has been awarded £65,500 from the Mayor of London's Good Growth Fund to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions at a popular canal mooring location, benefiting the health of boaters and canal-side neighbours alike.

The Camden Electric Moorings project will involve the installation of electrical power supply points along the Regent’s Canal between St. Pancras Way and Camley Street, and will enable up to 16 boaters to connect to clean power rather than having to rely on diesel engines or generators whilst moored.

The project will help to improve air quality in the vicinity of the canal, which in addition to the mooring area includes several residential buildings and Abacus Belsize Primary School. Additionally, the use of mains green tariff electricity instead of fossil fuels will enable boaters to cut their carbon emissions.

Camden Electric Moorings will be jointly led by Camden and the Canal & River Trust and takes inspiration from the nearby Eco Mooring Zone, a partnership project delivered by Islington Council and the Canal & River Trust. The Camden Electric Moorings power supplies will be available for boaters without the need to pre-book a mooring space and their use will not be compulsory, so boaters unable to connect to mains power will still be able to moor their boats in the project area.

Stakeholder engagement is in important element of the project and the delivery team will engage with the boating community and other stakeholders to raise awareness of air pollution health impacts and the climate emergency. Although the overall air pollution impact of canal boats is relatively localised and minor compared with road traffic emissions, research from the Canal & River Trust has shown that the people with the highest exposure and health risks are boaters themselves.

Installation is planned for spring 2021, and the charging points will be operational in autumn 2021.

Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden said: “In Camden we are looking to all opportunities to reduce air pollution – only by doing so will we achieve our goal of World Health Organization air quality standards. The canal is an important and popular place in Camden and it is right we try to improve air quality here as elsewhere.”

Ros Daniels, regional director at Canal & River Trust said: “Air pollution is something that affects every one of us and we all have a role to play in its reduction. Many boaters are very eco-conscious and these moorings can give an alternative to diesel or solid fuel sources, while still being available to those who do not yet have a mains connection. As custodians of 2,000 miles of waterways we want to ensure that we are playing our part in the government’s Clean Air Strategy, and are pleased to be working with Camden to offer different choices to boaters.”