Record Numbers Flock To Standedge

4 November 2008

Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre has just closed its gates for 2008 and what a fantastic year it has been for the West Yorkshire attraction with just over 11,000 people taking a trip into the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in the country.

Fresh from picking up its second nomination in the Yorkshire Tourist Board’s 'Tourism Oscars'* the site has gone from strength to strength with a record number of visitors flocking to explore the fascinating tunnel, the information packed visitor centre and the beautiful Pennine landscapes.

Standedge was also heavily commended in VisitBritain?’s Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) for the quality of its customer offer and in particular praised the staff for their knowledge and customer care. The report noted: 'Standedge visitor centre and boat trip is an excellent visitor experience; enthusiastic staff share their pride in the attraction for the benefit of the visitors.'

James Dean, visitor services manager at Standedge said: "Our visitor numbers are increasing year on year and we’ve all been working hard to ensure that our visitors have a great time when they come to Standedge. Visitors can have a great family day out with a trip into the famous tunnel with one of our expert guides, have a picnic or bite to eat in the café and take a look round the visitor centre which charts the construction of the canal and tunnel.

"We’ve got some exciting plans in the pipeline for next year with a return of some of our favourite events like the Ashley Jackson Painting Day, Marsden Jazz Festival and Artsfest as well as a whole host of exciting new ones including a Kids Art Week on the opening weekend in April and a Teddy Bear’s picnic in May – events that all the family will enjoy."

Standedge also came top in British Waterways’ regional award for Waterways Excellence for its superb level of customer care. James continues: "The team here are a real credit to Standedge and visitors are always full of praise for my team. The knowledge and expertise we have are fantastic – none more so than one of our pilots, Fred Carter, who has just celebrated 40 years working along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal!"

More information about Standedge can be found at www.standedge.co.uk.

• Standedge was one of five shortlisted nominations in the Yorkshire Tourist Board’s Awards’ Visitor Attraction of the Year award (under 50,000 visitors), alongside Captain Cook Memorial Museum, DIG - An Archaeological Adventure, Filey Museum, Wentworth Castle Gardens & Stainborough Park in Barnsley.

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Media enquiries to
Simon Henry, Marketing & Communications, British Waterways, Yorkshire
Tel: 0113 281 6822; Mob: 07789 178506; Email: simon.henry@britishwaterways.co.uk

Notes to editors

The attached image shows the boat trip into the tunnel. Further images available on request.

British Waterways cares for a 2,200-mile network of canals and navigable rivers throughout Britain, working to provide a sustainable future for the inland waterways and generate maximum benefit and enjoyment to all from this unique environmental and leisure resource. We work with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector partners to unlock the potential of the inland waterways and generate income for reinvestment in their upkeep for the benefit of the millions who visit each year. www.britishwaterways.co.uk

Waterscape.com provides information on ALL of Britain’s waterways, and guides visitors through the complete waterside experience in an easy to use, fully comprehensive online resource. The site includes a full range of services including:
• How to hire a canal boat or waterside holiday cottage
• Recommendations on walking, cycling, jogging and angling beside the water
• Best waterside bars, pubs and restaurants
• Waterway guides with information on visitor attractions, local history and wildlife
• News and events guides and listings
• www.waterscape.com/standedge

Standedge Tunnel is a great introduction to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, a waterway of startling contrasts, from tranquil countryside to dramatic mills. The tunnel stretches over 3¼ miles long from Diggle at one of the Pennines, to Marsden at the other. Standedge Tunnel is the highest (196 metres above sea level), longest (5,029 metres) and deepest canal (194 metres) in the country. The project was started in 1794 at the height of ‘Canal Mania’ period and took 17 years to complete – with a little help from one of Britain’s greatest civil engineers, Thomas Telford. The restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the Standedge site was a £30 million Millennium funded project, completed in partnership with British Waterways, Huddersfield Canal Society and Kirklees, Oldham and Tameside Councils.