Up the Cut for Black Country businessman
LEADING Black Country business figure Peter Mathews has been re-appointed to chair the Canal & River Trust’s Waterway Partnership in the West Midlands.
Mr Mathews, awarded the Companionship of the Most Distinguished order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) for services to exports in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours in 2002, will complete a second three-year term.
The businessman, who owns Black Country Metals Trading in Kinver, said: “I’m honoured by the Trust’s confidence and excited by the prospect of continuing to work with them to revive and promote the canal network all over the West Midlands.”
The Canal & River Trust was launched in 2012 to care for 2,000 miles of historic waterways in England and Wales.
“We are aiming to bring the canal network in the West Midlands into the spotlight and to highlight the magnificent opportunities that are there for everyone to enjoy,” added Mr Mathews.
“This includes not only boating but fishing, walking, cycling and canoeing as well as enjoying the heritage and peace of the canals.
“We have some exciting plans for the whole region, not least in central Birmingham, where the canals are now such an important part of everyday life. We have a series of events lined up from the spring through to autumn.”
One of the major current projects is a £6m scheme to transform access to Birmingham’s canal network for thousands of cyclists. The project is also aiming to help walkers and wheelchair users.
“We are extremely grateful to the Department for Transport and Birmingham City Council who are funding the project along with the Canal & River Trust,” he said.
“The project forms part of a city-wide Birmingham Cycle Revolution aimed at improving cycle ways and pathways across the city.”
In total Birmingham City Council was awarded £17m in 2013 from the DfT, which has been topped up to £24m from other sources after a successful bid to the Cycle City Ambition Grant Fund which aims to make cycling easier and safer for people living in towns and cities.
Mr Mathews, who speaks on international trade on a regular basis, both in the UK and abroad, is also the official adviser to the City of WeiHai in China.
