BOATS TO GO

You may know about the media speculation that the Government intends to include the British Waterways’ property portfolio as a component of the £16bn asset sale.

The Government has made no announcements and is steadfastly refusing to be drawn on the subject.

We have been using this period of silence as a window of opportunity to lobby Ministers.  We have orchestrated a political lobby in both the Commons and latterly the Lords to pressurise Government, and have briefed radio and national TV, using an array of reasons to support the argument that a sale would be in no-one’s interest.

We stand the best chance of preventing this sale if the Government can be persuaded not to do so, during this period of Ministerial silence. Whilst no announcements have been made, it is easier for Government to back away as it involves no public reversal of policy.

However, an e-petition has appeared on the 10 Downing Street website;

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectourcanals/

IWA supports the statements in the petition. The worst outcome now that this is in the public domain, would be if this petition receives scant support. That might give Ministers the impression that there are few waterways supporters who care very much about the issue. On the other hand, if it is well supported, the Government, this close to an election, is very sensitive to actions it might take which may lose votes, and would probably take notice.

I am therefore urging you to sign up to this petition - if you agree with it, and ask that you encourage everyone that you know, to also sign up. 

We need more signatures than our membership, or even the total number of boaters in the UK – So please ask all of your colleagues, friends and family and e-mailable contacts to help us today! – and ask them to pass this message on as well - we need all of the UK to know about this and to respond on line .

The future of the waterways could depend on your actions today – Please act, and pass this message on.

CALDON CANAL BREACH

On 12 November at approximately 5.30am British Waterways was informed of an embankment breach on the east bank towpath side of the Caldon Canal (Leek Branch), between Leek Tunnel and Bridge 9.  15 metres of embankment was affected, which allowed approximately 21 million gallons of water to flow across agricultural land and into the River Churnet.

British Waterways has installed stop planks to create a dam at Leek Tunnel and water levels are returning to normal between Stockton Brook Lock 9 and Leek Tunnel.  Boat navigation has been temporarily suspended between Bedford Street Lock 1 and Stockton Brook Lock 9 to allow water levels to recover more quickly.

British Waterways engineers will be on-site over the next few days to fully understand causes and to start formulating a programme of repair.

The breach site was last formally inspected on 6 November 2009 which identified no obvious problems to its stability.

British Waterway’s current priority is to reinstate water levels, conduct a fish rescue operation and ensure the canal and surrounding area is safe.  It is unknown when the navigation will be re-open, however an updated statement will be issued next week.  For ongoing stoppage progress, visit www.waterscape.com.

British Waterways Property

There has been speculation around the possible disposal of British Waterways’ property endowment in England and Wales ahead of the Pre-Budget Report.  The UK Government decided earlier in the year, following a Treasury-led review, that British Waterways’ 1,400 canalside properties should not be sold.  The Government has also said it keeps all assets under review in the light of current public finances.

British Waterways’ chairman, Tony Hales, comments:  “We were comforted by the Government’s report in April.  We generate almost half of our annual maintenance budget through property-related activities which have been fundamental to the renaissance of our 200-year old waterways over the last decade.  Without it the public cost of caring for the waterways would increase significantly.  With the reduction in grant funding in recent years the income we have generated from property and other sources has been crucial to the funding and revival of the 2,200-mile network.

“Britain’s historic waterway network is one of the finest examples of industrial heritage anywhere in the world and it deserves a long-term plan for its future.  Earlier this year we proposed setting up a ‘national trust’ for the waterways to safeguard their future and lessen the call on the public purse.  The proposal, which has received widespread support, would only be possible with the income we generate from our property and with long-term government funding agreements.”

In the last decade Britain’s inland waterway network has undergone a widely acclaimed revival, with more than 200 miles of canals built or restored and record number of boats and towpath visitors using the system.  British Waterways is influencing and enabling an estimated £10 billion of waterside regeneration across the 2,200-mile network in its care and each year its waterways deliver approximately £500 million in public benefits to the country.  This revival has been made possible thanks to the support of Defra and the Scottish Government, the lottery, local authorities and countless waterway volunteers and enthusiasts.