Hello again everyone

London Boat Show

I have just returned from London having attended a meeting at the Boat Show where Barry Gardiner MP addressed senior waterway user representatives and the waterways press. This was organised courtesy of the British Marine Federation. as was my complimentary pass - thanks BMF!

What is all the fuss about?

That was the main theme of the Minister's address. He said that DEFRA had given BW all this money, especially to remove the Safety Related Maintenance backlog and we should all be eternally grateful. If, ten years ago, we had been told BW would now be getting £55.5 million to spend on the waterways, we should all have been slapping DEFRA's back in gratitude.

Again he skilfully avoided the pitfalls, told us we shouldn't 'cry over spilt milk' regarding the Rural Payments Agency and faithfully reproduced all the pro-waterway arguments we have been feeding him for the last four months, but he failed to answer one pertinent question, "If BW waterways get 300 million visits, how much PER VISIT does it cost the Government compared with other public amenities?"

The aim of our campaign now is to encourage him to use the ammunition to bolster his department's case for waterways when it comes to the government's Comprehensive Spending Review, but will he be there to do it?

EFRA Committee Inquiry

NABO has responded. The summary reads:-

• 'A Stitch in time saves nine'. The government's investment in the nation's waterway heritage (over £450M since 2000) should be protected with adequate and predictable funding for maintenance.
• Over 90% of the 300 million visits to the waterways are made by people who only pay by way of the public purse. Boaters, who only account for 3% of visits, feel that contributing 13% to the coffers (as well as paying through taxes and the trade) is quite enough. We challenge the Committee to compare public spending per visit to the waterways with corresponding figures for other amenities. c
• Boats, the 'rolling stock' of the waterways 'train set', account for over 60% of its total capital value and contribute greatly to its attraction. This collective investment by ordinary people is at the mercy of the condition of the 'track'.
• Property speculation and regeneration should be subservient in all respects to maintaining a functional waterway network and the needs of BW's paying customers.
• There is room for expansion in use of waterways to provide low carbon-footprint, healthy recreation in Britain as an alternative to flying abroad and also to provide environmentally sound transport of freight and passengers.
• The waterways network is DEFRA's golden egg. If they want to keep the goose that laid it, they should ensure it stays alive.

If you wish to respond, the deadline is Monday, send to MCCULLOUGHJ@parliament.uk

And Finally

I am hoping to be on the Press Boat for the demonstration on the Thames on Tuesday. Let's pray for light winds and good visibility, and good luck to all who sail in it. Happy cruising - or dreaming of cruising!

Stuart

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