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Hello All
Repeat after me - "EDM Twenty-seven fifty-seven"
Getting Parliament to debate cuts
Today I am back from 2 days down south attending 4 meetings
one of which was the Parliamentary Waterways Group, where I learnt that an
Early Day Motion has been tabled to counter the DEFRA grant cuts.
PLEASE - PLEASE - PLEASE ask your MP to support this motion
- number EDM 2757.
You can do this either by writing or face to face at a
surgery, but it is urgent.
If each MP gets 20 letters from the waterways movement then
there is a good chance they will take some note. I believe about 40 MPs have
signed up so far but remember there are many many more. The more that sign the
greater chance of the motion being debated in what is left of this session of
Parliament and DEFRA being taken to task in the House of Commons.
This is in addition to asking your MP to question the DEFRA
Minister(s), What will make them sit up and listen is the threat to the quality
of life of their constituents. Extol the benefits of the waterway that runs
through their constituency or a neighbouring one which enhances life in their
area. Make it a local issue, that's what MPs are there for and where their
votes come from.
Forget boaters for once, it's the gongoozlers who have the
MP's self interest at their mercy.
Remember EA Navigation need more money too so get the
Thames, Anglian and Medway MPs on board.
IF YOU DO NOTHING YOU ARE EFFECTIVELY ACCEPTING:
- The result of 180 BW job losses and the skills that go
with them, it might be someone you know.
- As much as 50% licence increase by 4 years time (taking
into account 10% p.a. + index rises. compounded).
- Abandonment of canals or lengthy closures. Even now a
lock on the Ribble Link is collapsing so maybe the Lancaster may be cut off
again - and the Rochdale, or the W&E, or the Caldon?
- Threats to restoration schemes. If BW funding is dicey
the confidence of other funders is undermined.
More details and a list of MP contacts on
www.saveourwaterways.org.uk. Also www.writetothem.com
.......
FINALLY
The campaign against DEFRA must be kept in the public eye
for several months yet, we must pace ourselves and not have any inter-
organisation point scoring. We are all in it together - IWA, BW, NABO, BMF,
AWCC, SOW, RBOA and the rest with or without abbreviations - in no particular
order,
But for now
Repeat after me - "EDM Twenty-seven fifty-seven"
Keep up the good work .
Stuart Sampson
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