LETTER IN THE GUARDIAN
from Dr David Hilling, 11 November 2006

It was heartening to see the Cemex company's advertisement "Waterways: the roads of the future" drawing attention to the environmental advantages of water transport (Environmental responsibility in businesses, November 6). For too long planners, politicians and the public have clung to the false idea that transport by water went out when decorated narrowboats were turned into leisure vehicles. In 2004 nearly 3m tonnes moved by barge - 1m of this past Westminster, and there is no record of disturbance to the slumbers of any MP.

While only a part of the waterway network is suitable for larger barges, environmental concerns suggest that it must be used as much as possible. Recent government pronouncements have been along the right lines, with support from the Department of Transport for Sea & Water, a water-freight promotion organisation.

However, Defra has cut its grant to British Waterways, which controls most of the canals and some river courses. This can only mean adverse consequences for the dredging, lock maintenance and staffing on which greater use of the waterways for freight depends. It's time government showed some joined-up thinking.

Dr David Hilling
Inland Waterways Freight Group

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