Welcome to our second edition of the new revised Bulletin; we
have developed this style in response to reader feedback to make the
Bulletin easier to scan read and select stories of interest,
and to allow the original source materials and photos to be
accessible to the greater majority of our readers (approx 4,500 who
access it via email, compared to less than a hundred who still
request hard copies).
In order to make the Bulletin more timely and relevant to
you, we will be trying to issue it on a fortnightly basis in the
new-year to coincide and support the new web site developments.
Head Office Bulletin is available on IWA’s Internet site, along with
a wide range of information about the Association and the inland
waterways.
www.waterways.org.uk should be the first place to look for any
information that you need.
Additional e-mail mailing lists [News] and [Press Releases] provide
more frequent mailings of timely news, which enable the Association
to keep members and other supporters more up-to-date with all that
the Association is doing. If you wish to make any changes to the
mailings that you receive, please contact Lesley Sanders at IWA Head
Office 01494 783 453
lesley.sanders@waterways.org.uk
About People
Elaine Scott
has been appointed IWA West Riding Branch Chairman
elaine@homescott.free-online.co.uk
Helen Alexander CBE,
has been appointed Port of London Authority Chairman with effect
from 1 January 2010. She will succeed Simon Sherrard, who has
been PLA Chairman since 2001.
About IWA
Government Backs Off Immediate
On 7th December, Government,
announced in the ‘Operational Efficiency Programme : Asset Portfolio
document that it wasn’t proposing to immediately sell off British
Waterways’ Property portfolio
http://www.hmg.gov.uk/media/52715/oep-assetportfolio.pdf
stating that ;
”
At Budget 2009, it was announced that BW would transfer its property
activities (including joint ventures) into a wholly-owned property
subsidiary – in order to ensure clear separation of, and focus on,
both maximising gains from its property and best management of the
waterways.
This process is being taken forward by BW in consultation with HM
Treasury, the Shareholder Executive and Defra. However, the
Government recognises that there may be benefits in considering
alternative structures for BW’s business as a whole, including its
property portfolio. We will therefore consider alternative models
for the business as a whole, such as mutual or third sector
structures. As part of any such future structure for BW, therefore,
there may be opportunities for the private sector to invest in the
portfolio.”
Whilst on the face of it this announcement is good news, there is a
concern with the last statement, which appears very ambiguous. There
is therefore an urgent need to gain greater clarity about
Government’s intentions. Although Government is looking at a wider
set of options, it wants to look at opportunities for private sector
involvement. It is however, unclear what role the private sector
could have in investing in the property of a third sector
organisation, and that cannot include interference with the revenue
stream. IWA believes that any third sector organisation vested with
running the waterways will need that dowry.
Strong IWA Lobby
IWA has been lobbying Government, privately and publicly, ever since
rumours of this sale surfaced. This has included the orchestration
of a political lobby in the Commons and the Lords.
An Adjournment Debate
was held in the House of Commons on 30th November. Lynda Waltho MP
secured the debate on "Funding of British Waterways". Eight MPs
spoke. Huw Irranca-Davies, Waterways Minister replied. To
watch the debate go to
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=5195
(Debate Starts near the end of the video clip at 7 hrs 46 mins 50
secs.- move Slider forward to view).
To read a transcript of the debate go to:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm091130/debtext/91130-0022.htm#09120112000002
In addition, an Early Day Motion,
tabled by Bob Laxton MP, of the all-party Parliamentary Waterways
Group,
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39776&SESSION=903
in support of IWA’s campaign .
Numerous private meetings with Ministers have taken place in
political support of our campaign.
Our national chairman also met
with the Prime Minister and raised his concerns in private.
IWA has also given vociferous support to the online petition that
has achieved an unprecedented public response in only a matter of
days. The petition currently has over 19,500 signatures
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectourcanals/ , IWA
asks all supporters to continue to promote the petition and the SOS
Campaign as widely as possible.
Retaining Assets Makes Economic Sense
Not selling BW’s assets makes economic sense. British Waterways’
property contributes some £45m per annum towards the £125m the
company needs to maintain its inland waterways network, and to have
sold the assets would have had dire consequences for the waterways,
not only from a maintenance point of view but also in terms of
British Waterways vision for becoming a third sector organisation.
IWA National Waterways Conservancy on Cards?
What is interesting from this announcement is that in issuing this
statement Government has indicated its support for looking seriously
at alternative models such as the third sector. IWA has long
advocated a more independent ‘National Waterways Conservancy’ that
has the best interests of the waterways at its heart, as a means of
better managing the waterways. As such we see value in British
Waterways’ third sector ideas. This announcement provides scope for
more movement in that direction.
http://www.waterways.org.uk/Library/AtoZListofUsefulInformationDownloads/NationalWaterwaysConservancy
A change in status should enable British Waterways to develop its
property income stream in a more effective manner, freeing itself
from some of the limitations on borrowing and investment that it is
currently shackled with. This should allow it to focus more on
active restoration and regeneration as well as generating more
income. IWA therefore supports further investigation of this
approach.
Waterway Recovery Group 2010
Programme Launched
IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group has
launched its 2010 programme of weeklong working holidays. There will
be 23 schemes running next year. The Holidays are a unique
volunteering opportunity and participants can learn new skills to
improve and widen their future employment opportunities, such as
bricklaying, the use of lime mortar and using specialist excavation
and construction machinery, as well as taking the chance to be part
of the team that really make a huge difference to the waterways.
To receive a 2010 Working Holiday’s Brochure please contact Jenny
Black by email
enquiries@wrg.org.uk or call 01494 783 453 ext
604. Alternatively check out the WRG website for up to date
information
www.wrg.org.uk
Other Waterway Campaigns
All waterway supporters are asked to urgently write to raise their
concerns and politely ask for the scheme to be reconsidered and the
bridge plans to be altered to allow for navigation to take place, by
sending letters to : Local MP
Kenneth Clarke MP; Secretary of State for
Other MPs along the line of the canal who may be interested to
hear from you include:
Alan Duncan MP and
Quentin Davies MP
A draft letter template containing the details of the issue, in
Word format is appended to this
bulletin for your convenience.
About Waterways
River Aire Restocked with Fish –http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4778826.Agency_helps_fish_come_up_for_Aire/
Bude
Canal
Rochdale Canal- Bid to Install Clearer Signposting for Users-
The Upper Calder Valley Renaissance Project, has been
campaigning to make Rochdale Canal easier to navigate for local
walkers by installing more signs along the route – which runs
through Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden and Walsden – so boaters and
walkers have ’pointers’ to what the local towns and villages had to
offer.
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Canal-in-line-for-revamp.5869576.jp
River Trent Restocked-
Thousands of fish have been released into the River Trent following
pollution incidents, including a stretch affected by cyanide.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/8407365.stm
River Wandle-
Has been restocked after sewage works blunder wiped out stocks
earlier this year.http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/wandsworthnews/4777463.River_Wandle_welcomes_new_fish/
Other News
British Waterways Announces Towpath Tidy Dates -
Next year the tidy will take place between 1—14 March 2010.
http://www.waterscape.com/features-and-articles/features/towpath-tidy-2010
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free entry for the public. On site parking.
Boat trips, birds of prey, crafts, canal societies, food and drink,
children’s rides, entertainment marquee, charity stalls, canoeing,
sailing. Contact
festival@chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk
Nene Boater fined £1,000 for no registration
- A boater has been fined the maximum £1,000 for not having a
registration certificate for his boat the