I mooted this to some subscribers to this list a few weeks ago and wonder if the "Privatisation" of BW could not be a good thing if it were handled and presented in a similar way to the Severn Valley Railway Company.as an enthusiasts PLC. I know the SVR has been regenerated several times over already.
Granted we are talking huge scale and a "proper" PLC should be the outcome. But adequately endowed with money generating schemes and (as far as possible) the ownership confined to (not legal I suspect) or just concentrated on the (I hate this word) "Stakeholders" why it should not be a success. Maybe an agreed and diminishing contribution from central government to enable planners to manage the reducing grant income in transition to other money making schemes. A chance for all Boaters and Canal enthusiasts to put their hard earned cash where their mouth is and to buy shares in the new Company when listed for subscription if not to gain a serious campaigning interest. If the only dividend we could expect would be the autonomy of the Waterways from the Government would this not be a "real" return on our money. No more multiple organisations campaigning for the waterways. IWA, Nabo, WRG et al but a company owned by its users and enthusiasts.. Shoot me down Trevor. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
