Richard Fairhurst wrote: > > At present the charge proposals are focused around local councils - there is > no provision > (AFAIK) for a national body such as BW to benefit. BW needs to _urgently_ > make sure that it > gets something out of this. (This would have been easier if it had been > pressing for a > move to DCLG, which will be introducing the charge, but no matter.) >
Absolutely! For me its a no-brainer. Local residents and councils benefit from the trade & jobs that waterways bring them (boaters, anglers, cyclists) Local authorities benefit through increased council tax that waterways (if improved) bring Currently BW spend £3.7 million maintaining towpaths, an estimated £1.5 million removing rubbish dumped by local residents and more on rubbish collection and such things as graffiti/vandalism. DCLG has been allocated £2 billion in the CSR for 'neighbourhood improvement' DEFRA will receive about £40 million for EVERYTHING they manage and might even be docked £100-200 million it current reports are true. This and other issues will be discussed at the SOW Strategy meeting that will take place in Foxton on Dec 1st. Are you coming? (And that applies not just to Richard but anyone on this list who feels they might be able to take part in the campaign in any way). Its our waterways folks, the worsening situation won't change unless we all make some sort of an effort! -- Will Chapman Save Our Waterways www.SaveOurWaterways.org.uk --- avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 071122-0, 22/11/2007 Tested on: 23/11/2007 09:26:59 avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software. http://www.avast.com
