--- In [email protected], "Steve Haywood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 2008/10/9 Adrian Stott [EMAIL PROTECTED] >
> I believe that the the canals are a national heritage, that they are being > used increasingly by the whole of the population and that the whole of the > population should pay for them by a government grant that represents their > national value. The alternative is your way, Adrian. That is to squeeze as > much money as you can from hard pressed boaters. There is actually another, two-pronged, alternative that will go a long way to alleviate the problem. First, BW spend between £4-8 million per annum caring for towpaths (often damaged by local cyclists), controlling vegetation, clearing fly-tip and graffitti etc. This expense is either to the direct benefit of the residents of local authorities or the result of local residents abusing the privilege granted to them when BW lets them use the towpath without direct charge. Most local authorities already have people cleaning streets, many also have people looking after park areas. Solution, declare the towpaths as park area and let local authorities look after them. That way BW is fee to concentrate on navigation issues whilst users will decide whether they want to visit the canal side 'parks' that are maintained by the local authority. Secondly, one of the most important recommendations made by the EFRA Select committee was that the other government departments whose agendas benefit from the waterways should make a contribution in return for enjoying those benefits. To his credit, the last waterways Minister, Jonathan Shaw actually followed that recommendation by forming the Interdepartmental Working Group which brings together his counterparts from those benefactor ministries with a view to finding ways to share the burden of moving the waterways towards a long term stable future (as defined by Waterways for Tomorrow which is itself being updated under the aegis of Defra and IWAC). In a nutshell, SOW's strategy is to get members organised in constituency units which will enable our members to campaign in a concerted way to make sure issues (and opportunities) affecting their local waterways are understood and supported by MP's and local authorities. > Interesting to hear the Tories taking the popularist line for a change > though. It strikes me that instead of courting approval by getting cheap > cheers on what is after all an administrative matter between EA and BW, that > nice Mr Gummer should be pressed on where HE stands on the public What I found most interesting was that Mr Gummer recommended that our activists develop the MP/local council links. SOW can do this with a relatively small membership (just one member in each of the 250 riparian constituencies who is willing to write the occasional letter to an MP and councilor) - just think how much more effective it would be if the other user groups urged their members to join in the letter writing campaign. This idea and others form the basis of our open strategy meeting at Lichfield Cruising Club on Saturday. It is open to all - why not come along and join in the formation of SOWs campaign strategy? Non members welcome, details available on our website www.saveourwaterways.org Cheers Will Chapman
