You've probably by now heard the news of a further swingeing cut in BW's grant. After it was already £30 million a year short of what it needs to maintain the network.
It's now got to the point that BW is going to have to make a nasty decision. Does it go on trying to keep all its current waterways open, but starve them all so they steadily deteriorate? Or does it throw some passengers to the wolves by reclassifying some routes as "Remainder" thus sharply cutting the costs of maintaining them and thus being able to look after the rest properly. I'm afraid the answer is going to have to be the latter. So, start your nominations. Logically, I think one should pick routes for which there is a nearby parallel and which have a lot of works to look after. Like the Huddersfield Narrow (all those locks and that long tunnel, with the Rochdale nearby), or the Worcs and Brum (lots of locks and several tunnels, with alternatives being the Stratford and the S&W). Of course, perhaps BW's suggesting this seriously might cause such a stink that some more money might be forthcoming ... Adrian (not really joking) Adrian Stott 07956-299966
