On 16 Nov 2009, at 23:13, roger_millin wrote: > My point was that I'm not sure that, ostensibly, having Defra on > your side is that much to raise the spirits due to their past > incompentencies. I'm still not sure that anyone can rely on Defra > for real long term support. <snip skilled but cynical analysis of situation>
I don't necessarily disagree with you, but as long as they are at least nominally on our side, we shouldn't waste powder and shot sniping at DEFRA, IMHO. Instead,we should be making the case to our MPs and councillors to support the DEFRA ministers in their fight with the Treasury. It's all to play for at the moment, and I'm encouraged that Tony Hales has come out fighting. I reckon he's got a better vision of where BW needs to go than Mr Evans, whose strategy must now be seen as completely discredited. Arguably, the best thing RE can contribute to the debate is to resign, a suicide attack that might take a few civil servants down with him. My main point is that any campaigning statement *must* be based on accurate info, or it just gets shot out of the sky. I'm sure we don't need to go over it all again here, but the main points are: BW can't afford to lose the income from its property portfolio, it would only add to the PSBR (or whatever we're calling it this month) to have to increase its grant in aid to replace the lost revenue. There are issues of public safety in maintaining the system, and closing canals is at least as expensive as maintaining them in many cases. Inland waterwaqys bring tourist revenue and regeneration benefits that justify spending public funds on them. Not much is going to happen before the election, now, so the real issue is what the Tories propose, after that valuable meeting Will Chapman set up with their Waterways spokesman. (Can't find a link to a report of it today - Martin?) All the best Bruce Follow the building of Sanity Again at http://sanityagain.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
