The Inland Waterways Association has announced that it is to give an award to the "Waterways Parliamentarian of the Year" at an Awards Dinner at the House of Commons in April.
The IWA hopes it will become an annual event in recognition of those parliamentarians who have been prominent in their support for the inland waterways over the year.
Among MPs whose names have already been mentioned are Charlotte Atkins and Michael Fabricant, both of whom have been successful in calling debates in the House on behalf of the waterways movement in the past year, although other names are also being speculated upon.
It is vital that the need to remedy the underfunding of the waterways remains high on MPs' agendas, and it is to be hoped that this event will help to achieve this. To that end, Save Our Waterways continues to encourage supporters to write to their MPs, especially with concerns about the effect on their local canals and rivers.
We applaud the IWA for this initiative and think it is good to show appreciation to MPs who have helped to fight for improved funding for the waterways.
Waterways minister Jonathan Shaw MP and Mr Speaker Martin will be attending the evening.
More details of the IWA sponsored event at http://www.waterways.org.uk/News/Pressreleases/ParliamentaryAwards (external link)
One thing that is not mentioned is who the judges are. We await the result with interest.
Monday 14 January 2008
Thursday 10 January 2008
Minister talks sense!
Phil Woolas, the DEFRA Minister of State, this week answered a question from Bob Spink MP by acknowledging the vital role waterways play in Britain today.
Mr Woolas wrote: “We fully recognise the economic, environmental and social benefits of the inland waterways and the role they can play in supporting Government objectives in health, recreation, regeneration, social inclusion, conservation of heritage and the environment.”
He went on: “British Waterways has been involved in over £2 billion worth of urban and rural regeneration over the last decade and a further £7 billion of waterside regeneration is under way. Its canals also contribute to flood mitigation. In terms of tourism and leisure use, there were 268 million visits to British Waterways last year by boaters, anglers, cyclists and walkers.”
This is an important point we are trying to get across - 268 million visits! There are only around 30,000 boat on British Waterways system, which goes to demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of people who enjoy the benefits of the waterways are not boaters! Yet boaters are the ones who are being leant on to help make up the funding deficit through increased licence and mooring fees.
Fishermen make a small contribution through their rod licence, but most waterways users pay nothing at all directly. This is why the government should make sure that the contribution that people do make, through taxation, gets through to the organisations that have to keep the canals and rivers operating.
Mr Woolas wrote: “We fully recognise the economic, environmental and social benefits of the inland waterways and the role they can play in supporting Government objectives in health, recreation, regeneration, social inclusion, conservation of heritage and the environment.”
He went on: “British Waterways has been involved in over £2 billion worth of urban and rural regeneration over the last decade and a further £7 billion of waterside regeneration is under way. Its canals also contribute to flood mitigation. In terms of tourism and leisure use, there were 268 million visits to British Waterways last year by boaters, anglers, cyclists and walkers.”
This is an important point we are trying to get across - 268 million visits! There are only around 30,000 boat on British Waterways system, which goes to demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of people who enjoy the benefits of the waterways are not boaters! Yet boaters are the ones who are being leant on to help make up the funding deficit through increased licence and mooring fees.
Fishermen make a small contribution through their rod licence, but most waterways users pay nothing at all directly. This is why the government should make sure that the contribution that people do make, through taxation, gets through to the organisations that have to keep the canals and rivers operating.
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