Waterway Funding to be debated in Parliament

A debate in Parliament on the funding of our waterways has been secured. This comes at a time when public awareness is being raised about the shortfall in funding the waterway system and how that could be made worse were the Government to sell-off BW's property portfolio, profits from which make up a significant proportion of BW's income for maintaining canals.

Linda Waltho has won a ballot to secure an End of Day Adjournment Debate on Monday 30th November on the subject "Funding for British Waterways". You will be able to watch this on the BBC Parliament channel.

It might be worth contacting your MP with some background information on the effects of underfunding and encouraging them to attend the debate.

Bob Laxton has put forward Early Day Motion 233 "Inland Waterways and Funding".

The motion notes that nearly half of the money that BW needs to maintain the network comes from its property portfolio, and that cuts in BW's grant-in-aid mean a shortfall in the money needed to properly fund the waterways of about £40m. It calls for the inland waterways to be made a national park and for BW's property portfolio to be protected so that it can provide a secure funding stream. The full text of the motion can be read here.

At the time of writing 26 MPs have signed the motion. Please contact your MP and encourage him or her to sign. Tell them it's EDM 233.