IWA Launches S.O.S. Campaign

The Inland Waterways Association announced the launch of its Save Our System campaign at its National Festival at Ratclife-on-Soar.

The campaign was launched in repsonse to the depth of the cut in grant-in-aid for British Waterways for 2010-2011. BW's funding is being reduced from this year's £57,448,000 to just £47,848,000, representing a reduction of over 16.7%.

IWA Chairman Clive Henderson called for IWA's local branches, along with other waterway societies and organisations, to identify issues of poor maintenance and slipping standards, especially those affecting safety, and to collect evidence of problems caused by underfunding locally that will allow a national picture to be constructed the make clear the effects of these cuts so that the underfunding can be reversed.

IWA wants local waterways stakeholders to assist its S.O.S. 2010 campaign by reporting evidence of problems caused by underfunding via a link on its website: www.waterways.org.uk/SOS2010.

IWA's campaign is supported by Save Our Waterways, along with major boating organisations. We would urge you and your local society, cruising club, angling club, walking group, etc. to help the campaign by contributing evidence through the above link.