Memorandum submitted by the National Farmers'
Union (BW 49)
1. The National Farmers' Union represents
the interests of some 55,000 businesses which are engaged in a
diverse range of agricultural, horticultural and related activities
throughout England and Wales. Many of these businesses have a
direct interest in the nations' inland waterways and therefore
we welcome the opportunity to present our views on British Waterways
(BW).
2. We have several points to raise in our
response. These relate to:
— abstraction charges; and
— the role of British Waterways in
the maintenance of inland waterways and bridges and (i) the impacts
of the recent budgetary cuts on the organisation and (ii) the
opportunities for diversification.
3. Our primary concern relates to abstraction
charges levied by BW. A number of farmers and growers have contracts
with BW to abstract irrigation water from canals. The NFU raised
concerns with BW during 2000 and 2001 due to their excessive charging
for water to abstractors from canals. BW are charged by the Environment
Agency to permit abstraction from canals but this value is often
multiplied considerably for the abstractor. Following a number
of meetings between the NFU and BW, some reductions and concessions
were granted by BW to the abstractors. However this matter continued
to cause concern and the matter was referred to Ofwat for investigation.
Their correspondence highlighted that the NFU and its members
were not the only complainants on this issue. More recently, a
licence where there was considerable concern came up for renewal
and an amicable agreement was able to be reached between the abstractor
and BW on charges. However it should be noted the cost to the
abstractor is still significantly higher than the abstraction
charges levied by the Environment Agency.
4. At the same time we recognise the role
that BW plays in the maintenance of inland waterways and the impacts
of budgetary cuts. Canalside owners and occupiers have raised
a number of concerns about management of canals by British Waterways,
including that they are not quick to repair leaking canals and
other canalside problems which impact on farmers and land managers.
With further funding cuts, this could result in this maintenance
being cut further with detrimental effects to canalside landowners
and managers.
5. BW is also responsible for private bridges
over canals built for the needs of the canalside landowners when
the canals were built. Some of these are in disrepair and BW,
in order to save money, have banned or reduced the gross weight
of traffic allowed to use the bridge. This can have severe implications
for farmers who rely on the canal bridge for access to their farm.
The same point applies more frequently to BW owned bridges which
are public roads. High maintenance and repair costs can lead BW
to seek traffic regulation orders to limit the gross weights of
vehicles on bridges. There are examples in the East Midlands region
where BW has called for vehicle weights over their bridges to
be reduced from a maximum of 40 tonnes to 14 tonnes. Most vehicles
delivering to and from farms will have a greater maximum gross
weight than this, along with some farm machinery. In rural areas
this can have severe impacts on farms whose access depends on
these bridges. Any further squeeze on BW funds could have implications
for the bridge network they maintain to the detriment of those
whose businesses depend on that infrastructure.
6. British Waterways has been an important
stakeholder on the Fly-tipping Prevention Group which is a group
looking at ways in which fly-tipping problems can be prevented
and addressed and it has been a significant contributor to the
group on landowner issues. The NFU welcomes British Waterways
input into this group as fly tipping is something that concerns
the NFU and its members.
7. In addition, the establishment of marinas
and the provision of moorings in general provide farmers with
an opportunity for diversification for canalside farmers. Swanley
Bridge Marina (part of Swanley Hall Farm) exemplified the synergy
between the canal network and farming.[3]
The NFU would like the build on experiences of this type in order
to create a mutually advantageous framework for cooperation. In
this respect, British Waterways has also recognised that the role
of farmers in the development of British waterways goes beyond
their potential role as providers of land and that "their
local knowledge and access to local authority planners are of
significant value".[4]
8. It should also be taken into consideration
that a significant number of farmers develop their activity within
an environment defined and influenced by waterways and the activities
carried in the canal network. As such, issues of access, shared
resources and neighbourhood policy are important in order to ensure
a cordial co-existence.
9. We would be more than willing to provide
further evidence on the points laid out in this response if you
require further information.
National Farmers' Union
January 2007
3 htttp://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/newsroom/stories/Cows_canals_converge_as_dairy_farm_opens_to_narrowboats.html Back
4
British Waterways (2006), "Inlnd Marina Investment Guide",
p 27. Back
| 
