Memorandum submitted by Graham Fisher
MBE (BW57)
ISSUES TO
BE RAISED
These are encapsulated in the following synopsis
...
1) There are serious concerns within the
waterways movement as to the long-term effects of such drastic
and wholly inappropriate cuts. My members are gravely exercised
by the implications for canals in general and in particular the
Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal (Stourport to Great Haywood)
whose interests we of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
Society (SWCS) seek to represent. This is not a latent interest;
our membership figures have this year alone increased by some
15% and the calls for a much deeper respect to be shown for our
waterways, both in terms of their heritage and their future potential,
are clearly becoming more focussed and vocal.
2) Many of my members can recall the parlous
state of inland waterways a couple of generations ago. Some of
them have accrued more than 40 years service in active canal restoration.
They see this latest threat as unacceptable.
3) But on wider issues it is beyond reasonable
dispute that the renaissance of inland waterways has played a
key role in the leisure boom and the consequent revitalisation
of Britain's economy. Job creation, heritage preservation, environmental
enhancement, real-estate development, habitat management and much
more are all a matter of record. The deleterious effects of these
cuts on localised economies could be catastrophic; it has, for
example, been estimated that the village of Kinver in South Staffordshire
derives in the order of £50k per annum from waterways tourism.
When repeated along the entire length of the canal this has a
substantive impact on the whole canal corridor. I quote Robin
Evans, Chief Executive BW (Annual Meeting, 12 October 2006 at
Birmingham) when he stated "our waterways are not the preserve
of middle-class boaters but are an essential part in the daily
lives of millions of people".
4) There are those waterways-based initiatives,
such as the Government's own much-lauded water freight proposals
which may now be thwarted even before they have had chance to
fully come to fruition. Similarly there are issues of Health and
Safety on our waterways and the inevitable loss of huge pools
of irreplaceable knowledge and talent that cannot be overlooked
or ignored. The list continues yet the tragedy of all this is
that it is so avoidable and, moreover, hardly the fault of those
who are now being made to pay. The gravity of the situation also
rests uncomfortably against previous well-publicised Ministerial
assurances that funding would be forthcoming in the event of major
problems with, for example tunnels, embankments and cuttings all
of which require regular and ongoing maintenance.
5) BW appear confident that they can again
ride this storm. But, based on the very real sense that we have
seen all this before on so many previous occasions, I am not so
optimistic and I have grave misgivings that we are inexorably
falling over the edge of a dark abyss that is leading the entire
waterways movement back to where it started. This cannot, must
not, be allowed to happen. Our waterways heritage is unique and
for that reason per se deserves better.
Please note:
a) Whilst the facts and nuances contained
in the above piece may have been previously cited as a basis for
informing SWCS members (as part of SWCS campaign against cuts)
the text reproduced here is compiled entirely by the undersigned,
is of entirely original content and has not been otherwise distributed
or disseminated previously.
b) I would be wiling to attend the hearing
on 16.4.07 to offer submission in person, if requested.
RELEVANT BACKGROUND
DETAILS
Professional sector includes
Proprietor G Fisher enterprises, inland waterways
specialist (writing, researcher, TV & radio broadcaster and
Grade 2 MCA Boatmaster)
Partner Spence Associates, solutions to the
inland waterways industry
Former Consultant Advisor GEOprojects (UK) Ltd
Cartographers
Former Review & Special Features Editor Canal
& Riverboat Magazine (now Canals & Rivers)
Ad hoc freelance supplier to British Waterways
and related waterways bodies
Voluntary sector includes
Chairman of Staffordshire & Worcestershire
Canal Society (under whose auspices this submission is entered)
Events Coordinator Cotswold Canals Trust annual
Saul Festival
Harbourmaster, bi-annual Parkhead Gathering
of Boats
Former Press & Publicity/General Secretary
Lapal Canal Trust
Member/supporter of several other local waterways
organisations
Highly Commended Webb Ivory Fundraiser of The
Year 1986
Inland Waterways Personality of the Year 2005
MBE (services to inland waterways) 2001
I have owned various boats (currently a 1929
historic narrowboat) and also steer commercially on the waterways
of the Midlands and south west. I am thus a regular user of inland
waterways with experience of them stemming back to 1966.
Graham Fisher MBE
Chairman
Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society
March 2007
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