Memorandum submitted by Michael Shefras
(BW 60)
I am chairman of Thames Valley Region Royal
Yachting Association; Deputy Chairman of Association of Thames
Yacht Clubs; Chairman of River User Group 8 (Representing river
users from Teddington to Windsor) and Co-ordinator of Thames User
Group (Navigation)—an umbrella body of all the regional
governing bodies on the Thames.
The Thames Navigation is responsible for 75%
of the Environment Agency registration income and using the Ministers
own statistics 24% of the complete navigations.
The Inland Waterways Association addressing
the committee suggested that the way forward would be a "National
Navigation" organisation, not fully specified. This might
be their opinion, but it is not necessarily the opinion of those
I represent. Under the headings above my constituency amounts
to between 15,000-20,000 boaters. I believe that this is such
an important issue it could require fuller consideration specifically
to address the factors not initially apparent in the IWA proposal.
The above bodies have not yet had the opportunity
to debate where the future management of navigation should be.
It is work in progress within the EA Funding Strategy. My personal
opinion, and I must stress it has to be a personal opinion, as
I do not yet have any mandate is that the responsibility for RIVER
NAVIGATIONS remains with the Government Body responsible for complete
River Basin Management. Even more important with the work now
being carried out dealing with the EC Water Frame Work Directive.
I would ask the committee to consider this view
before making any definitive recommendation. In the coming weeks
and months the matter will be discussed by the various navigation
governing bodies and I am sure that these organisations will address
the matter in depth and make their official view known.
I had not previously responded to the committee
as it appeared to address BW issues which are not part of my mandate
but would of course be prepared to attend any hearing if required.
Michael Shefras
March 2007
| 
