Memorandum submitted by Gary Sutcliffe
(BW 62)
1. Our concern is that the DEFRA cuts are
affecting many of the indirect Commercial benefits that the navigable
waterways have created for the nation.
2. The UK waterways are an example to, and
have led the world, in demonstrating the many and various values
of maintaining, preserving and "cleansing" navigable
waterways.
3. The 1872 UK Rivers Purification Act instigated
a "green" culture. To avoid polluting and generally
respect the environment is a priority to those involved with UK
inland boating. To "pump-out" is simply part of a regular
routine. This has created a specialized business in the manufacture
of quayside pumps and on board holding tank systems.
4. My company's Chairman, Chris Coburn,
has spent his working life developing the products that enables
inland boating to be so respected for its responsibility to the
environment. He spear headed the introduction of international
standards (ISO 8099, small craft toilet waste retention systems).
He was recently awarded the MBE for services to inland waterways.
Lee Sanitation is supplying an increasing amount of equipment
abroad. Currently about 20% of turnover. Amazingly, most other
countries are only now becoming conscious of a need to improve
water quality standards in their navigations.
5. Before joining Lee Sanitation I was Engineering
Manager for British Waterways on the River Severn and Sharpness
Canal. Having been responsible for British Waterways business
with Lee Sanitation I was aware of the company's technical and
commercial development. It was the company's export potential,
to markets that were then only beginning to mention pollution
that attracted me to employment with them.
6. There are a number of companies that
have invested a great deal of time and effort in developing systems
to improve the Waterways for the Nation and my concern is for
these companies as well as my own, that after all this investment
many will struggle to fill the void that the loss of business
from the waterways will produce.
7. BW and the EA are major customers of
my company and much of our development has been in satisfying
their needs. The DEFRA cuts are responsible for a substantial
reduction in our "home market" and without this our
export business does not have the basis of support that is essential
by way of a healthy home market. There are other business's similarly
effected.
8. I would appreciate the opportunity of
presenting the effect of the DEFRA cuts to the select committee.
Gary Sutcliffe
Operations Director
Lee Sanitation Ltd.
March 2007
| 
