Memorandum submitted by the Parliamentary
Waterways Group (BW 50)
PARLIAMENTARY WATERWAYS
GROUP (PWG)
1. We are an All Party Parliamentary Group
(APPG). Members are MPs and Peers and we are open to Associate
Membership from any organisation or individual with an interest
in Britain's inland waterways. We meet five times a year for one
hour. The Group focuses on issues of strategic importance to the
waterways to raise awareness of these and identify and explore
possible solutions.
2. The usual format of our meetings is for
one or two guest speakers to address a topic which is then debated.
Our speakers are usually Government ministers and chief officers
of navigation authorities or other organisations of interest.
It is open to the members to request particular speakers. We are
a resource for MPs and Peers on waterway issues and are consulted
from time to time. We also give advice to Associate Members on
how to communicate effectively with Parliamentarians. We do not
have the resources to undertake research.Our submission makes
reference only to matters raised in our more recent meetings.
CURRENT USERS
OF THE
WATERWAYS NETWORK
AND THEIR
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
BRITISH WATERWAYS
3. There is a vibrant body of voluntary
user groups covering every conceivable waterway use, feature and
location. Commercial interests are also well represented. This
is evidenced not least by the large volume and high attendance
of representative groups amongst our Associate Members.
4. Voluntary work in restoring and maintaining
waterways is an integral part of the post war development and
more recent renaissance of our waterways. There are numerous local
and national forums recently enhanced by the procedures for consultation
following "Improving Openness and Accountability"
THE FINANCIAL
FRAMEWORK OF
BRITISH WATERWAYS
AND THE
IMPACT OF
CHANGES IN
DEFRA'S
BUDGET
5. Please refer to the Adjournment Debate
"British waterways" on 6 December 2006 (Hansard Volume
454 column 112WH to 137 WH) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm061206/hallindx/61206-x.htm
which includes the key points and local detail from our Members.
6. The waterways British Waterways manages
for the nation are a 200 year old transport system with industrial
technology of that era. Maintaining this is essential and to some
extent unpredictable despite the excellent surveying exercise
undertaken in recent years and the substantial in roads made into
the maintenance backlog. This is a national system with every
component interdependent.
7. Expensive unforeseeable emergencies will
occur as evidenced by the breach on the Brecon and Abergavenny
canal on 17 January 2007.
8. Netherton Tunnel in the West Midlands—a
key through route to ensure Birmingham and Black Country canals
can be accessed and used, was to be closed for inspection and
repair this winter. The funding cuts have led to this work being
postponed. There are fears that when the inspection does take
place, there may not be funds to carry out the necessary structural
work. The towpath is closed to walkers and cyclists at present.
9. There is much concern that just one or
two events could lead to the rapid deterioration of the network
and the investment of recent years being wasted. Surface works
such as towpath enhancement also require regular maintenance.
MPs have expressed great concern about the impact on much loved,
well used local amenities.
10. Without some sort of contingency reserve
to draw on there are projects British Waterways cannot risk embarking
on in case a prohibitively expensive engineering problem is discovered.
The sensitivity to financial risk is greatly magnified by the
funding cuts.
11. Members have already raised concerns
about the lack of funding for our Waterways Museums—they
are considered to not be supported in the way that other national
collections generally are. Whilst museums are managed by The Waterways
Trust (TWT), the Trust is in turn supported by BW in a number
of ways.
12. The reduction in Defra's funding to
British Waterways may lead British Waterways to reduce or remove
support to voluntary groups. Support such as professional assistance
with grant applications or administrative and health and safety
assistance at local events could go if BW staffing in such roles
is cut. This could be seen as a breach of the public sector Compact
with the third sector.
13. The much celebrated leverage that BW
achieves with its urban and rural regeneration projects is lost
if regeneration can no longer be supported as all funds have to
be allocated to maintaining existing resources. Confidence lost
in projects due to the funding threat could lead to large sums
from investors being withdrawn completely.
14. There will be a temptation to opt for
a short term property development profit rather than take a long
term view of the waterway network and its assets to make good
any shortfall.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
IN THE
STEWARDSHIP WORK
AND COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITIES OF
BRITISH WATERWAYS
INCLUDING ITS
PROPERTY PORTFOLIO
15. There has been long standing concern
about the process for assessment and decision making where there
is a possible conflict between the preservation of heritage and
new build development. The preservation of wharves and boat yards
to ensure there is sufficient infrastructure for waterways to
remain navigable by boats and welcoming to boats is a recurrent
theme. Whilst boaters are far from the only or even main users
of our waterways, they are an essential interpretive feature of
the waterscape, much admired by other users and a source of all
year round income to waterway businesses.
POTENTIAL FOR
GROWTH IN
LEISURE AND
FREIGHT USE
OF THE
WATERWAYS NETWORK
16. The waterways are a national leisure
treasure and resource and in addition are a transport as well
as leisure function for walkers and cyclists (41.3 million visits
pa are journeys to get to somewhere else).
17. The Group often discusses freight and
expresses concern that opportunities for waterbourne freight are
not taken up. The group is currently particularly anxious that
the opportunity is taken for a green Olympics with construction
spoil from the Olympic site taken out by boat and material brought
in by boat.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
BRITISH WATERWAYS
AND CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AGENCIES AND
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
18. Our waterways are free at the point
of use to most users. Anglers pay a rod licence and may pay a
small local fee, boaters pay for a navigation licence and for
moorings. Other users pay only via national taxation. The possibility
of local authorities making a direct contribution is suggested
fairly regularly. Some local authorities make a contribution to
upgrading a waterway's towpath and surroundings as one off projects,
few make any on going commitment.
19. Waterways' benefits and uses are cross
departmental but few departments fully recognise this. The Group
does invite Ministers from a number of departments to address
us, partly to raise departmental awareness. Defra, DoT, DCMS and
DCLG may be the most obvious but the role in Education, Health
and Trade should not be overlooked. Even the Home Office should
take an interest—Police run schemes encouraging young offenders
to take up angling have been a great success.
Parliamentary Waterways Group
January 2007
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