Memorandum submitted by ABC Leisure Group
Limited
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ABC Leisure Group is probably the largest operator
on British Waterways canals. We have heavily invested in the business
growing it from one location to 11 and to over 200 hire boats
providing holidays for a wide range of people. We have had a very
long relationship with British Waterways who have been very supportive
to the growth of our business.
Within what I am sure is the constraints of
their funding British Waterways have made some significant improvements
to the canals, most particularly in the supply of water during
drought periods and in the overall condition of the canal environment.
It is important to our business that the canals continually improve
as customers' expectations grow and that new cruising areas become
available through restoration to provide new experiences for returning
guests. We in fact have invested in the Worcester area on the
strength of British Waterways' involvement in the restoration
of the Droitwich canals which will provide a new and unique cruising
ring for our customers.
We would therefore appreciate your Committee's
continued support for both British Waterways and also increase
in funding to enable them to build on their achievements to date.
SUBMISSION
1. I am the Managing Director and Shareholder
of ABC Leisure Group Limited. We are probably one of British Waterways
biggest operators on the canal network. We operate over 200 hire
boats from 11 UK locations and eight marinas providing moorings
and all marina services, all of which are based on British Waterways
navigations. In addition to this we have two boat building operations
specialising in canal boats, manufacturing around 24 boats per
year. A second hand brokerage business and a chandlery and boat
spares business with internet sales.
2. ABC Leisure Group Limited, formerly Alvechurch
Boat Centres Limited, has been in business for over 35 years and
we therefore have had a very long business relationship with British
Waterways. During this time we have grown with British Waterways
support and improvement of the canal environment from a single
boat yard at Alvechurch, to a company with 11 locations employing
over 150 people.
3. During the history of our company we
have seen the navigations improve, particularly in their reliability
of water supply so we no longer see canal restrictions during
long dry weather periods, which of course is when your customers
are going to most enjoy their boating holidays and make them more
likely to return. I also believe that the maintenance and reliability
of the canal network has improved, although possibly not as significantly
as the water supply issue, and which is almost certainly directly
related to the lack of funding and resources rather than the will
to do it. We as a business would not be investing heavily if we
did not believe that British Waterways were capable, and have
the funding, to maintain the network we already have, and able
to improve and increase through restorations the navigations that
are available for boating and other users.
4. We have found British Waterways very
supportive in our business growth by enabling us to sort out various
historic property issues, and providing advice and support with
planning applications to develop boating facilities on our existing
sites.
5. We invested two years ago in a base and
hire fleet on the Monmouth and Brecon canal which due to a major
breach we can't operate this year. As you will understand this
is of significant financial concern to us and our staff in that
location. We have been very pleased with the professional approach
British Waterways has taken, the excellent communication, and
with their decision to undertake a program of repair over a number
of years to ensure such a situation does not occur again, which
gives us the confidence to remain in that location ready for the
re-opening in 2009.
6. As an operator of hire boats we recognise
the importance of our customers enjoying their boating holiday
and returning to cruise another area of the canal network in subsequent
years. We invested in a business a few years ago in the Worcester
area on the strength of the Droitwich canals being restored which
will provide our customers with a new cruising area, and a unique
weekend cruising ring which we are now in the best position to
capitalise on once completed.
7. We see these restorations as a loose
partnership. British Waterways lead the development and take over
the ongoing ownership and maintenance, and we, as an operator
invest so we can provide the boats and users of that canal which
help return the economic benefits and regeneration it needs to
justify it.
8. Our continued investment and development
of our business depends entirely on British Waterways having the
funding and resources to maintain and grow the canal and river
network. I would therefore appreciate your committee's continued
support for both British Waterways, and also increased funding
to enable them to build on their achievements to date.
ABC Leisure Group Limited
February 2008
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