Memorandum submitted by Ashby Canal Trust
1. The Trust is concerned that British Waterways
withdrawal from the Cotswolds Canal Partnership will have wider
implications. The loss of support for the Thames and Severn and
Stroudwater Canals affected by this partnership will have no direct
impact on the restoration of the northern Ashby Canal (authorised
by SI 2005/2786). However it will influence the perception of
canal restoration among the public, and importantly, potential
funders and development partners, which may result in a lack of
confidence in such schemes.
2. It is important that the Government or
its agencies are consistent in the approach to maintenance and
improvement of the existing waterways and in encouraging and enabling
restoration of abandoned or derelict canals where there is a case
for economic, environmental and social benefit. Government documents
including "Unlocking the Potential", and "Waterways
for Tomorrow", and positive reports by IWAAC, (now IWAC),
AINA and the EA, seem to be being ignored and BW is now struggling
to fulfil its statutory obligations, let alone promote restoration
projects. It is clear that Defra, British Waterways and central
Government must make up their minds on the role and future of
Inland Waterways in this country.
3. Waterways restoration has a high level
of public support, and well designed schemes will benefit this
country for many years, unlike some other, current very short
term schemes absorbing disproportionate amounts of available funding.
4. We cannot comment on BWs current management
of its waterways, but it must be given adequate resources to work
with. If restoration projects such as the Cotswolds scheme and,
indeed our own Ashby Canal project are to succeed, resources,
directly or indirectly, must be made available. Canals cannot
be restored on voluntary effort alone.
Ashby Canal Trust
February 2008
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