Will Chapman of SOW is presenting a discussion paper to waterway groups at meetings this week, suggesting a way to help safeguard our waterways in the present economic climate.
The paper acknowledges that funding levels are unlikely to return to satisfactory levels soon and that the majority of those who benefit from waterways are unaware of the critical funding situation.
The paper puts forward ideas for the better involvement of local communities, going furthe rthan BW's 2020 Vision.
Now available to download and read here.
Representatives from a number of waterway groups have met with the shadow waterways minister, Anne McIntosh MP.
The meeting on 28th January, set up and chaired by SOW's Will Chapman, was to brief her on the issues that concerned those involved with the waterways.
A change of government shortly appears to be a strong possibility so it was felt important that the Conservative's shadow minister should be appraised of issues and concerns seen as important to waterway users.
Anne McIntosh also gave delegates an indication of the way her party's thinking was going on the future of waterways.
An Adjournment Debate was held in the House of Commons on 30th November.
Lynda Waltho MP secured the debate on "Funding of British Waterways".
You can watch the debate via this link. (Move slider forward to 7 hrs 46 mins 50 secs.) [Firefox plugin] [Mac plugin]
You can read the transcript of the debate via this link.
The debate lasted 30 minutes until the House adjourned. Lynda Waltho MP spoke about the issues regarding funding for British Waterways.
Eight members made additional points. Huw Irranca-Davies, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, replied.
MPs from opposition parties were notable by their absence.
A debate in Parliament on the funding of our waterways has been secured. This comes at a time when public awareness is being raised about the shortfall in funding the waterway system and how that could be made worse were the Government to sell-off BW's property portfolio, profits from which make up a significant proportion of BW's income for maintaining canals.
Linda Waltho has won a ballot to secure an End of Day Adjournment Debate on Monday 30th November on the subject "Funding for British Waterways". You will be able to watch this on the BBC Parliament channel.
It might be worth contacting your MP with some background information on the effects of underfunding and encouraging them to attend the debate.
Bob Laxton has put forward Early Day Motion 233 "Inland Waterways and Funding".
The motion notes that nearly half of the money that BW needs to maintain the network comes from its property portfolio, and that cuts in BW's grant-in-aid mean a shortfall in the money needed to properly fund the waterways of about £40m. It calls for the inland waterways to be made a national park and for BW's property portfolio to be protected so that it can provide a secure funding stream. The full text of the motion can be read here.
At the time of writing 26 MPs have signed the motion. Please contact your MP and encourage him or her to sign. Tell them it's EDM 233.
As speculation about whether the Government will sell off BW's assets continues to cause alarm, a new petition has been launched on the Downing Street web site.
The speculation follows an item on The Politics Show, although nothing has been said by the Government. However, what is clear is that the Government will be looking for ways to rake in money to plug some of the deficits. We, who are concerned for the future of the country's waterways, should look for ways of trying to persuade the Government that depriving BW of a key source of income is not a good idea.
The new E-Petition on the Downing Street website simply reads:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to protect our canals by not selling off property owned by British Waterways."
The petition creator explains the reasons for the petition: "Further to recent announcements concerning the potential sell-off of properties owned by British Waterways by the Treasury, we petition the Prime Minister to give assurances that our canals will be protected and recent levels of investment, a credit to Labour, is maintained.
"Our canals are great source of pleasure for many people in the country, providing a source of employment through tourism and associated businesses. They're also home to many forms of wildlife. Without proper management this will ebb away and the network return to a state of decay and ruin.
"We urge the Government to allow British Waterways to retain its property portfolio, protecting its essential source of revenue and ensure the sustainability of its work."
The IWA and other organisations are encouraging people to sign this petition, and we would, too. Some people are doubtful as to whether such petitions have much effect but the Powers That Be will certainly be aware when a petition on a particular issue is gaining a lot of support. If the Government is still making up its mind, a demonstration of the strength of feeling might just tip the scales. The IWA points out: "The worst outcome now that this is in the public domain, would be if this petition receives scant support. That might give Ministers the impression that there are few waterways supporters who care very much about the issue. On the other hand, if it is well supported, the Government, this close to an election, is very sensitive to actions it might take which may lose votes."
Please look at the petition by following this link http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectourcanals/ and, if you agree with it, add your name to the more than a thousand already there!
Please tell other people about the petition, too, to help boost the numbers!
When you have done that, please consider visiting this site: www.writetothem.com and sending a message to your own MP. You could aquaint them with a few facts about the financial situation BW is in and how taking away the income from its property portfolio will make things even worse. You could mention recent examples of how the fabric of the system is falling apart and ask them to ask questions of the Environment Secretary or other ministers concerned.
Save Our Waterways has issued a discussion paper on the Future of the Waterways, involving Communities Working Together.
The paper looks at the financial situation for the Waterways, the need for groups to work together to fight funding threats and possible ways forward.
You can read the discussion paper here on our blog where we welcome you to add your own comments. Alternatively you can download a .pdf version here.
Following an item on The Politics Show on Sunday 15th November, speculating that the government could be about to sell off British Waterways' property asset portfolio, BW has played down the story.
BW points out that the government decided earlier in the year, following a Treasury-led review, that British Waterways' 1,400 canalside properties should not be sold. (See earlier story.)
BW chairman, Tony Hales, said: "We were comforted by the Government's report in April. We generate almost half of our annual maintenance budget through property-related activities which have been fundamental to the renaissance of our 200-year old waterways over the last decade. Without it the public cost of caring for the waterways would increase significantly. With the reduction in grant funding in recent years the income we have generated from property and other sources has been crucial to the funding and revival of the 2,200-mile network."
"Earlier this year we proposed setting up a "national trust" for the waterways to safeguard their future and lessen the call on the public purse. The proposal, which has received widespread support, would only be possible with the income we generate from our property and with long-term government funding agreements."
It seems possible that the programme was running with the story from earlier in the year as there is not thought to have been any new decision about BW, although BW acknowledges that the government keeps all assets under review in the light of the current financial situation.
It would be a very short-sighted decision if the government were to sell off BW's property portfolio. Not only would the amount raised not be great in a recession, but it would deprive BW of a vital source of income, meaning that the government would have to pump additional money into BW in the future just to maintain the system at a basic level.
This might be a good time to contact your MP to make sure they are aware of this and to encourage them to use what influence they may have to help ensure that BW's assets are not flogged off in a pointless fire sale.
Who Pays for Waterways? Who should pay? SOW's Will Chapman stresses that we need to keep the plight and opportunities of the waterways in the public eye.
"Even before the recession," he writes, "the navigation authorities have been severely under-funded. Brititish Waterways is short by as much as £30 million a year and, as a result, cannot do even the minimum maintenance required."
Will points out that some local authorities appear to think that vandalism caused by local residents should be cleaned up by the navigation authority rather than themselves. In some areas fly tipping is a major problem.
Boaters and anglers pay their way but the majority of those who use the canals and waterways pay nothing directly. "As the vast majority of people who enjoy the canals are local residents, then local authorities should take on more responsibility," argues Will, adding that BW's shortfall spread among all the council areas with waterways would not be a huge burden, particularly "for an amenity that brings a substantial return to the community".
Read Will's full article here.
The Inland Waterways Association announced the launch of its Save Our System campaign at its National Festival at Ratclife-on-Soar.
The campaign was launched in repsonse to the depth of the cut in grant-in-aid for British Waterways for 2010-2011. BW's funding is being reduced from this year's £57,448,000 to just £47,848,000, representing a reduction of over 16.7%.
IWA Chairman Clive Henderson called for IWA's local branches, along with other waterway societies and organisations, to identify issues of poor maintenance and slipping standards, especially those affecting safety, and to collect evidence of problems caused by underfunding locally that will allow a national picture to be constructed the make clear the effects of these cuts so that the underfunding can be reversed.
IWA wants local waterways stakeholders to assist its S.O.S. 2010 campaign by reporting evidence of problems caused by underfunding via a link on its website: www.waterways.org.uk/SOS2010.
IWA's campaign is supported by Save Our Waterways, along with major boating organisations. We would urge you and your local society, cruising club, angling club, walking group, etc. to help the campaign by contributing evidence through the above link.
British Waterways has today launched proposals for its future, entitled "Twenty Twenty - a Vision for for the Future of our Canals and Rivers".
This is the result of a major strategic review that has taken place and follows the government's decision to allow BW to retain its successful property portfolio.
The plans include increasing efficiencies, opening up new funding and partnership opportunities, creating closer links with local communities and the start a move towards the waterways achieving a 'third sector' trust or charitable status similar to that of the National Trust.
As a first step towards greater efficiency, BW proposes a restructure of its own operations in England and Wales, by removing an entire layer of management and creating eleven new, smaller, 'hands-on' waterway units. The move would make around 100 office staff redundant, but the £10 million annual saving would be redirected towards waterway maintenance.
Under the new structure, BW would put a greater emphasis on working with volunteers and local communities.
BW Chief Executive, Robin Evans, said: "Our absolute priority must be to maintain investment in the waterways and this means reducing spending elsewhere. Our proposed new structure will both redirect important funding to essential maintenance work but also make us much more responsive to customers and partners."
In the longer term, BW calls for some fresh thinking about what the waterways mean to Britain and how their sustainable future might be secured. It proposes that, by 2020, it should become a third sector 'public interest company' or trust. BW believes that such a change could stimulate greater participation in the waterways by volunteers and other individuals, enhance openness and accountability for communities and waterway users, create opportunities for new sources of income such as grants and donations, and ensure the historic network is held in trust for the nation.
More information about BW's proposals can be found on its website, here: www.britishwaterways.co.uk/twentytwenty.
The document "Twenty Twenty - a Vision for for the Future of our Canals and Rivers" can be downloaded here.
Save Our Waterways has issued a discussion paper on the case of setting up a Strategic Waterways Authority.
The paper argues that the fragmented nature of the waterways, with multiple navigation authorities, makes overall influence and control difficult, creates bureaucracy and hinders opportunities. The paper proposes a Strategic Waterways Authority with three divisions covering Waterways, Amenities and Property.
You can read the discussion paper here. Please let us have your thoughts on this.
The results of the Treasury's Operational Efficiency Programme have been released and, as expected, includes a reviews of British Waterways' non-operational property portfolio.
It had been feared that the Government would relieve BW of this property as a quick way to help solve financial problems. However, these fears have proved unfounded as BW's good track record with its property means that it will stay in BW's hands in a wholly-owned subsidiary.
BW's Robin Evans welcomed the decision: "This is the right decision. It recognises the importance of British Waterways' property portfolio endowment to the long-term sustainability of the waterway network as well as the public value that we have unlocked from the estate."
"In the last decade canalside property has produced the largest source of commercial funding for our historic canals, rivers and docks, it has fuelled their recent renaissance, reinforced their importance to modern Britain and helped to breathe new life into derelict watersides. This decision underlines the Government's commitment to the long-term future of the waterways"
BW will now work with the Government on the practicalities of setting up a wholly-owned BW subsidiary to develop its property management further.
The decision follows a detailed study of British Waterways' canalside property portfolio endowment in England and Wales by BW, Defra, Shareholder Executive and HM Treasury as part of the Operational Efficiency Programme asset management strand led by Gerry Grimstone, which reported to Ministers.
BW asserts that the study recognised its track record of success in delivering both revenue and wider public benefits from the non-operational property in its ownership.
The study recommended that the property should be moved into a wholly-owned BW subsidiary in order to optimise returns from its property while ensuring excellence in management of the waterways. The change will also increase clarity of the income generated from British Waterways' property for maintenance of the waterways.
The Inland Waterways Advisory Council (IWAC) has written to Yvette Cooper MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to express its concern at the possible outcome of the Treasury's Operational Efficiency Programme review.
There has been speculation that it will result in BW losing its property portfolio, which it manages very efficiently and which provides much-needed income.
The Inland Waterways Association has this year awarded the title of "Waterways Parliamentarian of the Year" to David Drew, MP for Stroud.
The award was made in recognition of his notable contribution to the Cotswold Canals restoration and also for his work in chairing two select committee inquiries into British Waterways.
These select committees had done much to inform MPs and to raise the profile of the waterways in Parliament over the last year.
Read IWA News Release. [external link]
The award of this title by the IWA reflects the positive relationships that now exist between waterway organisations and parliamentarians.
Read Save Our Waterways Blog entry and add your comment.
The Environment Agency has cancelled its plan to sell off some of its lock or weir keeper houses and rent out others. This follows a wave of protests and a petition on the 10 Downing Street website.
In June the Environment Minister Phil Woolas and local MPs met with EA and it was agreed to put the proposals on hold until it has completed "a full review of waterways staff roles and responsibilities, and terms and conditions".
As a result of this review, EA has pledged to ensure that there at resident keepers at all 45 locks and major weirs on the Thames. EA's Howard Davidson said "issues such as flood risk and response to incidents outside normal working hours have been key to our considerations."
EA will still sell five houses that are away from the river, but only after the staff living there have been moved to properties close to locks.
The new proposals, which have to be discussed with staff and unions, have already been welcomed by campaigners and supporters. Cookham lock keeper's wife Kim Benge, who has played a key part in the campaign, said "We are thrilled with the news today. Much work still needs to be done but we are truly delighted with this outcome. The River Thames is a safer place today because of it."
MP Martin Salter, who had compiled a file of incidents at locks and weirs where intervention of resident lock-keepers had saved lives or prevented serious injuries, described it as "fantastic news for everybody who cares about the future of the Thames." He added: "I have no doubt that the weight of public opinion coupled with strong Parliamentary pressure were crucial."
Michael Shefras of Thames User Group (Navigation) said: "We were all delighted to be informed that the proposed plan to sell some of the Lock Cottages has been completely cancelled and that resident Lock Keepers will continue to live in the Lock Cottages. Many Thames organisations worked tirelessly opposing the plan. SOW will continue to work with the Thames User Group (Navigation) who are to continue consultations with the Thames Waterways staff as they progress the Better Ways of Working process to ensure proper service to all who cruise the Thames."
Add your own comment on this to the blog.
There was good news for British Waterways in the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report this week.
As part of the Chancellor's measures to give a "fiscal stimulus" to the economy, a grant to BW of £5m will be brought forward from the planned 2011-12 budget. The money will be used as part of a £33m major works programme to repair a range of historic locks, bridges, embankments and reservoirs and dredge channels in waterways across England and Wales.
This shows an acknowledgement that Britain's historic waterways provide excellent value for money for the nation, generating in excess of £500m to the economy each year.
It was also announced that, as part of the Operational Efficiency Programme, a team led by Gerry Grimstone will review British Waterways' model for managing its canal-side property portfolio and assess how best public value might be delivered from these assets.
Is there a sting in the tail for BW? Read more and have your say on the blog.
The new minister who will have responsibility for waterways is to be Huw Irranca-Davies.
Huw is MP for Ogmore in South Wales and was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office before getting his new job in the Environment department. [more on blog]
Two ministers closely involved with the waterways have been moved in the Government's reshuffle.
Jonatham Shaw, the former Defra Minister with responsibility for waterways, has moved to the Department for Work and Pensions as a Parliamentary undersecretary of state.
Phil Woolas who, as Minister for the Environment had overall responsibility for areas that included waterways, has become Minister of State for Borders and Immigration at the Home Office. As a local MP, Mr Woolas travelled on a boat on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, speaking with boaters about issues of concern to them.
See comment on blog.
The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has today published a follow-up report on British Waterways which concludes that if Government wants to obtain the public benefits of canal investment, it should bear the costs. BW should not be expected to bear most of the financial risk.
The report praised the setting up of the Interdepartmental Working Group for waterways but was critical of the way BW withdrew from the Cotswold Canals restoration.
For more details about the Committee's findings, please see our blog item "EFRA: Sharing the Costs of Canal Restoration" and add your comment.
It is being reported that the Environment Agency is putting on hold its plan to sell off 10 houses and rent out 12 others. This follows a wave of protests and a petition on the 10 Downing Street website.
After a meeting with the Minister Phil Woolas and MPs Martin Salter and Theresa May, the EA has agreed to put the proposals on hold until it has completed "a full review of waterways staff roles and responsibilities, and terms and conditions", which will take around 6 months.
EA has said that any future review of the lock keepers' houses would involve the MPs as well as lock keepers' representatives.
EA's proposed sale of lock keepers' houses on the River Thames has led to John Thompson of Yachting and Boating World Forum setting up an online petition at the 10 Downing Street website. To view or sign the petition, go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Thames-Locks
Following EA's proposed sale of ten lock keepers' houses on the River Thames, British Waterways has announced a review of its residential property estate, which includes operational and heritage buildings.
Robin Evans of BW says that the review will consider if there are better ways to get more public benefit from the property. "Two options include transferring properties into a specialist associate company part-owned by BW or placing parts of the portfolio on the market and reinvesting the income to generate greater long term funds for canal maintenance."
It is shameful that the current funding level for BW is such that it is even contemplating the option of a possible sale of lock cottages and other property.
See blog item "Selling off the Silver?" and add your comment.
The Environment Agency's plan to sell off 10 houses and rent out 12 others has led to a wave of protests.
The River User Groups (RUGs) along the Thames along with the IWA have been lobbying MPs. Ian Taylor MP has introduced an Early Day Motion on the subject.
Objectors are concerned that the heritage of the river will be preserved and sustained. Only one of the houses to be sold (Bell Weir, Staines) is on a lockside. However, some of the houses to be let are lockside and there are fears of reduced efficiency if staff no longer live on site.
[Read EA press release(Word doc)]
The May edition of the Towpath Talk newspaper featured a 4-page special supplement about Save Our Waterways.
Save Our Waterways evolved from being an informal campaign to a constituted membership organisation at an Inaugural General Meeting held at Stafford Boat Club.
British Waterways is seeking to double the number of days that volunteers spend working on its canal network.
To help implement this aim, Ed Moss has been appointed as BW's first national volunteering manager.
Volunteers currently give 5,000 days each year assisting BW with projects such as heritage work, vegetation management and clearance of towpaths.
Mr Moss, who was special projects coordinator with Droitwich Canals says that BW hopes to build on the huge and positive contribution that volunteering is already making to its network.
Read Save Our Waterways Blog entry and add your comment.
The Inland Waterways Association has awarded the title of "Waterways Parliamentarian of the Year" to Charlotte Atkins, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, in recognition of her support for the inland waterways over the past year.
Charlotte has secured two adjournment debates on waterway funding, tabled many questions on waterway matters, met with the minister on many occasions and given her time in other ways for the benefit of the waterways.
It is vital that the underfunding of the waterways remains high on MPs' agendas, and it is to be hoped that this event will achieve this. To that end, SOW continues to encourage supporters to write to their MPs, especially with concerns about the effect on their local canals and rivers.
Read IWA News Release. [external link]
Read Save Our Waterways Blog entry and add your comment.
DEFRA has announced its grant to British Waterways for 2008/09. The grant is £56.624 million (like for like comparison 2007/08, £56.4 million), once repayment of £1.024 million of National Loans Fund is excluded. This is what has been predicted in recent months.
Robin Evans of British Waterways said: "In the current difficult government funding climate this is a reasonable settlement and in line with our expectations. It shows that Defra has listened to the arguments that further funding cuts would be very damaging. I would like to thank our minister, Jonathan Shaw and his team of officials, for all the hard work they have put in to protect waterways funding."
"Flat cash" means more or less the same money this year as last year. When you take inflation into account that amounts to a reduction in the value of the money received. This is clearly bad news for our waterways although not as bad as if the funding had been cut as it has in 2006 and 2007.
British Waterways has withdrawn from its involvement in the Cotswold Canals Partnership. This shock announcement in February follows the diversion of significant funds for the urgent repairs to 16 miles of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in Wales.
BW's Robin Evans said, "Ultimately, we have a finite pot of money and the needs of our existing waterways must take priority. These works are essential for those businesses and communities that depend upon and contribute to the canal and we are committed to getting it up and running in time for the 2009 cruising season. We hope that the £1.5million we have invested in the project to date will help to lay the foundations for the canal's ultimate restoration and reintegration with the national network."
BW's contribution is only a part of the total funding that has been agreed for "Phase 1a" of the restoration (see figures), but its withdrawal may mean that the scheme comes to a halt. The Heritage Lottery funding is dependant on match-funding from the partners, which included BW. Other parties will find it difficult to find extra money to make up for BW's share. Other parties may be alarmed by BW's lack of commitment to the project and withdraw their own backing.
What is particularly disturbing is that, after the cost overrun liability problems had been solved, BW did not first consult with the other partners to find alternative funding, before pulling out.
BW's withdrawal from the Cotswold project is a direct result of the cutbacks to its funding by DEFRA, as it desperately looks for money to pay for the major breach on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Gilwern. Already this winter, BW deferred a long list of repair work that had been planned, and cut back on all culvert inspections in most regions. (See Our Heritage at Risk.) Government spokemen have said that BW now gets significant income from its property portfolio but the current slump in the housing market must be reducing the money available from that source.
Cutting back on repairs and maintenance may well lead to further expensive failures in the future.
Read Save Our Waterways Blog entry and add your comment.
The Inland Waterways Association is to give an award to the "Waterways Parliamentarian of the Year" in recognition of those parliamentarians who have been prominent in their support for the inland waterways over the year.
Read IWA News Release. [external link]
Read Save Our Waterways Blog entry and add your comment.
Waterways Minister, Jonathan Shaw met with waterways "stakeholders" on 11th December.
He said that he thought BW would be given a "flat cash" funding settlement and that an Interdepartmental Working Group was to be established.
Read a report of the meeting.
There is to be a Private Members' Debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 11th December between 9.30 and 11.00 am.
Michael Fabricant MP has secured the debate on the "Future Funding of Canals".
It should be possible to watch the debate via this link.
In spite of last year's efforts and achievements by waterways campaigners, the Government is still looking towards the waterways as a soft target for making further funding cuts.
News reports suggest that the Treasury has told DEFRA that it must make between £130 million and £270 million of cuts to its budget. It is likely that such cuts would be spread across all the bodies that are funded by DEFRA, including Britsh Waterways and the Environment Agency.
It is not yet known to what extent BW and EA will be affected by these reported new cuts, but it has been claimed that BW could be particularly hard hit.