Here's what I have just written to my
MP Michael Fabricant to further
encourage him to sign all three EDMs.
QUOTE
Thank you for your written response to my earlier post about the cuts
Defra have made to the budgets of British Waterways and the Environment
Agency.
I note that you have not (yet) supported the related EDMs 2757, 2829 and
2863.
In the case of EDM 2757, to which 107 MPs have supported, I am curious
why so few Conservative MPs have not supported what appears to me to be
a classic target for PMQ. It represents an acknowledged case of
mismanagement by Defra to the tune of at least £200 million and more to
come in the way of EU fines related to this incompetance.
It is a popular cross party issue that even labour MPS agree is a clear
case of incompetant management as well as poor political judgement. Why
on earth have the cost of mistakes caused in the administration of
farming matters been 'charged' to waterways? This particularly after
John Prescott made such a song and dance about how a labour Government's
support for British Waterways had done so much for the regeneration of
cities and rural areas. Why are there more Labour MPs willing to
criticise their own Government than there are Conservative MPs?
Many people mistakenly think that this is a concern about boater's
interests. How wrong they are. In his speech at the recent BW AGM in
Birmingham, Chief Executive Robin Evans noted that there were over 300
million visits to the waterways last year. Compare that with the number
of registered boats - 29,000 - and it is clear to see that boaters are
actually a minority. The bulk of 300 million being made up of families,
anglers, cyclists, ramblers, canoeists, bird watchers, etc.
One other statistic that I find useful is that the £60 million grant
that BW receives from Defra is the equivalent to £2.50 per family per
year. What a bargain! For the cost of a pint of beer per year every
family in this country has free access to what must be one of Europe's
largest recreational features - 2,200 miles of navigable inland waterways.
In my first communication on this subject, I asked you to find out what
the Conservative party's position was on the Defra cuts. I would also
like to know what is the policy in regard to the future of British
Waterways under a potential Conservative Government.
I should declare a special interest in this subject as I am founder of
the Save Our Waterways campaign and I would like to refer you to our
website www.saveourwaterways.org.uk. I think you find it shows that this
issue is rapidly gaining wide spread public support. There is a campaign
document on that website which outlines the plans that are under way for
a massive nationwide protest.
I would be happy to meet with you to talk about these issues and our
campaign in more detail.
Will Chapman
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