Nigel Stanley wrote: > For operational use: Weekend 3/4 March 2007 > > "All aboard"- fresh protests at canal cuts
Nigel How significant is this? From talking to Chris Fabby about it he tells me that this is a really national release in that it has been sent to all local as well as national media. Cheers Will Chapman > > Boat and barge owners who use Britain¹s inland waterways and canals > are setting sail this weekend to protest at the severe budget cuts to > British Waterways, the Government agency charged with the care and > protection of 2,000-plus miles of national canal and waterway > networks. > > UNISON National Officer representing Waterways workers Chris Fabby > said: "We fear the cuts in the order of nearly £15 million in less > than two years will turn back the clock and reverse much of the good > work that has been done under this Government to invest in the repair > and expansion of our beautiful, diverse canal and inland waterway > network. > > "We are at a pivotal moment. I call on Government to row back on this > year's decision not to reverse the cuts in the grant it gives to > British Waterways. > > "Since October 2006 at British Waterways we have seen the loss of over > 100 jobs and the postponement of essential maintenance work. We are > absolutely determined not only to fight these budget cuts but also to > protect our members' terms and conditions." > > The protests have been called by British Waterways workers > represented by UNISON and the Transport & General Workers Union - over > the Government's decision not to reverse the grant cuts to British > Waterways (BW) made in 2006 following budget problems at DEFRA. > > Steve Grieves, T&G Senior Regional Industrial Organiser said: "The > waterways have been key to the regeneration of urban areas, and these > cuts are likely to have a huge impact on communities that have little > green space. > > "The reduction in the numbers of workers has been a devastating blow > to a workforce who has put their heart and soul into rebuilding a > vibrant and modern waterway system for Britain. The government must > act to reverse the cuts if the waterway network is to be sustained." > > During 2006 BW's grant from DEFRA was cut from £62.6m to £55.4m and > despite hopes that the cuts would be reversed this year the grant for > 2007/08 stands at £55.5m. > > Canal boat users, anglers, waterways enthusiasts, members of the > public, MPs and BW employees will be holding flotilla protests across > the UK in 20 different locations. The cross-country event will be > organised by "Save our Waterways" campaigners supported by UNISON and > the T&G. > > ENDS > > Note to editors: More local information can be found at > www.saveourwaterays.org.uk > > For further information: Please contact Richard Bingley in the UNISON > Press Office on 0207 388 1183 or 07957 505675 or Chris Fabby on 07985 > 291667 or Andrew Dodgshon in the T&G Press Office on 07976 832156 > -- Will Chapman Save Our Waterways www.SaveOurWaterways.org.uk
