Always remembering that in 1985 it was Peter Walker (pause to spit) when Welsh secretary who blocked the restoration of the Monty (in those pre-eco days) when the money to do the whole job to near Newtown was to be provided by councils and Europe (not the government) and the plans were in place. But Dear Peter wanted the Europe money for to buy votes in South Wales so he refused to sign - with Maggies blessing as she would not interfere in the running of the Welsh office. He didn't get the money - we didn't get a restored canal. And for the record at that stage BW had not sold what would have been the 5 million gallons of water to allow the full use of the Monty by up to 300 boats a week just like the Llangollen. That water sale - to Crewe water - was done 4 years later after the main Monty deal fell through and BW began to change its spots. But at the time the money was available BW - unlike the modern creeps - were for the restoration uncaring about anything but having a canal for boats - walkers, fishing. For restored with enough water to have unlimited traffic BW knew that a restored Monty would have marinas and lots of boats to get licence money off. And equally local councils along the canal were willing to give grants knowing that such a restored canal would bring business, jobs and money to the area on the same scale as it did to towns like Llangollen. It is interesting that the figures generated then for money to be made with full boat traffic all the way to Newtown are still touted as what will be made by local businesses if the canal is restored in the restricted modern (limited boats if any) way. It's the only bit of the original plan still retained as it suits certain persons who like to use smoke and mirrors rather than true facts. The bottom line its that no politician can be trusted with our waterways and, to a great extent neither can the current BW mob either. . --- On Fri, 20/11/09, Nigel Stanley <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Nigel Stanley <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [canals-list] Re: Re: 38 degrees was Re: BW Assets To: [email protected] Date: Friday, 20 November, 2009, 11:15 2009/11/19 Keir Gale <keir.g...@ntlworld. com>: > Cameron might be doing a Blair in terms of stealing his opponent's clothes, > but I doubt the Tories will use that increase to fund a redistribution of > wealth. > > Ok, maybe they will, in the same way that the New Labour Tories have been > doing... from poor to rich! > > Keir > > Another factor that may hit the waterways with a change of government results from BW being within DEFRA. The Conservatives are much more of a rural party than Labour - (for example their stance of hunting). They see farmers and other rural interests as part of their natural support. Whether this is a good or bad thing is beside the point ( and I'm not wanting to provoke a blood sports argument!). But it does mean that new DEFRA ministers may want to divert funds from their budget to more traditional rural and farming interests. It will therefore matter a lot who the ministerial team is. A good waterways ministers may be able to fight effectively to defend the budget from even bigger cuts than the ones I fear. There have been good and bad waterways ministers under Labour. I imagine that will also be true under the Conservatives. Let us hope that someone who actually wants the job gets it in the first share out of ministers. -- Nigel Stanley [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
