"Save our Waterways" - Stunell

9.22.22am GMT Fri 2nd Mar 2007

Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell and the local Lib Dem Team are heading to the party's spring conference at Harrogate this weekend to call for the 12% British Waterways cuts to be reversed and for the Government to ensure a strong future for waterways.

Commenting ahead of the 'Save Our Waterways' motion and debate, Mr Stunell said:

"The savage cuts to British Waterways could be disastrous to many stretches of our treasured canals in Stockport.

"Thousands of people enjoy walking, cycling, jogging and boating along the Peak Forest Canal and Macclesfield Canal. Marple locks are key attractions on the Cheshire Ring. Funding is vital to keep the canal in a usable and pleasant state.

"The government cuts are short sighted and could end up costing the government more in the longer term with fewer people in work and local businesses being less profitable."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The motion on waterways will be debated on Saturday 3rd March. The motion reads:

Save Our Waterways

Conference regrets that:

i) The government grant for British Waterways in 2006-07 has been cut by 12.5%.

ii) These cuts are in large part related to loss of revenue through the Government's appalling bungling of the Single Farm Payment Scheme (SPS).

iii) British Waterways have announced that they will be compelled to axe 180 jobs as a result of the cuts.

iv) Canal maintenance will be downgraded and expansion will be curtailed.

Conference believes that:

a) Inland waterways are the lifeblood of many communities, with users including boat-owners, holiday-makers, anglers and ramblers.

b) Tourism will be the first area to suffer with local pubs and restaurants hit hard, but the environment will also be affected by the under-funding of these sanctuaries of tranquility.

c) The impact of the cuts will be multiplied as loss of paid staff will also make it difficult to take advantage of voluntary help.

Conference therefore welcomes the Liberal Democrat 'Canal Cuts are Nuts' campaign.

Conference calls on the Government to:

1. Use the contingency fund to reverse short-term cuts arising from loss of SPS income.

2. Give full weight to the social, economic and environmental importance of the waterway network in determining future grant levels for British Waterways.