Waterway Watch

Defra promises up to £125m to protect BW pensions

Will Chapman — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:29:36 +0000

Third Sector Online, 8 February 2012

British Waterways pensions announcement – Defra promises up to £125m to protect British Waterways pensions…..

But it warns that when the body becomes a charity in June, pension arrangements will change for new staff

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has promised that it will pay out . . . → Read More: Defra promises up to £125m to protect BW pensions

Volunteers get £28m and the job of cleaning up England’s waterways

Will Chapman — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:01:40 +0000

Volunteers get £28m and the job of cleaning up England’s waterways

04 February 2012

Defra has created a £28m Catchment Restoration Fund to fund volunteers who want to reduce pollution in rivers and canals.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has created a £28m Catchment Restoration Fund to fund volunteers who want . . . → Read More: Volunteers get £28m and the job of cleaning up England’s waterways

Private Boating Candidates

Will Chapman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:06:35 +0000

WILTSHIRE, Richard - Private Boating CRT CandidateWELCH, Vaughan - Private Boating CRT CandidateVINNICOMBE, Alf - Private Boating CRT CandidateSMETHAM, Tony - Private Boating CRT CandidateSCOTT, Peter - Private Boating CRT CandidateEnd of candidate list

Boating Business Candidates

Will Chapman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:54:40 +0000

STEVENS, Nigel – Shire Cruisers CRT CandidatePRIDDING, Howard – BMF Boating Business CRT CandidateMCCARTNEY, Vincent – Holborn Studios/Eagle Wharf Marina CRT CandidateMATTS, Anthony – Foxton Boats Boating Business CRT CandidateFOX, Lorraine – The Sandwich Barge CRT Boating Business CandidateEnd of candidate list

WILTSHIRE, Richard – Private Boating CRT Candidate

Will Chapman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:33:40 +0000

My name is Richard Wiltshire. I am looking for your support for my nomination to the CRT. I have been involved with the waterways system for many years, through work and pleasure, and therefore have a vested interest in ensuring their protection. There are many changes taking place within our waterways and hopefully through our combined efforts we will produce something which can be enjoyed and protected for the future. My aim is to contribute to preserving the waterways for all, whatever our pastimes or hobbies. Walkers, boaters or fishermen appreciate the rivers and canals and all have a responsibility to contribute to their survival. With your support I can voice any concerns that you have about the changes and help to shape the future of our waterways. I attend various committee meetings related to the protection and preservation of the River Severn and offer my support as and when necessary. . . . → Read More: WILTSHIRE, Richard – Private Boating CRT Candidate

WELCH, Vaughan – Private Boating CRT Candidate

Will Chapman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:29:44 +0000

I have more than forty years boating experience, a long-standing IWA Trustee specifically responsible for supporting waterway restoration, Droitwich Canals Trust Chairman and a successful hard working waterways campaigner. With your support I hope to:

Establish primacy for boating
Prevent navigation being subsumed by other waterway interested bodies
Stop the spiralling costs of boating
Seek internal and external cost reductions
Reduce ‘top heavy’ Management costs
Establish salaries equivalent to ‘like’ charities
Develop a proper dredging programme
Improve vegetation management
Increase provision and improve essential boaters facilities
Prevent closures
Seek network expansion
Re-establish the Right of Navigation
Establish opening hours to suit the users
Compensate for long term closures
Encourage residential boating
Legitimize those who have chosen the waterways as their home
Establish security of tenure
Develop measures to enable all levels of society’s participation in traditional boating activities

I do hope I can count on your support. . . . → Read More: WELCH, Vaughan – Private Boating CRT Candidate

VINNICOMBE, Alf – Private Boating CRT Candidate

Will Chapman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:26:17 +0000

I have owned a boat on the Birmingham-Worcester Canal for the past 33 years. I worked for 5 years in a Boat Build and Hire Company in Alvechurch and I am passionate about our waterways and the environment. My main concern is the ever-increasing cost of owning and running a pleasure craft, and if elected to Council, my mandate will be to ensure that NO boater will be priced off the water. British Waterways have done a good job, and the momentous task that the Trust faces will not be easy, especially with the dark black financial clouds that the country has forecast. Within the boating community, boat clubs, volunteer groups, etc, every encouragement must be given to nurture the enthusiasm they have. I wish to carry on enjoying the waterways and for you to do the same. . . . → Read More: VINNICOMBE, Alf – Private Boating CRT Candidate

SMETHAM, Tony – Private Boating CRT Candidate

Will Chapman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:22:48 +0000

I am a 51-year-old CC liveaboard and have been an active member of London Boaters for the past year or so. London Boaters is becoming a pioneer of community-based provision of services and facilities for boaters (e.g. moorings, boaters’ credit union). I believe that this could serve as a template for use in other areas, and fits in well with the local partnership model embodied in the CRT structure. There is a view that the canal network is a scarce commodity with competition for resources between leisure and residential users. Our research showed this not to be the case, and that a vibrant residential community actually encourages leisure users to make better use of the canals. I will work to promote the use of the waterways to maximise the benefit for all users. I am independent of all organisations representing boaters. . . . → Read More: SMETHAM, Tony – Private Boating CRT Candidate

SCOTT, Peter – Private Boating CRT Candidate

Will Chapman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:20:17 +0000

Council will “help to shape policy”: We need policies that:

keep our waterways open and measure openness from one year to the next
harass Management into improving availability; and reverse their creeping closures which restrict navigation – eg eleven day May closure for Oxford Canal bridge demolition; four-days-per week closure at Standedge Tunnel; 4pm daily closure Newlay to Leeds
get more boats, more moving boats, on our underused waterways
persuade the non-navigation majority of Council that while their interests could be served by a series of disconnected duck ponds, we all need open, used, connected, navigations

I’m Chairman of IWA Northeast and Yorkshire and do a thousand boating miles each year across the whole connected system. More thoughts at http://tinyurl.com/scott-yorks. . . . → Read More: SCOTT, Peter – Private Boating CRT Candidate

SCOTT, Robert – Private Boating CRT Candidate

Will Chapman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:17:39 +0000

My love affair with the inland waterways began on a hire boat in 1974. After a number of family holidays on the rivers and canals I have now reached the stage where I am a boat owner and Boatmaster. Over the past 6 years I have had the good fortune to be able to spend more and more time travelling around the country on the water. Experiencing the state of the system first hand, I worry that the next generation will not be able to travel the system as I have done. Maintaining and improving the system for all boaters is my top priority whether they be hirers, private owners or commercial operators, residential or continuous cruisers. Whilst I am a member of several charities and societies, I have no vested interest in the waterways other than as a boater. Please give me your vote. . . . → Read More: SCOTT, Robert – Private Boating CRT Candidate