The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has launched its briefing for Members of Parliament and local government politicians for the party conference season.
The document, entitled ‘THE INLAND WATERWAYS: How a Conservancy Would Get the Best For Your Community’ outlines how important the inland waterways can be for local people and communities and argues that the best way for these to be secured is for the government now to merge the two main publicly funded navigation authorities in the form of a charitable trust with a long term rolling funding package. The right decisions by the coalition Government under the Comprehensive Spending Review can secure the waterways for the future.
The Waterways Minister, has stated a preference for a third sector model to manage the waterways by civil society. IWA also believes that this is the best approach. We are in no doubt that the first building block for the third sector model should be the merger of British Waterways and Environment Agency navigations.
However, IWA support is not unconditional. A third sector model will not suddenly become a body that does not require public funding. IWA believes any new organisation will need to retain British Waterways’ property portfolio and a long-term central government service contract to reflect the public benefits for which there are not, and there can never be, income streams.
The document can be downloaded here: LINK
Waterways News: LINK
