27th November 2006

On Saturday Green party members joined 50 boats and others at Gloucester Docks to protest at Defra cuts to inland waterways. Cllr Martin Whiteside,the Green party's Parliamentary spokesperson for Stroud was amongst those making a speech.

Here is a precise of some of what Martin Whiteside said at the demo:

We in Thrupp and Brimscombe, historic communities just outside Stroud Town are keenly looking forward to the regeneration of our canal – spearheaded by BW and SDC. We look forward to a functioning canal, wildlife corridor, towpath and cycle path, reconstruction of Brimscombe Port.  Important for our Heritage, important for the local community … putting the Heart back into Brimscombe.

These not threatened directly by DEFRA cuts – but the longer term maintenance and the quality of the project may well be.  To cut funding to our wonderful canal network  - because of cock-ups in other parts of DEFRA - is lunacy.  Does the Government care about our waterways?

On the one hand our Government talks about how important they consider the environment, talk about biodiversity, they talk about more people holidaying in the UK to reduce airmiles, they talk about more walking and cycling to reduce ill-health.  All these well funded and well managed waterways can deliver. 

And what do they do?  They do the complete and utter opposite……. talk about lack of joined up Government.  We need public funds to manage and develop this jewel – our inland waterways.  It has been due to public enthusiasm and hard work by thousands that has saved many of our waterways, and led to incredible progress over the last few decades. We cant let short term Government stupidity undermine this progress - death by a thousand cuts.

There is another side however.  If BW want public support to reverse these cuts, and these cuts should be reversed – then BW must earn that public support. BW must raise its game!  BW must listen much more to the canal users – those that live on the canal, beside the canal, the boaters, the anglers, the walkers, the cyclists, the naturalists. We know there are genuine conflicts of interests between the BW property portfolio and its role as a publicly funded body representing many different stakeholders.  It is not an easy balance to make. 

BUT if BW wants more public support, and they must have more public support – then they must be responsive to us the public.  Our waterways are a JEWEL – we must nurture them and celebrate them.  Part of this can be done by volunteers and voluntary organisations – but part must be done by a properly funded public body.  AND this public body must be accountable to US the people.

On behalf of the local Green Party, and on behalf of my local constitutents and on behalf of all those who love and cherish our wonderful waterways I call on the Government to reverse these cuts!

See also Martin's letter to the local press here.