Feb 2012 - Issue 76
Welcome to Towpath Talk
TIME and tide wait for no man and the launch of the Canal & River Trust has been swamped by the battle to achieve a viable funding deal and the possibility of a parliamentary debate.
There are no doubt those who believe that to have everything in place by April 1 always was a foolish hope given the complexity of the transfer from public body to third sector charity.
Lobbying of MPs has had its desired effect in that questions are being asked in the House while boaters have been vigorously pursuing their own manifesto.
With a window of opportunity for the launch being squeezed by the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and the London Olympics, June currently looks the best bet, but who’s willing to lay money on this?
It could be a very busy month with the retiming of the Crick Boat Show to coincide with the extra bank holiday, Stroud on Water and a host of other festivals.
The demise of the Birmingham Boat Show and the lack of an IWA Waterways Festival this year will deprive the industry of two of its traditional showcases but with all this activity, the inland waterways will certainly be hitting the headlines over the coming months.
Janet
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This month
• BOATERS’ MANIFESTO MEETS THE TRUSTEES
• LETTING THE WATER IN
Staveley basin
• DROITWICH SPA MARINA
News focus
• CARING FOR A LIVING HERITAGE
Water & wildlife
• 340 BOATS FOR SALE
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