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Communique on the future of the inland waterways

Speaking on behalf of IWA, Paul Roper, chairman of IWA’s navigation committee said:

‘We welcome the publication of this Communiqué by APPWG.  IWA has always said that the £39m per annum was not enough. We argued that this had to be improved. 

“We also welcome the Minister’s express recognition of concerns raised by IWA over the proposed amendments to the system for classifying waterways in the Transport Act 1968. He gave an assurance that any application from the Trust to reclassify a waterway would be subject to a full cost benefit analysis and wide consultation with those likely to be affected as required by the Transport Act. Additionally he did not want or expect to see closures of any waterways, as that would not be constructive. He stated that Government wanted to ensure that in the medium term there was scope for a reduction in the percentage of assets that were in poor and very poor condition. He also  added that the Government wanted the existing network to be both maintained and enhanced.”