DEFRA Press Release

CJL

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Just got this as well.

Chris

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DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

NEW WATERWAYS CHARITY – TRANSFER OF ENVIRONMENT NAVIGATIONS

Date 28 February 2011

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries (Richard Benyon

On 21 June 2010, I made a statement about inland waterways policy for England and Wales. I said that we were considering the appropriate civil society model for British Waterways, including the possible inclusion of the Environment Agency’s navigations. On 14 October, the Government subsequently announced its intention to move British Waterways in England and Wales from being a public corporation to a new waterways charity – subject to parliamentary approval.

As a result of work undertaken by the Government, British Waterways and the Environment Agency over the last few months, I am convinced by the compelling vision of a national trust for the waterways that includes the British Waterways and Environment Agency navigations. However, I wish to take a phased approach to the delivery of this vision, so that assets and liabilities can be transferred sustainably. In phase 1, the liabilities and assets of British Waterways in England and Wales will transfer into the new charity, alongside an ‘endowment’ consisting of the property portfolio owned by British Waterways in England and Wales. In phase 2, the EA navigations would transfer to the new charity, if sufficient funding can be found in the next Spending Review to enable the charity to take on the liabilities associated with them, and subject to the agreement of the charity’s Trustees.

The Government’s proposed approach, which will be subject to public consultation as part of the forthcoming consultation on setting up the new charity, is that the EA navigations should transfer to the new charity in 2015/16 in the next Spending Review period, if it is affordable to do so. To maintain momentum, a review will be undertaken in 2014 to assess the progress and achievements of the new charity and to consider the options for the transfer of the EA navigations.

The Government is absolutely committed to delivering its exciting vision for a national trust for the waterways over the coming years and considers that over time the new waterways charity offers the most sustainable future for both the BW waterways and EA navigations.
 

TrueBlue

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Yes agreed just get on with it & we will all know were we stand !!!!!!!!:eek:

Yeah, wonderful and then everyone will be moaning:-

  • No lock keepers
  • lock cottages redundant and sold off.
  • Registration fees up by 20% (VAT) 'cos it'll be a licence
  • Everybody (including Lotus_John) will have to pay (a reference to the boats in marinas posts)
  • Marinas paying a connection fee plus a % of their income.
  • Backlog of maintenance

All the above are part of the BW business model and not scaremongering on my part.

Bring it on (NOT)
 

No Regrets

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And who, exactly, will be left to check on River licences? :D

As you say, bring it on. The resultant carnage will cost them far more...
 

oldgit

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Yeah, wonderful and then everyone will be moaning:-

  • No lock keepers
  • lock cottages redundant and sold off.
  • Registration fees up by 20% (VAT) 'cos it'll be a licence
  • Everybody (including Lotus_John) will have to pay (a reference to the boats in marinas posts)
  • Marinas paying a connection fee plus a % of their income.
  • Backlog of maintenance

All the above are part of the BW business model and not scaremongering on my part.

Bring it on (NOT)

Blimming heck.... the Daily Mail does have a boating correspondent :)
 

azman

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Yeah, wonderful and then everyone will be moaning:-

  • No lock keepers
  • lock cottages redundant and sold off.
  • Registration fees up by 20% (VAT) 'cos it'll be a licence
  • Everybody (including Lotus_John) will have to pay (a reference to the boats in marinas posts)
  • Marinas paying a connection fee plus a % of their income.
  • Backlog of maintenance

All the above are part of the BW business model and not scaremongering on my part.

Bring it on (NOT)

Look on the bright side ... Your licence fees will go to build some lovely shopping arcades, and pub chains.
 

macnorton

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Yeah, wonderful and then everyone will be moaning:-

  • No lock keepers
  • lock cottages redundant and sold off.
  • Registration fees up by 20% (VAT) 'cos it'll be a licence
  • Everybody (including Lotus_John) will have to pay (a reference to the boats in marinas posts)
  • Marinas paying a connection fee plus a % of their income.
  • Backlog of maintenance

All the above are part of the BW business model and not scaremongering on my part.

Bring it on (NOT)

The above are also used by the anglian EA so not just BW.
EG: the Nene has..

39 locks and 1 lock keeper. (tidal lock)
most of the property has been sold off long ago.
Everyone pays for a licence (no refunds or transfer even if the boat is ashore for 6 months)
I dont know if marinas pay a % round here.
maintenance? Orton lock has been on the list for at least 7 years, and just cancelled again!

PS we also pay a lot more than you do on the Thames, so when the fees become standardised we should pay less! (was that a flying pig I just saw?)

Anglian info.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/AR11_Tariffs_FINAL.pdf
 

oldgit

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Ooops.....

Looking at those tables and tables from other navigations it makes you wonder if a certain river (no names but it begins with a T) has been getting its services and amenities on the cheap,wonder even if they may even have to start paying a proper rate for the rather Rolls Royce service enjoyed.
 

Brayman

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............makes you wonder if a certain river (no names but it begins with a T) has been getting its services and amenities on the cheap,wonder even if they may even have to start paying a proper rate for the rather Rolls Royce service enjoyed.

Well, it is a ROYAL river!
 

John_Slee

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Yeah, wonderful and then everyone will be moaning:-

  • No lock keepers
  • lock cottages redundant and sold off.
  • Registration fees up by 20% (VAT) 'cos it'll be a licence
  • Everybody (including Lotus_John) will have to pay (a reference to the boats in marinas posts)
  • Marinas paying a connection fee plus a % of their income.
  • Backlog of maintenance

All the above are part of the BW business model and not scaremongering on my part.

Bring it on (NOT)

How many lock keepers on the River Weaver? (several)
How many marinas' boats don't pay a licence? (lots)

Is the Thames maintenance completely up to date?
 

TrueBlue

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How many lock keepers on the River Weaver? (several)
How many marinas' boats don't pay a licence? (lots)

Is the Thames maintenance completely up to date?

I was going to write a long diatribe in response to you, BUT i@ll be short in the first instance.

  • The Weaver is not quite the same as the Thames...
  • It is still a commercial waterway with large barges. The Thames is not
  • There is no evidence that commercial Thames marinas have any/ many non registration paying customers.
  • Thames maintenance is not up to date, inasmuchas there is always a lot to do. However, IMHO it's in pretty good shape.
So what's you "argument" (meaning "point").
Nice to see a regional Ensign, but it doesn't connect you with any usable interest on the Thames - so what's your standpoint?
This is NOT indented to be an attack on you....
 

Andrew_Fanner

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Looking at those tables and tables from other navigations it makes you wonder if a certain river (no names but it begins with a T) has been getting its services and amenities on the cheap,wonder even if they may even have to start paying a proper rate for the rather Rolls Royce service enjoyed.

Thst would be the Trent then.

Freeloading on the rest of us:)
 
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