SOW Protest at Newbury

[Rob Dean]

Folks,

Below, for information, is the text of a press release we have sent out today. All support welcomed.

Rob

NB Pukeko

 

Press Release from the Newbury branch of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

Date: 3rd February 2007

 

Newbury protest on Saturday 3rd March to "Save our Waterways"

 

Cuts in government funding to British Waterways threaten the

maintenance of the Kennet & Avon canal and Britain's entire network of

waterways.

 

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust calls on all who use and love our canal

to protest at the Wharf on Saturday 3rd March between 11am and 1pm.

 

The protest is part of a nationwide series of events highlighting the

importance of the waterways in advance of a national petition being

presented to Parliament in early March. The nationwide campaign is

being organised by "Save our Waterways", a campaign organization

formed to try to ensure the adequate funding of the waterways in

future.

 

The organisers hope the protest will involve a wide range of canal

users including boaters and canoeists, anglers, walkers, cyclists, dog

owners, nature lovers, and those that just like to sit and watch the

canal or feed the swans. It's important for all these groups that the

canal is maintained to ensure access and safety.

 

Like most canal centres, the presence of the waterway in Newbury has a

profound effect on the local economy and it is the centre of a

significant amount

of recreational use by local residents.

 

The campaign has come about because of financial mismanagement in the

Department of Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which was quite

unrelated to the waterways. As a result the Department has imposed

severe cuts in the grant funding it provides to British Waterways.

This means that BW, which maintains our canals, has been forced to lay

off over 180 staff and to dramatically cut back on maintenance of the

waterways. Having spent nearly 50 years and some £50m getting the

Kennet & Avon Canal restored it would be tragic to see our wonderful

public amenity fall into a neglected and perhaps unsafe condition

 

The protest will be joined by local MP, Richard Benyon who has taken a

leading role in the parliamentary campaign against the cuts.

 

Everyone is welcome at the protest which will gather at the Stone

Building on the Wharf from 11am to 1pm on Saturday 3rd March. For

further information on the protest you can speak to Tracy Perryman,

Trust Branch Chairman at the Stone Building (522609) or ring Julie

Dean on 01962 883939. Boaters who can bring their boats can contact

John Arthurs at newburyharbourmas...@hotmail.co.uk or just turn up on

the day.

 

More details of the nationwide campaign are at

www.saveourwaterways.org.uk.

 

Author contact:

Julie Dean

Branch Communications Officer

01962 883939

robdean...@btinternet.com

 

Notes for Editors:

 

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust is a registered charity (CC 209206) that

campaigned for 40 years before completing restoration of the canal in

1990. It now works to protect, promote and enhance the canal,

bringing visitors to Newbury and protecting the canal as an asset for

the people of the town. Background on the work of the trust is

available on its website at www.katrust.org.uk

 

Background on the campaign is available at www.saveourwaterways.org.uk.

More detail on the funding issues is available from the Inland

Waterways Association website at http://www.waterways.org.uk/News/

DefraFundingCuts.

 

The Trust would welcome media coverage of the event at around 12

noon. We are expecting a large number of boats with banners as well

as canoes, cyclists and other canal users. There will be good photo

opportunities, especially from the Parkway Bridge. Richard Benyon, MP

has also agreed to speak with the press on behalf of the campaign. It

would be helpful if editors could let the organisers know of their

plans for coverage so we are able to provide support to your

journalists.

[roger]

A SOW demo is also being held at Camden (thats Camden Town in London) at the top of the locks March 3rd.

[Gillie]

Will definatly be at the Newbury Day...