With the Election now in full swing, below is the message AWCC National Chairman, David Pearce gave at the recent  National AGM. This article is in the latest Newsletter AWARE available from the Newsletter tab at the top of the page.

Why you should read their manifestos ?

I made the comment in my report to the AWCC AGM that I believe that the waterways’ movement is facing a major crossroad, maybe the first really major one since the 50s and 60s.The consultant’?s report, ‘Setting a Course’ put forward the options to BW. The option of becoming a full-blown charity to run the inland waterways has been chosen, so it is now a distinct possibility.  If it is sympathetically implemented, it could be of great advantage to the many thousands of people who appreciate the inland waterways. It will allow us, the users to have a positive say in the way the waterways are run, via a Board of Trustees.

Will it become a reality?  I have met with the politicians and all three major parties appear to be signed up.  In the run up to an election many things are said and promises made.  After the big day, reality then strikes home with those that have won.  I can well imagine that matters of inland waterways will not be at the top of the political agenda – it never is, but there is every reason why we must try, and try hard, to ratchet it upwards.

The party manifestos are all in draft and will be published as soon the election date is confirmed.  My advice to all members is to make sure you read what they say about waterways and then quiz them when they come knocking on your door.  If enough people do this, they might just get the message that it is important to a lot of people who may just vote for them.

What are the main political issues?  Funding remains the matter of key importance and a change to charity status does not rectify that overnight.  However, charity status does create a more liberal tax regime and with a greater emphasis on volunteering, improvements can be expected.

What is essential is that the Government of the day continues to provide their grant, as this is effectively the contribution from the non-boaters who can only pay for the waterways via their tax contributions.

Of equal importance is that the new charity must have a substantial endowment.  This has to be the current BW property portfolio.  All national user group chairmen have fought hard on this one.  You may recall that I got a personal assurance from Gerry Grimstone on the matter a year ago, but a new government with other financial problems may be persuaded by a recalcitrant Treasury to take it away.  This would be extremely short sighted.

I am asking you the membership to get out there and lobby:

      Read their manifestos,

      Talk to them on the door step and in the meeting place,

      Send them letters and emails.

Get the assurance that they will, when they get to Westminster:

      Support the charity proposal,

      Not cut the Grant in Aid,

      Give the new charity the property portfolio as an endowment.

You know it makes sense!

David Pearce.

National Chairman.

David Pearce, National Chairman of the AWCC, has written to Gerry Grimstone and Yvette Cooper, expressing concern at the possibility of BW losing control of it’s Non-operational Property Portfolio and the income that generates for BW. Copies of the letters are attached below.

We understand that a number of AWCC members have also written to their MPs and to other Government Ministers in a similar vein.

The Budget on Wednesday 22nd April will tell all.

Gerry_Grimstone.pdf

Yvette_Cooper.pdf

John Edmonds,Chair of IWAC, has written to the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, expressing his concern about an adverse outcome of the Treasury Review being carried out by Gerry Grimstone which could result in a reduction to BWs income, and arguing that BW should allowed to retain the control of and income from, the property and investment portfolio. Full information and the text of his letter are available on the IWAC website here http://www.iwac.org.uk/news/#news61

John Edmonds spoke on this subject at the AWCC AGM held at Stafford Boat Club on 14th March 2009.

The BSS have just released the attached alert on a specific type of portable stove with an integral gas canister.

“The release is made following incidents where people have been seriously burnt and is issued by the Boat Safety Scheme in association with Hampshire County Council Trading Standards.

There are many variants of such stoves and no single model or brand is implicated.

We have attached a generic image for your use and which is intended to reflect no one brand or model, but just a typical design.”

The alert discusses the possibilty of incorrect assembly which can result in the integral gas canister overheating with the possibility of a subsequent explosion.

The full information from the BSS is downloadable here nr00109-portable-gas-stoves-safety-alert-apr-09

At the request of a number of members, I have added the old Club maps under the Club Finder whilst I work on getting the new Club finder in place.

Note that the information on these maps is not fully up to date – some flags may be shown on the map indicating Clubs that are no longer part of the AWCC, and some Clubs may not be shown on the maps.

Please check with the handbook and the 2009 updates for the latest information on a Club

Brian Rich
AWCC Communications Officer

The Federation was formed in 1963 to link the six Bridgewater Boat Clubs, socially, on Bridgewater Canal affairs, and in their dealings with Peel Holdings, the Authority who control the Bridgewater Canal. The six Clubs, all AWCC members, who all give a warm, northern type welcome to visitors, are, from east to west:

Worsley C.C. situated on the Leigh branch of the Bridgewater, which runs north, from its junction with the Main line at Waters Meet, to join the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Wigan . Nearby are the famous but closed underground canal workings which serviced coal mines. Quite an historic area.

Watch House C.C. in the Stretford Area, with handy adjacent shopping, and easy access to Manchester Centre. An atmospheric club house, part of which is an old stable block.

Sale C.C. Long established, active, friendly club, good facilities. Access to fast Metrolink tram service into City Centre.

Lymm C.C. next, situated near the picturesque Cheshire Village of Lymm, a village well worth a visit. with good walks in the surrounding areas. Again another active, friendly club.

Preston Brook Boat Owners Association is situated near to the Junction of the Bridgewater Canal, Trent and Mersey Canal, and the Runcorn Branch Canal.

Bridgewater Motor Boat Club is at the end of the Runcorn Branch, well worth a trip, not only for the welcome you will receive at their club house, but you can walk down and visit the site of the Runcorn Locks, at the bottom of which is the Manchester Ship Canal.

There is now a society working to restore the Runcorn Locks, which will add more adventures in the NW. Down the locks onto the Ship Canal, west towards the Weaver River at Marsh Lock, or further down to the River Mersey, or East up to Salford Quays, then up the Pomona Lock back onto the Bridgwater Canal.

Roland Dotchin
NW Region AWCC

The National Annual General meeting of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs will be held at Stafford Boat Club on 14th March 2009 at 11:00am.

Club delegates are invited to attend. One Club – One Vote

The Speaker will be John Edmunds, National Chair IWAC

Lunch may be booked in advance.

More details available from the National Secretary

The BSI have recently published the attached draft on the installation and use of solid fuel stoves and cooking appliances on boats.

If you want to comment on the draft, it can be accessed at http://drafts.bsigroup.com/?i=283

You will need to register with the site to get at the draft, but this will also allow you to comment as part of the draft review process. You will be asked to provide some log-in details and you will be sent password information via e-mal to allow you to login.

Once logged in, scroll down the page to find the draft (presently the fourth in the list). You will see the draft laid out in a sectional basis and you will be able to comment on anything relevant.

If you prefer to read the draft in paper form, the PDF is here:

n1-solid-fuel-stoves-in-boats-draft-for-public-comment-bs-8511

St Pancras Cruising Club Annual cruise to the Royal Docks for the
London International Boat Show-January 2009

Taken from the cruise report to the St Pancras Cruising Club egroup.

Folks,
A note to let you know that the first club cruise of the year got off, quite literally, to a cracking start earlier this week. On Tuesday, Frank and Sue on Lotus No 10 spent several hours trying to leave west London for St P. to meet other boats bound for Limehouse. In the end, the ice proved too much, but thankfully, they managed to return to their mooring safely. Read the rest of this entry »

On 14 January, inland waterways representatives spent a couple of hours in the Palace of Westminster briefing Anne McIntosh MP, Shadow Environment Minister with responsibility for waterways, on the current issues.

The meeting was instigated by Will Chapman or SOW, after an e-mail exchange with David Cameron last autumn. Those present were:

Will Chapman – Save Our Waterways (Chair of delegation)
John Dodwell – Commercial Boat Owners Association
Kevin East – British Canoe Union
David Fletcher  – British Waterways Advisory Forum
Clive Henderson – Inland Waterways Association
Mike Palmer  – Water Recovery Group
David Pearce -  Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs
Geoff Pursglove – Ashby Canal Restoration
Stuart Sampson – NABO – National Association of Boat Owners
Michael Shefras MBE  – Thames User Group(navigation)
Nigel Stevens – British Waterways Advisory Forum and British Marine Federation
Chris Turner – RYA Inland Navigation Group and Association of Thames Yacht Clubs
Rex Walden  – Residential Boat Owners Association

Papers summarising the current situation were presented:

• Clive Henderson reviewed the financing of both BW and EA and left no doubt about the potential for an increase in maintenance backlog because of the widening funding gap.
• I spoke about the ministerial initiative to bring departments of Government together with DEFRA on the matter.  I also suggested that the three major parties could work together on an all-party approach. Anne McIntosh accepted the considerable cross-party support for the various Early Day Motion debates on waterways issues.
• Will Chapman reviewed hosting Departments apart from DEFRA, but we got the impression that a Conservative government would not make a change.
• Dave Fletcher gave a passionate appraisal on all waterways matters as well as his brief and did much to cement our feeling in the mind of our host, as well as raising a few smiles all round!
• Mike Shefras put forward the idea of a single navigation authority.
• John Dodwell then gave a splendid review of recent water transport opportunities.

Anne McIntosh listened carefully and discussed these and related matters in an intelligent and open way, without being partisan.

Much discussion followed, including opportunities for briefing other shadow ministers. Written briefs were left on other subjects, e.g. The Broads.

Anne McIntosh thanked us roundly for our efforts and promised to provide a copy of the Conservative policy document and to receive our comments. She has assured me personally that she would like to continue the briefing relationship with our informal group.

It was considered by all to be a very worthwhile exercise.

David Pearce
National Chairman