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Publication Date: 24 May 2007
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has strongly condemned British Waterways’ decision to go forward with a trial of tendering mooring vacancies against the express wishes of all the major user groups.
Roger Squires, chairman of IWA’s Navigation Committee, commented ‘IWA’s Navigation Committee members consider that, with the current shortage of mooring spaces, such a trial is unnecessary and creates additional expense and bureaucracy for British Waterways at a time when it is under funded by government.’
A representative of the Association attended an informal workshop on the process, not because IWA agreed with the policy but to try and get some sense and reason into the process, for example by persuading British Waterways that an Ebay style auction was completely inappropriate.
Roger Squires continued, ‘This system will not provide British Waterways with a balanced view of the market value of moorings as it only includes moorings where there is a waiting list. The concept is also seen as introducing a bias in mooring allocations towards those more financially able, so skewing the opportunities for all to gain fair access to scarce local moorings. Commercial operators offer price lists for their moorings, so allowing a degree of certainty for access and budgeting, which the proposed tender system does not provide.’
Roger Squires concluded, 'With this proposal British Waterways is completely out of tune with boaters’ real needs and, instead of devoting its energies towards finding more mooring sites, is simply adding an unnecessary additional obstruction to boaters obtaining those mooring sites that are currently vacant.'
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For further information please contact:
Vicky Clark, IWA Membership Services Co-ordinator Tel: 01923 711114 ext 29
Jo Gilbertson, IWA Campaigns Co-ordinator Tel: 01923 711114 ext 31
Roger Squires, IWA Navigation Committee Chairman Tel. 020 72320987
Notes for Editors:
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity, founded in 1946, which advocates the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways for public benefit. IWA has about 18,000 members whose interests include boating, towing path walking, industrial archaeology, nature conservation and many other activities associated with the inland waterways. Information provided by 188 corporate members with their own membership structures has revealed that they, in themselves, have a combined membership of at least 59,500 in support of IWA's voice.
IWA works closely with navigation authorities, other waterway bodies, a wide range of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector organisations to raise funds, lobby for support and encourage public participation.
More than 500 miles of canals and navigable rivers have been re-opened to public use since the Association was founded in 1946. Currently another 500 miles of derelict inland waterways are the subject of restoration plans.
British Waterways is a public corporation that manages and more than 2,200 miles (3,540 km) of canals and rivers in England, Scotland and Wales.
