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Publication Date: 14 January 2008
Release Date: 14 January 2008
IWA Press Release
IWA Announce Inland Waterways ‘Parliamentarian of the Year’ Awards Dinner
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is pleased to announce that it is to host the first Inland Waterways ‘Parliamentarian of the Year’ Awards Dinner at the House of Commons this April.
Announcing the launch of the Awards John Fletcher, IWA national chairman said:
“I am delighted to announce the launch of what IWA hopes will become an annual awards event of great importance to the inland waterways movement. By holding this prestigious occasion, IWA hopes to acknowledge those parliamentarians who have been prominent in their support for the inland waterways over the past year. It will also be a great opportunity for IWA to gather many of its parliamentary supporters together and review progress to date and brief them on where we hope to be in the future”.
“IWA is especially grateful to Bob Laxton, as chair of the Parliamentary Waterways Group, for agreeing to sponsor the event within the House on our behalf. IWA is also honoured that the waterways minister Jonathan Shaw MP and Mr Speaker Martin will be attending the evening. Speculation is already mounting as to who the winner will be; but everyone will have to wait until the night for the announcement!”
Among MPs whose names have already been mentioned are Charlotte Atkins and Michael Fabricant , both of whom have been successful in calling debates in the House on behalf of the waterways movement in the past year, along with Peter Soulsby, Dave Drew and Linda Waltho, who are all very active on the waterways within their own constituencies. More than 50 people will attend the dinner which will be held in a House of Commons dining room overlooking the Thames.
John Fletcher continued:
“No doubt other names are in the frame, and there are a few months to go yet for others to emerge but we are grateful to all our friends in Parliament for their work both in public and private on behalf of the waterways. Since DEFRA announced the first round of cuts, hundreds of MPs have contacted ministers, asked parliamentary questions, taken part in debates, and visited the canals and rivers on behalf of all waterways users. Holding these awards is IWA’s way of saying thank you”.
The dinner will be held on Tuesday 1st April at 7.30pm at the House of Commons.
Ends
For further information please contact
Jo Gilbertson 01923 711 114
Notes for Editors
The Inland Waterways Association
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 in the inland waterways.
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.
