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Publication Date: 22 January 2008
BW Moorings Auction Trial- ‘Computer Says No!’
Release Date: 21 January 2008
IWA Press Release
BW Moorings Auction Trial- ‘Computer Says No!’
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) today handed over an online petition of 2478 electronic signatures “saying no” to British Waterways’ imposition of its online moorings auction trial.
Delivering the petition to British Waterways on behalf of IWA, Dr Roger Squires, chairman of IWA’s navigation committee said:
“I am delighted with the response from members and other waterway users to IWA’s online petition against the imposition of this scheme by British Waterways. This is one occasion when we are pleased that ‘the computer’ has said no!”
“The moorings auction trial has been particularly divisive and has threatened the boating community with yet further unnecessary and unwelcome cost price increases.”
“IWA is concerned that the imposition of this process by British Waterways is not just unfair to those already on waiting lists, but is unjust to the less well off and the elderly who we fear will be priced off the waterways by the highest bidder. IWA is concerned that this will lead to an irreversible change to the waterscape and its community to the detriment of all, by creating social exclusion from the waterways for those who are not middle class and affluent”.
“ IWA has campaigned for the waterways for all, for over 60 years, and many of the pioneers of our movement and of the restoration schemes around the country, who have given their lives to reclaiming and restoring the waterways we use today are those most seriously affected by cost increases such as these.”
He concluded by stating:
“I call on British Waterways to seriously consider the social exclusion issue, and in doing so ask itself: is creating a boating ‘elite’ what Government really expects BW to achieve when it is publicly funding British Waterways with grant in aid?”
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.
British Waterways Moorings Tendering Trial
IWA has expressed its concern at British Waterways’ decision to proceed with a trial of tendering mooring vacancies against the express wishes of all the major user groups.
Rather than fill mooring vacancies with the first name on the waiting list, as has been the practice for many years on those moorings where demand exceeds supply, BW has decided that it will put these moorings to tender. The mooring will then be allocated for three years to the highest bidder.
This new process of allocating moorings is to be trialled for twelve months, during which time the existing waiting lists will be suspended, and likely to involve about 600 moorings.
