Dear friends
Two things.
Firstly, I have mentioned in previous bulletins, the news that the Treasury are looking at the possibility of selling government owned assets and this could include BW’s property portfolio.
There is no firm news on this and lobbying continues. There is a ground swell of opinion against this and an E-petition has been started on the No10 web site to cover the issue. See the link below.
If you are so inclined, I would ask you to add your name. The petition opened this week and has over 3000 names as I write. Some waterways organisations are supporting this. If you look at the whole list of names, you can see some familiar names from the canal world.
As I said in the last NABO news, there are many views about the future of BW and the way to manage the waterways. We do need the debate and although I am not sure that BW’s 2020 has all the answers, it is a good initiative to help us all agree and work towards the best solution.
My own view is that this initiative by the Treasury is a high-jack of the consultation. At best the selling off of the property portfolio will prejudice the outcome of the 2020 discussions, at worst it will cut off a funding stream for the canals, stop 2020 happening and maybe worse. For me, I don’t want the future of the canals determined by the suits behind closed doors in Whitehall in a cash crisis. Of course they will sell it off if they can; they are desperate for the short term money. If it is to be stopped, it becomes a political issue, where politicians believe that they will loose popularity if the sell off takes place. People power is needed, so I have added my name to the petition, as have several other NABO Council members. I ask you to take a moment and do the same.
Secondly, the AGM was held last week, and the new Council duly elected. We will meet on Saturday coming, when officers will be chosen for the coming year. Then Council can fully debate the sell off, 2020 and the other issues of the day. I will keep you informed.
regards
David