Matters of particular interest to Berkhamsted are coloured blue.

Associate PARLIAMENTARY WATERWAYS GROUP
c/o 67 Chawn Park Drive, Stourbridge, DY9 0UQ.
Chairman: Bill O’Brien MP
Vice-Chairman Lembit Opik MP
Secretary: Dominic Grieve MP  Treasurer: Candy Atherton MP
Tel: 01384 392572  Mobile: 07976 591727
e-mail: barberp@parliament.uk

 Notes 3^rd December 2002 mtg, speaker Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport

Bill O’Brien MP chaired the meeting. Lindy Foster Weinreb addressed the group on the loss of working wharves. Useful facilities and historic assets are being lost to residential development. Lindy wishes to produce a document giving the national picture. Bill O’Brien agreed that this was an important issue, waterside development was taking away some areas just when there were pressures building up activity from the waterway. Group members are encouraged to send any information, especially with respect to working wharves. Bill O’Brien will make representations on this issue when the report is complete.

 The Historic Narrow Boat Owners Club commented that professional carriers were very worried about the increasing difficulty in finding wharves for loading and unloading. Dave Fletcher, speaking for British Waterways, said that BW’s policy is if wharves are lost by development, to try and find a new location. Often development in the vicinity of wharves makes road access to old wharves impracticable. He is especially interested in finding wharves for new freight like the transport of waste to recycling plants.

 Lindy Foster Weinreb’s address and e-mail are: The Warehouse, Castle Wharf, Ravens Lane, Berkhamsted, HP4 2DZ. Lindy@castlewharf.com. Information can also be sent to the PWG Administrator for forwarding.

 Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport was introduced. He has met the Group before when he was Minister for Planning and Regeneration.

 The Minister stated that the Prime Minister’s view was that sport was an asset that was massively under utilised. The Government wants to change that. Sport is essential to well-being. The cost of obesity is estimated at £2 billion pa. Diabetes has increased by a factor of 5 since the 1980s. We are an inactive, post-industrial society. Before remote controls, at least we burnt 3 calories changing TV channel  - we don’t even get that now! The challenge is how we can use sport to help address health, education and social inclusion.  

The sport agenda has a lot to do with waterways - an asset lying latent. Planners are looking at using water space effectively. In Sheffield (the Minister’s constituency is Sheffield Central), there has been much development including the Five Weir Walk - a route many would not have taken 20 years ago when there were more factories.  

The renaissance in the waterways is encouraging sports. The expansion in boating to around 100,000 licensed boats also represent inward investment and are a tourist attraction. Rowing and canoeing are growing in popularity and rowing builds on the success of Steve Redgrave to engage young people. The Minister spent the day at the National Federation of Anglers head office last week. He was very impressed with their work, especially with young people. One coach at Level Two is the target for every angling club. The last 20 years has seen dramatic growth in towpath use, both urban and countryside for walking and cycling, this continues to be encouraged. 

The difficulties in managing conflicting uses such as boating and angling and the issue of canoe access are acknowledged. Effective co-ordination is required by local authorities, national government and navigation authorities. Management becomes increasingly important as the waterways develop e.g. speed boating and water skiing in the Lake District. None of this is easy to resolve but needs looking at. The Minister is working closely with Rt Hon Alun Michael MP on access for canoeists. The Government is working using a joined-up approach to use our asset of the waterways in the most effective way possible. 

DISCUSSION
To the Royal Yachting Association and British Water Ski Federation, Rt Hon Richard Caborn said that the Countryside Agency had conducted research into demand and capacity for water based recreational activity and sport within National Parks. DEFRA was now out to consultation on this matter. NPA has devolved power to develop bye-laws BUT we have to sit down and see whether the best formula and structures are in place. Sports and conservation has to match. The time scale was not known, he is working on this with Rt Hon Alun Michael and will come back via the PWG. 

To the Residential Boat Owners Association, the Minister agreed that there were new opportunities for engaging young people in outdoor activities. The Environment Agency and Sport England are investing via sports governing bodies and the school structure. Funding is available for new projects to enhance leisure and sport. Links between schools and rowing, canoeing and angling clubs are being made. There is a commitment to give 2 hours per week quality physical activity or sport to every child between 6 and 16 years old. The Schools Sports Co-Ordinators scheme was described and the involvement of the New Opportunities Fund. User groups are advised to plug in to this network. 

To the British Canoe Union, he agreed that increasing insurance cover was an issue and across the spectrum, a societal problem of being risk averse. This impacted on premiums and on volunteering. It is a real problem, and he is mindful of it. Dialogue with the insurers via sports governing bodies must continue to attempt to reassure insurers that all steps are being taken to minimise injury. 

To the Canoe Camping Club, he said that he was working with DEFRA on the issue of open access and was making some progress and would keep pushing. 

To the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust he said that we were restoring what we wanted to where that was possible and cost effective. The Lottery, especially the Heritage lottery, has made substantial grants and made a lot of commercial activity possible. 

To the National Association of Boat Owners he praised the work of the RYA in schools, drew attention to Lottery Sports Fund grants to sailing and boating clubs and indicated a market for “pay and play” - hiring boats on a pay and use basis. With respect to canal boats he suggested that there was a need for balance in pricing. There had been investment from the public purse to upgrade the inland waterways but the cost of using them must not be prohibitive.  

To the British Marine Federation, the Minister regretted that he was not in a position to comment on the impact of the Licensing Bill and requested the BMF to write to him. He will then make representations to Kim Howells MP who is leading on this matter. Bill O’Brien reminded the Group that it was always possible to submit amendments and these should be stated and put forward for amendment of the Bill in the Committee stages. 

To Lindy Foster Weinreb, he explained that local authorities could be encourage but not compelled to maintain towpaths. Waterway groups need to lobby local authorities. 

To the Driffield Navigation and Pocklinton Canal Amenity Society, the Minister sympathised with the low coverage of sailing in the media, of 130 sports only 2 or 3 dominate media coverage, he could not control the newspapers. He also drew attention to the damage done to lottery income by the Daily Mail. 

Bill O’Brien thanked Rt Hon Richard Caborn and reminded the Group that the next meeting would be on Tuesday 25^th February at 6pm.

LINKS TO OTHER CARP PAGES

Introducing CARP
CARP a Civic and non-political partnership—Chairman's Open Letter
CARP References: Meetings—Agenda, Minutes, Minutes Archive
CARP Special Reports—Japanese Knotweed;
Chairman's Report to Annual Town meeting March2003.
CARP Links: Parliamentary Waterways; Berkhamsted Town Council;
British Waterways; Graham Greene Birthplace Trust