Boaters call out government for reducing funding by Admin | Gloucester News Centre - http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/
Boaters claim that a combination of reduced services, with Gloucester Docks closed for more than 6 months last winter, together with reduced Summer opening hours and full day closures of the Canal during both Summer and Winter opening have reduced boaters visiting the canal by around 50% this summer.
These cutbacks are forced by funding problems and boaters are concerned that this is a prelude to even more extreme draconian measures, unless Government support the Nation’s Waterways by increasing funding, rather than the proposed severe reduction.
To draw attention to this increasing problem them ‘Fund Gloucester’s Waterways, a member of the ‘Fund Britain’s Waterways’ national campaign have arranged a protest cruise and rally in Gloucester Docks on Saturday 30th September.
Boaters are strongly encouraged to join the cruise leaving Saul Junction at 08.00, to arrive in the Main Basin at 11.00; and asking residents, walkers, anglers, local businesses, charities and everyone who uses the canal to join in a march from The National Waterways Museum in the Docks at 11.15, to join with boaters to hear talks at midday from both National and Local Waterways Groups, including Les Etheridge, Chair of ‘Fund Britain’s Waterways’ and Richard Parry CEO of ‘The Canal & River Trust’.
Colin Brooks, spokesman for Fund Gloucester’s Waterways’ argues that ‘Government needs to recognise that saying that they value the inland waterways is not enough to prevent their decline. Whilst we in Fund Gloucester’s Waterways understand the financial pressures that everyone faces, but these financial cuts are too deep, and adequate public funding needs to be allocated to maintain these national assets. In Gloucester for the first time, and with no consultation, the canal has been closed this summer on Tuesday’s, which has really angered boaters and affected businesses, and wit anticipated large rises in above inflation boat licencing and mooring costs will only increase frustration.’
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
