Relief for Canal enthusiasts

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has welcomed news that following his campaign the Government have restored the annual grant to British Waterways.  This follows concerns that their grant would be under threat, following budget errors by the Government, this led to fears that urgent maintenance would not be carried out on Rochdale Canal and a national newspaper and MP’s from across the country questioning its future.  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has confirmed that they will restore the £57.55 Million grant, worth £606,000 to the Rochdale Canal.  

Despite, this success Mr Rowen has written to DEFRA to ask them to pay the £11,000,000 outstanding maintenance to Rochdale Canal that was agreed during the canal’s recent restoration.  Mr Rowen said: “I welcome this u-turn but that doesn’t mean that we shall be writing off the outstanding maintenance money we are owed.  We will not let them off the hook, Rochdale Council have stuck to their side of the bargain alongside the other three councils that Rochdale Canal runs in and paid their share .  I will making these concerns plain to DEFRA Minister David Milliband MP.  The Rochdale Canal is vital to the regeneration of places like Littleborough and I will work to make sure that its future is guaranteed.”

Mr Rowen, also the Lib Dem Transport Spokesman added: “I am delighted that the campaign has paid off although I will be keeping a keen eye on funding in future.  The uncertainty that this has caused should shame the Government, their only saving grace is that have listened to our concerns but this should never had happened.  The maintenance grant of £606,000 for this year should now be safeguarded and it should enable British Waterways to carry out vital maintenance work to our Canal looking after its long term future.  Since the news broke my postbag has been inundated with people telling me to fight hard.  That is exactly what I have done, I was one of the MPs who raised awareness of the issue in Parliament by writing an Early Day Motion – these motions had the support over 150 MPs from all parties and persuaded the Government to reverse their scandalous plans.  I also spoke in several debates on the issue and was in constant contact to get it reversed.  I am delighted at the news and I am sure the Canal Society and canal lovers across Rochdale are delighted.

“I will be keeping an eye on future developments at the canal and have requested a meeting with both Debbie Lumb, the British Waterways’ North West General Manager and Frances Done, the former Chief Executive of Rochdale Council and Chairwoman of the Waterways Trust, a charitable body set up to promote the use of canals, to see how we can work together to make sure this never happens again and to look at the £11,000,000 backlog.  I was born and bred in Rochdale and I am well aware of its great history and I see it as one of my priorities to guarantee the canal’s future so that future generations can enjoy it.”

Debbie Lumb, British Waterways’ North West general manager said: “We have been continuing discussions with DEFRA who have recently advised us of the level of Government grant for 2007/08.  The confirmed funding for the financial year ahead helps us to plan our maintenance works for the 2,200-mile canal network at a time when we are creating our business plans for the same period.  We remain committed to delivering improved, enhanced and secure waterways that welcome millions of visitors each year.  The hard work of British Waterways, our partners and many others over recent years to regenerate the waterways network will provide a firm foundation upon which the network can thrive in the 21st century.

“Over the past few years British Waterways has spent an additional £4.5 million on major engineering works to the Rochdale Canal included the repairs to Whit Brook Culvert, which collapsed in August 2004 and the Irk Aqueduct which failed in April 2005.  We remain committed to improving, caring and developing the Rochdale Canal into the future together with and for the benefit of the local community who already enjoy this magnificent canal.”