RYA and BMF focus on Inland Waterways at Parliamentary Reception 

With keynote speaker Gavin Shuker MP...

MPs, Peers and senior representatives from important waterways organisations joined with Directors and staff from the RYA and BMF at yesterday’s joint reception held at the Houses of Parliament (22 June 2011).  

The event, sponsored by Anne McIntosh MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, gave more than 20 MPs and Peers the opportunity to meet with the two organisations and discuss issues effecting the boating community, with a particular focus this year on the issues surrounding Inland Waterways.  

With the current on-going consultation around the transfer of British Waterways at the front of many people’s minds, the event provided an excellent opportunity for people to share ideas and views with politicians from across the political spectrum.  

Plenty to discuss

“We are currently at a potentially critical turning point for the future of the canals and rivers currently managed by British Waterways and the RYA is keen to ensure the inland network is maintained for navigation and the interests of the users”, commented Gus Lewis, RYA Legal and Government Affairs Manager.      

“Although our particular focus was on the future of Inland Waterways we took the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues including Marine Conservation Zones, windfarms and coastguard reforms,” he added.  

Rob Stevens, Chief Executive of the BMF, said: “A healthy inland waterways network is vital for the marine industry. While we have been broadly supportive of the transfer of   British Waterways to the third sector, we are now at the stage where both British Waterways and the Government have to show that the plan is sound financially.”  

Keynote speaker

Keynote speaker at the event was Labour’s Gavin Shuker, the new Shadow Minister for Waterways, who spent two hours speaking to people from the BMF and RYA, as well as representatives from individual clubs and businesses. 

Mr Shuker commented: “I recognise that there is a need for change for British Waterways however changes should not be left to chance.  The issues are not simple and we need organisations like the RYA and BMF to remain involved.”  

He urged MP’s to engage in the debate about the Inland Waterways as any changes would impact on both the environment and waterways for the future.  

Events like the Parliamentary reception are a vital part of the RYA and BMF’s wider strategy of raising the profile of the organisations and the concerns of their members directly with parliamentarians. This will be strengthened further when the two organisations join forces again at the main party political conferences in the autumn, along with the BCU and IWA, to continue to promote the interests of the organisations’ members to Government and other opinion formers.