Michael Fabricant spoke today (Sunday 17^th March) at the annual Northern Canals Association meeting hosted this year by the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust at the Boley Park Community Hall in Lichfield.  The majority of attendees were from Manchester, Leeds, and beyond.

“The talk was entitled ‘Parliament and our Waterways’ and I spoke in my capacity as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Waterways as well as being the MP for Lichfield” says Michael Fabricant.  “I reminded the audience that there are over 5,000 miles of navigable waterways in Britain which is the envy of the world.  Indeed, there are more canals in Birmingham than there are in Venice!  And of the 2,000 miles of waterways cared for by the Canal & River Trust, over 9 million people make use of them each and ever fortnight whether it be as boaters or walking along tow paths.  I explained the work of the All Party Group and how the Inland Waterways Association provide a live feed of the proceedings.  The next meeting is on Wednesday morning, 20^th March.

“Questions after were wide ranging including on HS2 and the land they have taken and not returned which is affecting canal restoration, the future funding of the Canal and River Trust which cares for 2,000 miles of the 5,000 miles of navigable canals, and on planning matters.

“I shall be raising these with Michael Gove and others and I have actioned Parliamentary Questions to Michael Gove on the need for consistent planning guidance being given to local authorities which can be inconsistent with regard to canal restoration up and down the country, and on assistance for World Heritage Status for some of our canal networks including those in Birmingham.”