Under this topic, though sans-photos, the IWA's appeal for support of a couple of Early Day Motions regarding Freight on Canals may be appropriate - "Two MPs have launched Early Day Motions in the new session of Parliament urging greater support for the carriage of freight on the inland waterways. Charlotte Atkins, Labour MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, has tabled an Early Day Motion urging government to create a dedicated freight unit to encourage greater carriage of freight on the inland waterways following the recommendations of the House of Commons Select Committee report on British Waterways. Early Day Motion 169 states: R20;That this House congratulates Tesco's for switching from lorry to water the transport of its new world wine over the 32 miles from Liverpool to its bottling plant in Irlam saving 50 lorry trips a week and cutting carbon emissions by 80 per cent.; notes Sainsbury's has recently conducted similar trials in London; believes the Department for Transport should create a dedicated unit to encourage greater use of our inland and coastal waterways as recommended by the recent Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report on British Waterways recommending fiscal incentives to stimulate greater waterways use; and believes much can be learnt from other countries in Europe on using British waterways to reduce noise, pollution and traffic congestion”.Mike Hancock, Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South, has launched an Early Day Motion that notes the environmental benefits and calls on both Government and major retailers to support the movement of freight by water. Early Day Motion 67 states: R20;That this House notes that moving freight by water is several times more environmentally sustainable than doing so by road and takes lorries off the congested road network; further notes that water freight makes a major contribution to the UK's economy and employs more than 200,000 people; welcomes the role played by Sea and Water in promoting water freight; calls on major retailers and others to do more to make their supply chains more green by making use of inland waterways and short sea shipping; and urges the Government to continue to support the water freight industry with policies to develop and maintain the inland waterway network and by ensuring that planning policies in particular encourage rather than hinder access to the waterways.”IWA is encouraging members and other waterways supporters to contact their MP and to lobby them to sign and support both Early Day Motion 67 (51 signatures by 30th November) and 169 (60 signatories by 30th November), as the Association wishes as many MPs as possible to be made aware of some of the wider environmental benefits of the waterways to society as a whole, especially at a time of funding pressures and increased costs to users. The following link can be used to find the MP for any area and contact them to register support for the motions: www.writetothem.comThe following website links show the Early Day motions and which MPs have signed up so far:http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34265&SESSION=891 (EDM 169)http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34157&SESSION=891 (EDM 67)IWA asks that people write to their MP in support of the motions, even if they have already signed them, so that MPs know their constituents support their action and are grateful for their support."
Nigel Moore ● 6448d
