ÖPIK CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO PUT ECONOMIC RECOVERY ON THE ROAD - AND ON THE WATER (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

Cymraeg
English

Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

ÖPIK CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO PUT ECONOMIC RECOVERY ON THE ROAD - AND ON THE WATER

October 29, 2008 11:58 AM

Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire, is a participant in today's debate on the future restoration of Inland Waterways across the UK.

Commenting ahead of the debate, he said:

"There is huge potential for future growth of the canal network, in terms of both leisure profits and employment creation. In 2007 there were 31,000 boats on the canal network, the largest number of boats in its history. With the continued Government funding, the UK could continue to see the use of canals grow.

"The complete restoration of Montgomery Canal, connecting it with the rest of the network, would reap great economic benefits, including creating over 340 new jobs, generating over one and a half million visits to the area, and stimulating over £20 million in visitor expenditure in local areas.

"At a time of recession the canal network offers an ideal opportunity for the sort of public investment the Prime Minister has promised to keep the economic show on the road - or in this case on the water! Canal revenues in the last few years as a result of investment by Government show conclusively that water flow leads to cash flow.

"Also, without the investment to fill in the current £30 million maintenance gap experienced by British Waterways, we also face further risks of flooding as canals burst their banks.

"I hope that the Minister will be sympathetic towards the needs of the canal network. It's time to put the cash behind the network's huge potential to be part of our economic recovery."

Ends/diwedd