Feeling got at!

Never before has boating in the UK undergone such a dramatic increase in growth and yet never before has boating in the UK been so dramatically got at - except for the times when the railway killed it off and this is now seriously likely to happen again.....SOON!

Quoted from the Canalworld forum and submitted by Richard Fairhurst, (who should know what he's talking about being Waterways World editor!)

Press Release - Immediate releaseRed Diesel – Derogation is not renewedThe Treasury Minister, John Healey, confirmed today that the European Commission has rejected the UK Government’s application to renew the UK’s derogation on red diesel for private recreational boaters.“This decision is naturally very disappointing. Despite the best efforts of the campaign leaders, RYA and British Marine Federation (BMF), and the efforts of the UK Government, it appears that the Commission was intent on removing the derogation at any cost and has dismissed the consequences to the UK marine industry and the private recreational boater” says Neil Northmore, RYA Government Affairs Advisor.“Boaters could face a substantial increase in the price of marine diesel” warned Howard Pridding BMF Executive Director, “which will have a huge adverse impact on the UK marine industry. It is profoundly disappointing that the EU has not listened to the UK Government”.The RYA and BMF welcomed the Minister’s acknowledgement of the problems that will flow from this decision, and has confirmed that the UK Government will consult with boating organisations to develop and implement a sensible timetable for transitional measures to alleviate the effects on the boater and the industry.The RYA and BMF will continue to work closely with Government and their respective members to ensure that key issues of cost, availability and safety are addressed by the transitional measures.Ends

So now what? Not only are we facing dramatic price hikes as a result of the DEFRA cuts, we now face serious fuel hikes too. OK, I'll pin my colours on the post - I'm not a great fan of the EU; never have been, but this just confirms my opinions. How can the rest of Europe understand the peculiarities of our british canal heritage, after all, for most of them, history only stretches back 50-100 years!

This looks serious and should be taken so or else the whole future of the canals is looking desperately bleak and the years of 'stinking ditches' is almost certain to return. We need many more 'Rolts' and 'Aikmans' of modern times to resist this at the highest level possible.