Freight on Canal & River Trust waterways

THE peer Lord Risby has questioned the government what plans it has to encourage the take-up of transporting freight by water rather than by road.

A number of benefits

To which, the reply by Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), reported in Commercial Boat Operator's Association News—'Moving additional  freight by water or rail can provide a number of benefits over transporting that freight by road, in particular environment gains, but also a decrease in congestion'.

Further, the News reported that Rebecca Pow, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, made a long speech about  the restoration and benefit of canals, part of which was about freight and 'we are starting to realise that canals can have a rebirth as transport links'.

Not aware

These people are obviously not aware of the present dilapidated state of the waterways, their constant stoppages and the need for all to be dredged to be able to take deep draughted commercial boats—Editor.