What regeneration?

THE MP Stephen O'Brien has praised the regeneration of the canals including the Trent & Mersey, Shropshire Union and Llangollen.

These waterway run through his constituency, and he was greeted at Audlem on the Shropshire Union Canal by British Waterways Head of Regeneration Julie Sharman and Waterway Manager Wendy Capelle, who highlighted the growing success of the canal network.

Suitably impressed

He was of course suitably impressed, and related:

"I was very pleased to be able to discuss and see first hand the remarkable transformation in the fortunes of our local waterways over the last 20 years.

"The benefits of this success are evident to all. The improvements over recent years have proven to be an important attraction for tourists to Audlem and other villages and towns along the routes of our local waterways.

"They play an important part in the local economy and job creation, and I'm confident that British Waterways will continue to build on this success."

Crumbling

Boaters are only too aware of the crumbling state of the waterways, and no doubt the MP was not told of the continuing shortfall of £30 millions a year on maintenance, so yet another MP was fooled into believing all was rosy—which many know it certainly is not.