Fears for Huddersfield Narrow
THERE are fears for the future of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal when its future is taken over by the Canal & River Trust.
Not be enough
He points out that the yearly £39m grant for the Canal & River Trust will not be enough, remarking:
"That £39m figure will not change. So bearing in mind inflation it will, in effect, be a continual cut. There could end up being a £30m funding gap. The government money will give consistency but not enough money.
"We have been lobbying MPs and the new trustees will be negotiating with the government, but if the government plays ‘hardball' it will be difficult."
Should be represented
He believes that the society should be represented on the Canal & River Trust, it already having 600 members, so as to form a working relationship.
Alan points out the massive pension liability that will be transferred from British Waterways to the new charity, he believes to be in the region of £70m.
Hopeless
He points out the thinking that Canal & River Trust will become like the National Trust, and be expected to raise its own money and attract legacies, but this is seen by many as hopeless, for unlike the National Trust that raises money from admission charges to its many properties, the waterways are of course free.
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal was reopened in 2001, but with over 70 locks in 20 miles together with Standedge Tunnel it requires a great deal of upkeep, the tunnel restricting weekly passage, we were told to around 'a dozen boats', so could be an early victim for closure.
Neglect
Our own cruise of the waterway last year well showed its neglect, with drained pounds (three) owing to leakage, heavily silted short pounds (many) and badly maintained paddle gear, some virtually impossible to move.
The early promise of money being spent was obviously not kept, as the difference between our 2003 and 2010 cruises made very obvious its continuing neglect, though some effort is being made at present to replace the worst of the lock gates.