MORE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR INLAND WATERWAYS - WILLIAMS

2.52.30pm GMT Tue 28th Oct 2008

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson, will today call on the Government to do more to support Britain's inland waterways.

Mr Williams will be speaking today (Tuesday 28th October) in a Westminster Hall debate, "Inland Waterways and Future Restorations".

Speaking before the debate, Mr Williams said:

"The funding that British Waterways receives is barely enough to maintain the existing waterways network and is far short of the level required to bring the entire network up to the same standard.

"Waterways provide a number of benefits to local communities, not least improving health through walking, riding, angling and boating.

"Many rural communities depend on the tourism that is drawn into their area by canals and other waterways and some estimates suggest waterways benefit the communities through which they run by £1bn.

"It is vital that the Government does all that it can to support and extend the existing network and the rural communities that rely so heavily upon them.

NOTES:

The Westminster Hall debate on "Inland Waterways and Future Restoration" has been called by Charlotte Atkins MP and will take place at 11am on Tuesday 28th October.