England’s Canals

A slightly confused argument here. Apparently the canal network is:

The revival of the canal network represents both a commercial and a cultural triumph.

A commercial triumph? Excellent, so it pays its way does it, this network?

…last year’s grant to the canals was £7 million lower than anticipated,
at £55 million, and this year the sum is likely to be slashed by
another £7 million. As a consequence, British Waterways has cut
spending on infrastructure and made 180 people redundant.

Oh, no, it doesn’t pay its way. So how is it a commercial success then?

In

5 responses

  1. dsquared Avatar
    dsquared

    Presumably in the same way in which the M25 is a commercial success.

  2. In the same way the NHS is having it’s best year yet. Etc.

  3. IanCroydon Avatar
    IanCroydon

    British Waterways is also funded by licences for canal boats, so they have this as income too.
    I can only assume that the profit generated by leisure companies associated with canal boats and all the various “support” industries (boat builders, maintenance, marinas, ship chandlers, etc) has a taxable quotient that may or may not offset the subsidy, not to mention the amount of people employed.
    I have a small experience of the industry, having owned a narrowboat for a number of years, and I agree exactly with what a commentator on that article has said; “Commercialise the canals and they are lost. We need to maintain the way it is run now – for the pleasure of eveyone.”
    Basically, canals are in the same category as The Arts.

  4. dearieme Avatar
    dearieme

    “canals are in the same category as The Arts.” Out-relief for talentless lefties? You cruel bastard.

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