SOS2010

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SOS2010

• A Call to action for IWA

2
A Call to Action

• Government funding is being cut severely
• Their Tanks are on our lawn!
• We need to
• prevent underfunding of the waterways
• seek to get the best deal we can for the
  navigation authorities
• Be heard
• get political
• We must do something- or suffer more of the same

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Phased Programme

• Its a phased campaign to do the following
• Find out and report facts
• Raise public awareness
• Gain media support
• Get political support (from all parties)
• Make it an election issue
• Change government attitude

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Mobilise

• We need to make friends and influence people.
• We want to work locally with our other allies to
  go out and document and record problems in the
  waterways system
• Report them to BW/EA and determine which ones are
  caused by funding issues.
• Tell us go to our web site and record the facts
  and down-load your photos www.sos2010.org.uk

5
Talk to People

• Once you know what the situation is and have
  evidence
• tell your local community
• Get out on the towpath and in the high street
• hold waterway awareness days
• use flyers,
• tell the press
• make them aware of the benefits and the likely
  consequences.
• We want people to be positive about the value of
  the waterways ...
• But
• We want the public and local/ riparian home
  owners to be concerned about the plight of the
  waterways

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Tell the Press

• make your case to the local press and media.
• Be positive about the benefits and standards they
  enjoy and that we need to maintain them
  ...pointing out how quickly things are going/
  will go awry,
• Ensure the link between loss of local amenity and
  impact on home owners is made if nothing is to be
  done
• Litter
• Vegetation- etc things people can identify with
  
• We want to make it everyones concern and not
  just a boating issue.

7
Be political

• We want to influence the political climate
• Does your riparian MP/ councillor know and care?-
  
• tell them
• get them on side- waterways are good for their
  constituency
• dont let all the volunteer effort and tax pounds
  invested go to waste
• What do likely candidates for the election know
  and think?
• tell them
• get them on side
• ask for public statements of support
• Are there positions on local Parish and Town
  councils with waterways in them that an IWA
  supporter could contest?
• Are there any local champions for the waterways
  who could talk to councillors or attend meetings
  in your area?

8
Are waterways important enough to you?

• Will you / our members vote for the waterways?
• Can we make waterways funding a local issue for
  each riparian seat?

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Speak and they will listen

• Many riparian seats are marginal constituencies
• We can make a difference
• We can make the waterways a local election issue
• We can affect waterways funding through working
  on parish and town councils ...or talking to
  district and unitary authorities
• Tow-paths, footpaths and recreational spending is
  influenced at this level.

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Trouble at t mill

• We are turning the political screws through our
  lobbying.
• Party conferences
• Meeting Minister
• Lobbying Conservative front bench
• Mass mail out to riparian MPs on the constituency
  benefits of waterways
• Using the evidence gathered
• 10 minute rule Bill
• Adjournment debate
• Parliamentary Questions
• Waterways for tomorrow- consultation
• Pre election / May day event all branches
• Post election address to all riparian MPs
  benefits of the waterways

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The clock is ticking

• Now Make friends, Gather evidence of issues
  Report them- tells us!
• Before Xmas Publicity campaign - gain local
  support
• Before election Get political support
• May bank holiday- mass protest / local waterway
  event days

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We must get out more

• NABO,ROBA, RYA, COBA, TBAssoc.
• The Public
• We need your help locally to speak to and engage
• Waterway societies, trusts and clubs
• Ramblers,
• Cyclists,
• Fishermen
• RSPB
• Etc...
• Its not just a boating issue we need to get
  others on board
• We need to go to them , not invite them to us...

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Tools to help you

• www.SOS2010.org.uk
• Information on what to do/ how to do it
• Report form/ upload photos
• Support for waterway champions and would be
  councillors- via HO

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Were here to help you

• Ring me Jo Gilbertson or David Padfield
• 01494 783 453
• Drop us an email
• Jo.gilbertson_at_waterways.org.uk or
  David.padfield_at_waterways.org.uk
• We will be organising coaching for champions
  and would be councillors