Award for Staffs Moorlands MP's contribution to Inland Waterways as she prepares for important West Midlands debate

The Inland Waterways Association has presented to Charlotte Atkins MP their prestigious Titania Salver award in recognition of a special contribution to the Inland Waterways within the Western Region of the Association.

IWA Stoke on Trent branch proposed the Staffordshire Moorlands MP for the award in recognition of her long-standing support of rural restoration and regeneration projects on the Caldon Canal at Froghall and Leek and most recently for her support of in Parliament where she is leading the campaign calling upon Government to reverse the recent cuts in funding levels imposed upon British Waterways and the Environment Agency and to ensure secure, long-term funding for inland waterways.

Last year Charlotte Atkins MP, laid down the initial Early Day Motion against the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs’ (Defra) cuts in funding to inland waterways, and contributed extensively to an adjournment debate on the impact of the funding cuts on British Waterways, citing many examples from her Staffordshire Moorlands constituency which includes both the rural Caldon Canal, bringing visitors to the market town of Leek and the delightful Churnet Valley, and the Trent and Mersey Canal around Harecastle Tunnel, northern gateway to the city of Stoke-on-Trent and a vital link in the national canals network.

This week (Tuesday 27 March 2007) Charlotte will lead another adjournment debate in parliament on “Inland Waterways in the West Midlands” to demonstrate how local communities use and value their canals and rivers and the importance of inland waterways to the regional and local economy.

The award was presented at last weekend’s Western Region AGM of the Inland Waterways Association, where John Fletcher, national chairman of IWA commented, “Charlotte Atkins MP is a good friend of the waterways. She has developed a very helpful relationship with IWA Stoke on Trent branch and the other waterways organisations in her Staffordshire Moorlands constituency. In awarding Charlotte the Titania Salver for her special contribution to inland waterways I would like to thank her on behalf of all 18,000 members of the Inland Waterways Association for coming to the aid of the waterways movement at this time and helping us fight for secure long-term funding for a national asset that is valued by so many.”

At the same meeting IWA Member David Dumbelton was presented with the Victoria Cup in recognition of his special contribution to work within the Association, for his outstanding commitment to the Burslem Port Project and the achievement of his vision to restore the waterway link from the Trent and Mersey Canal to Burslem becoming part of Stoke-on-Trent’s city regeneration plans.