DEFRA funding cuts

I previously circulated details of a Inland Waterways Association campaign to protest cuts to DEFRAs funding which have reduced the money availible to maintain and enhance the waterways.

It now looks likely that DEFRA's budget will be cut further affecting funding it allocates to British Waterways, the Environment Agency, farming projects etc. I am unsure whether flood defence projects are affected by the cuts but I believe that flood defense budgets are secure.

Ministers are to be presented with a package for £130 million of immediate cuts to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ budget with radical options for another £140 million in cuts (or savings). This would affect all DEFRA-funded bodies, including British Waterways and the Environment Agency and would be in addition to 5% year-on-year cuts already reported in the wake of Avian flu and the mismanagement of the single farm paymnets (agricultural/ ecological subsidies) scheme.

Links to news pieces:
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=76012&in_page_id=34&in_a_source=
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7099469.stm

Link to Inland Waterways Association campaign against funding cuts:
http://www.waterways.org.uk/News/DefraFundingCuts
You can urge your MP to take action on this issue, sign the petition against cuts and the one against waterway privatisation and find out how the cuts will affect waterways and users.

Please use the comments section to add information and share your views.