by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Barges are already used to transport waste along the Thames but the government has just discovered that they could be used for freight. Rocket science yet again – NOT. Those barges that transport waste are a different cattle of fish to those that would be of greater benefit to the environment and also the economy, namely the kind of vessels as used in other countries, at least on those part of the system where feasible and the old canal freight narrowboat on the smaller waterways.
The Department of Transport has published a map which shows how the UK's canals and rivers could be better used to carry goods across the country. What took them that long to discover what our ancestors knew already a century and more ago?
It is amazing the things that this government suddenly discovers that have been known for decades, centuries and even millennia.
This current UK government is just about capable of inventing the wheel. What do you mean it has been invented already? First they have discovered that you can burn wood – waste wood – for heat and energy production and now they have discovered canals. This is an extremely worrying trend indeed.
The push to get more freight off the roads and onto far more energy efficient barges is not new but this latest report will give more weight to the arguments of those seeking to sway the nay-sayers.
While the canals and waterways in the UK are in no way comparable in size and carrying capacity – which is rather a shame – to those on the European mainland, such as the canals in the Netherlands, Germany, and such, they can, nevertheless, be a tremendous asset if we would but put them to use (again).
The document, “Key Inland Waterways for Freight”, highlights those areas where the existing network of inland waterways in Britain has the greatest potential for freight services and can fit with the needs of modern freight businesses.
Despite this one can but urge the government to also think about doing something with the other parts of the waterway network in regards to freight (and other) transportation. One should even, where possible, look at the widening of the existing waterways and the deepening of same so that larger barges, much like those in Europe, can be used.
“The role of inland waterways, so Transport Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick said, “in moving freight is already significant, primarily in the moving of construction material, agricultural products, waste and liquid bulks. We would like to see the market build on this success so that we can reduce the environmental impact of moving goods.”
“Our aim is to promote the use of our waterways”, he further stated, “for freight transport where they provide a viable alternative to road freight. The benefit of this is reduced carbon emissions and congestion on the road.”
The report shows that the areas of greatest potential are the larger waterways and river navigations.
I must say that I doubt that it would have needed a report at great cost to the taxpayer that yet again stated the obvious and something that the world has known for years, namely that there is a potential for the canals and inland waterways in this country and it was also obvious to all but the most stupid person that the areas of greatest potential are the larger waterways and river navigations. To talk of blatantly obvious would be an understatement. That should, however, not exclude the smaller canals and waterways that can be navigated by the good old narrowboat. Properly reinstated and run those canals too could and should again play their part.
© M Smith (Veshengro), July 2008
British government pushes for barges
