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An evening with the Waterways Minister
- The Labour MP for Chatham & Aylesford

Jonathan Shaw MP, the Government Minister with responsibility for Waterways was an official visitor and special guest at a fund raising and awareness raising evening hosted by Bedford MP Patrick Hall to highlight and promote the work of Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust

Jonathan Shaw MP - The Government Minister (centre) with responsibilty for Waterways

‘I’m still fizzing’ and ‘What an inspiring evening’ were just some of the comments of guests in aid of Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust on 17 July. Patrick Hall had invited Waterways Minister Jonathan Shaw, the Mayors of Bedford and Kempston, other local dignitaries and senior staff in private and public bodies, such as British Waterways, Renaissance Bedford and Nirah*, and Trust volunteers, to hear the latest news about the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway.

Waterways Minister Jonathan Shaw, the Mayors of Bedford and Kempston, other local dignitaries and senior staff in private and public bodies, such as British Waterways, Renaissance Bedford and Nirah, and Trust volunteers, to hear the latest news about the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Patrick Hall’s support in holding the event for the Trust and the level of attendance at the meeting was evidence for the Waterways Minister of fervent local support for the project. In his talk Jonathan Shaw defended the government’s record on the waterways and assured the meeting of his personal support. He spoke of the need for co-ordination between organisations including government departments. He himself chairs a new interdepartmental committee where he will be pressing for support for inspirational national projects that cross departmental and organisational boundaries, such as the proposed Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway.

On behalf of the Trust, the Chair Jane Wolfson, presented a DVD narrated by Kevin Whately. This showed the project’s enticing vision for the transformation by water of a landscape blighted by landfill, clay pit and the embers of the brick industry.
Jane used the example of the Trust, driven by the commitment of volunteers and working in partnership with many organisations as one to be supported by government. Every 1% of public funding would pay dividends backed by the strength of volunteers and project partners and supporters.

The meeting closed with the compliments of the Minister for the inspiring presentation, endorsed by those present.

*Nirah is an ambitious new project that aims to promote understanding of the connection between freshwater and life.

At its heart will be the world’s first freshwater sanctuary, a unique resource for conservation, education and science as much as for entertainment and inspiration.