Red Alert campaign blog

Cashman (W Mids): in total agreement

Mr Michael Cashman, Labour MEP for the West Midlands, told MBM:

"I am in total agreement with the points you have made and I fully support
the UK Government's application to extend the current arrangement.

"Please find attached a copy of a press release which I issued earlier on
this year on this very subject. Representing the West Midlands Region I am
all too aware that our inland waterways play a major role in the area's
leisure and tourist industry.

"Although the area is land-locked, I know that motor boats and other leisure
craft are used extensively on local reservoirs and rivers. It would be a
tragedy if these leisure activities were denied to most people because they
became too expensive.

"Please be assured that I will do whatever I can to ensure that derogation of
red diesel for leisure boats stays put."

Mr Cashman's press release was issued on 4 July, in which he also says:

"Our narrow canals are unique; they were the first integrated transport system in the UK and represent a vital and intriguing part of our Industrial Heritage. In recent years they have enjoyed a new lease of life as major part of the west Midland's tourist industry.

"Removing this exemption could hit the West Midlands leisure industry hard. It's often said that Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice. I don't know if that is true or not, but what I do know is that there is a huge concentration of canals in the West Midlands which attract thousands of holidaymakers each year."

If Mr Cashman is your MEP, you can contact him at mcashman@europarl.eu.int

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