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David Stevenson writes:-

SATURDAY

Despite the horrendous weather forecast which persuaded at least 6 to 8 boats, coming from local moorings to join us, not to venture forth, we had enough volunteers, notably from the boats that did come, to ensure the relatively small number of towpath visitors were all asked to contact their MPs and sign the petition forms. Saturday is usually the quiet day of the weekend here, shopping ( especially approaching Christmas ) and sporting activities being paramount to many. We are antipating far more visitors tomorrow, especially given the kinder, and hopefully more accurate, weather forecast!

BBC East Midlands turned up unexpectedly as I was having my lunch and a pint, but stayed for some time taking shots of the scene and interviewing me and Mary Matts, who with her husband runs the shop and pub at the Bottom Lock, Bridge 61. My wife, just returned from another engagement, reported that the item on their early evening news programme put the message over quite effectively ( praise indeed from her! ) and it was especially good to have made the point that canalside businesses would be seriously affected as well as the other users of the waterways.

We hope that our Press Call and visit from the local MP and MEP tomorrow will achieve the effect we are all striving to make. Further report later. The Bottom Basin is now almost full of boats sporting official and unofficial posters and the IWA Banner hangs above them making its message very clear.

SUNDAY & overall assessment

The Gods smiled and the sun shone down all day at Foxton bringing around 1000 visitors. More boats than expected turned up and once they had been encouraged to leave the banks and assemble in the basin made an impressive sight, such that our local MP remarked that he had never seen so many boats at Foxton in the winter. He was joined by the MEP who was equally impressed with the strength of feeling expressed by the boaters who had liberally covered their boats with posters and placards. He is going to raise the subject in Europe, enquiring what his fellow members feel about the fine being used against the waterways, with whom they have no axe to grind.

We had visits from both the reporter and the photographer from the Leicester Mercury and, late on, the director from BBC Radio Leicester, who had arranged the recorded interview for BBC East Midlands Today, which was used in their Friday Drivetime programme and also over the weekend. The Harborough Mail reporter also interviewed me on site, so, overall, we obtained very satisfactory press and media coverage and just hope the results justify the effort.

With some sheets still to be analysed, we have already over 800 signatories to the petition and, as indicated, I would assess that about 1000 visitors came to Foxton during the weekend, of whom 95%+ were willing, with little persusion, to sign. At the last count 17 boats came during the weekend to protest; two boats based at the Top Lock Cottage ensured that visitors from the Upper Car Park signed the petition, including the many dog walkers. The other 15 narrowboats formed the 'blockade fleet' in the Bottom Basin, guarded over by the IWA banner. When two unheralded boats descended the locks they were 'forced' to run the gauntlet - after a suitable time interval the four boats breasted up were moved sideways ( by bowthruster power ) to allow them to pass, whilst a crescendo of horns encouraged them on their way!

The organisers ended the proceedings as the sun set in the West and, over a welcome drink, assessed the weekend.

Without a doubt, it was felt to have been a great success and our visitors were left in no doubt about the strength of feeling against the cuts, by all waterway users. Those who had brought their boats had so enjoyed their 'weekend with a purpose' that they mooted the idea of coming to Foxton on a monthly basis through the Winter to meet up together and build on the friendships made over the weekend.

From an IWA viewpoint, we felt we had played a useful role in re-establishing IWA as a campaigning organisation once again and hope that our efforts, and those of other IWA branches who took part, will encourage the Association to be more pro-active in the future. The protest has given the opportunity for IWA to develop stonger links with other organisations which have close involvement with the waterways, be they boating, angling, nature-oriented or other.

If there have been past differences they should be put aside and we should be ready to meet future threats to the waterways speedily and side by side.

For us, working with 'Save Our Waterways' has been an eye-opener and an inspiration. We hope that in the coming months, SoW can be allowed to achieve its potential by the more fully constituted organisations, for they have certainly showed the way forward in this protest.

I have been asked, by a number of IWA members, how the Association intends to spend the £40,000 earmarked for the purpose of fighting the Defra cuts. May I suggest they should include giving assistance with SoW expenditure as a start.

To all fellow 26 events personnel, and especially those in Sydney, Australia, we extend the hand of fellowship in a job well done, remembering, however, it is only a start. Next time, we hope to see even more waterway supporters get off their backsides and wave their protest banners.

Remember the old maxim - 'United we succeed, Divided we fall'

Keep up the good work!