The canals have long been a major player in regenerating local economies, restoring environments and sustaining the quality of community life, and nowhere more so than in north-west Leicestershire, where many are alarmed at the cuts in the British Waterways budget and their potential impact. I am very happy therefore to present this petition after a beautiful day in London, which stands in stark contrast to the wet miserable day in Leicester, with the rain slatting down on 4 March, when I helped to launch it with my neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Sir Peter Soulsby).

The petition signatories include David Stevenson, who has worked astonishingly hard with others to compile it, Janet Stevenson of 6 Heathfield, Thringstone Leicestershire LE67 8LU, and myself as the local Member of Parliament and a regular user of the facilities of the Ashby canal in my constituency.

The petition reads:

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of 671 constituents of North West Leicestershire and other users of Britain's inland waterways

Declares that...

Our inland waterways are a unique national asset that provide an important contribution to the quality of life for millions of our citizens. We therefore are deeply concerned that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has seen fit to reduce British Waterways' grant by some £60 million over the next 5 years and that of the Environment Agency by £25 million in this financial year. We believe that these cuts will have a devastating effect upon the well-being of inland waterways.

The Petitioners therefore…

Request that the House of Commons call upon the Government to introduce legislation to solve the immediate problems caused by these cuts to current budgets and to ensure that long-term funding is guaranteed to enable continued investment and restoration of the waterways.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

To lie upon the Table.