New Canal for Liverpool - Creative accounting versus Simple Maths

Wednesday, 25 March 2009 21:41

Among the usual deluge of press articles is one on http://www.epolitix.com entitled,

Maritime city is the latest to benefit from the UK's waterway 'renaissance':

"A brand new stretch of canal is today (Wednesday 25 March) being officially unveiled in Liverpool – two and a half centuries after the Duke of Bridgewater kick-started the 'canal mania' that would fuel the world's first industrial revolution. Re-establishing an historic connection between the city's currently underused South Docks and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the £22million project opens up the city's waterfront to the previously untapped leisure and tourism industry already thriving on Britain's 2,200-mile UK canal system – echoing a time past when waterways brought economic prosperity to Liverpool."

"For the first time in over a century the 30,000 boats on Britain's inland waterways will be able to navigate the current 127-mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal straight into the heart of Liverpool."

One of the best sources of information about the development and proposed operation of the new Liverpool Link is my good friend, Martin Clark. His site, www.penninewaterways.co.uk includes the information that only 6 boats a day will be allowed through each way!!!

This is where my maths degree comes in useful (and a sense of humour): i.e. it will take 5000 days, or over 13 years, for every boat to go to Liverpool .... if they want to, and if 6 go every day, summer, autumn, winter, spring!

The epolitix article continues,
"Cutting a course through the World Heritage Site in front of the famous Three Graces – the Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool buildings – the new 1½-mile Canal Link will generate 200,000 extra visitors annually to Liverpool's docks with an additional tourism spend of £1.9million."
Does that mean there will be 91 people on every boat? I think the MCA should be told
That means every boat will generate £867.
When we get to Liverpool (and we hope we can this July), will we get a refund on our BW licence?

"Robin Evans, chief executive of British Waterways, comments: "The construction of the Liverpool Canal Link is a further boost for the renaissance of the nation's inland waterways."

Nowhere does it say which accountant did the statistical projections. If anyone knows who it is, can they tell me? Could be useful... And if you know who the fund raiser was who managed to prise £22 million out of various pockets, based on those projections, that would be a useful contact too I think.

Don't get me wrong. I am delighted that Epiphany will be able to sail alongside the Mersey, rather than on it, to visit Liverpool. Congratulations one and all.

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