20 MAY 2003  

MR JIM STIRLING, MR JIM MCINTYRE, MR EUAN DOBSON, MR STEVE INCH AND MR JIM MCCONNACHIE

  Q100  Mr Robertson: You would not have to do it all. You would be doing it in areas where you know basically black spots, and that is why I asked you earlier on about the accidents, where they are and what kind of accidents there are.

  Mr Stirling: We do not have any meaningful figures on areas like that. Nobody has been complaining to us about black spots or such like. Genuinely we do not have that sort of thing. I am not aware of black spots on the canal.

  Q101  Mr Robertson: You mentioned the police, and you have obviously talked to them. Are they on bicycles?

  Mr Stirling: Yes.

  Q102  Mr Robertson: Can we get the signs up for the Freephone?

  Mr Stirling: We have a plan for signs. It is down to money again. As soon as we can get enough money to put up enough signs, we will do it.

  Q103  Mr Robertson: I am sure Steve would help you out on the Glasgow part of it!

  Mr Inch: We are preparing a water-based strategy. I am not sure of the scope of that strategy but I am sure that health and safety must be part of the remit for that, so we can look at that.

  Q104  Mr Robertson: On the wardens that I mentioned earlier, this was all part of New Deal, if I remember rightly. Does that mean it is a non starter now?

  Mr Inch: I think it becomes very difficult to find a funding package that would do it. At the moment we fund the city centre wardens in Glasgow through Glasgow Works, and that budget is under tremendous pressure. The council as a whole is looking at introducing a park warden service and it is possible that, in discussion with the British Waterways Board and through the joint venture with ISIS we can extend that park service to several parts of the canal. I am happy to look at that.

  Chairman: We have now exhausted our questions to you, gentlemen. If there is anything else you wish to add or write to us about please feel free to do so. On behalf of the Committee can I thank you once again for coming along and being so co-operative today. Thank you very much.