Despite a warning from Arkins that the Caldon Canal faces a ‘dismal’ future without guaranteed funding, a report in Staffordshire’s Sentinel says junior environment minister Barry Gardiner played down MPs' claims about the extent of cutbacks on the canals after the British Waterways (BW) budget was slashed.

Gardiner admitted the £3.9m cut was a ‘sizeable amount’ for any public organisation, but said BW should become more commercial.

But afterwards Atkins said Gardiner had failed to answer key demands about whether he had spoken to Treasury officials in an effort to secure extra cash from other departments for BW and whether he had discussed carrying freight with the Department for Transport.

She said even if BW becomes more commercial, it should still get some government cash for maintenance as 97% of the three million people who visit canals are walkers, runners and cyclists who do not pay anything.