Even if we had got another extension this time, surely that would be the last.  

One slight problem with throwing everything into the fight is that, now we've lost it, the industry simply isn't ready to deal with the move to white diesel.

Lets hope Rob Stevens and Howard Pridding manage to get us a lengthy period to sort things out.

The changes have to be handled through a Finance Act, which means the wheels will grind slowly through government.  But come the summer, the boot may be on the other foot and the government may be pushing us hard to fall into line.

What the effect of higher fuel prices will be is a difficult one to answer.  The duty is likely to rise from the current 7.69p per litre to 48.35p per litre.

But with powerboat usage averaging 50 to 100 hours a year, unless you are boating on a real shoestring, the increase in price won't break the bank.

The effect on the trade is more difficult to gauge.

The major losers will be the hire boat fleets.  The pay a commercial toll on the rivers and commercial insurances.  Isn't it time they were classified as commercial?

But the marinas and boatyards have commercial decisions to take.  Do they keep their existing installations and just cater for commercial users?  Or do they clean out (or fork out for new) tanks and pumps for white diesel?  What about those with commercial and leisure users - that's a lot of money to find.

Will boaters rush to petrol engines?

The next few months will be interesting.

Also interesting is the campaign to Save Our Waterways.

The first protest was held over the weekend of November 25 and 26 and some stretches of canal were thoroughly plugged.

Since then the Inland Waterways Association tells me the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee announced a new inquiry into the work of British Waterways (BW).

It will examine how BW is working towards creating 'an expanded, vibrant, largely self-sufficient waterway network', in the context of the policies set out in Waterways for Tomorrow,the recent changes in DEFRA's budget.

More waterways Early Day Motions are being laid down and Inland Waterways EDM 90 has the highest number of signatures of any EDM in this parliamentary session.

The next protest is on Tuesday January 16.  The St Pancras Cruising Club is sponsoring a Boat Show Cruise to Royal Docks for the London Boat Show and opportunities have arisen to join the Palace of Westminster Campaign Cruise.  Boats depart West India Dock at 09:45 and pass the Palace of Westminster at 11:10.

If the PR campaign is as good as November 25/26, the media will be in a frenzy again.

Peter Nash