Peter Luff MP claims that "the canals are safe with us" (Worcester News, Thursday, March 24).

His Press release quotes the Conservative shadow chief secretary to the treasury as stating that, although a Conservative Government would expect British Waterways to reduce costs, they would not leave BW under-resourced.

A British Waterways spokesman points out that Conservative plans to sell off their estate would require an immediate increase in state funding of £25m per annum.

We have since learnt from Howard Flight that far from being willing to increase funding for public bodies such as BW, Conservatives will be expecting even more public spending cuts if their party formed the next government.

Is it likely that such a Conservative Government would put an extra £25m public money into British Waterways?

Peter Luff states: "We don't believe that British Waterways should use taxpayers' money by becoming a major property speculator". What BW appears to have done is invest in property in order to be able to finance their management of the waterways.

Conservative-controlled Wychavon District Council recently agreed to use millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to finance the building of the new Waitrose store in Droitwich Spa.

Their argument was that investment in property gave a better return on their taxpayers' money than the money markets. It is nevertheless property speculation. I don't recall Mr Luff objecting to these proposals.

It is not surprising that in an e-mail poll today shows that 80 per cent of people do not trust the Tories on tax and spending.

MARGARET ROWLEY,

Prospective Liberal Democrat MP

Mid-Worcestershire.