FEARS have been raised over the future of Droitwich canals redevelopment project after the organisation leading the scheme was hit by major cuts.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) told British Waterways back in March that its grant was going to be cut by five per cent and British Waters subsequently adjusted its budgets.

However, in August DEFRA announced that British Waterways' funding would be cut by a further 7.5 per cent, which is about an additional £4.5m, as well as the possibility of a further 2.5 per cent being slashed off its budgets in November.

Now, the cutbacks have raised concerns about how they will effect the £11.5m Barge and Junction Canal redevelopment scheme in Droitwich. Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has criticised the decision to slash the funding and sent a letter to waterways minister Barry Gardiner.

The MP's constituency includes sections of two waterways which are maintained by British Waterways - the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the River Severn. "It is a response largely to the massive problems in the management of the farm grants scheme by the rural payments agency, but also to the expenditure on avian flu," said the town's MP. "Why should British Waterways pay the price for such spectacular incompetence at political level?"

However, British Waterways spokesman Vicky Edgecombe-Craig said that the cuts would not affect the project.

"The funding cuts will not affect Droitwich project because of the external funding of the scheme through Advantage West Midlands and the Heritage Lottery Fund," she said. "Other canals and waterways within Worcestershire and the West Midlands may suffer, but Droitwich is not one of them."