I was delighted to be recognised by the Inland Waterways Association recently and receive their Parliamentarian of the Year Award.

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) as an organisation makes a valuable contribution in many ways to the health and wellbeing of people in local communities in my constituency, and across the country, as well as adding value to our economy through regeneration, tourism and leisure. The IWA is also a vital champion of safe and sustainable navigations to provide an enjoyable waterway experience for everyone.

I felt very honoured to receive the award, and by the words of the Inland Waterways Association National Chairman Ivor Caplan at the presentation, who said: “Wendy has been a great supporter of the inland waterways over a number of years, not least when IWA held its Festival of Water at Pelsall, in her constituency, in 2016, and more recently in her support for the Middle Level Bill when it returned to the Commons in October 2017.”