The government is always saying that they are helping small business start and grow.

From my experience this could not be farther from the truth. I developed Waterfreight Ltd to shift road transport cargo off the roads and put it back on the canal network using purpose designed Solar Powered Barges.

Help for getting new business and concepts off the drawing board is just not there. The banks will lend if you put 50 per cent up first but who has that just sat around. I started this development with the Business Venture Group now Orvia but no funding.

Trying to get the local MP engaged in a constructive dialogue has ended in a blank. So does Waterfreight put the idea down or is there really the help out there but I have been looking in the wrong place.

Nigel Cecil, The Bowers, Chorley.