Hounslow's council leader has branded propositions to sell off our waterways as a "massive mistake" which could "harm the regeneration of Brentford".

Gordon Brown announced last week that British Waterways' property portfolio is under consideration for inclusion in a massive sell off of Government assets.

The move which is intended to raise £16 billion by 2014 to help bring down the national debt, has led to concerns about Brentford's waterways' future.

Councillor Peter Thompson, Conservative leader of Hounslow Council said: "We all know that we are in a mess thanks to the financial incompetence of this government. However it would be absolutely stupid and dreadful to privatise waterways.

"Selling off tow-paths, store buildings, lock keepers' cottages and waterside properties that all form part of the canal system to the highest bidder is a barmy idea."

However, Brentford houseboat resident, and waterways adviser Nigel Moore, said he is "ambivalent about the announcement".

"But what I would say is the reliance of the British Waterways Board on their property portfolio as a means of generating an income has led to far more damage then there would be otherwise," he said. "I doubt it would make much difference at all to Brentford, British Waterways have remember, already sold off land to developers on Commerce Road.

"The government get a huge amount of money from pleasure boating, the industry has increased to the point where there are more boats on the water than ever before, they need to produce incentives to make it more commercial. The government should be subsidising the waterways in recognition of the fact there are profits from it."

The chairman of British Waterways, Tony Hale has indicated that the board will resist any attempt by the treasury to sell off the £500m worth of riverside properties, saying: "The nation owns that property and that property should be used for the benefit of the nation. "This is not about a few select boaters - valuable and precious though they are to me. This is about the wider community."

Councillor Thompson said: "I want our waterways to be a catalyst for regeneration and economic growth in Brentford. They are a national asset and they should remain as such.

"Selling it all off to a property developer would be a massive mistake which could seriously harm the regeneration of Brentford”

Do you use the local waterways? Tell us what you think of these proposals by posting a comment below.