Comment—The state of the waterways
IT WAS just three weeks ago that we included the State of the waterways category in the Gallery, but in that time it has attracted more photographs than any of the other categories that have been there for over a year!
Every single one of over 70 photographs show the result of the lack of maintenance, and how the system is literally falling apart, but also shows the concern of the boaters who have gone to the trouble of taking and including their photographs, in at attempt to portray the real state of the waterways.
Gives the lie
But more than anything, it gives the lie once and for all to that statement from British Waterways that 'the waterways are in better condition'. For the pictures show the real state of the deterioration of the waterways that has been allowed to take place under the present regime.
Regular readers will also be very well aware, not only from the comments from contributors but from published articles, that money is available, but is being spent on activities that have absolutely nothing to do with navigation—which really should be British Waterways' principle concern.
Sensible waterways outlook
At this time of a change of government, and its seemingly more sensible waterways outlook, boaters are taking the opportunity to contact their Members of Parliament, acquainting them of the facts of how our system is being neglected in pursuit of other activities, so perhaps as the old adage 'that a picture is worth a thousand words' is certainly true in this respect, perhaps the attachment (given below) of the State of the waterways category from the Gallery would get your message across.
Tom Crossley