NABO supports emergency appeal

THE National Association of Boat Owners (NABO) has moved quickly to support the Canal & River Trust national canal flood appeal (Canal flood appeal launched), writes Allan Richards.

NABO's Council has agreed to immediately contribute £250 to the appeal and is urging its members to contribute whatever they can.

Not first emergency appeal

Despite a claim by CaRT that this is its first emergency appeal, this is not the case. Shortly after it was launched, the Trust made an emergency appeal for funds to repair a breach of the Trent & Mersey Canal at Dutton. That appeal raised just over £23,000, about 1% of the cost of repair.

Hopefully, the Trust learnt some lessons from this.

Wrong time

The flooding damage could not have come at a worse time for the trust as it will delay and increase the cost of winter works already underway. Indeed, the Trust has already committed £2m of contingency money it holds for eventualities such as this elsewhere. It has also previously announced that an extra £2m is to be spent over this winter.

As such, £4m that could have been used to repair flood damage to its assets and infrastructure. is no longer available.