Poor year for CaRT

IT HAS been a difficult first full financial year for the Canal & River Trust (CaRT), writes Allan Richards.

However, this has not stopped the hype from one of the ‘old guard', Simon Salem, who has been very positive in promoting its ‘achievements'.

Only 32,00 boats

The various claims made by the Trust that it has 35,000 boats with long term (i.e. 12 month) licences on its system, narrowboatworld has already commented on. However, the truth of the matter is that the Trust has attempted a cover-up! Boat numbers are down over the last three years by 9% (35,241 to 32,018) according to Annual Reports (Boat numbers down 9%).

Visitor numbers

Then we have visitor numbers and the claim that the number of visitors is up. Unfortunately, the facts are that British Waterways spent millions of pounds of public money attempting to double visitor numbers from 3.6 millions (2003/4) to 7.2 millions (2011/12) per two week period (The Evans Achievements). The 2013/14 figure from the Annual Report (page 42) tells us that visitor numbers is little different from 10 years ago—3.5 millions per two week period.

Whilst boaters may dismiss visitor numbers as irrelevant, it has to be remembered that this is the measure of the public benefit being delivered by the waterways.

.... and CaRT are failing to deliver!

Stewardship score

However, boat numbers and visitor numbers are just two measures of CaRT's failure.

A third measure is the ‘Stewardship Score'. According to CaRT's 2013/14 Annual Report the Network Stewardship Score is ‘a combined measure of functionality of and the public benefit delivered by the waterway network. It is calculated annually based on a range of indicators. All Principal Waterway Assets are measured and categorised according to condition. A structure in condition A is in a good state of repair and one in condition E is in a bad condition. Embankments and culverts are included within the definition of Principal Assets but towpaths are dealt with as a separate category and are graded according to condition grades from A to E where A is described as very good and E is bad.'

.... and for the first time ever there is an admission that the waterways are in decline. CaRT's latest annual report confirms the Stewardship Score has fallen!