CaRT's cruising climbdown

THE Canal & River Trust (CaRT) has climbed down regarding its landmark ‘cruising case' against boater, Tony Dunkley (What does cruising mean?), writes Allan Richards.

Not only has the Trust granted him the licence he applied for in July this year but he has also been told that proceedings against him will be discontinued.

Defence

It is believed that the turnaround came after Tony filed his defence and made requests under the Freedom of Information Act that would have shown that some of the evidence presented by CaRT was misleading. CaRT had little hope of winning the case.

Adverse publicity on narrowboatworld Facebook and forums also played their part in CaRT's U-turn.

Whilst CaRT has told Mr Dunkley that it would file a notice of discontinuance after returning his licence, they have not yet done so and it is believed that they want him, instead, to end proceedings by mutual agreement.