Victor: Engine regulations

AND now for a complete change, I'm going to comment on comments in articles, if you know what I mean.

Let's start with the proposed new EU regulations concerning emissions from non-road engines concerning narrowboat propulsion, with quite a bit of comment being bandied about.

There is little doubt that such as Kabuta will produce an engine to conform, its engines being used to power a great deal of non-road equipment, and possibly one would be marinised, but an engine of 10 to 15hp as Paul Burke suggests? It certainly would be of little use to the many—us included, who battle against tidal rivers. I can just imagine struggling up the tidal Trent with a 10hp engine pushing our 13 tons of narrowboat against a running tide. As to a 70 footer or a broad beam—and little chance for freight either, which is why the lady from the barge association is so worried.

And 'Lister or Bolinder being a joy to hear'?  Like many we take to the canals for a little peace and quiet and not for the constant thump-thump of such engines, whose selfish owners more often than not have engine room doors wide open so we can all suffer.

What about the Chesterfield?

So the partners CaRT and IWA have succeeded in having the HS2 rail line realigned to miss Fradley on the Trent & Mersey Canal, with the help of an hefty wedge to Hyder Consulting to develop an alternative alignment of the route. And at the same time removing any possible stoppage to the Lichfield restoration.

Fair enough. But what about the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal. It's route is being crossed many times at virtually ground level, with the tracks also just yards from its recently built basin that boss man Richard Parry had visited and learnt about the problem.

Ner a word about the Chesterfield. Perhaps it is not worth the extra spend. Yet it ranks amongst the top of the restoration projects, with new locks, bridges and completely restored miles of canal, plus of course the new basin.  Shame on you.

No acknowledgement

All the fuss and palaver about the restoration of Sutton Swing Bridge over the Weaver, with compliments showered here there and everywhere, but not a single mention of the years of dedication Tom Reynolds put into getting it restored when everyone was against it, with excuse upon excuse from the then British Waterways and the councils for not attempting the work.

At one time time Tom persuaded AkzoNobel to supply Hammerite paint at what must equate to be worth £50,000, with builder Eddie Basnett offering men and machinery to handle parts that require close Health & Safety conformance.  But it was thrown out, yet still Tom persevered.

At last it is done, yet not a single mention of Tom.  Shame on you again!

They take notice

Once again it has been shown that the powers-that-be take notice of out little offerings in narrowboatworld, for after our Mick Fitzgibbons attack on them about leaving the swing bridge at Fradley unlocked so that children can play on it, risking life and limb, something is to be done.

A watermate lock is to be fitted, so that only boat crews and the residents it serves can open it.  Good. But why did it need narrowboatworld to point it out? Surely the danger at such a popular destination should have been realised.

Victor Swift