Halting the maintenance decline

ALTHOUGH I have not been in a fit state to put down coherent sentences on paper over the last few months, I have been watching and reading many of the recent articles and emails on narrowboatworld, writes Orph Mable.

The main focus appears to have been on two subjects; towpath cyclists and continuous (or not) cruisers.

Seems to be avoided

These are two very worrying aspects and affect many canal users to a greater or lesser degree and should be addressed. But these are not what are concerning me in this ‘chest clearing' exercise. There is one thing that seems to be being avoided like the elephant in the corner and I'd like to draw readers' attention to it as the weather improves and thoughts turn to the coming boating season.

Those nice people, and ‘guardians of the waterway network', Canal & River Trust who control, operate and maintain the one thing that affects us all, have insufficient funds (and it seems to a bystander, the nous) to maintain the operational condition of the centuries old system that is deteriorating even as you read this.

I recall in the past that a major topic was ‘maintenance shortfall'. This is where the identified cost of keeping the system operational by repairing the structures and track of the network was not being met.

In danger of collapse

Because of the funding shortfall, only essential structures that are in danger of collapse or failure are addressed. Those that are not noticed or ‘will last a bit longer' are ignored or just monitored. Unfortunately the list of structures that are close to failing gets longer every year and in real terms the funding level appears to be declining.

For as long as I've been boating (over 25 years), this has been the case, (although for a short time when David Fletcher (who was a boater I might add) was at the British Waterways helm, things improved with the shortfall being reduced year on year) but now the gap between money needed and money available (and being spent) on the repair and maintenance has widened.

Without finger pointing or name calling I would like to ask the Canal & River Trust hierarchy and Trustees:

"What strategy is to be employed to halt the maintenance decline and begin to improve the boating experience for boat licence payers?"