Now it's 59,000 defects!

THERE are growing concerns about the perilous state of the waterways under Canal & River Trust, with stoppages reaching a number never even approached in past years, with not just single closures, but at the moment three stoppages on two separate canals.

And now the Trust has confirmed that the number of outstanding defects on its system has grown from 52,000 to 59,000 in less than 18 months.

The revelation follows an article in narrowboatworld—Over 52,000 defects!

7,000 more defects

As stated in the article, an internal audit report, dated 18th October 2013, gave the number defects on CaRT's waterways as 52,000. However, CaRT now confirm that this figure has grown by 7,000. At the start of this financial year (1st April 2015) it was 59,133.

Asked to give the cost of remedying these 59,133 defects, the Trust has stated that it does not have the information.

Why not?