Very short sighted

The use of coir rolls instead of proper piling on canal banks is inductive of the way Canal & River Trust now operates, writes James Henry.

It is all about 'doing it on the cheap', that was confirmed by the workman to John Howard when he told John that piling was too expensive, though piling would last for many years and coir last at the most just months.

Wait until it breaks

It is very short-sighted, as is the whole way that the Trust now operates, with its 'wait until it breaks' system as told by your Victor Swift, clearly now in full operation, confirmed by the virtually daily failures of locks and mechanised bridges—How many this week?

You have reported six and it is only Friday morning. With three bridges broken down and closing navigations on Wednesday alone.

But I expect with relying on the government for handouts it has to cut costs wherever it can, but as many will know some cost cutting leads to the exact opposite, as in the case of coir instead of steel.