Why are the towpaths still open?

HOW on earth can the Canal & River Trust proclaim it is 'Supporting the National effort to keep people safe' when it is allowing masses of people on its narrow towpaths? Asks T. Lang?

Going through the national web newspaper time and time again I read of parks, woodlands and such being closed to visitors, even though they are wide open spaces where the two metre rules can easily be applied, yet CaRT still has all its narrow towpaths open to all, with just its notice showing no effort at restriction, only that people must not pass moored boats! They are passing my moored boat in their hundreds.

Usually a deserted towpath

At the moment I am moored between the lake at Longport and the tunnel, [Trent & Mersey Canal] and though I expect the lake, café and car park are all closed, yesterday I witnessed hundreds of walkers and cyclists passing, on what boaters know is usually a deserted very narrow towpath.

As they were going both ways the two metre distance was a mockery with one woman with two young children actually stepping on to my boat's stern to avoid a gang of youths on cycles.

The government's warning

Perhaps you could show the government's warning, displayed daily on television, that perhaps those at CaRT who still have its towpaths open inviting visitors, might at last take notice and close them telling people to stay at home: