What is happening to the waterways?

WHAT on earth is happening to the waterways? Are they closing down? Asks James Henry.

I was startled to read John Coxon's report of the huge number of stoppages as you just don't register them as they are obviously reported singly.

Piling up

But they are piling up and it must be obvious to many boaters you just wonder where is safe to go, as, like others I should imagine, I have to get back to work and can't afford to be stuck while a contractor makes his mind up to do a repair as from all accounts they don't seem to be too bothered.

And just as I write this I see the Four Counties is now closed, for how long is anybody's guess. I just wonder where it will all end? 

How different

How different from the old days of Dr. Fletcher, as one of your correspondents wrote, when we could set off anywhere and never bother about being stuck.