Victor remembers the days of Dr Fletcher

WHILST stood on the road bridge by Sawley Flood Lock on Tuesday, a boating friend there mentioned the days of Dr Fletcher.

He was the boss-man of British Waterways some 20 years ago, and the friend's words brought back some wonderful memories of our canals, he remarking—'the glorious ten years of Dr Fletcher whose remit was to get the waterways back in tip top condition'.  Then comparing those days with those of today.

In those far off days it started with the Kennet & Avon being brought back from total wreck to navigation again.

Then the Rochdale, the Huddersfield Narrow and the new link across the Ribble to the Lancaster Canal, culminating in restoring the navigational Chesterfield Canal up to the tunnel from the West.

It was at the event to celebrate this Chesterfield opening that a new boss-man appeared, to do the honours, Robin Evans.

Then it all stopped with the only restorations then left in the hands of the various canal societies, and alas, slowly 'getting the waterways in tip-top condition' fell by the wayside, as towpaths, water voles, insects, etc. etc took priority.

Then came Richard Parry, and alas the manifestation of the Stoppage Notice, as failure after failure was reported, now virtually daily and only too often many in a single day, as the navigations obviously deteriorated though lack of proper maintenance, assisted by even winter maintenance being cancelled time after time.

Alas, brought about by those who knew the waterways being cast aside and replaced by contractors—who most certainly did not know the workings of the waterway, as alas has been proven time and time again as repaired failures fails again.

So I have to ask—just what is the remit now...

What about their victims?

Not only contractors but using 'community payback' gangs, to do things like towpath work, with CaRT commenting in its in-house newspaper The Source on a visit by Justice minister Dominic Raab to one such scheme where such probationers were employed:

"Initial evaluation revealed high scores in probationers' wellbeing, health, trust, individual development outcomes and nature friendly attitudes, compared with their counterparts in other locations."

I wonder how the probationers scores compared with those of the victims of their crimes?  Seems to me the 'community payback' is all about therapy for the criminals!

Are they bothered?

How is it that of the many stoppage notices concerning trees down on the waterways there were none concerning those on the Coventry, Ashby and lower Trent & Mersey?

I have been made aware of five trees down in those canals but ner a stoppage notice from CaRT.

Our Keith told that there was one down about 100 yards from him on the Coventry but no notice was issued concerning it...

Coming in to land

The issues with the Elsan at Wheaton Aston Services that was 'overflown' has been resolved we are told. Though what overflew the Elson we are not told, only that the facility is now open.

Must be a lack of the knowledge of English that keeps causing the errors, this time not realising the Elson overflowed.

Not only stoppage notices

It is not only whoever is in charge of stoppage notices who certainly have little grasp of English, but that concerning the non display of licences article, from our Damian, he of the Boaters' Update that also leaves me perplexed:

'The project partners with the Canal & River Trust to establish reasons behind boater’s non-display of licenses and looks to theorise options to incentivise boaters to do so'.

As I so often remark—make of that what you will.

Victor Swift