Bargees brought it on themselves

SO HAS IT finally dawned on the bargees that CaRT are out to get them is it?  Asks John Coxon.

Well as far as I'm concerned they've brought it upon themselves. The problem is that it's not only the lawless continuous moorers that will be affected but all of us innocent law-abiding continuous cruisers as well.

Hostility at first hand

They say 'Sadly, much of the itinerant boater community has already experienced CRT’s hostility first hand via its increasingly draconian enforcement and various anti-boater policies like the recent licence surcharge levied on boats without a home mooring, the introduction of unaffordable ‘chargeable moorings’ across London and the attempted clearance of boats from large swathes of the waterways including Birmingham and East London'.

Well, the Bargees with their questionable actions and attitude have only themselves to blame for this. Before they came on the scene none of this happened!

They just couldn't come and live on the canals and obey the rules as they are could they? Oh no. They have to indulge in what can only be described as militant activity to get the rules changed to suit their dubious lifestyle.

Unlawful tactics

When, as they say, now we have got '...CRT to speak so openly and brazenly about its hostility towards the very existence of our community....', all I can say is, what did they expect to be the reaction to their unlawful antics?

Again they say 'The rights of itinerant boaters to live on their boats whilst navigating the waterways has been enshrined in common law and practice since the construction of the canals...'. Exactly, and very successfully for over 200 years until these cheapskate freeloaders decided to ignore the rules with the intention of doing just as they please, be it legal or otherwise?

As they also say it '...has enabled the small but tight-knit itinerant boater population to survive the transition of the waterways from a government department to a charitable trust and thrive symbiotically with this unique part of our national landscape/infrastructure.'

Exactly, and then along came the militant bargees who didn't like the idea of having to travel around the canals or get a long term mooring, they just wanted to pitch up where they liked and ignore the rules and laws and engage in hostile activity to secure their right to do so!

Realise their desire

Well it looks like they might actually realise their desire and get the rules changed. But not, perhaps, as they want them to. It looks as if CaRT is trying to get the law changed to make it far easier to get rid of these lawbreakers?

The only real problem with all this is that it might also adversely impact on those of us who have been on the canals and obeying the rules for decades. Minding our own business, keeping our heads down and enjoying the life.

All I can now say is I hope the militant bargees are well and truly satisfied with their work because they appear to have destroyed this lovely lifestyle for the rest of us. It appears that in just over a decade they have succeeded in destroying over two centuries of tradition!

I hope they are well and truly satisfied now?