I HAVE TO TELL that I have lost count of the number of consultations that have been afflicted upon us.
Yet here comes another one.
This time it concerns yet another on the future of boat licensing, with—we are told—the aim of creating a clearer, fairer system for everyone who uses our waterways'.
The licencing seems fair enough to me, it being simply calculated on the length of the boat.
But though it does not start until December, Cart tell us that already 36—yes 36—'recommendations made by the Independent Commission on Boat Licensing and explored how best to approach consultation. The aim wasn't to reach agreement on individual recommendations, but to help ensure the consultation is clear, evidence-led and focused on the issues that matter most to boaters'.
I just wonder how many of these recommendations have been made by boaters—none I should imagine.
I'm afraid I can only refer you to our Allan Richard's report where he discovered the results of a former licencing consultation was falsified.
Notwithstanding all the blarney concerning the Navigation Advisory Group, Citizens' Boater Panel and the Independent Commission on Boat Licensing, I ain't convinced, so will be taking the result it with a rather large pinch of salt!
Panic soon over
There was a right panic when it was discovered a fire extinguisher had been found in the Calder & Hebble Navigation last Friday.
Our Keith telling this was near the Top Lock at Brighouse Basin, it then being closed to navigation. (Picture by Pennine Waterways.)
Our then being told it can be harmful to wildlife and the ecology should it get into the river.
So out came the trust's Ecology Team with guns blazing to control the substance in the area and then attempting to remove it.
But sense prevailed when the trust was told the powder was not harmful—to man or fish!
Not again!
I often wonder about those boaters who either moor on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal or wish to cruise it, with its multitude of stoppages.
Looking back at our records and I see it was closed—for one reason or another—four times in July, six times in August and twice this month.
Way, way back we hired a boat on this navigation then when we had our own boat took a cruise down the Trent to Keadby up the various canals and river navigations then on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal to the Bridgewater. And ner a stoppage during the three weeks.
In the many years until Cart came into business and sold-out to contractors we only had one stoppage, and that very short, when a cill broke on the Atherstone Flight on the Coventry Canal, when the fella—that I have often shown—pointed out where the deepest part of the canal was.
And certainly not the middle where many—who should know better—would have us believe!
And again
I just wonder what the boaters on the Erewash Canal think about those many stoppages on their waterway?
It seem to be for ever running out of the wet stuff, with currently the pounds once again closed between locks 55 and 57.
In fact many of the pounds in that particular area are often closed through lack of the stuff. That makes me think there may be a leak...
Quicker
Anyway there's one thing sure, that since the last boss man of the trust and his five days a week contractors left, there's been a damn site improvement under the new man, Campbell Robb, with repairs on our waterways.
It seems there are now local Canal & River Trust teams ready to take on repairs has soon as they are reported, with such as paddle and gate problems often sorted the same day.
And the teams attending at all hours, in this continued drought to get water where it is needed. That's a real blessing to boaters. And the money saved must be incredible.
Victor Swift—telling tales for 26 years