THE trustees who will be responsible for taking British Waterways to the third sector as Canal and River Trust asked the question, with narrowboatworld's editor grasping the opportunity—ran a snap poll—and gave a landslide answer, writes Allan Richards.
Boaters Manifesto
The question was asked of Peter Underwood, who is co-ordinating the Boaters Manifesto group, and relayed on Facebook sites as 'Trustees are asking for reasons—other than pay and perks—we feel Evans and co should go.'
It is understood that the question was posed due to one of the key points of the manifesto which stated 'Boaters have lost faith in the most senior management of British Waterways and believe that the government should accept the cost of making them redundant to give the Canal and River Trust a fresh start'.
Executive and Board
But, of course, three of the trustees are part of Evans and Co as they are also Board directors. One name will be familiar to most but the others largely unknown. They are Tony Hales, Nigel Hugill and John Bridgeman. They are also part of Evans and Co.
To make it clearer who Evans and Co actually are, the narrowboatworld poll asked the question 'Should Evans, Hales & Co remain in Office when BW becomes Canal & River Trust?'
Yes and No
Only 83 agreed that they should remain in office with a landslide 3742 saying they should go.
I am now wondering why I even bothered to document my own view that the appalling performance of British Waterways under Evans and Hales against two long term targets (financial and public benefit) was the reason they should go. It is probable that we now have 3742 other reasons as individual as those that cast a vote.
However, for me the poll confirmed that it is exactly as the manifesto says 'Boaters have lost faith in the most senior management of British Waterways '.
It's as simple as that!