Email: Lock houses in poor state

One of the problems is that many of the lock houses are in a poor state of repair, and lack the kind of modern amenities which potential tenants expect nowadays.

For example, central heating, somewhere to park your car. In a couple of years time it will be illegal to rent out damp, draughty, expensive-to-heat properties, so it probably is cheapest for CART to just sell them off rather than face a huge renovation bill.

The chances are that they will be better looked after in private hands anyway, and no doubt the purchasers will be tied into agreements which will prevent them from adding monstrous extensions, naff conservatories, etc. All we can reasonably ask is that the proceeds go towards canal maintenance and not fat bonuses and madcap schemes to grow trees in boats.

Writing of which, there was a dredging pan moored for the best part of two years in our area with some willow trunks slung into it. They all sprouted—as willow does—hey presto a rootless forest for now't! There are often interesting growths on the rotting stern fenders of continuous moorers—there we go, more artwork for now't. Can I have a job at CART please? I can save them money!

Boatiegirl

[We have made the exception not to include a name as the person is well known to us, and is in the process of buying such a property...]