Improvements by volunteers

THERE has been a mixed bag of opinion about volunteers. However, it may be just coincidence but I suggest that the presence of volunteers at Hillmorton has produced an improvement in both the appearance of the flight and, more importantly, the operation of the locks, writes Martin Cox.

Talking to the volunteers they have a justifiable pride in 'their locks' and the surroundings, and they seem to be able to get the equipment seen to promptly, if there is a problem. To those boaters who object to help at the locks there is the simple suggestion of a polite decline of such help.

Wrong place

Last week, at the start of the Ashby Canal, there was a Rothen workboat on contract to Canal & River Trust clearing offside willows. Nice to see it being done, but unfortunately, there was little need for any work at that particular point. I am confident that many of your readers could point out where, in the interests of safety, CaRT could have employed the contractors to better effect.