Email: Value for money

In response to Mr Ponting, I am afraid I do not know enough about the economics of running a hire boat company to be able to comment on their weekly charges or indeed their value for money.

Walkers and cyclists contribute to the upkeep of the canal through general taxation. That is partly why CaRT receives a grant from the government and is not funded entirely by boaters' licence fees. One analogy would be with the National Parks. Walkers and cyclists don't pay an entry fee to use them but the parks require upkeep for which they receive grants.

Just as private boaters might argue that they are not receiving value for money for the cost of their licence fee, so people who pay taxation might argue that they are not getting value for money because they never go near a canal or a National Park. I would hope not to lose sight of a broader perspective.

Sheila Halsall