Start acting like one

CANAL & River Trust should get the same protection as the National Trust if they are now the same. The trouble is they not the same (they should be, but they are not), writes Mick Poyser.

Let's compare them on restoration and the safeguarding of historical heritage and let's take the Oxford Canal as an example.

'We have just restored two bridges using lime mortar and volunteer labour just the same as NT would do it', they say.

Signs everywhere

But what about the American style 'welcome to' signs everywhere (installed so the chief executive and others could get a bonus). That was not us they say, that was British Waterways, CaRT is different, it's a Trust the same as NT.

Well, would the NT replace oak beams in one of its buildings with inappropriate poetry carved into them, on the grounds that it thought it would pull some punters in that were not interested in the building.

If the NT were in charge of Hillmorton Locks it would restore their historical integrity and have volunteer guides showing the public how the paddles between the lock chamber saved water and not defacing the whole area, as British Waterway and now CaRT have done.

Official graffiti

As a philistine my heart sings at the beauty of the countryside, and our historic waterways and structures without official graffiti everywhere.
CaRT is just British Waterways under a new name, if it wants to be treated a a Trust it has got to start acting like one.