Boaters using the media

WITH Canal & River Trust ignoring a petition to abandon its proposals for the imposition of shorter stay times at visitor moorings combined with fines for overstaying, boaters have switched to the media to argue the case, writes Allan Richards.

Thursday, saw boaters appear on both television and radio as already reported in narrowboatworld. (Sally Ash blames hire boats). Saturday saw more of the same with coverage on Three Counties Radio (3CR).

Corker of an interview

Mike Doherty started the ball rolling. Having already appeared on BBC London news on Thursday, he gave what one listener described as 'a corker' of an interview.

Later, CaRT's South East Region Manager, Jeff Wyatt was interviewed. He sounded rather uncomfortable but suggested that boaters interviewed wanted 'something for nothing'. His insinuation was, of course, that those being interviewed were 'continuous moorers' who should be paying for home moorings.

Own goal

Perhaps if he had read narrowboatworld, he would avoided the own goal. Louise Yeoman, who was interviewed by 3CR on Thursday and phoned in on Saturday does have a home mooring in his region and all 'continuous cruisers' interviewed made it clear that they used winter moorings.

In the event, CaRT rather came across as attempting to carry out a form of social cleansing. This is a charge that has already been laid against CaRT's predecessor, British Waterways, in respect of its Lee & Stort and Kennet & Avon consultations.

Gaffs

It was rather a gaff for Jeff Whyatt, but not as monumental as Sally Ash telling listeners that proposed increased mooring restrictions and fines were needed due to inconvenience to hire craft!

Indeed, one has to question why CaRT substituted a poorly briefed Regional Manager for its Head of Boating in its latest attempt to give 'balance' to boaters views expressed in the media. Perhaps it was because boaters have been asking Ms Ash for weeks to justify the proposals without any response only to find her suggesting on radio that hire boat operators need the restrictions and fines to be imposed.

Conflict of interest

On the other hand it might be because CaRT knows that some boaters have emailed the radio station pointing out that its Head of Boating suffers a conflict of interests due a directorship held with a company that sells boating holidays!

Most boaters will be aware of the work carried out by the Salvation Army on our waterways many years ago supporting working boating families. However, that this social work by the Salvation Army (and other ministries) is still needed may come as a surprise to some.

Jenny Dibsdall

Salvation Army Minister & Senior Waterways Chaplain, Jenny Didsdall, used her experience of working with disadvantaged boaters to give an excellent account of the difficulties faced by those who want affordable moorings in the Region. She related that an online mooring at Cowley sold recently for almost £5,000 per year with no facilities.

Perhaps, CaRT should be looking more closely at providing affordable residential moorings!