IWA losing members
THE condemnation of Canal & River Trust's John Dodwell by boater Graham Beven (Boater tackles John Dodwell) has led to an Inland Waterways Association (IWA) member cancelling her subscription.
Margaret Merridale cancelled following a post on IWA's Facebook page by IWA official, Gemma Bolton, writes Allan Richards.Don't want to be bothered
On August 17th, Margaret posted 'So CaRT don't want to be bothered with us .... what do you the IWA propose to do about it?'. She appended a copy of Graham Bevan's open letter to her post.
Two days later Gemma Bolton posted the IWA's response.
Well maintained and vibrant
'IWA's position is as follows:
IWA wants to see a well maintained and vibrant waterway network available for the enjoyment of all.
IWA recognised that public funding of leisure waterways was coming under increasing pressure and were very supportive in the creation of a charity (CaRT) partly so it could access new sources of funding that were not possible for British Waterways, which would help keep costs to boaters down.
The waterways network is funded from a number of different sources and we understand from CaRT's accounts that about 30% of their income is direct from boaters. Other sources of income allow much more to be spent on the network and IWA welcomes all sources of income as these benefit all users including boaters'.
Issue not addressed
The post was immediately condemned as stating the obvious whilst not addressing the issue with Margaret Merridale describing it as total waffle and adding 'Thank heavens that Tom Rolt cannot see what is happening'.
She has announced that she has cancelled her IWA subscription and is encouraging other members to do likewise.
Vision
Having risked our waterways by supporting the formation of an underfunded Trust it seems that IWA has now shelved its vision of a 'national conservancy' consisting of British Waterways and Environment Agency. Instead it has resurrected a pastiche of British Waterways' old and failed 2012 vision.
Needless to say, it has left the bit out about being largely independent of government grant. This year (2013/14) British Waterways had only said it needed £23.2m of grant. Instead it has a grant of £39m and needs a further £50m simply to stop its waterways deteriorating further (The Evans achievements).
So why blame government for not providing funding that it was told was not needed?
Total waffle
As the post states, it's total waffle. Much better that the IWA took the bull by the horns and condemn the years of Hales and Evans mismanagement.
IWA justify its existence by saying CaRT is the landlord and IWA the tenants association.
It's about time the tenants association stopped being so understanding of the landlord and started representing the tenants, particularly the paying tenants.
... otherwise it will find it has no tenants!