Synchronicity
ACCORDING Wikipedia, 'synchronicity' is the experience of one or more events as meaningfully related, where they are unlikely to be causally related, writes Allan Richards.
Is synchronicity at work with regard to Canal & River Trust (CaRT) and the narrowboat Perl?
Damned if it does
In her recent narrowboatworld article (Damned if it does), Pam Pickett tells us that CaRT has incurred costs of £10,135.20 in removing the narrowboat Perl from its waterways (or rather moving the boat 125 miles and then craning it back in!).
However, the £10,135.20 is just the tip of a substantial cost iceberg. What about the cost of the ‘Maggie' style eviction complete with police officers? What about court costs for the two hearings?
Two hearings?
Yes, that's right, two hearings! Because CaRT seemingly ‘misinformed' Perl's owner regarding the hearing date the case was heard in his absence on 22nd November 2013 and reheard on 10th February 2014.
At the first hearing, the Trust was awarded its costs with £50,000 to be paid ‘on account' within 21 days. However, at the second hearing Judge Halbert rescinded his previous cost order with the judgement recording ‘There be no order for costs'.
So £50,000 within 21 days became nothing and the amount that CaRT could spend on maintaining its waterways was reduced.
Peoples Postcode Lottery
Enter the Peoples Postcode Lottery! As announced in narrowboatworld (Extra funding from Lottery) the Lottery has given an extra £50,000 to CaRT.
CaRT's press release states 'The extra funding will help our work to improve the canals and make them very special places for people to use and enjoy, as well as havens for wildlife. We're particularly looking at a project that will help further connect communities with their local canal-working with people to adopt and take particular pride for their local stretch of waterway'.
However, synchronicity suggests that the extra £50,000 from Peoples Postcode Lottery simply replaces the £50,000 ‘on account' that was rescinded.
Caravan or tent
Perl's owner is now living in a caravan. ‘Maggie' is living in a tent next door to a police station.
Sadly, with some support from the Trust and local authorities they could still be living on their boats.