IT WAS last Friday that Canal & River Trust (CaRT) reminded boaters that voting would close in the Trust's Council elections at 23.59 on Friday 11th December.
Yesterday, it change its mind. Voting is now to close on Thursday 17th December at 23.59, some six days later.
Unable to vote
Following complaints that some eligible to vote have been unable to do so (Victor: What did you expect?), it has finally been admitted that not all were sent log in details.
The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) which is carrying out the election on behalf of CaRT has admitted responsibility for what it calls an ‘administrative error'.
NBTA
In a press release the National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) explained that, contrary to an assurance by Chief Executive Richard Parry in September, boaters without home moorings who had been forced to take a 'restricted' three or six months licence had not been included in the election.
Previously, only 12 months licence holders were included but, after representations by NBTA, Richard Parry agreed to include those on ‘restricted' licences.
Whilst ERS now accepts responsibility, its had been previously telling boaters that CaRT had not given it a complete list (Voting fiasco gets worse).
What a farce!