I HAVE to admit that the headline 'Damned if it does—damned if it doesn't' of the article concerning Cart and its methods of enforcement of non-licence payers said it all.
The writer, Julie Bedell, summed it up well, stating that Cart is indeed damned if it tows boats away due to non-payment yet dammed if it takes no action.
The photographs I have seen confirm that in the case of the vulnerable woman asleep in the boat when it was attempted to be towed, was indeed 'overkill' with contractors, bailiffs, police and Cart people seen clustering around the very distraught woman, proving the Trust indeed should be damned.
Contrarily, there are boaters blatantly moving a few hundred feet back and forth between moorings and 'getting away with it'—for which the Trust is also damned.
Surely there must be a middle ground.
Where was Sean?
One of the many new appointment within Cart, was that in 2014 of Sean Williams as its Welfare Officer, his appointment announced with the usual fanfare including the following:
'Operating on a confidential basis Sean will help vulnerable boaters find the right solutions for their issues and particular set of circumstances. This will be done in partnership with a network of external organisations whose remits include helping provide welfare assistance to those in society who most need it'.
There was certainly no 'solution' to that vulnerable boater. So what, if anything, did Sean do to help?
More silly notices
Entering the Kennet & Avon cycleway (sorry, towpath) you will come across even more products from Cart's Department of Silly Notices.
One was attached to a fence where a public footpath leads on to the towpath and at first sight seems very unwelcoming.
Only when you get closer can you read the small print so I wonder how many people have turned back without reading it. In any case, just what is the point?
Such silly notices now include ducks, bees and dogs, and are costing thousands of pounds to produce and install. One on a fence on the Staffs & Worcs, dropped off, as the fence was rotten. Would it not have been better spending the money on the fence?
I hear that Cart's Poet Laureate, Luke Kennard is a bit put out with the Department of Silly Notices, with the poet a little hot under the collar that the others are getting more cash, so there is retaliation, taking to the towpaths to give another of his inane offerings.
I can think of a much better use of all the money wasted. How about you?
Visitors of course
It of course is all about visitors. Mind you Cart's recent poll tells them that amongst the top 'bugbears' is cyclists 'speeding past' at 23%. But of course this is a Cart statistic, so shall we double it—makes more sense.
Afraid I have a bit of bad news for Cart concerning its number of visitors, as we did not even see a mile's worth (around 500 is it?) on our entire cruise from Stourport to Sawley. I won't upset it too much by mentioning the number of visitors along umpteen miles of the Severn. All you who have cruised up from or down to Tewkesbury will be well aware of the lack of them.
Oh yes, the number of visitors to its waterways as gone up another five million, now standing at 385,000,000! God knows where they are, no one else seems to.
More customer service
My old mate Rod Grant, Head of Retail at British Waterway Marinas Ltd tells us the company is 'putting in place real customer service' throughout its marinas, with 'a suite of robust systems' whatever that means.
Alas, when we arrived back from our cruise at Sawley the chandlery was firmly closed, and the wi-fi still did not reach our boat. Perhaps the 'suite of robust systems' has not yet reached Sawley.
Victor Swift