IF ONLY we had a strong and outspoken boaters association looking after our interests perhaps the decline of the canals would cease, writes James Henry.
There is little at present, with the Inland Waterways Association little more that a mouthpiece for CaRT, even to repeating that stupid figure of 365,000,000 visits to the canals a year. I would like to hear from anyone who has seen the 500 odd people a day on any mile of canal that this figure equates to. I have never seen even 50.
Should be open
I can't remember when we last had any news from the National Association of Boat Owners, and should you go on to its site for news you are asked to sign-in, which really is the most negative way possible to get its news across—it should be open, as others must be like me, and resent it, so don't bother.
At least the chairman's report was there to read, but he too I notice has joined CaRT in suggesting that we boaters are 'causing some gate and swing bridge failures', obviously believing CaRT's untrue 'blame game' stoppage notices that will blame anyone but itself. Then he contradicts himself by saying the failures are the results of CaRT's obvious policy of ‘fix it when it fails' which has also been all too evident—which of course is nearer the truth.
Sheer tenacity
Being on the Kennet & Avon he 'has a go' at the Bargees association, making a point that it only represents a few, but I for one admire it for its sheer tenacity in getting its message across, even getting into the National Press, something that the Boat Owners fail to do. A pity that we 'normal' boaters (and I don't mean this disrespectfully) don't have such an outspoken association capable of really looking after our interest, and more so the interests of the neglected canals, but alas we do not.
As for the Royal Yachting Association that is now going for a slice of the inland waterways, that's a laugh.