Not so fantastic

CART's 'Fantastic achievement'—don't make me laugh, writes John Coxon.

So CaRT's 'annual national boat count shows its lowest-ever level, with 96.9% of boats holding up-to-date licences, up .3% on 2017.

1.085 without licence

If, as we are to be expected to believe, there are 35,000 boats on the system then this means that around 1,085 boats do not have a licence meaning that there is approximately one unlicenced boat for every 1.8 miles of canal. Not a very good statistic is it? And not what I would call a 'fantastic achievement'. CaRT then tells:

“Unfortunately, a small minority continue to enjoy the benefits of boating on the waterways without putting anything back to fund their upkeep...”

Why still on the canals?

So I say, why are they still on the canals?

(And notice they tell nothing about cyclists/canoeists etc. putting anything back to help fund the upkeep.) It also stated:

”In 2017/18 we had to remove 108 boats from our canals and rivers as they were unlicenced or in breach of our terms and conditions.”

Equates to 10% success rate

This equates to a success rate of only 10% which still leaves 1085 plus to be removed.

Again, not what I would call a 'fantastic achievement'. Then it tells:

“The national boat count also paints a picture of the changing numbers of boats across the country. The Trust’s waterways in London have seen growth slowing: up 2.4%, compared to growth of over 9% in 2016/17.

I say, it's because it's so full of continuous moorers that no more can get in. So it's no wonder growth has slowed. Hardly rocket science is it?

Pulling the wool

A 'fantastic achievement' only if you are a member of the CaRT propaganda team, the rest of us see through it as trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the reader.

Fantastic achievement—No.  Propaganda disaster—Yes.