Sally Ash resigns

SALLY ASH, British Waterways Head of Boating Development has resigned as chair of the Kennet and Avon Canal Mooring Strategy Group following criticism of the bullying atmosphere of many of the meetings she chaired.

The Kennet & Avon Canal Mooring Strategy Group came into being as a pilot for lengths of waterways where BW perceived congestion or conflict of use, Allan Richards reveals.

Achieved little

However, four meetings with Sally Ash as chair achieved very little. A fifth meeting chaired by BW's Damien Kemp, in the absence of Sally Ash, was seen to run much smoother.

Following the meeting Sally Ash emailed steering group members  stating: 'I am sorry to have had to miss the last meeting of the K&A mooring strategy group. I understand however that good progress was made which is excellent news and I'm delighted with the confirmation that I'm a dispensable member of the group. I have asked Damian to chair future meetings and will only attend if any special need arises.'

Condemnation

Sally Ash  came in for a great deal of condemnation from linear moorers with her 'one for ten' policy of removing one linear moorer for every new ten marina berths that were created, though in fairness many others felt it a good move to get rid of the seemingly endless lines of canal-side moored boats.

However her then system of auctions for such linear berths did arouse a great deal of controversy, and was widely condemned.