The meeting that never was

OVER a month ago Canal & River Trust (CaRT) met with national boating associations, to a meeting that never was, writes Allan Richards.

However, you will not find that meeting, on 3rd November, recorded on CaRT's meeting calendar. Neither will you find that meeting recorded on the websites of the major boating associations, IWA, RBOA, AWCC or ACC.

Not invited

You will not find that meeting recorded on the website of National Bargee Travellers Association either. Representatives were not invited (despite the meeting concerning boaters that they predominantly represent) and had to resort to requesting information on the meeting via the Freedom of Information Act.

To date CaRT are pretending that they are not aware of a meeting taking place, with its Sarina Young stating:

"In your request you ask for information relating to a meeting between 'CaRT and user groups' held on 3rd November 2014. To help me provide you with the information you have requested please could you be more specific about this meeting as I'm unable to find any reference to one of the same date."

Could have asked

Perhaps, if Sarina Young, Customer Services Coordinator, had looked at her job title and asked Dean Davies, Head of Customer Services, who actually attended the meeting....

Alternatively, she could have asked Richard Parry (Chief Executive), Denise Yelland (Head of Enforcement), or even Matthew Symonds (Boater Liason Manager (South)) who also attended.

NABO confirmed

Thankfully, the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO) has confirmed that 'the meeting that never was' did indeed take place (Meeting between the National Boating Associations and CaRT).

It would appear that CaRT wants the national boating associations to tell it what represents bona fide navigation in terms of distance travelled. It also is asking for advice as to increasing that distance progressively year on year.

Courts to agree

NABO's position is as follows: 'NABO believes that it is solely up to CaRT's judgement as to what represents bona fide navigating and whether they choose 10, 50, 500 miles is up to them and then for the courts to agree or otherwise. Bona fide navigating is bona fide navigating. You cannot tell a boater that last year he was complying with the requirements but this year they have changed and he is now no longer 'bona fide' navigating' .

NABO is exactly right. Is it CaRT's intention to bring court cases against boaters because associations have agreed that those without home moorings must travel at least 50 miles in one year and 100 in the next?

Absolutely preposterous!

The Mayers case

In attending this meeting, CaRT, were guilty of withholding vital information from the national boating associations. That information was the judgement from the case of Geoff Mayers.

Now one can argue the toss regarding the judgement, but surely this information should have been made available to the meeting as it was relevant to the matter in hand.

.... and perhaps the reason that the National Bargee Travellers Association was not invited to the meeting was CaRT was aware that a copy of this judgement would have been tabled....