Barking up the wrong creek? - Cause for concern

 

Cause for concern

This should be a cause for concern for all boaters. It certainly creates a great deal of ongoing speculation. In essence can you ever be best served by an association that gives its full support and approval to such a sweeping change in the terms and conditions.

However, boaters are a naturally sceptical collection of disparate people. It could be said that the boaters almost hold as many opinions as there are boats on the waterway. This healthy scepticism was brought about in the early days when waterways were viewed as a thing of the past. Activists took on the new owners, the government, in a story with an almost fairytale ending. One that we should all be able to enthuse our grandchildren with. The small group of boater activists and their association who overcame the behemoth of the state and won.

So who is wagging the tail of the dog?

Some boaters, such as myself, believe that as a result of the new close working relationship, boaters have been subjected to a whole raft of unneeded and disproportionate changes. Changes which must have been put in place at the association's behest or carried out with its complete agreement. If you like, a line was drawn in the sand and a new era of closer cooperation was born. On face value, one might believe that this is a good thing.

Typical of this 'tight knit' MoU agreement was the election of what were supposed to be independent boater representatives to the Trusts council. Once more, one might have believe that this is a good thing. An election was organised, individuals manifesto' were circulated. The democratic process took place. However in the cold light of day the touted 'independent boater' positions to the council were filled by the upper echelons of the IWA which coincidentally happens to come complete with an MoU.

Total lock-down

Since then there has been a total lock-down on any information about any issues the representatives have raised on the backs of our votes.

So what are our 'elected representatives' actually representing to the Trust?

So who are our 'elected representatives' actually representing to the Trust?

So how do our 'elected representatives' communicate with the electorate?

So what have our 'elected representatives' actually communicated to the electorate?

Blank refusal

In this day and age of social media, such two way communication to collect and disseminate information is easy. However, the silence from our elected representatives is both palpable and deafening. The blank refusal to divulge any information about meetings involving our representatives by the Trust is also a serious concern.

Silence was deafening

The safety net as such, was supposed to be the Inland Waterways Ombudsman—in cases of dispute, the ombudsman would be the final arbiter. However, it turns out to have been a sham existence for the last three years. Our elected representatives and other must have known about this. The trustees entrusted with the operation of the Trust must have known about this. But the silence was deafening.

Is there any benefit to be gained from joining a boating association? Yes, there most certainly are benefits. I like to look upon it as another form of insurance. Something that looks out for your long term interests. But at the same time something that you hope you will never need. You invest a great deal of money in your boat and thus the canal, and you need to protect that investment.

All things for all people

Some of the bigger associations, just want to be all things for all people who use the waterways. Be that walkers, cyclists, fishermen, bird watchers and a plethora of other interests. This on first sight might seem to be a good thing. However, boaters in that context would just be lost in the noise of everyone else wanting to pursue their own and sometimes conflicting agendas.

After all, why would you not invest the price of a 'jerry can of diesel' in a boating association who is in essence, dealing on your behalf with your landlord. But you also need to be selective about which association you join. As a boater, it is essential to join a boater-only association. The smaller niche associations for continuous cruisers, boat clubs for residential boaters and canal traders are self limiting by their small numbers. Many of the old associations are slowly fading into obscurity.

Ageing population, the dearth of young people owning boats: the reasons for their change in circumstances are many and varied. The solution for fair representation can only come from a truly independent boaters association.

I commend NABO to the House.

Further information can be found here:
http://www.nabo.org.uk/files/CRT_terms_and_conditions_April_2015.pdf