The cause of so many stoppages

IT BEGGARS believe how a company can allow its structures to get in such a poor condition that is has 52,000 defects, writes James Henry.

I'm not sure what such defects are, as we are not told, but a great many of them must be locks in poor condition and paddles that are not working—hence the constant stoppages caused by a broken paddle that is obviously the only one working.

Joining the queue

This year I have been held up by the remaining single paddle being broken at locks that only have one working on a gate and the canal stopped by the broken lock, joining the queue of boats waiting.

The fact that the broken paddles are wrapped-up in a black bag [Ralph Freeman's picture] shows that CaRT knows about them, but why doesn't it then do something about it instead of waiting until the other one breaks, meaning then there has to be an emergency repair and the stoppage, which seems a most un-business method of doing things, but I don't expect the people at CaRT know much of how a business is run and so muddle along.

Catch a plane

I was in a position where the two stoppages I was involved in had little effect on me, as I was in no hurry and the boat was well stocked, as it always is!  But at one stoppage on the Trent & Mersey there were boaters in a precarious position, with one couple on a hire boat who had arranged it so they got back with just time to catch their plane back to the States. The above picture of a paddle at Dallow Lock shows that CaRT was fully aware that one paddle was broken, and had been for some time, resulting in a closure when the remaining paddle broke, causing delays to boaters.

I know the delay for a returning boat would cause the hire company problems, but it was being delayed as it was, so I suggested they hired a taxi to get to a train station from where they could get to their airport in time for their flight.  And they did, telling me they would inform the hire company of the situation.

Great problems

With, if I remember correctly, eight stoppages in a week, and three in one day, the hire companies must really be having great problems getting their boats back for turnaround, most likely losing both customers and money, but I expect they can claim back from CaRT for loss—or can they?

But back to the queue in question, there were people—and I remember you telling of one couple—who just could not complete their holiday, and I spoke to one man who was booked in for a hospital operation, and was worried as time was going by, as he did not want to leave his boat in that particular area.

All caused I believe by complete mismanagement on the behalf of CaRT who cannot get its priorities right—us boaters who provide most of its cash.  It should stop getting involved with all those non-essential Waterway Partnerships that are draining finances and the nature lobby with its demands, but concentrate in getting the waterways back in a workable condition.