YET again Canal & River Trust are removing boaters' facilities, writes Alan Deane.
This time it’s the rubbish disposal point at Sutton Cheney on the Ashby Canal at the end of January. Apparently it’s due to constant misuse of the facilities.
Started to fall down
What the misuse is they don’t specify. However, years ago the bins were in a secured compound. This was not maintained and eventually started to fall down and was removed with the bins being replaced by a skip.
CRT East Midlands have stated:
“We plan to replace the facility for cruising boaters at a nearby, to-be-confirmed location. The aim is to provide a more secure compound accessible to boaters but less susceptible to abuse.”
Miles away
Until a replacement location is found this means the nearest rubbish points will be Snarestone at the end of the canal 10.5 miles away or Hawkesbury Junction 14 miles away if heading North after cruising the Ashby, then Atherstone.
So, don’t expect to have a leisurely cruise along the Ashby in the foreseeable future if you need to get rid of rubbish.
An organisation with an ounce of sense would have secured, pun intended, a location before closing the current one.