So now, what appears to be a 'very biased' commission have submitted their apparently 'pre-written report' on how CaRT are going to treat the continuous cruisers in the future, we have the NBTA up in arms again, writes John Coxon.
What the hell did they expect from it? Unfettered mooring rights, free licences etc?
Got what they deserve
Well they've got what they deserve in my opinion. The trouble is, they are tending to drag the rest of us down into the mire with them with their infantile attitude and actions!
They were not content to come onto the waterways and live by the laws, rules and traditions pertaining to this kind of living. No, they had to break the law, run riot with the rules and stick two fingers up to the traditions. Why? Because they didn't want to learn how to do it properly and conform to the lifestyle.
They don't want a life afloat. They just want a cheap way to live and when they find out that there are rules they just make a total nuisance of themselves to try to get the authorities to change things in order to conform to their demands.
They continue to bleat on about people complaining about the way they continuously break the law and rules. They continue to cause problems not only for CaRT but for other boaters and waterway users. They do not seem to have any regard for others who do not support their illegal activities.
They bleat on about CaRT destroying their way of life and community but they are doing that self same thing to us real boaters by their antics.
Hope well and truly satisfied
Well I hope they are now well and truly satisfied with the result of their ill founded protestations? Why could they not just blend in like the rest of us did before they come onto the scene with their 'we want it now and we want it for free' attitude?
Did they really think that CaRT would bow to their demands? They appear to have thought they would. What have they actually achieved with all their protestations? Well amongst others, increased licence costs, stricter mooring enforcement, numerous new rules and regulations etc etc...but above all the destruction of an idyllic way of life.
When will this group of ne'er-do-wells realise the damage they are doing by their actions? If they don't want to live the life of a boater then they need to get off the waterways and leave those of us who do in peace.
They have no support in the wider boating community. They are not wanted outside the major metropolises. Real boaters do not want to conform to their demands. They block moorings, use up resources, damage relationships between real boaters, the public and the authorities and have no idea how to go about changing things for the better.
No intention of cruising
The article outlines a typical NBTA member complaining about having to pay extra to buy a canal licence as opposed to the cheaper river only licence then having to move back onto the canals, or as per the quoted case, just ONE canal. None of them have any intention of cruising as per the conditions of the licences they have purchased. If any of them has an all embracing need to stay in one place, then they need to get a home mooring...
If any of them have trouble on one canal or location then they ought to move to different canal or location. A continuous cruiser should have to travel at least 75 miles per year and have two points on that journey at least 40 miles apart. This will put an end to the midnight swap-overs and release miles of towpath for real boaters to moor up.
Well all we can do now is hope CaRT have the good sense to realise who are the real boaters and who are the freeloaders and target them appropriately, although I'll not put any money on that.
[John Coxon is a continuous cruiser who cruises as his licence demands—Editor.]