WOULD YOU BELIEVE that Canal & River Trusts total employment costs were equivalent to 76.7% of its combined income from boating, moorings and government grants in 2025/26?
Yet all its major functions are outsourced—such as he millions being spent on the Whitchurch breach and the spillway of Toddbrook Reservoir. (Pictured.)
Here are those that are employed by the trust. But I just wonder what on earth most of them have to do with waterways and its boaters?:
The groups include Cultural Heritage Advisory Group. Fishing & Angling AC. Six Regional Advisory Boards. Board of Trustees.
Then there are the eight chiefs:
Chief customer and place officer. Chief people officer. Chief of staff. Chief operations officer. Chief assurance officer. Chief financial officer. Chief investment officer. Chief policy and communications officer.
Then there are four regional officers. Six regional advisory boards and a council of 50 members.
And don't let's forget the various concerns they have an employee in charge of:
Paddle UK. Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs. Royal Yachting Association. British Marinas. Boating Business. Private Boating. Cycling UK. Ramblers. IWA. Institute of Historic Buildings. Wildlife Trust. Conservation National Academy for Social Prescription. Director of Outdoor Learning. Accessible Waterways Association.
I reckon that is enough to be going on with instead of me attempting to sort out the various others. But certainly tells where the cash is going.
But at least we get someone in charge of boating business and private boating!
Panic getting off the Avon
It was last month that passage though Bath on the Kennet & Avon Canal was halted owning to contractors working on the road above Bath No. 1 Tunnel (pictured) closed the tunnel when its roof was broken though, and thus the navigation off and on to the Avon.
Not being known how long the navigation will be closed is causing panic amongst those wanting to get off the river, with winter and possible floods approaching, with the queue getting longer and longer.
And there are those wanting to get back on the river to moorings.
It is hoped that the tunnel can be opened, if only temporarily to get rid of the queues. But alas, nothing from the trust so far.
Swingbridges start November stoppages
Two swingbridges have given up the ghost as a start to November.
One being the 'Wink on the blink' again—the Winkwell Swingbridge 147 on the Grand Union Canal, (pictured) with the bridge having developed an hydraulic fault.
The other is the Bar Lane Swing Bridge 191 on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal with it closed through both mechanical and electrical issues.
Shift it
There has been a bike in the canal at an angle catching the propellers of deep draughted boats near Church Lock 29 on the Grand Union Canal.
It has been there since late May, so surely it is about time it was shifted.
Victor Swift—telling tales for 26 years