Safety of boat crews

BRITISH Waterways has been the guardian of our canal heritage for the past 60 years. Latterly it has insisted that it has the responsibility to keep structures as close as possible to the state in which they were first built, writes Mike Stone.

At times in the early years British Waterways needed to be reminded of its responsibilities and was encouraged by enthusiasts to vary its plans in favour of retaining heritage appearance.

'Heritage experts'

Equally, in recent years, when well meaning groups of volunteers have attempted to recondition anything the management at British Waterways has produced their ‘heritage experts' who have staunchly maintained the correctness of this position.

Suddenly in 2012 a charity called Canal & River Trust is taking the reins. Now it appears heritage does not matter! Nor, I venture to suggest, does the health and safety of boat crews.

Protected?

I refer of course to the 'guillotine' RSJs on the Staffs & Worcs locks. I don't know the locks in question but are any of the structures protected by listing or in conservation areas? If so what is the opinion of the local authority on these installations?

Are the local H & S ‘jobs-worths' behind this move or has British Waterways left it to their contractors to ‘do the best you can'.

IWA

And (one should not start a sentence with a preposition) what is the IWA opinion? Is anyone from that august body, which claims to be the protector of our canal system, going to say or do anything? Don't hold you breath!

Local canal lovers should rise up and challenge this vandalism before it spreads like a canker across the national canal system and somebody is seriously injured or killed.

Use your local councillor, who will love the publicity he or she receives!