Comment—campaign against narrowboatworld

THERE has been much effort recently by Canal & River Trust denying it is running a campaign against narrowboatworld and its contributors.

However there is such a campaign, the most publicised being that letter to Ralph Freeman's marina requesting totally unwarranted information.  And notwithstanding  CaRT's insistence that it is in general use, neither Pam Pickett nor I could discover any other marina that had received one.

Being somewhat afraid of repercussions, but now agreeing to allow me to publish, another regular contributor, James Henry, who has been somewhat scathing of CaRT's activities, tells me he too has had his narrowboat photographed very often. Similar to Ralph, told that coming across the bridge at Rugeley he saw a man pass five boats, yet take a photograph only of his.  As he ran down to the towpath, the man climbed on a bike and quickly left. Not the only occurrence he insists.

Kept in the dark

Though again it is denied, there have been instances where narrowboatworld has been omitted from the Press Release list, usually from a particular area office.  This however defeats its object, as I get the releases second hand, and so can put my own interpretation on them rather that publishing word for word. And of course there are cases where the Trust, by withholding such releases loses publicity.

Confirmation

But for conclusive confirmation that there is a campaign by CaRT against narrowboatworld I have been told by a company that will be working with the Trust, that CaRT wants the company to remove the narrowboatworld link off its website, 'as it does not believe the information it [narrowboatworld] gives is a true representation of the Trusts activities'.

As can be imagined I was absolutely shocked to learn that Canal & River Trust are asking/telling its contractors that they should remove such a link, but proof positive that there is a campaign against narrowboatworld, no matter what the likes of John Dodwell have been told.  I think this is little short of bribery, and wonder what the actual trustees think of such behaviour.

The company in question also thought this outrageous, so refused to comply.

However

I however believe that this is not a campaign by the actual Trust, and/or its trustees, but is the instigation of a couple of people who have taken it upon themselves to discredit narrowboatworld and its contributors.

They have failed.

Tom Crossley, Editor

Addendum

Though many decry narrowboatworld as being anti-CaRT, I should point out that very little is actually written by me, and certainly nothing ever added to the articles or emails from the literally hundreds of boaters who have contributed their feelings, experiences and knowledge, sometimes to the detriment of the authorities, that I feel is my duty to include.

So please—Don't shoot the messenger...