Give the 'Hijacking' a rest

IF WE are going to give the discussion/argument between continuous cruisers and marina moorers a rest for a while perhaps we can do the same for the continual debate about the Inland Waterways Association 'hijacking' the Canal & River Trust Council, writes, Peter Early.

With only four seats out of a total of 35 being allocated to boaters, there was never much chance that we would have the upper hand so perhaps the real argument should be for more boater representation. With elections every four years we have a bit of time to see how this council works out and campaign for changes, if needed.

Asking them to vote

It is true that the IWA emailed all their members asking them to vote for the four (later five) IWA members that were standing but it was hardly a three line whip as some have suggested. Jeannette and I have been IWA members for years but it couldn't influence how we voted.

Just as when we vote for a government or police commissioner, we do have the brains to think for ourselves and read the 'manifestos' of those who stood for election to the council. We voted for Ivor Caplan because we had dealings with him in his role of representing the RBOA and BCNS, both of which we are members. We voted for Peter Scott as we had dealings with him about problems with the flood gates on the Calder & Hebble and problems with the visitor moorings in Leeds.

Rejected

We rejected those who purported to be continuous cruisers but had full time jobs (mostly in London it seemed) and we rejected those who worked for the state or local authority because of a natural animosity. One of those we voted for, Ivor, was elected. The other three were not. That is democracy.

If you look at the figures, 28,805 licence holders were eligible to vote. The IWA has 17,216 members, admittedly not all boat owners. Only 7,556 people actually voted. That was a turnout of just 26%. The sort of figures that would make the headlines in the national papers if it was a general election.

So, boater apathy is the real reason we have all four 'boater' seats on the council occupied by IWA members. Perhaps IWA members are not so apathetic as the others.

Pete Earley, Nb. Joanie M