Virtual Lengthsman

I AM NOT sure whether it's what I write that has upset a few in Ivory Towers, or the photographs I take of things that need fixing, writes Ralph Freeman.

Either way, as Corporal Jones used to say 'they don't like it up 'em' seems to be the case, given recent events on the Canal & River Trust front.

Shoot the messenger, that well known tactic so beloved by senior management, appears to be alive and well within CaRT. With the Inland Waterways Association and now the Residential Boat Owners Association throwing in the towel and effectively joining CaRT's PR team, there will no doubt be more propaganda issued on the 'wonderful' state of the canals and less facts and photos.

So with the editor's permission I have decided to revert to doing a column for narrowboatworld that I shall call the Virtual Lengthsman, when the new season starts. 'Virtual' because I will be using mainly a camera and the Internet and 'Lengthsman' because I'll keeping my eyes open for jobs that need attending to, much as real lengthsman used to do when maintenance had a higher priority than it does today.

Countdown to a new season

So as we start 2013 what do I see for the coming year? Well, British Waterways, a public monopoly, has morphed into CaRT, a private monopoly, and has had some time to settle down. However, many consider the only thing worse than a public monopoly is a private monopoly, so that is not a good start methinks. For once and for all let's forget the Charity & Trust bit, yes?

Has CaRT, since it's conception behaved like a charity? I don't think so. Do boaters, the primary source of generated income, trust CaRT? I doubt it. For many the charity and trust business was always about throwing over the shackles that restrained British Waterways executives from even wilder, more irresponsible schemes. So let's just consider CaRT to be a private limited company running the waterways. Forget the Ivory Towers generated propaganda on the charity and trust front from now on, okay?

These days I tend to think of the name as being CaRNT anyway. (Canal and River Not Trusted?). Besides, every time you ask CaRT to fix something (like Colwich Lock gates for instance), all you get is a list of reasons (excuses?) why it CaRN'T be done. The replies are always so negative. I suppose life's easier that way? On reflection I've always found doing nothing simpler than actually fixing a problem, but that's not an option when you are a liveaboard.

No change of culture

No doubt this negative attitude is a carry over from the cushy quango days, but wake up chaps (and ladies) you are in the private sector now! It's do or die I'm afraid. Excuses have a very short lifetime in the private sector. CaRT may have the monopoly in the canal world, but if you look at the leisure industry as a whole it's a different story. If boaters don't feel they are getting a good deal they will simply go elsewhere.

I don't think the idea that boaters are customers has sunk in yet at most levels of the CaRT hierarchy. Senior staff still think CaRT exists for their, not the customers' benefit. Carry on in that mode and the dole queue beckons for sure. That's how it works in the private sector. History is littered with failed companies that simply lost touch with their customers, who then exercised freedom of choice, and subsequently spent their money elsewhere.

Making their minds up

I've lost count of the number of seasoned boaters that I have spoken to that are unhappy that the haven of peace, quiet, and live and let live attitude that used to be the Cut (well, most of the time anyway!) may well have gone forever.

They fear that the canals will become a cross between a National Park and a Theme Park where the 'number of visitors' and the 'take on the gate' are the only metrics used to measure success. Quality of life? Where do you find that on a balance sheet? Nowadays only money matters.

The boaters' conversations tend to go something like this: "We'll give CaRT another year then we'll make up our minds." People are considering a change of lifestyle; a Plan B if you like. These are people that a few years ago expected to 'pop their clogs' whilst still on the Cut. That was what I thought would happen, but not any more.

If I can't mooch around the system in an unplanned and carefree fashion, then I'll not bother thank you very much. That is what I have done for the last 10 years with no hassle but is that about to change? In some respects it already has. Now I have to prove where I have been and when. Why?

Simple requirements

All I expect of CaRT in 2013 (onwards) is:

1. Maintain the canals in a state fit for purpose in the long term.
2. Spend 'donations' from all sources wisely.
3. Improve efficiency to match that of genuine private sector companies.
4. Listen to your customers.

Not an unreasonable set of criteria I would have a thought; but will it happen?

Who knows, but I'll give CaRT (or should that be CaRNT?) another year and then make up my mind!