Email: Hirers do pay

Having read both of Sheila Halsall's articles, published recently in narrowboatworld, I feel compelled to reply.

My wife and I hired boats for 20 years before buying our own boat in 2010. So, yes we do understand that the hirers of boats, do pay a substantial license fee.

Sadly in this economic climate, it is rare to see a week's boat hire under £1,000. Like most holidays you loose a day to start with. You can pick the boat up at 4.00pm on the Saturday, but it has to be returned by 9.00am the following Saturday.

Personally I think the hire boat companies need to revise the value for money they are providing. Also provide better training of staff, and more importantly, better guidance for new clients on boat handling.

As Sheila has stated, she does not own a boat, but likes to walk with friends along the towpath looking at the poetry on lock gates. That is all well and good. But who is paying for the inscriptions on lock gates? The hire companies can afford it with their weekly rates. But what about the private boater?

Do walkers and cyclists contribute to the upkeep of the canal system?

Peter Ponting