CaRT using spies!

WE CAN now reveal that Canal & River Trust is encouraging its volunteers to spy on boaters, writes Allan Richards.

The revelation follows the recent disclosure that the Inland Waterways Association is doing likewise (Underhand snoopers are IWA—narrowboatworld 4/1/2013).

Non-compliant continuous cruisers

At a Board meeting in September 2012, Simon Salem, Marketing & Fundraising Director and Sally Ash, Head of Boating presented a paper on non-compliant continuous cruisers, which the trustees considered and discussed.

The paper was the same as had been presented at the council meeting the previous day.

Volunteers

Following the presentation, CaRT's trustees endorsed 'appropriate use of volunteers as elements in the 'tool-kit' to address non-compliance'.

It is not known if any collusion exists between CaRT and the Inland Waterways Association regarding the matter.

Asked to spy

It was James Cook who told narrowboatworld on the 7th January that he had been asked to spy on boats by a CaRT mooring enforcement officer. He said: 'I was approached by a mooring enforcement office to spy on two boats in a certain area. I was assured that I could do so and not be bothered if I kept reports coming on where they were going and what they were doing'.

He declined to do so.

Boaters meetings

One boater is on record as publicly thanking Sally Ash and John Dodwell for embracing meetings with boaters (Boaters' meetings—narrowboatworld 18/1/2013). However, it seems rather strange that neither of these two mentioned the use of volunteers to tackle non-compliance.

They cannot deny that they were unaware as both were present at the Board meeting when the decision was made.

Boat spotters

It was trustee John Dodwell writing in narrowboatworld (A trustee responds—3/12/2012) who stated: 'I've read the concerns over mystery photographers of boats and have been in touch with Pam Pickett on this. Neither of us can make any sense of it. I suggest that if you want to know why someone is photographing your boat, then ask them. If the person is a trust enforcement officer, he/she will be able to show you their ID card'.

Perhaps it would have been more honest of him to say that he and his fellow trustees have sanctioned the use of volunteers to address non-compliance rather than suggest train spotters have taken up a new pursuit.

Perverse decision

The Board's perverse decision only serves to divide boaters. Indeed it makes it very difficult for boaters who are attempting to engage with the trust. Do they confront or turn a blind eye?

February's boaters meeting in Birmingham will be about rebuilding trust that has been destroyed because a trustee and a trust employee have not been honest and open.

That's presuming the meeting takes place.