Paying our way

Peter Ponting makes good points. We hired for years, then owned a share in the same Ownerships boat as Allan and Chris Richards, finally blowing most of our life savings on a rusty old boat seven years ago, writes John Bamford.

So like most of us on the cut, we've paid our way over the years, seeing our annual licence and other costs rising precipitously without any evidence of better service or waterway conditions; oh—and we've contributed both directly and indirectly as taxpayers to Robin's handsome remuneration. (I firmly believe that people are paid such sums, they don't earn them.)

Forcibly put

I do seem to remember that the argument has been quite forcibly put that walkers, joggers, cyclists, dog owners (does that include muggers, boat burglars etc as well) also paid via the taxation system for the waterways upkeep and maintenance, so that gives them the right to use the waterways without any further contribution.

There is a case to be made, I'm sure, that those who contribute twice should perhaps receive something extra for their contribution; and I'd settle for a clear bank towpath side, some offside trees trimmed back, good dredging depth and lock gates and paddles that operate as they should—but then, isn't that what we should get anyway?