CaRT could not cope

IN ANSWER to your correspondent David Davis questioning if the Canal & River Trust would cope if it took over the Environment Agency rivers, the answer is a definite no, writes Ian Waters.

For a period I moored at the bottom of the Soar where it joins the Trent, and that river comes up and down like a yo-yo, and all that the Trust and British Waterways before it did was simply close the few flood gates, that did bugger all, as both at the bottom end of the river just send the flood water around a couple of hundred yards bend then back into the stream.

Close flood locks

At both Redhill and Kegworth sending the flood water around where the boats are moored, in itself seems strange.  Then the most the Trust then does is send out a stoppage notice.  It is exactly the same with the Trent—close the flood locks and hope, with often the water coming over the top.

We all know about the Severn, where it was local councils and the EA who put up flood defences, whilst the navigation authority CaRT does nothing, only in one instance taking the dangerous decision to stop boaters using the moorings at Upton in floods.  Others with more common sense pointed out the error of its ways, and it had to back down.

Lack of foresight

Can you see CaRT tackling the situation along the Thames at the moment? The EA is bad enough with its lack of foresight in dredging, but I dread to think what would happen if the Trust was in charge, as is possible if the government gets it way in amalgamating them.