No consultation again
This is a very detailed document that is very biased to CaRT wanting to do away with more hands-on employees who provide help to both boaters and the public. This is clearly a cost saving exercise, at least on paper.
The problem
The problem as I see it is that a number of boaters refuse to use their mobile phones on their boats for the simple reason they are vulnerable to rain and also falling into the canal. In addition not everyone has a smart-phone, and they want us to have the phone switched to wi-fi, which means the battery is being drained whilst it searches for a network. There is an assumption that the phone will switch automatically to the wi-fi signal emanating from the bridge. In fact the phone will ask you if you want to switch to this network.
Another problem
The biggest problem is that it is illegal to drive a vehicle whilst using a phone. Consider the problems a boater will have whilst navigating and operating the phone. They will have less control of their boat. There are no dedicated moorings at bridges, so the phone will have to be used whilst moving. For single-handed boaters, I am one, it can be difficult enough controlling the boat at bridges especially on windy days without the need to try and use a phone as well. The screen of the phone is difficult to see on bright days. The phone is not useable in rain.
The webpage is listed as a consultation, however, the Trust do not want to hear our views and concerns since the last sentence provides an email address that is useless. It directs you to a webpage requiring a username and password.
So are the Trust prepared to replace damaged or lost boater's phones. I doubt it. Are they going to provide boater's with a suitable phone. I doubt it.
If this change comes about it will mean that some of us boater's will not be able to navigate on this canal.
Sham consultation
To my mind this is a sham consultation. Why, because consultation means that you listen to people's concerns. CaRT and before them BW have a track record of not listening to boaters' views. In many cases we are treated with contempt. The person who redesigned the CaRT logo quoting 'Boatless Canals & Rivers' got it right, for that appears to be where we are heading.