With Peel charging for us to use the Bridgewater Canal, that it knows is essential to get up to the Lancashire and Yorkshire canals avoiding the tidal Trent, then Canal & River Trust should reciprocate. writes Graham Peers.
It just is not fair charging us to use the Bridgewater whilst those on the Bridgewater can use our waterways without charge.
Bring in charges
The Trust should now bring in charges for Bridgewater boats who use our canals, as this is only fair.
I can't understand how Peel can police this new demand for money, for it means there will have to be enforcement personnel on the canal checking both when a boat accesses the canal and when it either leaves or returns, and should you be at the top of the Trent & Mersey and decide to use the Bridgewater, where will you pay?
The money that will be collected from this will not cover the cost of implementing it, but I don't expect those at Peel had the acumen to realise what was actually involved.