I hope that the more vigilant in the boating community will keep a close eye on the extent to which closures blamed on a lack of water really are justified, and not a means of alleviating pressured budgets.
If we look back over the history of the canal network, too many canals were lost, and then needed restoration, through the mechanism of temporary closures followed by all too rapid deterioration to the point at which it was possible to claim that navigation was no longer possible or cost-effective.
Closure not only saves on wear and tear but also hides the fact that water shortages are made much worse through the lack of maintenance on reservoirs.
Whilst we can all see the effect of inadequate gate maintenance, for example, reservoirs often look okay, even if their depth has been seriously reduced over decades of neglect. I understand that in some cases their effective capacity is but a fraction of its original design.
The lack of an outcry over this year's closures (and it amazes me how quiet everyone has been—this is surely more important than futile Trustee-bashing?) can only tempt British Waterways (and Canal & River Trust) into greater use of closures for budgetary reasons. Back to the days when maintenance stoppages led to no movement for several months of the year?
Mike Todd
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IT IS not true that British Waterways tree management policy is 'thorough and robust' as told by the Waterways Minister, Richard Benyon.
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IT WAS six weeks ago that we reported a stretch of the Kennet & Avon Canal was closed due to lack of water, but stranded boaters are being given the chance to move their boats.
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THE reason that Nottingham County Council was unable to continue with its funding towards the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal was because of budget pressures.
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BRITISH Waterways has refuted a coroner's report that failings exist in its tree management systems that could lead to future deaths, writes Allan Richards.
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LINCOLNSHIRE County Council, in discussion with the Environment Agency, wish to carry out works to the river wall alongside Waterside South in Lincoln, that will close the Witham for a month.
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ABINGDON Town Council hope to attract boaters to Abbey Meadow by the side of the Thames, with the intention of spending £2m on its revitalisation.
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AT SHEFFIELD Crown Court, Lord Justice Davis handed down a life sentence to Ashtiaq Asghar with the recommendation that he serve at least 17½ years for murdering Laura Wilson.
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THE boater who drowned trying to board his boat at Devizes on the Kennet & Avon Canal had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.
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THE latest Update from the trustees of the Canal & River Trust is heavy on optimism but light on detail.
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