VICTOR IN TROUBLE AGAIN with his number of canals closed—it's too low!
Victor states that Richard Parry has gone 'with over 30 waterways either with stoppages or closed altogether'.
However, Allan Richards states that Canal & River Trust's own stoppage system provides a higher figure—much higher.
Allan first corrected Victor in early June. Victor quoted Boaters Update which showed 19 stoppages under 'Maintenance, repair and restoration work this weekend'. Allan showed the actual figure was 25.
Wrong again
Now wrong again Victor—over 40 stoppages not 30
Over the last month, Allan's 'StopWatch' application (which interrogates CRT's stoppage database each evening) has found that that the number of live 'stoppages' has averaged over 40 with a worst day showing 50 stoppages. Whilst a significant number of stoppages are due to 'low water' the majority are for other reasons.
'StopWatch' reports for 27/07/2025 at 23.00 that CRT has 41 stoppages showing as 'live' on its database with 20 due to low water.
Better boating
On 1st April 2025, CRT announced its 'plan for better boating'. It states—'We will demonstrate to boaters that keeping our canals open for navigation is at the heart of what we do. This is our commitment to boaters, from the top of the trust, that boating will be central to our long-term plan.'
It goes on to tell—'Our chair, David Orr CBE, will chair a new boating sub-committee of our board that will oversee the implementation of a better boating plan and the general boating issues. Keeping our canals open for navigation will be central to our next ten-year strategy.'
As part of its better boating plan CRT is publishing figures on planned preventative maintenance of locks and bridges. It is also publishing figures showing that it is reducing the backlog of broken paddles.
Not publishing
What it is not doing is publishing figures to show its success (or otherwise) in keeping its canals open. This despite telling boaters that it is central to its plans.
Why not? Is it ashamed of its performance?