CLOSING the Garrison Flight due to an unsafe building may seem sensible to the occasional boater but this decision needs to be put into context of the overall risk of boating throughout the year. Ralph Freeman suggests:
1) I would love to see the risk assessment for turning many towpaths into what have become dangerous cycle race tracks. To be consistent with the Garrison Flight decision shouldn't cycling be banned on sections where towpath users are likely to be injured and boaters moor up (for lock operation for instance)?
2) Do members of the Enforcement Team have to fill in a risk assessment before they order a boater to leave the safety of a canal for a flooded river to avoid an overstaying 'offence'.
3) CaRT expect certain boaters to move their boats in the winter, despite locks being made lethal with a coating of ice and snow! How does this fit any boater safety policy when CaRT staff are not even allowed to walk on the towpath, let alone operate locks, in those same conditions?
4) In several cuttings on the system there are signs to the effect 'Beware falling rocks'. Quite how I'm expected to do that is not defined..... catch 'em and throw them back?
5) Important safety 'river level gauges' are not replaced for years if they go missing.
6) Some locks are missing (what are classified as 'essential') handrails on the tail gates. Why?
Conclusion
CaRT's policy as regards boater safety is a shambles. As is the case nowadays CaRT appears to apply 'rules' in a highly selective manner (to suit CaRT itself), that are totally inconsistent and devoid of boating common sense. CaRT seems to be oblivious to the fact it makes itself look stupid by so doing!
Might I suggest that CaRT should have informed/warned boaters of the danger of passing the building in question and allowed boaters to make up their own minds as to whether to proceed or not?
Common sense bypass?
If you do a bit of research on the Net, you can come up with some facts that may surprise you but I suggest makes good reading so as to come to a common sense approach to safety. For instance 29 people a year die in their baths at home every year and around 150 die on the roads every month. Then of course there were those that died 'unnecessarily' because they had the misfortune to be sent to Stafford Hospital !
So please, can we have some common sense and consistency as regards to boaters safety?
How dangerous was it to pass through the Garrison Flight compared to say crossing a busy road or using one of those 'dangerous' cuttings I ask?