RATHER topical at the moment, and somewhat embarrassing for British Waterways, as one of its vans as been crushed by an unsafe canal side tree.
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A MAN suspected of the murder of the woman discovered in the Grand Union Canal at Southall has been charged.
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WHILTON Marina on the Grand Union Canal has acquired Venetian Marina on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.
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I WOULD like to say 'thank you' to all of you who have wished me well over my recent illness, that was greatly appreciated. (The thanks not the illness!)
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THERE are fears for the future of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal when its future is taken over by the Canal & River Trust.
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IT HAS been confirmed that notwithstanding the offer of moorings along the Regent's Canal by British Waterways, no boat traffic will be allowed past Commercial Road Lock during the Olympics, but will have to use the tidal Thames.
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THOUGH Reeves Boat Builders Ltd ceased business in July, a judge has awarded one of its workers over £10,000 including redundancy money.
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INITIAL reports of the Christmas boating activity are showing a lack of boat movement even on the most popular waterways.
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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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