Canal Boat — January 2018

(Jacob Rumans) #1
canalboat.co.uk Canal Boat January 2018 17

LETTER OF THE MONTH


LETTERS

TELL US YOUR VIEWS and you could win a Collins Nicholson Waterways Guide of your choice.
With their detailed maps, they are an essential part of planning your trips around the canals and rivers.

EMAIL [email protected] WRITE Editor, Canal Boat, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road,
Wokingham RG40 2EG LETTERS that are kept short are more likely to be published in full

Widebeams are hardly a new invention


Do the licence system really need changing?


As a regular hire boater for the past 12 years, with
an intention to eventually purchase our own boat
in 2018, I was quite interested in Steve Haywood’s
article in the December issue regarding the on-going
licensing review being undertaken by the CRT. Among
other things Steve points out ‘it seems very obvious
that the CRT intends to change the licensing fee for
wider beam boats’.
I should point out that I don’t have a vested interest
as I won’t be able to afford a widebeam and in any

case I want to be free explore as much of the system
as possible, but this part of the review can only be a
good thing.
Let’s remember that widebeams are not a new
invention, but unfortunately they can use only the
canals that were built to full specification and not
restricted by the cost-cutting installation of narrow
locks and bridges. So unless the CRT is intending
to upgrade the whole network to full width locks
and bridges, then surely any review of the licensing

system that considers width, will come to the
conclusion that those unfairly restricted to only the
canals with wide locks and bridges (less than half?)
should get a rebate off the licence fee. Well done CRT.
However I’m not so sure of the intention to remove
the discount for prompt payment of the licence fee.
Maybe in this case I’m being cynical, but surely this
won’t be replaced with an administration fee to cover
the ‘costs’ incurred by late payment.
JOHN via email

I always turn straight to Steve Hayward’s page when
Canal Boat arrives. He talks more honest truth than
all the entire C&RT lot put together.
How many of us ‘legal’ boaters are in full
agreement with his latest comments regarding ‘the
licence overhaul being hijacked’. Thousands if the
truth be known.
Only 81 boaters attending the nine meetings, no
reserves, just about sums up the farce that C&RT are
trying to hoodwink us into believing that the boaters
should have their say. What a load of rubbish. I for
one applied... didn’t even get a reply. How many of
the 81 are, like my wife and I, widebeam owners?
How much is this consultation costing I wonder and
where is the money coming from?
One wonders at the mentality of the people who
thought up the whole suggestion of altering what has
worked for years and years, the licensing of boats on
our waterways.
As for increasing the amount us widebeamers have
to pay, well, have they really looked at the cruising
distances we can cover?
We, on the River Soar, can go to Market
Harborough one way, but not at the moment as
there’s not enough water on the GU,and to Burton
on Trent the other, or to Newark, then tidal to Lincoln
and Boston or tidal up the Trent to Keadby... most of
it on rivers.
On the stretches of canals we can use, we use
no more water than two narrowboats, especially in
locks which have to be double for us but take two
narrowboats anyway.

That’s what they where made for and a 57ft
widebeam takes up no more mooring space on the
cut than a 57ft narrowboat! Come on, get real.
Of course, the conclusions have already been
made, I dare say that they were made even before
any ridiculous consultations were even drawn up.
As per my photographs sent earlier this month
to yourselves, we are still being smothered with
Pennywort, I’ve pulled two large heaps of the stuff
out of the lock adjacent to us.
If the truth be known, and Richard Parry got off
of his backside and came and had a look here, he
would find this part of the network unfit for purpose
and now they want another three per cent next April.
We are only pensioners, pay all of our dues, we
managed to purchase a widebeam for a little more
comfort in our old age and we have been ‘blown out
of the water’ by inconsiderate idiots.
At present, today, there are three, yes three,
unlicensed boats moored at the top of the lock here
who pay nothing towards the waterways. Clobber
these people first before the rest of us, and I bet
Richard Parry’s yearly income against my yearly
pension that there are many many more boaters
of all shapes and sizes who would agree with that
statement.
Legal Continuous Cruisers, leave them alone
(as per widebeam owners ) but Continuous Bridge
Hoppers, and there are hundreds, move them on until
they get fed up with it and find a home mooring, or
double their licence and see how long they remain
CCs (or is it CBHs) – not long.

Let’s hear from real boaters what they think as
opposed to the ones who want to be associated
with the bigwigs.
Let’s get the waterways cleaned up for the people
who pay... the boaters.
Come back BW, all is forgiven and bring back
the lock-keepers and give them powers to stop
unlicensed boats from moving through their lock.
LES MERRY wb Big Momma Merryweather

Thank you to Steve Haywood for showing an interest
in our licensing consultation and helping us raise
awareness amongst boaters (December 2017).
Thousands of people have taken part so far at
every step, from our own Navigation Advisory Group
to boating organisations to individual boaters and,
with the consultation running until 18 December,
there’s still plenty of time to have your say.
The licensing consultation is, and has always
been, about getting a wide range of ideas from
across the boating community.
We’re still open to new suggestions – there’s
plenty of space in the consultation document for
people to share their thoughts – and, naturally, any
blue-sky thinking!
Licensing is something that affects all boaters
and we are working collaboratively to create a
system that will be fair for boaters, both now and in
the future, recognising the pressures we may find
ourselves facing. Please do get involved.
MATTHEW SYMONDS CRT boating strategy
and engagement manager
Free download pdf