18 February 2018 Canal Boat canalboat.co.ukLike us on Facebook, join in the discussions, see
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CONVERSATION#BasingstokeCanal bank ferns #BedserTrail,
#HorsellCommon, #Woking, #Surrey
IANANDERSO@IANANDMy afternoon cruise under (thus neatly avoiding
the 5p toll -- Ha Ha!) Swinford Bridge (built
1769) on the #RiverThames at #Eynsham, near
#Oxford. And they’ve treated me to 109 litres of
Kerosene, and 89 litres of diesel. #Happiness
BALEINE @BOATBALEINEWe had fitted a solar panel and battery monitor
this summer while on the Kennet & Avon which has
transformed life on the cut for us.
Firstly, we never have to run our engine unless we
are cruising, which has reduced air and noise pollution
and makes life so much more peaceful. Secondly, we
expect to recoup the initial outlay as we will not be
buying so much diesel, not to mention having to worryabout when we are going to get to a marina to do so.
So many times, we have seen noisy and smelly
generators disturbing the quiet summer evenings that
we all love on the canals, or being woken up early
by others running their engines so they can have a
shower. I think that much more should be done to
promote and encourage the installation of solar panels.
DEBORAH MENDEL-LION nb Rosella llOur solar panels put fuel bills in the shade
Give boaters a say on EA takeover
I write to express our concerns regarding the proposed
takeover of the navigational responsibilities by the
Canal and River Trust of the waters managed by the
Environment Agency.
Since 1991, the National Association of Boat Owners
is the only organisation that solely represents the
interests of private boaters on Britain’s canals and rivers
that are managed by either CRT or the EA.
We exist to ensure that boaters’ voices can be heard
when decisions are being made that might affect their
boating.
We are actively involved in supporting CRT: within
our managing Council we have two Council members
on CRT’s Navigation Advisory Group (Licensing and
Mooring), one member on the Navigation Advisory
Group (Operations) and three Council members on the
Boat Safety Standards Committee. As well as being the
current chair of NABO, I am also an elected boater’s
representative on CRT’s council.
We are deeply concerned that the All Party
Parliamentary Group for the Waterways is not seeking
the views of boating organisations such as NABO,either through attendance or in writing. We are NOT in
favour of CRT taking over responsibility for the waters
currently managed by the EA. In our view, from a
boater’s perspective, CRT has yet to demonstrate that
it is able to maintain and improve the canals and rivers.
Indeed there remains an ongoing and increasing
need for dredging and lock maintenance to ensure
year-round navigation.
We also do not feel that splitting the role of the EA
between navigation and flood relief will be efficient, nor
will CRT be able to adequately assess and future-
proof the funding required to manage its increased
responsibilities.
Our further concern is that the Waterways
Partnerships, which were seen by DEFRA as key to
the introduction of additional, locally-sourced funds
for CRT, have failed miserably and are instead now an
additional expense.
We feel it is important that Parliament should be
made aware of the views of dedicated boating groups
such as NABO.
STELLA RIDGEWAYCanal community is best breakdown service
Our six-week adventure started in early September
from Lowsonford on the Startford Canal for a trip to
Liverpool docks and back on our nb Littleholme. All
went well through Birmingham up the Shroppie.
Onwards and onwards until we discovered a leak in
our stern tube outside Leigh on the branch of the same
name. A drip turned into a dribble. Several nocturnal
visits were required to the bilge pumps to maintain the
status quo.
We pressed on to Liverpool, the docklands are truly
worth a visit. Our concern regarding the leaking stern
remained with us but the good people of Liverpool
came to our rescue. Within two hours of contacting
Blue Point Marine in the docks, the boat was on dry
land, repaired and returned to its natural environment
by teatime, along with four new anodes for good
measure. A big thank you to engineer John and the rest
of the team.
The following day we headed for home but disaster
struck again a few hours out, with the failure of the
water pump. The engine room looked like a Turkish
bath, steam and water everywhere. Nothing could be
done so a stiff G&T was the order of the day. But Lady
Luck was still with us as opposite us was Mersey Motor
Boat Club of Lydiate on the edge of Liverpool.
Our hero was John Chapman who had spent his
life in the motor trade. He soon had the pump off and
suggested we toured Merseyside in his car looking up
his motoring contacts but no luck. Calcutt Boats did a
first class job in sending a replacement the following
lunchtime. Thank you Amy.
The new pump had gone metric but with our hero’s
tenacity and another trip to Toolstation all was resolved.
Our thanks go out to the club and its members, in
particular Peter Bridgewater, who organised mooring,
electricity and water, all free of charge. You do meet
some good people in this world.
ROBIN AND CAROL HARTLEY nb LittleholmeSnow on the River Thames and its ducks
NANCY CAMPBELL@NANCYCAMPBELLE