Bernard Hughes of NB EIN CARIAD is also standing for CRT Council. He writes:

I am writing to ask for your support in the forthcoming election to the CRT Council.

In my early boating days, I with my young family hired craft from bases throughout the system. Now after 20 years of boat owning my wife and I have cruised most of the inland waterways.  I am well aware of the problems facing our wonderful unique network. Our canals are in great need of investment both in maintenance and improvement.  There is, besides the professional staff, a multitude of experienced, enthusiastic, capable volunteers within recovery groups and canal societies.  I feel that the time is right for all this goodwill to be utilised.  This is an asset which if properly co-ordinated can be used to great advantage.

Finance lies at the heart of all improvement and priorities will have to be formulated. Monies should come from all users not only the boat owners. If the Trust is for all, then all should contribute. One way would be to seek contributions from local Authorities through which a waterway passes.  If elected I pledge to do my very best to help to lay down a firm business base from which to rescue, conserve, improve and extend the system.  Some of the work authorised in the recent past has been very wasteful of scarce resources and needs to be replaced with a strong management using “common sense”.

I am a member of several trusts and conservation groups including NABO.  I have joined  these to support the restoration and conservation of our canal system. I have worked with and supported WRG for many years, raising funds and spreading knowledge of the waterways by giving illustrated talks to numerous groups in our region.

Beyond the waterways I have over 25 years experience in local government as a District and County Councillor, including 10 years as Chairman of the sixth largest  Fire Authority in the country. During this time I oversaw the amalgamation of two neighbouring County Fire Authorities.  I started my working life as a schoolmaster and  moved on with my wife to run a catering business employing over 60 people. I hope that I will be able to use my managerial , negotiating and general business experience to the benefit of the CRT Council.

Thank you for reading this, I hope I  have convinced you that I merit your vote.

Bernard C J Hughes