April National Users’ Forum
National Users’ Forum The April forum had poor attendance, with more CRT staff than other group representatives. Water resources – due to reservoir issues, the Chesterfield, L&L, Macclesfield and Peak Forest, and Huddersfield Narrow canals will probably all suffer to some degree from restrictions this ‘season’. Review of works – 13 winter stoppages have overrun […]
Effects of ‘bonfire of the quangos’ start to hit home
In the Chair Effects of ‘bonfire of the quangos’ start to hit home Mike Rodd analyses how DEFRA policy is driving the change in emphasis by CRT and the EA away from boating. We’ve seen many intriguing responses to our appeal for members to write to their MPs asking for support for CRT to continue […]
Editorial May 2022
Editorial Having had virtually unbroken sunshine since the last issue, the waterways have been at their busiest so far this year. But the increased lock usage, coupled with lack of rainfall and reservoir issues, means that it is only a matter of time before we’ll start to see restrictions appearing on some of the more […]
Thames Navigation Users Forum on Wednesday 13 April
Andy Soper of the Dutch Barge Association and NABO Member, reports on this meeting: I attended a meeting of the Thames Navigation Users Forum on Wednesday 13 April. Some 25 people attended with about 15 from user organisations including all of the principal boating user organisations (RBOA, NABO, RYA, ATYC, TMBA, IWA ) along with […]
2021 Annual BSS report of incidents and accidents
Annual BSS report of incidents and accidents This report covers incidents recorded over the year from 1st January to 31st December 2021. In total there were 70 incidents on the inland waterways. There were 28 fires and CO incidents. Of these, the cause of 16 incidents (57%) is unknown/not conclusive/to be confirmed. In nine of […]
NABO’s regular meeting with CRT
NABO’s regular meeting with CRT On 7th February 2022, Mike Rodd and Anne Husar had their regular meeting with CRT’s Matthew Symonds and Rachel Howard and, on this occasion, Sean McGinley, who covered the situation regarding the Ferrybridge fish deaths and suspension of freight movement. Concerns over facility closures: the facility block at Sutton Cheney has […]
West Midlands: Birmingham boating parade
The Commonwealth Games are coming to Birmingham this summer and there are many events taking place. As part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, celebrating the people, history and stories of our canals, CRT, the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS ) and the IWA are organising a parade of boats on the weekend of 24th – 26th […]
CRT South West Annual Public Meeting – Thursday 7th April
A not a very well-attended meeting with only some 24 folk present (including numerous CRT people) but still a useful and well-structured session. The Regional Director, Mark Evans, gave a slick summary of the past year and of course highlighted the difficulties caused by the storms etc. He also emphasised the significant amount of non-boater […]
Boat Safety Scheme consultation
Boat Safety Scheme consultation In March, the BSS began consulting boaters on proposals contained in its Examination Checking Procedures. The revisions apply to checks used in examinations of privately owned boats, managed boats in private use, and boats subject to the 2017 Hire Boat Requirements. The consultation concerns the introduction of two mandatory BSS requirements […]
Crunch-time soon?
Crunch-time soon? Mike Rodd peers into a very uncertain future for the waterways. The coming months are going to be absolutely critical for all of us who boat on our inland waterways, as it is clear that reports into the futures of both CRT and the EA – as I have mentioned in my previous […]