Introduction
Until a few years ago no one would have argued with the statement that “British Waterways is the “Custodian of the Canals”". Recent events have cast doubts in many peoples minds that this is still the case. The sacking of the lengsthmen, whilst spending £800,000 on a publicity campaign to promote canal use are evidence of this. Whilst high visibility prestige projects go ahead, simple maintenance jobs are neglected through “lack of funds”.
The evidence of this policy is all too visible to folk who use the canals regularly. The “Defra Rash” as Tony Haynes has labelled the orange “safety” netting, is springing up all over the system. This indicates an unresolved problem. A problem likely to stay that way unless we embarrass BW enough for them to stop wasting money burnishing their image, and spend our money on maintaining our canals.
Ralph Freeman
