WHAT you’ve been saying on our Facebook page:
●● HOME owner baffled at ‘petty’ £320 bill for being near a canal (July 9):
Tom Berwick: Rather her than me. I can’t stand canal banks, they’re utterly horrible things. I wouldn’t touch a canal bank with... Charlie Lewis: It also sounded like the gate originally opened outwards, onto the towpath (as she needed to move the side the hinges were on). This could present an issue to walkers/cyclists on the tow path if a gate suddenly opened out into their path. Emma Ross: Surely all that needs to happen is she makes the gate open onto her property so she doesn’t take out any unsuspecting passers by?
Ben Niamor: I’ve had similar difficulties with people fitting gates to access school playing fields, then dump rubbish, walk dogs, camping with kids you name it. Why do people think they can fit gates and cross property, without permission? Very cheap bill under the circumstances and kept her gate, time to get real. Richard MacDonald
You can’t just put a gate into someone else’s land. This isn’t public highway it’s canal towpath.
Jon Hayward: I’m sorry but if the C&RT did the work I could understand it. By saying they have to pay for access to the canal then they should be charging everybody for use of the canal, dog walking, cycling and even jogging along the tow path
Richard Stock: If you read the article it’s a new gate installed without consent, if it was an old existing gate she would not have had a problem
Jan Pritchard: If she bought the property with the gate already in place tell to take a running jump into the canal.
Iain McNab: Nothing in the canal bylaws prevents neighbours from putting gates in their own fences on to the towpath.
Julia Phillips: Maybe they could do some of their repairs with the monies they collect. Damaged Bridge reported several times. No response.
James Lockey: It is petty. She can walk up and down the path, free of charge, as much as she wants, but she’s not allowed to walk to it directly from her property. Lol.
Jennifer Wright: If you live near a river you have to pay river rates so I expect this is similar
Paul Mitzy Mitten: Tell them to take a hike...they don’t charge walkers or cyclists to travel along the towpath so why should you be charged
David Cunningham: The canal and river trust sound like a superhero tribute group by calling themselves the Guardians of the Waterways (it’s in their response)