Is CRT developing the ‘smart canal’?
FOR many months now, arguments including Parliamentary Select Committees have been ongoing re the inherent dangers of the new ‘smart motorways’, an area in which I have considerable knowledge.
The main thrust of the concerns is lack of the hard shoulder and refuge areas and the numbers being killed or seriously injured because of this. Building of these has now been halted awaiting the outcome of enquiries, but it is already very obvious to myself that proposed ‘improvements’ will not solve the problems, mainly because the people in charge don’t themselves understand the issues.
Now, I am not in any way suggesting that the same level of calamity is applicable to our waterways; however, on my recent journeys my mind has constantly drifted into comparisons between the current motorway issues and our own canal system.
I have been around canals, boats and boating since around 1962, when I took my first trip with one of Ernie Thomas’s early hire boats Robin and we went from Wolverhampton to Chester, a very easy journey in those days with little other traffic on the water. Moor when and where you like, as often as you like, take time out to visit the local shops and villages etc., but not so on my current travels which have been very different.
I understand that boating has grown in popularity, and I understand the opportunities for walking, cycling and fishing etc., and I have no problem whatsoever with any of this and the concept of sharing this wonderful heritage facility; I do however have major issues and concerns regarding the loss of facilities to the boaters being brought about by Canal & River Trust management of the waterways.
On all of my recent journeys I have encountered mile after mile of overgrown towpath, not only the natural overgrowth, but deliberate planting by CRT, where it has become impossible to moor because we cannot get into the bank. Many of these areas have in the past been good mooring spots away from major roads and railways etc., and including many areas of straight, well piled and maintained banks out in the countryside, now unreachable.
On a recent trip on the Trent & Mersey, Fradley to Alrewas section, it was impossible to moor up anywhere between the two locations, until arriving into Alrewas itself where a huge number of boats, some of which in the past would have moored elsewhere, were squeezed into the village moorings.
The issues continued as we travelled towards Willington, again being unable to stop for mile after mile until we reached Branston Waterpark, where again the limited mooring was at a premium. To compound the issue on the approach to Alrewas I could see that the towpath has been refurbished, but the only people denied access to it were the boaters!
When will CRT realise that the towpath is our ‘hard shoulder’? It is our ‘refuge area’ – the only place we have to go in the case of breakdown, fire, illness, or other emergency; even the need for simple things like regular breaks and comfort stops, particularly for those who are single-handed.
Just as those promoting the ‘smart motorways’ have robbed the driver of his place of safety, so CRT is robbing the boater of this important refuge, and apparently deliberately denying us access to it. CRT needs to learn and understand that the towpath is the working side of the waterway; keep it clear and work to ensure its continued accessibility to the boater, the people who actually pay for its use. Ray Hartshorne
Lichfield