IWA questions lack of consultation

THE Inland Waterways Association (IWA) understands the extraordinary economic climate that is affecting Canal & River Trust and appreciates the reasoning behind a second increase (of 4%) within one year.

While it welcomes the confirmation that the trust will support boaters who may be struggling to pay their licence fees on a case-by-case basis, IWA regrets that this second increase has been carried out without any consultation of users.

Noting that CRT has now decided to focus spending on only navigation and legal requirements, chairman Les Etheridge commented: “These are extraordinary times and it is understandable that CRT needs to take every action possible to support its waterways. It is regrettable that planned maintenance will be deferred by CRT.

“IWA and Waterway Recovery Group have already demonstrated to CRT that volunteers can carry out serious repairs and maintenance and believe CRT has not taken full advantage of volunteers to support navigation.”

Through its subsidiary Essex Waterways Ltd, IWA operates the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation and is well aware of the pressures and costs of running a navigation, making extensive use of volunteers for ongoing maintenance and repairs.

Through IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group, IWA is experienced in repairs to, and maintenance of, waterway heritage infrastructure and believes Canal & River Trust could make better use of volunteers across its whole network to carry out preventative maintenance and repair work.