In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Captain Beeky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes > >On 22, Oct 2006, at 15:16, Will Chapman wrote: > >>> There should indeed be some improved dialogue concerning operations on >>> the Severn/G&S under the new manning regime for the structures and we >>> must be thankful for that. But the rest of it was often blurred and I >>> fear for the effectiveness of similar SOW events up and down the >>> country. >> >> I don't get the connection there; how might this impact on SOW >> events elsewhere in the country? Do you mean that they might be >> highjacked by groups with other agendas? > This was not a SOW event. It's intent was purely to show BW the local strength of feeling over their proposed changes to winter operation, which pre-dated the DEFRA issue (although the latter of course exacerbates the situation), and to try to constructively make alternative suggestions.
This is an important issue. If BW get away with it, it will effectively shut the waterway to boating as we would like to enjoy it over the winter months. Numbers of boats using the waterway in the winter will drop, and open the door to further restrictions - maybe the closure of the waterway completely in the winter months? Followed by other parts of the system where it is inconvenient to keep them open? >My concern is that when any group of people gather, ostensibly for a >common purpose, they can dilute their own impact by firing at will. No >pun intended. I should clarify that the meeting was, as I understood >it, set up for discussion about operations on the Severn & G&S and was >not set up as a SOW event. Folk taking the opportunity to have >mischievous personal pops at BW execs and their remuneration, >complaining about parking spaces for disabled residential boaters, >debating BW weed clearance operations and the like did not serve the >cause of the day. Such issues could have been addressed in AOB if the >Chairman deemed it appropriate. Unfortunately I was unable to stay to >the end of the meeting so I do not know how it was summarised/closed. It was disappointing that so many attendees brought up irrelevant issues. There were one or two rather irritating characters present. Maybe the chairman should have been harder on them. However, the greater part of the discussion was on-topic. I don't want to summarise the conclusions in anticipation of the minutes coming out soon (which will be linked from the <glos-sharpness.blogspot.com> site). However, the meeting finished with ideas from the floor for what could be done, including (from memory and with varying degrees of realism): Keep the situation as at present Fixed opening times for structures (e.g. bridge x from 1100 - 1130) Full five-day opening, close waterway for two days / week Increase income by making more moorings Charge other users (more) Increase licence fees Slash BW executive salaries Rent moorings to Home Office for a prison ship Volunteer bridge keepers Move office staff out to keep bridges on a rota "BW Specials" (similar to Special Constables) for bridge duties Move staff from maintenance duties The outcome was that we will form with some urgency a working party to try to come up with a workable solution with BW. Names of volunteers were taken at the end - I'm sure that the meeting chairman would be open to further names being added. Wassail! -- Martin E Phillips http://www.g4cio.demon.co.uk Homebrewing, black pudding, boats, morris dancing, ham radio and more! The Gloucester-Sharpness canal web page http://www.glos-sharpness.org.uk Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
