<<<Severely snipped>>>> > > See http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2258178310028520097fXrcWT > > This whole episode about Holly is really sad. > Look at all the pathetic and flippant comments on urw. > Look at the fact that a hire boat has been stolen and despite > all (?) efforts by the police and the boating community it is still on > the loose. > Is it any wonder that people can cruise/live wherever they want on > the waterways without a valid licence, insurance, mooring , BSC etc. > Is it worth any of us paying for the benefit of doing so? > > What benefit do we get from shelling out our cash and being honest > boaters? > > I see that Eugene & Rob have disappeared off this earth. Is there > anyone at BW who is listening? >
***ANOTHER BW COMPLAINT**** ***ANOTHER BW COMPLAINT**** I am becoming more and more exasperated with BW. I am a normally mild and friendly person towards everybody interested in waterways. I enjoy being on the water with the wonderful scenery etc.. My recent experiences (Between February and before the Easter Bank holiday) (Eugene, I know you read the messages - This is your area!): In the Bulbourne area, the local warden was so "keen" in enforcing the 14-day rule, (Out of Season,) that families out for a pleasant stroll, along the interesting (Or rather SHOULD BE) stretch near the ex.workshops, had nothing to see! Hazel had "suucessfully" moved ALL the boaters. They had moved to beyond the Red Lion pub bridge, (Bottom of Marsworth, up the Wendover Arm and down to Cow Roast. This area (Before Easter and before the seasons cruising started) was very boring and uninteresting. There were NO colourful BOATS, no interesting ones, nor crap boats either. The visitors moorings were empty! Yes the "crap" boats have a place in the scene as they give a good comparason, which is also interetsing and subject matter for family discussion on a nice afternoon. Is this a case of "Rules are Rules?" Where has common sense and intellegence gone. Bulbourne was spoilt during a period where literally, no one was cruising and so no one was prevented from the temporary moorings. There were spare places during this whole period before everyone was moved on. BY the way I was not moored there at the time so was not affected. (1) AT THE SAME TIME there were about 8 (YES EIGHT) unlicenced boats "up the Wendover" and been there for ages. Between the bottom of Marsworth and Cow Roast there were a few more boats with no licences. I ask myself, why do I pay mine when no agressive attitude is taken against the non-payers? Maybe its time for ALL OF US not to pay the licence fee until pressurised to pay? Maybe this would "Wake Up" the BW staff who do nothing about non- payment. Make them WALK their local stretch and get something done about the 100's of non-licence payers? It would help pay their wages. (2) I received the "wrath" on more than one occassion, from a BW member "With a Hitler type of attitude" and a blue BW jumper. Is this a BW Police Uniform? He spoke to me, "threatened" to tell the patrol officer that my car was parked by the small disused building (Opposite the sculptural Ironworks) and off the private road. He also "threatened to have my car clamped and to have it towed away! He saw me unloading goods and shopping to my boat sometime previously AND ONLY SURMISED THAT I HAD PARKED THERE. WHAT ARE BW STAFF THERE FOR? Are they there to help and assist boats, boaters, fishermen, walkers, and cyclists, all who love and enjoy the waterways? Or are they there to "enforce" the rules and regulations to the letter of the statutary law and the legal way they are set out? The attitude in the Bulbourne area, towards canal users is quite unacceptable. BW Staff in other areas are much more "In Tune" with the people who enjoy and use the canals, AND HAVE A MORE FRIENDLY APPROACH, which receives respect. The staff around Bulbourne are not respected! and that's a general view point - not only my view! - 3) The same BW member of staff, was seen spending "considerable" working time, (With his BW pick-up truck close by,) drinking tea and having "time off" during working hours, sitting on the bows of a private boater moored at Bulbourne Wharf, instead of doing something constructive in maintaining and preserving our waterways! Do you think that the private boater, being female, had something to do with this waste of BW time? I have complained to BW directly before, about the rude and aggressive attitude of thier staff in this area. YES! an email and letter went to Pauline at Leyton Buzzard. I never had a reply, nor an answer, nor anyone saying "Kiss my Ass" Why don't BW follow up real comnplaints about their rude and agressive staff. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am now alienated to BW and their staff. I will no longer be a "good boater" I will complain most strongly when BW staff are wasting time and not working. When approached by BW next time, I will tell them to F*** O** and suggest they write a written complaint to me and I will reply with the same quick and efficient way, as they do! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THEY ARE BIGGEST TIMEWASTERS OF ANY WORKING FORCE IN THIS COUNTRY THESE DAYS!! They waste so much hard earned taxes collected from licence payers. What's gone wrong with BW. It must start right at the top of the tree, (It usually does). Perhaps it's time to have fewer staff, pay them a proper wage and have good supervisory staff to make sure that a proper and reasonable return is given for the wages paid. Ever heard to saying " Pay peanuts and you get monkeys? I'm not stating this as a fact but it does make one think. ~Allan Cazaly~ I REPEAT THE STATEMENT - ANY BW STAFF READING THIS - YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BAD FEELING YOU ARE CREATING BETWEEN ORDINARY CANAL USERS AND YOURSELVES
