On 2 Dec 2007, at 14:29, Nick Atty & Neil Arlidge wrote: > On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 10:24:04 -0000, Neil Arlidge wrote: > >> There is one school of thought that says we should just let BW get >> on with >> it. The waterways will survive in some form or other. With a slight >> downturn >> in the economy BW will hang themselves...after all that is what >> happens when >> you mess with virtual privatisation, market forces and 200 year old >> infrastructure...look what happened to Railtrack...and Metronet. >> There is another view (mainly subsribed by Steve Haywood) that BW >> have made >> powerful enemies in the govt and that the poor waterways will have >> to suffer >> as old scores are settled. >> >> <The TNC rant removal tool has removed the rest of this text> >> >> Hopefully Nick Atty will now pop up and present us with a refined >> version of >> his rather accurate view on the way BW "works", in a better way >> than I ever >> could :-) > > > I think I am coming to the view that for the waterways as we love them > to survive a period of downturn is not only inevitable, but essential. > Given the choice between the atmospheric waterways I grew into, and > the > sanitised and tarted up ones we are getting (and I'm not arguing > against > the occasional central Birmingham here [the destruction of Gas Street > excepted]) I find it hard not to wish for a return to the late 70s and > early 80s.
and after some snippery Steve continued . . . > So a cut in funding, a few collapses and a lot more scruffiness drives > out the people for whom a boat is an alternative to a cottage in > spain, > and leaves the waterways for those who can see beneath the surface to > the true heart of the canals. > > More cuts! Now! I'm with most of these sentiments too . . . although a relative newcomer with a shiny boat (sometimes, except the brass bits). I can't agree with the knocking of Staffy's faux-warehouse-style- dwelling though. When I can't stand our beloved weaterways any more we'll have to take Uncle Mort to France . . . . . . . . or to the emerald place if the TNC "You'll love it in Ireland" promotion does not make it too crowded over there. Beeky
