Captain Beeky wrote: > On 25 Dec 2007, at 12:18, Phil & Anne Irons wrote: > >> Anne and I have been very pleased with our three [so far] boating >> holidays--given the cost of crossing 'The Pond', you have to >> consider a >> minimum of two weeks hire to justify the air fare, but some careful >> planning >> can take care of that. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have friends >> and/or >> relatives that you can visit too! > > That's the point Phil. It's getting unacceptably expensive to own a > boat. Perhaps it is much more sensible to pay as you go and if you'd > rather go somewhere else . . . you can. > > All the best for the holiday > > Beeky
BW have said that, they now don't give t0ss who owns the boats that are captive on their network. Lets hope they overcook it and they get the blame for the inevitable waterways recession. As Nick Atty said, it will not get better until it gets worse. At the start of the DEFRA cuts campaign they gave the apperance of wanting to work with boaters and needed their good will. Something, or some body changed their mind. Personally I think one of the things is that their income from their property portfolio has fallen (it certainly looks that way in the latest BW accounts) and to save face they are trying to make this up by screwing the pesky boaters, who's crappy old canals keep falling apart, forcing them to spend capital on repairs. It is probably what they want, but really the beat thing is for the property / business arm of BW to be separated and forced to be subserviant to a National Waterways Authority. -- Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest - Shannon Reg 7410 Read about the TNC Irish travels at: http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Tour_07/index.html Defend The Waterways: http://www.saveourwaterways.org.uk/
