When I sent my initial response to the supposed increase to boats over 2.1m, I realised it would cause a debate, notice I said debate and not bickering, I thought that it was a fairly good dicussion. British Waterways have got to make money, the easy way is through us the boaters and our licences. I think all of us agree that is the case! But somehow the Government need to be made to realise the asset (Waterways) is suffering from lack of money. Why is it you can go to some museum's and entry is free? because it could be classed as educational? But we know how many people use the towing paths and tracks alongside the canals and rivers in this Country, from the the joggers, cylist, walkers, hikers and people out for a stroll. We all know that money is Councils up and down the country tight, but somehow its not a problem when it comes to the olympics! Notice I did not included fishing? was classed as the largest participated sport in the Country, so many thousands of people, a big industry they pay a rod licence who gets that money? Obviously clubs pay for the fishing rights on stretches of water, who gets that money most likely the land owner? Rod licence I believe (might be wrong no doubt someone will tell me) is paid to the EA why when the person could be fishing only BW waters? The Money from rod licence is not huge but its a start. And by the way I still think over 2.1meters should pay more, nothing has been said to change that, and its not because I have a narrow boat, I would like one day to have a wide beam. And please don't use the comment about unable to get around the system due to restrictions on size, the canals have been there oneway or another for a lot longer than we have (the people on this list), and the choice of size is yours. I realised that when I acquired NB Daisybob at 64ft there would be waters I could not do, but that was my choice. Moose NBDaisybobstill64ft .
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