The Hertfordshire Mercury <http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury-news-cheshun\ t/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=352385> has an article (containing a few inaccuracies of course - it is a local newspaper :0) outlining the dire financial future for boaters, in which a BW spokesman continues to promulgate the lie: "the canals are in bettercondition today than they have been at any other time in decades."
Just goes to show they might have been to meetings around the country but they neither listened then, nor are they expecting the staff they still have on the towpath enforcing licensing to report back on the state of the canals. Either that, or they are incapable of understanding reports. IWA's statement of intent this week seems sadly optimistic as well (if 'sadly' and ' optimistic' are allowable neighbours!) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
