Trevor wrote: > This argument does not hold water - some boaters may well take up > another hobby but there is absolutely no guarantee that these craft > will either be taken abroad or scrapped. > > A much more likely scenario is that these craft will fail to be > properly maintained, that more will fail or ignore their BSC and end > up unlicensed - and in the hands of the very people that some here so > obviously despise. > > BW will *not* be ahead; revenue from those able and willing to pay may > possibly go up temporarily - but the end result will inevitably be > self defeating. > > It occasionally comes across to me, as I read posts to this group, > that some of these people appear to be those who who would like the > system (and that system is one which we should always remember is > actually owned *by* the nation, and is therefore *for* the nation, > and which was certainly not originally intended to be reserved for > just for a privileged few) to be their *personal* preserve, and thus > free from the presence of the common man - there are, or so it seems > to me, more than a few archetypal NIMBYs present 'on the cut'. > > BW, as we read here at regular intervals, is quite unable to maintain > the system properly; their available manpower 'on the ground' > continues to diminish at regular intervals - and that includes those > whose duty was once to police both the system and licenses. > > I do share Sue's concerns about the people who BW regularly see at > their meetings, the true voice of the (dare I use the word 'common' > again?) canal user is not at all made representative by Adrian's > presence, despite his obvious personal belief that it is. > > This situation will only change when the greater number of regular > canal *users* (not *moorers*) shake off their present apathy and > become a more organised body of people speaking with a common (*that* > word again, sorry) and powerful voice. These organisations exist now, > in one form or another, they should be joined and supported - not > just by membership but by taking part, on a local and national level, > and certainly before the NIMBYs take over the waterways. > > BW cannot carry all the blame - they can only listen to those who > speak. > > Trevor
Well put. -- Neil Arlidge NB Earnest - Out of it. TNC...The Wilderness Years... http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
