C&RT Legislation complete this week

[boatone]

Boating Business news story

It looks as if the transfer of responsibilities from BW to the new Canal and River Trust will complete its passage through Parliament today and tomorrow - a remarkably rapid achievement.

There has apparently been considerable praise from other major charities for the speed and efficiency with which the parliamentary and charitable legislation for the establishment of CRT has been handled.

Plans are well advanced for a series of 12 official launches to be held between 1000 and 1200 at convenient locations throughout the current BW waterway network on Thursday 12 July for each of the CRT Partnership areas.

Is the Thames better off out of it or should we have been in from the beginning?

Interesting commentary on ThirdSectorBlog

 

[TrueBlue]

Is the Thames better off out of it or should we have been in from the beginning?

• CART is a much different kettle of fist that the River:-
• They own the the track and all the structures (locks ofices bridges etc)
• They are not responsible for flood prevention
• There aren't major issues of rights of way over their structures.
• Operations for boaters are on a DIY basis
• By and large boating is very safe for users.
• No legal obligation to maintain access of use by boaters

In contrast, EA:-

• Don't own the track
• Have resposibilities to those who do
• Have a number of Rights which affect lock operation
• Have mutliple interests for different groups
• Must maintain navigation rights
• River level and flood control.

It was easy for the government to dump BW on the private sector.

I think the Thames - more than the other EA navigations; Medway, Nene etc
would be an absolute nightmare to transfer in toto to the private sector for many, many reasons other that the issues "we" have over lock operation.

Of course those will not stop Dave & Co. dumping navigations if they are hell bent on doing so....