Opposition to CaRT takeover

[TrueBlue]

There's a two page article in this month's Waterways World "Society resists CART takeover" from the River Thames Society. ?Who they.

Nice to get some coverage to discuss the points, does RTS represent boaters? Not as far as I'm aware and I'm a boater.

I haven't yet read the article in detail, but feel a bit left out.

Comments?

 

[Brayman]

There's a two page article in this month's Waterways World "Society resists CART takeover" from the River Thames Society. ?Who they.

Nice to get some coverage to discuss the points, does RTS represent boaters? Not as far as I'm aware and I'm a boater.

I haven't yet read the article in detail, but feel a bit left out.

Comments?

There are plenty of boaters who are members of the River Thames Society, so they do have a representation, but their remit is much wider than boaters and navigation.

 

[Ramage]

Of course they represent boaters.... Michael Shefras MBE is a Vice President of the RTS!

There's a two page article in this month's Waterways World "Society resists CART takeover" from the River Thames Society. ?Who they.

Nice to get some coverage to discuss the points, does RTS represent boaters? Not as far as I'm aware and I'm a boater.

I haven't yet read the article in detail, but feel a bit left out.

Comments?

 

[apollo]

Of course they represent boaters.... Michael Shefras MBE is a Vice President of the RTS!

Thats not difficult he is on the committee of everything!

 

[dash300]

I,m not a member but as a riparian get the magazine for free. Don't see a problem as they are Thames specific and focus on every aspect of the Thames; residents and boaters. I haven't as yet had any issue with what they have said. So I do support their aims.

 

[Chris_d]

The RTS magazine is excellent full of lots of interesting Thames related stuff, well worth getting and joining just for the Mag, you must have seen it TB?

They are more biased towards preserving Thames heritage and take an active interest in planning issues etc.. along the river.

Have to say I didn't know Mike Shefras was that involved with them but I suppose its to be expected.

 

[TrueBlue]

The RTS magazine is excellent full of lots of interesting Thames related stuff, well worth getting and joining just for the Mag, you must have seen it TB?

No I haven't, but will make an effort to get / view a copy

They are more biased towards preserving Thames heritage and take an active interest in planning issues etc.. along the river.

I'm not wanting to rubbish the RTS, but as you say, they are more concerned with the "landward stuff". They probably do a good job within their actual or de facto remit.
I had a quick chat with them at TTBR some years ago and felt that they were more for local folks (split into sections) and not interested in navigation. Much the same applies to what few RUGs that are active.

Have to say I didn't know Mike Shefras was that involved with them but I suppose its to be expected.

Messrs Shefras and Jankel ("like the poor are always with us") and I applaud their dedication, but it does mean that their opinions are always heard the loudest and I can't see how they can actually hear what the myriads of boaters that they claim to represent are saying or need.

My point in raising this thread was to see whether anyone actually cares (present vociferous members herein apart) who runs the River. Thus far the majority have been silent. There are good points on either side (EA vs CaRT) but they are very different animals in terms of size and resources with very different strengths and weaknesses.

I've been impressed with EA's attempt to get near the CaRT model with the introduction of volunteers which has been a success. The River navigation is but a tiny, tiny, tiny part of a huge organisation, but it takes up a disproportionate management time and suffers from a lot of inertia where non critical issues are concerned.

If more boaters don't come on here, or make their wishes known, then I and others will lose interest and move away.