State of the nation's waterways

  • Thread starter Thread starter scoffey
  • Start date Start date
S

scoffey

Guest
Further to a recent Parliamentary report into British Waterways, which found that 64% of non-principal assets (lock gates, moorings etc) are "defective in some way," MBM is launching an investigation into the state of the nation's waterways (including navigations run by BW and the EA).

As regular river users, are you aware of particular problem areas on the Thames? Perhaps you also use other waterways that you believe are under par?

Whatever your input, it would be useful to hear about your first-hand experiences and issues concerning you so please PM me if you have something you'd like to shout about.

Kind regards
Sally Coffey
News and features
Motor Boats Monthly
 
Hi Sally

You could spend a very productive hour or two just looking back through the threads on this forum - should give you enough meat for at least a couple of good articles on the Thames !

Most of the issues you will find are more related to specific user problems rather than the state of the 'non-principal' assets.

The top complaints are probably lack of dredging and the need for more overnight moorings - the latter exacerbated by the increasing number of narrowboats with their much greater lengths.

The problem with both of these issues is that the Environment Agency is not actually responsible for much of the real estate on the river which is owned by local authorities or private landowners.
 
"As regular river users, are you aware of particular problem areas on the Thames? Perhaps you also use other waterways that you believe are under par?"


On my infrequent trips to the Thames have never really been able to fault any of the facilities as compared to elsewhere they are exemplary.Your only real problem is just how nice that bit of the world is and that 7999 other boats want a bit of it.

A great deal of money has also been spent on the Medway over the last 10 years,which suffered a long period of neglect after the water companies were sold off and the organisations responsible for upkeep of river had their plant and assets plundered.
Many new moorings have now been installed,locks improved and refurbished, along with washing and pump out sites,also it has been made a lot easier for less mobile folk to gain access to the water side,especially at the parks and paths which came into being at the Millenium.Other improvements have made the river more canoe friendly and fish passes installed at all weirs.
The basic premis being to get people outside away from the "£$$%^ telly and into the great scary outdoors.
Do wonder what the future holds now that the "Orcs" are back in the Tower.:)
All in all not a bad situation in 2010. 9/10
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys,

It's good to hear your positive feedback about the Medway oldgit.

I'll have a trawl through the forum boatone, we'll probably be primarily looking at areas that have suffered from under funding or benefited from renewed investment, but you do raise some good points about the other issues at play.

Sally
 
Cuchilo said:
I do hope YBW and MBM have Pherans approval on this subject .
Click to expand...

Why you having a dig at Chris? He may not be the prettiest person on the river and he's lousy in bed (ask anyone) but he's always been a good contributor here and very knowledgeable too.
 
Cuchilo said:
Im not having a dig . Im just taking the piss out of him for being a stuck up **** that thinks he can tell people what to do .
Click to expand...

Tsk! Tsk! for introducing a sour note to this happy band of boating brethren.
For the record I've known Chris probably longer than anyone here and long before the original forum was created. Stuck up? Chris? Naah! he even talks to me. Just because he speaks his mind doesn't make him a wrong 'un.
 
byron said:
Tsk! Tsk! for introducing a sour note to this happy band of boating brethren.
Click to expand...


Not taking sides or introducing any sour notes but I do think that:-

A few of us on here know more about this than you do and have decided that it is not a proper subject for public debate. Others, like you, know little or nothing
Click to expand...

comes across as a bit "holier than thou", and gives the reader the impression that one forumite is trying to tell another forumite what can and what can't be discussed on an open, public forum. IPC have that right.

Whilst "knowing little or nothing" is not a crime in itself, neither is the thirst for knowledge.

I'm sure it was meant well, but the written word can appear to have inference that was never intended
 
Cuchilo said:
Ah , so its not just me then .
Click to expand...

Chris's words may have been not the most diplomatic but he always has been a plain speaking guy. He is however quite right in saying that it isn't a matter for us to discuss here. Those of us privy to certain knowledge know that an open discussion could prejudice proceedings brought by either party.
If you have been offended then I am certain this was not his intention.
Can we drop the matter now - Please :)
 
My thanks first to Lord Byron for his spirited defence of my reputation. BTW, there is absolutely no truth in the rumour (probably started by miket) than I am his love-child! :)

Cuchilo - you are clearly irritated by the fact that some members of the community know more of the facts about the sacked lock keeper than you do, and are determined to find offence where none was intended and indeed, no reasonable person would take any. You appear to be quoting selectively just to pick a fight. When I said '.....and have decided that it is not a proper subject for public debate', this was a consideration that was to going to determine our actions ie we were not going to make public whatever information we had because it was inappropriate to do so. I went on to say what it appeared others had decided to do and commended their example to you. I did not attempt to tell you what to do - rest assured that had I intended to do so, you would be under no illusions on the matter! (altho' I must admit, I'm getting close to telling you to Foxtrot Oscar now)

In conclusion, I must say that if anything has been 'dictatorial' in this debate it was your opening post on the lock keeper thread where you told all and sundry what they should be doing about the issue and the holier-than-thou sentiments that went with it. First cast out the beam in thine own eye, brother.

In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine, enjoy the river and for Heaven's sake, chill out.

That really is my last word on the subject!
 
Last edited:
For crying out loud can we stop discussing this silly issue? Typical mountain out of a molehill internet forum rubbish. Very disappointing it has come up in another thread and now completely diverted it. You had a disagreement, fine. Move on please for the rest of our sakes.
 
Hi folks

Just passing through and I dont normally comment on matters that are not really any of my business. But this is hilarious. Theres a complaint about one of you telling another what can and can't be discussed and then this guy comes along with


jecuk said:
For crying out loud can we stop discussing this silly issue? Typical mountain out of a molehill internet forum rubbish. Very disappointing it has come up in another thread and now completely diverted it. You had a disagreement, fine. Move on please for the rest of our sakes.
Click to expand...

His only input to the debate is to tell you quite rudely what you can and cant discuss
Did he forget the smiley thing or have I foregotten alot about the British sense of humor.

As Mastercard would say Priceless
 
"Hi folks....Just passing through"

Visit the Meadway a much nicer refined class of boater and far less handbag swinging :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top