Welcome to Scotland?

[Quandary]

A wee rant on another wet morning -
Set off cruising week before last but immediately discovered that all our Raymarine nav. instruments had decided they needed a secret code before they would impart any info. Not fancying anchoring without doing my impression of a dog going to bed while studying the depth display, we diverted to the Caledonian Canal where depth is plentiful and anchoring unnecessary.
Muirtown Marina in Inverness is the entry point for yachts from most of Europe and has berths for about 150 - 200 boats including dedicated pontoons for permanent liveaboards; the facilities block has been closed this summer because of a problem with the septic tank, they then had installed two Portacabin shower/loo units but had to close them down too because the tanks under them were full.
Along the canal to Dochgarroch where there was an 'out of order' notice on the door, must have been really inconvenient for all the canoeists who camp there after negotiating Loch Ness, it is suburban, not exactly wild camping country.
The other end of Loch Ness at Fort Augustus, the facilities building was open but only one shower was working with four young girls waiting in line so no chance of a shower there either.
Next place at Laggan, a hire cruiser base, another 'out of order' notice.
Nearly through now, facilities at Gairlochy, everything working, what a relief! Same at Banavie and the exit at Corpach.

Unlike here at the Crinan, where staff morale has plummeted since Scottish Canals took over from B.W. the staff on the Cally still seem helpful, cheerful and motivated but it must surely give a negative impression of our country when visitors experience this relaxed attitude to provision of basic facilities.

 

[westhinder]

As a foreign visitor to Scotland (one Round Britain with an extensive stay on the west coast, and twice earlier to the east coast) I do not expect the standard of facilities I do expect in North Sea and Channel ports. The the beauty of the country and the remoteness of many places is what attracts me, and I prepare for periods of at least a week at a time away from civilisation. If we do get back to a port with facilities and these turn out to be out of order, that is mildly disappointing, but it is not going to make me stay away.
What always strikes me, and I have said it here before, is the friendliness of just about every Scot I happen to meet. They have a knack of making you feel welcome, even if there are no showers or the loo is out of order It is telling that what you call your wee rant is in fact the question 'what impression do we make on visitors?'

 

[ylop]

What's the issue with Crinan moral? I've frequently had helpful contact with Canal staff across the network and found the crinan staff to be among the most positive both before and after 2012.

 

[Bav32]

What's the issue with Crinan moral? I've frequently had helpful contact with Canal staff across the network and found the crinan staff to be among the most positive both before and after 2012.

You can't have not been through this year then or you would have noticed.
whilst the staff are pleasant to the customers, the cracks start to show if you chat about life in general.

 

[Gwylan]

The real challenge is when there is a laminated, printed sign to the effect that everyone is sorry that the facility is broken and they are doing everything possible to get it repaired.

Got to be a bit dubious when the notice is laminated and seen regular use.

Anyway, remember it will all be different when you have your own government. Oh that's already happened with the canals.
How much did the chief executives salary increase by? Just off to find out.

 

[Quandary]

I am told that the issue at Muirtown is a 'ransom strip' that prevents them having a main sewer connection, this in the middle of a growing city, but the failure to organize the emptying of the temporary tanks is an issue that can be dealt with better than by putting out the laminated notices. If you talk to the employees you find out that they are now harking back to the old B..W days when there was an organised system of continuous inspection and preventative maintenance rather than the current 'when it breaks we will try and fix it'.
A major difference between the two canals is that at the Cally the same people work at the same location each day and develop a stake in it, at Crinan with a couple of exceptions they are sent to somewhere different every day and develop no sense of ownership of the task. The guys want things to be better but feel seriously undervalued, anyone who transited this year will notice how many of the transit landings between the locks have been out of action all year each with half completed work and the remnants of the striped safety tape; most could be completed in a few hours. The senior guys have calenders counting down the time until they can retire and escape from jobs that could be enjoyed.
Gwylan's point about government is valid, if Scotland becomes independent and fails to deal with the present paralysing effect of 'big government' with massive local authorities and arrogant quangos dislocated from their responsibilities we will fail.

 

[pagoda]

A wee rant on another wet morning -
Set off cruising week before last but immediately discovered that all our Raymarine nav. instruments had decided they needed a secret code before they would impart any info. Not fancying anchoring without doing my impression of a dog going to bed while studying the depth display, we diverted to the Caledonian Canal where depth is plentiful and anchoring unnecessary.
Muirtown Marina in Inverness is the entry point for yachts from most of Europe and has berths for about 150 - 200 boats including dedicated pontoons for permanent liveaboards; the facilities block has been closed this summer because of a problem with the septic tank, they then had installed two Portacabin shower/loo units but had to close them down too because the tanks under them were full.
Along the canal to Dochgarroch where there was an 'out of order' notice on the door, must have been really inconvenient for all the canoeists who camp there after negotiating Loch Ness, it is suburban, not exactly wild camping country.
The other end of Loch Ness at Fort Augustus, the facilities building was open but only one shower was working with four young girls waiting in line so no chance of a shower there either.
Next place at Laggan, a hire cruiser base, another 'out of order' notice.
Nearly through now, facilities at Gairlochy, everything working, what a relief! Same at Banavie and the exit at Corpach.

Unlike here at the Crinan, where staff morale has plummeted since Scottish Canals took over from B.W. the staff on the Cally still seem helpful, cheerful and motivated but it must surely give a negative impression of our country when visitors experience this relaxed attitude to provision of basic facilities.

Our boat is currently in Muirtown, awaiting our return and escape. At least they dropped the temporary berthing charges to £5... I was almost incendiary at the prospect of still having to pay full whack for not very much. Haven't used a canal since 2014.. (Can't use the Crinan one any more either - different draft!)
Individual staff are great, the overall impression is less so.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Unlike here at the Crinan, where staff morale has plummeted since Scottish Canals took over from B.W. the staff on the Cally still seem helpful, cheerful and motivated but it must surely give a negative impression of our country when visitors experience this relaxed attitude to provision of basic facilities.

I don't know how their morale is, but I have to say that this year I found the Crinan Canal staff more "helpful, cheerful and motivated" than before. This was particularly the case at both basins, and among the young women staff, of whom there seem to be a lot these days. Clearly the canal has problems, but staff attitude - to customers, anyway - wasn't one of them.

Incidentally, isn't "Scottish Canals" just "British Waterways (continuing)"?

 

[Quandary]

I don't know how their morale is, but I have to say that this year I found the Crinan Canal staff more "helpful, cheerful and motivated" than before. This was particularly the case at both basins, and among the young women staff, of whom there seem to be a lot these days. Clearly the canal has problems, but staff attitude - to customers, anyway - wasn't one of them.

Incidentally, isn't "Scottish Canals" just "British Waterways (continuing)"?

The majority of the pleasant young ladies you met are temporary summer staff, the permanent outdoor staff is predominantly male but they (almost) all are friendly people, this however, does not mean they are happy.
The expectation of the staff and locals was that when the new organization took over, things might improve, improvements might be made, extensive derelict property might have new uses found for it, the resources put to better use, the managers would be out and about, organizing stuff and doing things better than (or at least as well as) before, that has been where the disappointment lies, we should be capable of doing better, Scots engineering reputation used to be unchallenged?

 

[JumbleDuck]

The majority of the pleasant young ladies you met are temporary summer staff, the permanent outdoor staff is predominantly male but they (almost) all are friendly people, this however, does not mean they are happy.

Of course. Service this year was good, though, and infinitely better than the abominable inefficiency of the mandatory assisted passage yar, about which I still shudder.

The expectation of the staff and locals was that when the new organization took over, things might improve, improvements might be made, extensive derelict property might have new uses found for it, the resources put to better use, the managers would be out and about, organizing stuff and doing things better than (or at least as well as) before, that has been where the disappointment lies, we should be capable of doing better, Scots engineering reputation used to be unchallenged?

Was much new management put in place, do you know, or was it just the truncated Scottish division of BWB? Scottish Canals have their other problems, of course, most of which are the expensive turkey which is the Forth and Clyde.

 

[gandy]

We were in the canal late July and found similar. This reminds me to fill in the survey we were invited to complete.

Muirtown Marina in Inverness is the entry point for yachts from most of Europe and has berths for about 150 - 200 boats including dedicated pontoons for permanent liveaboards; the facilities block has been closed this summer because of a problem with the septic tank, they then had installed two Portacabin shower/loo units but had to close them down too because the tanks under them were full.

Those temporary showers were actually the best in the whole canal!

When we were there the keeper at the sea lock was warning incoming vessels that the facilities were out of service at Seaport. At that time we were stuck behind the Muirtown bridge which was also broken, finally got through when they did what they called a "manual swing" at 22:00. Bizarrely the manual opening was by using the ratchet handle of a socket set to turn the mechanism, it seems weird seeing something that small moving the whole bridge. It took about 40 minutes before it moved at all, then another 15 to get it open enough for us to get through. Full marks to the engineering crew, and thanks to the lock keepers.

Along the canal to Dochgarroch where there was an 'out of order' notice on the door, must have been really inconvenient for all the canoeists who camp there after negotiating Loch Ness, it is suburban, not exactly wild camping country.

Wasn't out of order when we were there, but the door didn't shut and latch of it's own accord so the toilets were pretty much full time used by third parties, for example passengers of the Jacobite cruise boats, or unrelated passing punters.

The other end of Loch Ness at Fort Augustus, the facilities building was open but only one shower was working with four young girls waiting in line so no chance of a shower there either.

Just the one in service (at the bottom) when we were there, the ventilation wasn't working properly to the extent that water was dripping off the ceiling of the whole room. We also noted the apparently permanent nature of the out of order notice. There's another shower block at the top of the flight which was fully operational, but all the same Fort Augustus must be the busiest place on the canal so very disappointing they hadn't taken the trouble to fix the broken shower.

 

[pagoda]

Of course. Service this year was good, though, and infinitely better than the abominable inefficiency of the mandatory assisted passage yar, about which I still shudder.



Was much new management put in place, do you know, or was it just the truncated Scottish division of BWB? Scottish Canals have their other problems, of course, most of which are the expensive turkey which is the Forth and Clyde.

Given that most of it is within reach of a long arm JCB, digging it out to about 2m - with decent crane/riggers each end might actually generate some business?? Hasn't been tried yet??

 

[wully1]

Given that most of it is within reach of a long arm JCB, digging it out to about 2m - with decent crane/riggers each end might actually generate some business?? Hasn't been tried yet??

Dont know but strongly suspect that as the ' Nolly' was built for narrow canal boats and not modern yachts ( 'specially the really modern, fat arsed, twin wheeled Ikea furniture equipped ones. Rant Over..)

Bits could maybe be made deeper but the width of parts of it would be bigger problem.

 

[ylop]

You can't have not been through this year then or you would have noticed.
whilst the staff are pleasant to the customers, the cracks start to show if you chat about life in general.

i have, and found them as helpful as ever , its odd to blame it on the change in governance if the problem is recent since that is old news,.

As they are approaching retirement there are few professions which believe their job is as good as it was or should be, obviously the world is going to hell in a handbag, as it couldn't just be people getting old a jaded.

if Scotland becomes independent and fails to deal with the present paralysing effect of 'big government' with massive local authorities and arrogant quangos dislocated from their responsibilities we will fail.

careful what you wish for... the easiest way to deal with that is either to close the canals completely or privatise them giving someone a monopoly on pricing and services.

 

[Quandary]

Jeepers, wheres the argument? no on has said that the staff are not helpful, however as I encounter them every day I hear directly how good they feel.
As for the change of ownership? again no one has attributed the decline to that, though since you seem to presume it is being said I would suggest that all the hopes of an improvement at the time have not been realized. One gate of the sea lock in Ardrishaig has been held together by a lifting sling and a bit if chain for about three years now, the waiting pontoon beside it slides up and down the access ladder retained by a short length of rusty chain when all it needs to make it secure are four pads and four new bolts.
Some of the guys who worked on the Crinan have suggested that the ceasing of routine protective maintenance is part of a deliberate attempt to see it close but I suspect that is a minority view, most believe it is simply a combination of poor use of resources and disinterested and complacent management.
Have you seen the accounts, privatization is never going to happen, however release of some of the land and property surplus might generate some money to keep things going for a while. In this village there is a now rusty former Shell oil distribution depot, the lease was terminated years ago when it provided jobs and income; beside me is a hotel, vacant and boarded up for about 8 years and now derelict and probably beyond economic repair. They own the old steamer pier until recently used for exporting timber to Ireland and an actual income generator, when part of it fell in to the sea it took months to make a decision to bring some stone in and repair it.

 

[awol]

Dont know but strongly suspect that as the ' Nolly' was built for narrow canal boats and not modern yachts ( 'specially the really modern, fat arsed, twin wheeled Ikea furniture equipped ones. Rant Over..)

Bits could maybe be made deeper but the width of parts of it would be bigger problem.

The original was at least 9' deep and used for passenger steamers. Many puffers were built and launched at Kirkintilloch. The width is fine, dredging and a bit of reconstruction at later culverts and bridges (a lot cheaper than the Kelpies) could turn it into a sensible transit route, albeit with masts down.

 

[pagoda]

The original was at least 9' deep and used for passenger steamers. Many puffers were built and launched at Kirkintilloch. The width is fine, dredging and a bit of reconstruction at later culverts and bridges (a lot cheaper than the Kelpies) could turn it into a sensible transit route, albeit with masts down.

The Crinan canal was originally used by fully loaded puffers (with +- 100ton cargoes) but now struggles to let VIC32 through - with little more than lots of crockery and some extra bunks... Clearly the potential for the F&C exists, though currently buried in silt and supermarket trolleys, the political will to sort it does not. That blasted low bridge under the Motorway east of Kirkintilloch has a lot to answer for.. Short sighted politicians of all colours for decades.

 

[ffiill]

I am told that the issue at Muirtown is a 'ransom strip' that prevents them having a main sewer connection, this in the middle of a growing city, but the failure to organize the emptying of the temporary tanks is an issue that can be dealt with better than by putting out the laminated notices. If you talk to the employees you find out that they are now harking back to the old B..W days when there was an organised system of continuous inspection and preventative maintenance rather than the current 'when it breaks we will try and fix it'.
A major difference between the two canals is that at the Cally the same people work at the same location each day and develop a stake in it, at Crinan with a couple of exceptions they are sent to somewhere different every day and develop no sense of ownership of the task. The guys want things to be better but feel seriously undervalued, anyone who transited this year will notice how many of the transit landings between the locks have been out of action all year each with half completed work and the remnants of the striped safety tape; most could be completed in a few hours. The senior guys have calenders counting down the time until they can retire and escape from jobs that could be enjoyed.
Gwylan's point about government is valid, if Scotland becomes independent and fails to deal with the present paralysing effect of 'big government' with massive local authorities and arrogant quangos dislocated from their responsibilities we will fail.

Sorry but no longer do the same people work at the same places on the Caley canal.
It used to be that there were dedicated bridge keepers wheras now someone has to drive out of Fort Augustus to operate Aberchalder Bridge and south Laggan Bridge.
At Fort Augustus staff operating the Locks are often seen working the bridge using wifi.
Great until it jams and there is no one in the booth.
I suspect it will not be long before they try unmanned bridges!
By the way as you amble through the canal enjoying our scenery closure of bridges are quite capable in Inverness of causing the whole city to come to a grinding halt with traffic tailing back onto the A9.
In Fort William bridge closures further up the Glen causes daily tail backs with a record several weeks ago of about 8 miles!

 

[Quandary]

Down here most of our traffic problems are blamed on camper vans.
What can a man in the booth do to stop the bridge jamming, though as we always wave an acknowledgement as we pass we surely would notice an unmanned open bridge. At Ft. Aggie the big problem seems to be the lemming like instinct of the boaters who invariable ignore the carefully spelt out arrangements of the lock keepers for going through the bridge and charge forward blocking the exit of the boats in the lock.
I do find it incredible that a brief bridge swing at Laggan or Abercalder can back up traffic miles away in Fortwilliam, it sounds as if you have too many tourists, send them south, we need them here. Of course we are even less blessed with driveable roads than you are but at least Inverness is getting its bye pass.

 

[jamie N]

The bypass is a good thing, but it's going to be interesting when the Tomnahurich Bridge is up, with the traffic backed up onto the new road. Obviously, the same amount of traffic, but queuing in a new direction. By the bye, when I travelled from Ft Bill to Inverness last year, the canal folks were brilliant, helpful, professional and amusing all the way through. I did notice that It appeared as if Ft Augustus, by way of being a huge tourist trap, did seem to have staff which were easier on the eye that at other, more remote locations.