Canal Sell-Off

Cunobelin · May 2007

In 2005 the Tories were criticsed for suggesting a selloff of the canal network.

Now it appears that New Labour have picked up the idea

If the suggestion is true, then there is a real threat. If there is no restriction or legislation to protect the waterside environment and developers are allowed to close parts of the network's towpaths then the continuity of many newtorks is threatened.

Any comments?

He that buys land buys many stones.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.
(Unattributed Trad.)

Sheddy · May 2007

Hopefully the canal towpath is classified as a right of way, or am I being naive ?

megilleland · May 2007

They may not be rights of way as you need a permit to cycle on them. Although, apparently you do not need a permit in London.
http://www.waterscape.com/cycling/permit.html

Extract from website:

The Waterways Code aims to protect your own and other people's safety, to safeguard the environment, and to avoid disturbing the enjoyment of other users of the waterway and towpath. There is no public right of way for cyclists on canal towpaths, and British Waterways reserves the right to withdraw permission from users who disregard the rules.

The more you spend - the faster you go - the less you see.

davidmam · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by megilleland

They may not be rights of way as you need a permit to cycle on them. Although, apparently you do not need a permit in London.
http://www.waterscape.com/cycling/permit.html

Extract from website:

The Waterways Code aims to protect your own and other people's safety, to safeguard the environment, and to avoid disturbing the enjoyment of other users of the waterway and towpath. There is no public right of way for cyclists on canal towpaths, and British Waterways reserves the right to withdraw permission from users who disregard the rules.

The more you spend - the faster you go - the less you see.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It is a right of way if you are towing a boat. So find a dinky toy on a piece of string and pull that. You will need to make sure it is licensed though..

..d

Fat bloke on a bike

Buggi · May 2007

bad idea. next they'll be charging narrow boat owners tolls to use them. and one day i want a narrow boat (when i win the lottery i'm gonna have a posh one)

_____________________________________________

To infinity... and beyond!
my epic adventure: www.action.org.uk/~Antonia

linfordlunchbox · May 2007

All boats have to be licensed to use the canals and rivers

stelvio · May 2007

Pity the license does not include some sort of emissions testing, as most canal barges are surrounded by a toxic cloud of poisonous diesel fumes. No road vehicle would get an MOT with these engines.

Kev67 · May 2007

I've heard British Waterways (or whatever they're called) are up to no good on R4. They seem hell-bent on selling all their riverside estate to property developers. B-u-g-g-e-r anyone who may be trying to make a living on the canals.

linfordlunchbox · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stelvio

Pity the license does not include some sort of emissions testing, as most canal barges are surrounded by a toxic cloud of poisonous diesel fumes. No road vehicle would get an MOT with these engines.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Old boats yes as they use ancient lister engines, but the newer ones use modern marinised diesel car engines. One we hired a few years ago had an Isuzu engine in it. It was clean running, virtually silent and very frugal.

"I'd clean my car with a baby elephant - if I had a baby elephant !"

Regulator · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kev67

I've heard British Waterways (or whatever they're called) are up to no good on R4. They seem hell-bent on selling all their riverside estate to property developers. B-u-g-g-e-r anyone who may be trying to make a living on the canals.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I wouldn't be so quick to blame British Waterways. Their funding from central government (DEFRA) has been almost halved and yet the demands placed on them by government (waterways improvements, environmental management, etc) have increased hugely. They are being forced to "sell the family silver" in part because of the fiasco at DEFRA over farm payments.

___________________________
Bugger elephants - capabari are cuter!

Tourist Tony · May 2007

Greg, I somehow thought canals might be right up your street....

If I had a stalker, I would hug it and kiss it and call it George...or Dick

Mister Paul · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Regulator

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kev67

I've heard British Waterways (or whatever they're called) are up to no good on R4. They seem hell-bent on selling all their riverside estate to property developers. B-u-g-g-e-r anyone who may be trying to make a living on the canals.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I wouldn't be so quick to blame British Waterways. Their funding from central government (DEFRA) has been almost halved and yet the demands placed on them by government (waterways improvements, environmental management, etc) have increased hugely. They are being forced to "sell the family silver" in part because of the fiasco at DEFRA over farm payments.

___________________________
Bugger elephants - capabari are cuter!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

There's a nasty rumour that this is the fault of the Olympics.

I'd rather have a decent canal network than an Olympic village.

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Road Safety Expert

Regulator · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tourist Tony

Greg, I somehow thought canals might be right up your street....

If I had a stalker, I would hug it and kiss it and call it George...or Dick
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

They are. I cycle along them and have dived in them. I've even 'cruised' one or two in my time... [:D]

___________________________
Bugger elephants - capabari are cuter!

Regulator · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Mister Paul

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Regulator

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kev67

I've heard British Waterways (or whatever they're called) are up to no good on R4. They seem hell-bent on selling all their riverside estate to property developers. B-u-g-g-e-r anyone who may be trying to make a living on the canals.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I wouldn't be so quick to blame British Waterways. Their funding from central government (DEFRA) has been almost halved and yet the demands placed on them by government (waterways improvements, environmental management, etc) have increased hugely. They are being forced to "sell the family silver" in part because of the fiasco at DEFRA over farm payments.

___________________________
Bugger elephants - capabari are cuter!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

There's a nasty rumour that this is the fault of the Olympics.

I'd rather have a decent canal network than an Olympic village.

__________________________________________________________
Road Safety Expert
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

 Nothing to do with the Olympics that I am aware of... but everything to do with the fiasco of the Rural Payments Agency and the Single Payments Scheme. DEFRA, the RPA sponsoring department, has cut British Waterways' funding funding as a result of the RPA/SPS fiasco and the huge fine imposed by the EU. The cuts have also hit bodies like English Nature and the Environment Agency, and grant-aided organisations like the RSPB.

However, as per bloody usual with this Government, no minister has resigned/been sacked because of the utter cock-up their department has made of a fairly simple matter like dispersing money. An yes, it is simple - but this government knew better and set up another quango, with a new computer scheme, rather than rely on civil servants who, despite everything, are relatively competent and efficient....

___________________________
Bugger elephants - capabari are cuter!

Tourist Tony · May 2007

Careful, Reg, you'll get the usual spanking suspects along to tell you how wrong you are.
Have you mentioned the BBC yet?

If I had a stalker, I would hug it and kiss it and call it George...or Dick

Michuel · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Cunobelin

In 2005 the Tories were criticsed for suggesting a selloff of the canal network.

Now it appears that New Labour have picked up the idea

If the suggestion is true, then there is a real threat. If there is no restriction or legislation to protect the waterside environment and developers are allowed to close parts of the network's towpaths then the continuity of many newtorks is threatened.

Any comments?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

There is also the water freight perspective as well as cycle paths along the river. British Waterways seem mainly interested in property development of the canals. Although the Government claims it wants freight transport to ease road pressure it is doing nothing see/hear the recent BBC program "Gridlocked" (May 15 Radio 4) at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/pip/r8b7c/

which says it all

But there's plenty of other reports on the web re British Waterways

I believe planning requires that new canalside developments must leave 8 metres free on the canalside .

Canal Sell-Off

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