wandering snail

Do we know what length his boat is? It may be too long for Keadby.

Please ask Matthew Symonds for clarification as it was he who said it.

CRT will announce the details from the licence review September or latest, October. The licence increase will be announced in November after the Bank of England announces its interest rate.

From the government: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bill-support-if-you-do-not-get-it-automatically-continuous-cruisers

Having just come off the BCN, I should have added that myself 🤪

If you ring CRT and select option 1, there's a recorded message about this. It has taken an inordinate amount of time for the BEIS to finally attempt a way forward.

That's the wonderful Lewis Warner, such a supporter of the BCN at such a tender age! He's covered the threats to the canal system from lack of funding since November last year, the first I think of any of the main stream media channels to do so. See https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-11-15/canals-will-go-to-wreck-and-ruin-over-failure-to-commit-to-funding-upkeep

How many boats have made it there?

Take a brolly, it's raining. Sadly we won't make it, moored in Oldbury as nearest the vets where our dog has had an overnight stay as became very poorly yesterday. Looking forward to seeing all the coverage on the Beeb, ITV (mainly tomorrow on Central News at 6pm) and on the webinar.

Link now available, it's ITV's first story: https://www.itv.com/news/central/2023-04-29/itv-central-west-catch-up-on-the-latest-programme-for-the-west-midlands. Oops, I see Brian's posted at the same time! Apologies for the dangling fender Brian.

This is one of the reasons we are a tad reluctant to keep going back to the BCN. Apart from a tyre on the prop and the usual amount of plastic, fishing line and weed, we've thankfully got past with no problem a sunken bath, lots of shopping trollies, road cones and numerous kitchen cupboard fronts. Until peeps and industries alongside these canals see them as something other than a tip, the closure of these canals will not affect them. Easy to become depressed, except - so many walkers and cyclists that we are engaging in conversation along the towpaths here on our way to the Brum protest are very concerned. This needs sharing and maybe education in local schools with visits to the many joys of these green spaces. For once, I agree with CRT's community outreach arm. The unique UK canals really are for everyone.

Lewis the reporter says it will be there.....

Oh we will. My daughter is worried her mum will get arrested or towed away 😍.

So hoping this happens. We're now on the Gower Branch, moving up tomorrow to Smethwick. ITV central are putting a piece on their 6pm news.

Tonka et al - here's the link in case you haven't yet seen the list of all the associations who have come together to publicise the funding shortfall and attempt to get this government to think again. How about you all come along to see for yourselves what it's all about next weekend, by boat just turn up or, just as importantly, be on the towpath. Or at least sign the petition? Anyway, scroll down on the link to see how many well established groups have united for this: https://waterways.org.uk/fund-britains-waterways#:~:text=Fund Britain's Waterways (FBW) is,and supporters of inland waterways.

IWA is only one of many waterways organisations that have come together for this initiative. They include NABO, RYA, AWCC, BMA and RBOA, to name a few. Ivor of RBOA is leading the small team who is organising this Birmingham flotilla, hence his name on the email. The IWA has the infrastructure and paid staff to put together the group info online, hence it looks a bit like it's all being done by them.

Update from FBW - We have a good number of boats but more are still welcome. We also need lots of supporters on the towpaths 11am to 1pm on Sunday 13th to show that the campaign is not just about boating.

And here's the link to some new resources. You will need a printer to have them ready for Brum, 'proper' stickers won't be ready in time but are on their way. https://waterways.org.uk/fund-britains-waterways/fbw-resources

That's how change.org try to get money, nothing to do with the petitioner! Just skip and share.

There's now a petition to sign: https://www.change.org/p/fund-britain-s-waterways

Update - FBW will communicate with entrants later this week. This will be very simple, boaters gather at any suitable mooring outside the city centre and cruise to arrive at the Mailbox by 11.00am on the Sunday. The team doesn’t intend to super-organise the Saturday moorings but hope to get around them on the evening. There's a site meeting on Wednesday to make final arrangement with the manager of the Mailbox and CRT people and will then send out ‘instructions’. Come along, no one will be turned away on the day and there are no booked moorings! Please join us, if not by boat it will good to see the towpaths adjacent to the Mailbox crowded with supporters.

Apologies from the organisers, they have been inundated with requests to join in. If you've not heard from them after applying, please just turn up. I'll share all other info on here as I get it. See you there!

Waterway user groups are trying to get a better picture of where the problems may be and have put together a survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/N3S33H7

More than 2, I've counted 9. Was wondering if there was a computer glitch.

Whatever suits, the problem is making sure he's there with a 2nd 'home'. Otherwise you just piss off any moorers!