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Alan, This is their annual grant from Government apparently, my understanding is the Transport Minister is reminding them what it has to be spent on. So keeping the Canal running rather than property speculation. The letter mentions releasing it in sections so would assume if they think SC are taking the piss again they can withhold payments. If nothing else it's public acknowledgement from the Government that they realise SC haven't been doing their job and are holding them to account.

Afternoon all, below is a letter which has been received as part of a response from The Department of Transport to a member of the LCA Looks like there could be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, apologies for the crappy cut and paste Mr Steve Dunlop    Chief Executive Scottish Canals Canal House 1 Applecross Street GLASGOW G4 9SP Our ref: A20730513 13 April 2018 Dear Steve, BRITISH WATERWAYS/SCOTTISH CANALS: GRANT-IN-AID 2018-19 I am writing to formally confirm that Transport Scotland will make available grant-in-aid funding of up to £11.6 million to British Waterways trading as Scottish Canals (hereafter referred to as Scottish Canals) in financial year 2018-19. The funding will comprise resource grant of £8.1 million and capital grant of £3.5 million for assets that Scottish Canals capitalise. Any change within the financial year would be by agreement with Transport Scotland. The grant is paid by Transport Scotland to Scottish Canals under the Transport Act 1968 (as amended) to enable Scottish Canals to deliver its statutory functions to maintain and operate the canals for navigation. It may be used for the creation of new operational canal assets but may not be used in respect of Scottish Canals’ non-operational activity where it is acting commercially within the market. Transport Scotland will make monthly payments to Scottish Canals based on the presented claim profile from Scottish Canals, subject to the agreed grant allocation not being exceeded and grant not being drawn down in advance of need. Scottish Ministers expect Scottish Canals to be mindful of its statutory obligations and core public service function, and to deliver these competently. In particular Ministers expect Scottish Canals to ensure adequate funding is directed to maintenance of its operational assets. Ministers expect Scottish Canals to work in accordance with the agreed canals policy and, like all public bodies, meet the public sector efficiency target of 3% in 2018-19. I would be grateful if you could confirm Scottish Canals’ acceptance of the offer of funding on the terms set out above for 2018-19. Yours sincerely, Chris Wilcock - Head of Ports, Shipping, Freight and Canals Team

Apparently Mr Thin was interviewed on Radio Scotland News this afternoon. Spouted the same tripe he's been quoting for months

I've been informed- Scottish Government petitions are always heard in the relevant group regardless of signature numbers.

Could folks take the time to sign this please, it's a petition to appoint an independent ombudsman for the Scottish Canals http://www.parliament.scot/gettinginvolved/petitions/waterombudsman

I've got visions of it going wrong and being catapulted in to the air with my arse on fire

I stand to be corrected but I think everything has to go through the boat movement phone number as per the email that was sent out Have you got any idea where they're going. I know one is going to Ratho but didn't think there were many moorings to be had on Union Canal

Jokar, did you phone the assisted passage number

Including a feckin wide beam that didn't slow or move over. Moved to the side and ran aground on one of the many collapsed canal walls now lying on the bottom

Well having the same mobile number for locks, bridges,pump outs,diesel etc was never going to go well. I kept phoning until I got an answer

There's a few boats I passed who've come up from F&C on to the Union Canal (I've heard there'll be 9 in total). Not sure where they're all mooring. As an aside if you phone the assisted passage line don't leave a message, good chance it won't be checked

But won't they suffocate

Sorry. She's probably not noticed

I've heard Smew herders are expensive

Good point. I'll offer £10 quid and a tin of keelblack for a 20% stake in your Smew company

It would take weeks to train a flock of Smew to all swim the same way. It would take less than 30 seconds to put a muzzle on an otter

Your plan could work if replaced the Smew with an Otter

Yes but how are they going to hold a brush AND a tin of bitumen

If you could raise the boat high enough. Find discarded shopping trolley, place small child in trolley with blacking and a brush and pull them to and fro on a bit of rope

New poster being adopted by SC ?

Two main bits of advice I was given. Make sure you prep the hull properly and deal with any rust before you start blacking. Give the blacking paint enough time to cure before putting it back in the water I found it better to brush than roller, but that's just a personal preference As David Mack says, it's hard work

So that's where I went wrong

A good letter. Should also be sent to the the Government Cross Party Committee for Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism. Have heard that hire boat bookings are already down by 20% If anybody fancies it rattle off an e-mail to the below MSP's who sit on said committee. I've written to the Deputy Convener Liam Kerr Group Members Angus MacDonald Clare Adamson Jackie Baillie Joan McAlpine John Finnie Kenneth Gibson Lewis Macdonald Liam McArthur

They're saying from 1st April (date is quite apt)