CRT's plan for better boating

[Francis Herne]

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/better-boating

 

On the face of it, this looks really good.

Finally someone in head office has realized the network is falling to pieces.

 

Quoted in full:

 

Quote

We've listened to feedback from boaters to inform our plan for better boating.

Our plan will prioritise things that will improve navigation and target issues that will make the experience of boaters better. We will publish a dashboard with specific measures to monitor implementation of the plan by 31 March 2025.

Keeping canals open for boating

We will demonstrate to boaters that keeping our canals open for navigation is at the heart of what we do. This is our commitment to boaters, from the top of the Trust, that boating will be central to our long-term plan.

1. Our chair, David Orr CBE, will chair a new boating sub-committee of our board that will oversee the implementation of a better boating plan and the general boating issues. Keeping our canals open for navigation will be central to our next ten-year strategy.

Getting the basics right

Boating should feel easier for you, with our locks and swing bridges better maintained and easier to use. You should also see fewer unplanned stoppages that disrupt your cruising.

2. We’ll fix all outstanding broken paddles by spring 2026 and set a target from April 2025 to repair any paddle faults arising as soon as possible (but no longer than four weeks).*
3. We'll target more resources on planned preventative maintenance (PPM), prioritising re-greasing and clearing vegetation at locks and swing/lift bridges in the spring and early summer ahead of the busier time of the year for boating.
4. We'll spend more delivering improved grass-cutting in 2025/26. We will also review where and when we cut grass – ensuring grass is cut at locks and mooring sites and cutting more towpaths to the water's edge, making it easier for boaters.
5. We’ll update our tree management standards and programmes to increase tree surveys. This will inform more winter tree works and assign higher priority to the clearance of fallen trees blocking navigation and towpaths.

*If a paddle repair cannot be fixed as it requires a longer stoppage, these may be deferred until the next subsequent works stoppage period.

Boater facilities

We know that boater facilities are important, so when they do break, we'll work quicker to fix them. Combatting overflowing bins and fly tipping will improve your experience of using these facilities. And we know many boaters care about recycling: clearer facilities will make it easier for you to do this.

6. If our water, Elsan or pump-out boater facilities break, we'll fix them promptly.
7. We'll review refuse collections at our busiest sites to reduce overflowing bins and take measures to help tackle fly-tipping. We'll roll out segregated waste, recycling and food waste collections at our sites in England by summer 2025.

Better communication & customer service

We want to make it easier for boaters to tell us if there is a problem so we can fix it. Being able to find up-to-date information is important, so we'll improve the communication and customer service you receive and provide more opportunities to meet and talk with us.

 

8. We’ll develop a Boater App to make it easier for boaters to access the online services provided by us when and where they want. For example, you'll be able to report faults and find out what has been reported already.
9. We'll improve our stoppage notices system, making sure the information for boaters is clear and accurate – adding photos so that boaters can see the cause of the stoppage and what we're doing to resolve it. Our booking system for operated structures and pre-bookable moorings will be updated to make it more customer-friendly and easier for boaters to use.
10. We'll improve how we communicate with boaters. Our Boaters' Update e-bulletin will be updated, and we'll increase our social media boating activity. We’ll provide more opportunities for boaters to meet and speak with our colleagues. We'll publish a 12-month calendar of boater meeting dates.

 

We’re working day in and day out to care for our canals. Our better boating plan is in addition to our major winter works programme, our annual dredging works, ongoing major reservoir works and other critical assets work programme.

 

Edited November 6, 2024 by Francis Herne

[IanD]

That all sounds great for boaters and addresses many common complaints, but I wonder where the money to do all this is going to come from given the falling (in real terms) DEFRA grant?

[Arthur Marshall]

8 minutes ago, IanD said:

That all sounds great for boaters and addresses many common complaints, but I wonder where the money to do all this is going to come from given the falling (in real terms) DEFRA grant?

It's obvious. There's going to be a a new boating sub-committee. Sorted.

[Ewan123]

I wonder whether it's something to do with being able to demonstrate exactly how much CRT can't do with the money they have. With clearly stated targets, it's easier to show in a written report which things you're actually failing to achieve. Is that too cynical? 

There seems to have been a greater focus on telling people in clear numbers what they have been doing - the Boater's Update lists the numbers of locks repaired etc. now.

Edited November 6, 2024 by Ewan123

[jonesthenuke]

Looks like a good intent, but "planned preventative maintenance" should be changing lock gates before they fail, not slapping some grease on?

[Francis Herne]

45 minutes ago, IanD said:

That all sounds great for boaters and addresses many common complaints, but I wonder where the money to do all this is going to come from given the falling (in real terms) DEFRA grant?

 

These interventions will be very cheap individually - everything on the list besides the App is a few hours at most of an operative's time with no expensive materials, design or construction work. Low cost, high visibility and impact on our day-to-day cruising.

 

A lot of it's also work that will cost less to do in good time - the failed paddles are cheaper to fix in planned work than paying overtime on a Sunday afternoon when the other one goes. Fixing plumbing leaks is cheaper than dealing with damp problems, planning bin collections better is cheaper than sorting out piles of overspill that Biffa refuse to collect.

 

This is almost exactly what I've been pleading with them to do in every consultation for years (and indeed to Parry and various managers in person) and I suspect a lot of other boaters will feel the same way.

Edited November 6, 2024 by Francis Herne

[Phoenix_V]

I am not sure these people will be happy at the use of their name https://www.betterboating.co.uk

[Arthur Marshall]

17 minutes ago, Francis Herne said:

 

These interventions will be very cheap individually - everything on the list besides the App is a few hours at most of an operative's time with no expensive materials, design or construction work. Low cost, high visibility and impact on our day-to-day cruising.

 

A lot of it's also work that will cost less to do in good time - the failed paddles are cheaper to fix in planned work than paying overtime on a Sunday afternoon when the other one goes. Fixing plumbing leaks is cheaper than dealing with damp problems, planning bin collections better is cheaper than sorting out piles of overspill that Biffa refuse to collect.

 

This is almost exactly what I've been pleading with them to do in every consultation for years (and indeed to Parry and various managers in person) and I suspect a lot of other boaters will feel the same way.

All that is logical, correct and entirely sensible. It is precisely the same as, say, schools employing enough teachers so they don't have to spend a fortune on supply, or the NHS hiring enough nurses so they don't have to buy in agency staff at rip off rates.

Now, I wonder why those things don't happen?

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Gybe Ho]

If this is being presented as a new initiative one has to wonder what the previous CRT priorities were?

 

Whatever the recent history I suppose the boating community has no option but to be supportive in the hope something good comes of it. As someone mentioned above, once good targets are defined the degree by which they of not met will help justify an appeal to Government for more funds.

Edited November 7, 2024 by Gybe Ho

[Allan(nb Albert)]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

That all sounds great for boaters and addresses many common complaints, but I wonder where the money to do all this is going to come from given the falling (in real terms) DEFRA grant?

Income from charitable giving will rise to £60m ...

Did you not notice David Orr looking upwards to see if he could spot any flying pigs?

14 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

If this is being presented as a new initiative one had to wonder what the previous CRT priorities were?

 

Whatever the recent history I suppose the boating community has no option but to be supportive in the hope something good comes of it. As someone mentioned above, once good targets are defined the degree by which they of not met will help justify an appeal to Government for more funds.

CRT's priorities for the ten years up to 2025 were set out in "Living Waterways transform places  & enrich lives - Our 10 year strategy". The last part of this document detailed what sucess would look like. For example-100,000 Friends by 2025 (2023/24 Annual Report - 27,000). Boater satisfaction 85% by 2025 (2023/24 Annual Report 46%).

[Gybe Ho]

8 hours ago, Allan(nb Albert) said:

...

CRT's priorities for the ten years up to 2025 were set out in "Living Waterways transform places  & enrich lives - Our 10 year strategy".

...

 

Thanks for the historical context. At least "Keeping canals open for boating" is more grounded and concise than "Living Waterways transform places  & enrich lives".

[Allan(nb Albert)]

50 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

Thanks for the historical context. At least "Keeping canals open for boating". is more grounded and concise than "Living Waterways transform places  & enrich lives".

This is not historical in that CRT's ten year strategy still has a few months to run. Do you seriously believe that CRT will launch its next ten year strategy as a "Keeping canals open for boating"? 

 

At the same time that we are being told "keeping canals open for boating", CRT is attempting to negotiate with government to make it easier to close them...

Edited November 7, 2024 by Allan(nb Albert)

[Cheshire cat]

10 hours ago, Ewan123 said:

I wonder whether it's something to do with being able to demonstrate exactly how much CRT can't do with the money they have. With clearly stated targets, it's easier to show in a written report which things you're actually failing to achieve. Is that too cynical? 

There seems to have been a greater focus on telling people in clear numbers what they have been doing - the Boater's Update lists the numbers of locks repaired etc. now.

I don't see that as being cynical. It's got to be good to know what can and can't be done from the position of all stakeholders. 

 

Doesn't matter whether it's a business, a charity or your local council. 

 

No doubt a bit of transparency will placate some stakeholders and provide ammunition to others but it will also demonstrate to the purse holders what the size of the task is and how well or badly the challenge is being met.

 

If they are badly off target it may well provide evidential support for the closures mentioned in Allan's post

[Ray T]

10 hours ago, IanD said:

That all sounds great for boaters and addresses many common complaints, but I wonder where the money to do all this is going to come from given the falling (in real terms) DEFRA grant?

 From Towpath Talk Issue 229 November 2024.

On the front page.

[Gybe Ho]

36 minutes ago, Allan(nb Albert) said:

Do you seriously believe that CRT will launch its next ten year strategy as a "Keeping canals open for boating"? 

 

What leads you to believe otherwise?

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/better-boating

Quote

 

Keeping canals open for boating

We will demonstrate to boaters that keeping our canals open for navigation is at the heart of what we do. This is our commitment to boaters, from the top of the Trust, that boating will be central to our long-term plan.

1. Our chair, David Orr CBE, will chair a new boating sub-committee of our board that will oversee the implementation of a better boating plan and the general boating issues. Keeping our canals open for navigation will be central to our next ten-year strategy.

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Gybe Ho

[IanD]

10 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

All that is logical, correct and entirely sensible. It is precisely the same as, say, schools employing enough teachers so they don't have to spend a fortune on supply, or the NHS hiring enough nurses so they don't have to buy in agency staff at rip off rates.

Now, I wonder why those things don't happen?

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

The reason is always the same -- doing this saves money and provides a better service in the long run, but costs more money in the short-term. Which is a problem if you don't have the money (budget) and can't borrow it (financial rules) to invest in the future... 😞 

[JoeC]

They said that they are going to do what we all want them to do so let's give them a chance.

[Arthur Marshall]

29 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

The reason is always the same -- doing this saves money and provides a better service in the long run, but costs more money in the short-term. Which is a problem if you don't have the money (budget) and can't borrow it (financial rules) to invest in the future... 😞 

And, of course, because it costs more in the short term, everything gets worse so it costs even more in the short term, and as you haven't got the money in the first place, it costs you more in the long term too, when, luckily for everyone, someone else will be in charge, and it won't be your fault that everything falls apart. Or, in some cases, you have to evacuate the town.

4 minutes ago, JoeC said:

They said that they are going to do what we all want them to do so let's give them a chance.

Not got a lot of option, have we? But judging by the evidence....

[MtB]

48 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

What leads you to believe otherwise?

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/better-boating

 

Its a technique first described in the book "1984" (IIRC), known as "Doublespeak".

 

Where a government department is given a title which is the exact opposite of what it actually does e.g. "Ministry of Truth".

 

Of course CRT have no plans to keep the canals open. They would LOVE to close them all. Boaters are a thorn in the side to them. 

 

 

[LadyG]

13 minutes ago, JoeC said:

They said that they are going to do what we all want them to do so let's give them a chance.

Unfortunately I can't wait ten years to see the results, but I expect the same failure rate as the last ten year plan because there won't be any more grant.money and costs will keep rising. Yes the Licence fees will keep rising, but that will never be enough to maintain the waterways imho. Raise fees too high and boaters find other ways to spend their disposable income.

PS with respect to grass cutting, I view this as mainly a safety issue, to allow boaters to moor up, there must be some areas which could be cut just twice a year to encourage wild flowers while keeping random trees to a minimum. A bit difficult to organise but not impossible.

Edited November 7, 2024 by LadyG

[MtB]

5 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Raise fees too high and boaters find other ways to spend their disposable income.

 

 

Indeed. Double the price of boat licences and boaters will all rush off and live in one of the many cheaper types of accommodation available to us all. 

 

Here is a list of all those cheaper options:

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[IanD]

6 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

And, of course, because it costs more in the short term, everything gets worse so it costs even more in the short term, and as you haven't got the money in the first place, it costs you more in the long term too, when, luckily for everyone, someone else will be in charge, and it won't be your fault that everything falls apart. Or, in some cases, you have to evacuate the town.

Not got a lot of option, have we? But judging by the evidence....

 

All true, but what can CART do about it?

 

They haven't got enough budget to properly maintain the canals, their costs are going up (materials and labour), the government is gradually reducing a large chunk of this (the DEFRA grant) in real terms, and unlike companies or the government they're not allowed to borrow money to fund longer-term investment in the canals.

 

They've tried raining more money from charitable donations without success. Every time they try and raise license fees or make some boaters who've been paying too little pay more, many boaters (led by the NBTA) scream blue murder -- while also complaining about poor maintenance. The irony of this seems to escape them... 😉 

 

The only realistic options to bring more money in are raising license fees and an increased DEFRA grant. Boaters don't want the first, and the government doesn't want the second... 😞 

[LadyG]

2 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

Indeed. Double the price of boat licences and boaters will all rush off and live in one of the many cheaper types of accommodation available to us all. 

 

Here is a list of all those cheaper options:

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Rough sleeping.

Additional social housing.

Van living

Rental properties subsidised  by social security.

[Phoenix_V]

5 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

Indeed. Double the price of boat licences and boaters will all rush off and live in one of the many cheaper types of accommodation available to us all. 

 

Here is a list of all those cheaper options:

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Gybe Ho]

9 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Where a government department is given a title which is the exact opposite of what it actually does e.g. "Ministry of Truth".

 

 

There are days I suspect the same applies to the CanalWorld Discussion Forum.

 

My hunch is that all Government Quangos are concerned there is a new Sheriff in No.10 and think that reshaping their mission statement to appeal to the new Government is a sensible defensive ploy. The CRT top brass have calculated that a back-to-basics new mission statement is the right signal to emit.

18 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Unfortunately I can't wait ten years to see the resu.ts, 

 

Are you not excited by the prospect of installing a spiffy new CRT outages app on your phone?

15 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Indeed. Double the price of boat licences and boaters will all rush off and live in one of the many cheaper types of accommodation available to us all. 

 

Here is a list of all those cheaper options:

 

 

Such as adjacent waterways?