An open letter from CaRT’s CEO Campbell Robb.

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

 

For those that haven’t received it yet. Or may not be on their mailing list.

 An open letter to licence holders from Canal & River Trust CEO Campbell Robb.
 

Dear ****
 

I know that many of you right now are feeling and seeing a sense of real jeopardy for our canal network and its future, with stoppages, a lack of water, uncertainty about licensing, communications that can be too little or too late, and a feeling that things are not moving fast enough.

The current drought has brought out a lot of this – we have been really challenged by trying to manage water across a canal network that has seen no rain for weeks on end.

On top of the dry and hot conditions we are also dealing with a significant number of infrastructure challenges that mean that, in some places, even where water is available, we cannot always move it to where it is needed most.

These factors combined have led to the restrictions and closures on the network that many of you are facing, which I know are incredibly frustrating for boaters and canal businesses.

All of it creates a perfect storm. In my first nine months I have seen an unpredictable breach that will cost several millions to repair, five named storms, and we are now in the third ‘once-in-200-year’ drought in five years. And it feels as though it’s just going to get worse unless we all start thinking and acting differently.

I thought it was important that you heard from me directly, as the still newish CEO, about my take on these issues.

I joined the Trust because I could see so much potential in the canal network, and I still do. I am committed to finding ways to bring maximum benefit to all users and to communities the canals run through. 

I could also see the challenges. The last few months have really brought these to life but I now understand them better.

What we are doing about the situation

Operationally, the Trust has mobilised its highest level of response to manage and coordinate our immediate actions. As communications sent on Friday said, we are changing our planned maintenance to give priority to engineering work that addresses movement constraints on key routes where there are higher levels of boats and boating businesses, as well as water transfer obligations. These are difficult calls to make as it means other work will inevitably get delayed. The team is working urgently on a revised plan to undertake key repairs while protecting the network from running dry and we’ll provide updates via the website and notice pages.

I don’t know how long we’ll be in this situation or how long we’ll need to operate in this way. In the meantime, I really value your support in helping to save water by sharing locks where possible, closing gates and paddles, and letting us know about low water, leaks and other issues – thank you.

Why are we experiencing these difficulties? 

Apart from the absence of rain, there is so much being said about why we are here, the difficulties we are experiencing and what the Trust should be doing right now.

Well, it’s not because we are a charity. We would almost certainly have faced even greater challenges had we remained in government. Nor is it because the Trust is overstaffed - if anything, we have too few people spread too thinly across a network that faces growing and competing demands.

Part of the reason we are here is that we are managing infrastructure that requires more investment than has been available. For decades we have not been able to prioritise the most important things the network needed at the same time as responding to the urgent things, such as reservoir safety measures. That is hurting us all right now – even before we add in changing patterns of use, the decline in our government funding, hugely increasing costs of civil engineering projects and the big one: climate change.

For us as a navigation authority, climate change is now making all those challenges much more acute. Across England and Wales, drought conditions have been declared after weeks of exceptionally dry weather and hot temperatures. The reservoirs, feeder channels and other water sources that supply our canals are under increasing pressure with no sign of relief.

Working differently to reduce future risk 

Well, for a start we are looking at everything we do and how we do it to find ways of delivering more with less. There are changes that might not be visible to boaters but will help us deliver better. For example, we have brought together all our canal-side work so that we can think differently about how we prioritise looking after our water, how we fix the big stuff, how we make that connection between the planning of all our jobs and the needs of boaters and other canal users.

We have brought together all our customer-facing teams in one place, and we are beginning to review and improve every aspect of our business to keep boaters at the heart of our processes and our thinking. This is happening now. It will take us a while, but I believe it will begin to make a real and visible difference to you soon.

We are also trying to do things differently.  On the issue of licensing, everyone I spoke to said to me that the Trust has a real problem: nobody trusts you, they believe your consultations are a sham and that you just do what you want anyway. So, this time, we are doing it differently. There was an independent Commission to look at the issues and make recommendations. We have taken their recommendations and, as we move towards making more concrete proposals for future licensing, we are now using a collaborative, bottom-up approach, all across the country, to build trust, to get views, and to show we haven’t made our mind up in advance. I urge as many of you as possible to engage in this.

People are telling me to get on with implementing things, that I am only listening to one group, that I have already made my mind up. What I see is several different boating communities who want different things – to the point that many amazing and committed staff in the Trust feel that whatever they do they can’t get it right. For example, many boaters want early information posted about stoppages as soon as possible while some boating businesses don’t want us to talk about drought because it will affect bookings. The income raised from licence fees is extremely important but, on its own, is insufficient to keep the canals alive; we spend around four times this amount each year on things that ultimately help us to look after the network. Within that we face difficult choices almost each day about where to put our resources, knowing that any choice will leave some groups unhappy. There are many other stakeholders we have to consider as well. Which leads me to…
 
What do we have to do next?

I have a plan as to how we can save the network and help it thrive. The changes we are making to the Trust will make it more effective and efficient. As a result, our trustees have signalled their agreement to release significant levels of capital from our reserves over the next few years that we can start to invest to improve the quality of the network and address the challenges imposed by climate change. There are conditions to this of course, and controls.

To secure navigation for the long term we need additional income. So this is why we are working with government, major corporates, water companies and others to bring greater long-term investment into the network – for water transfer, drought and flooding resilience and environmental protection. Essentially for being a core part of the nation's long-term water and climate change resilience plan. Being able to secure money for navigation without this extra investment, in the face of all the challenges we are facing, is not realistic. But I believe the plan is possible and we are already doing it. Just six weeks ago Andy Burnham and I launched a prospectus for the role of canals in the economic, social and well-being future of Greater Manchester - this will directly benefit boaters.

I know this feels hard right now as we face the consequences of the current conditions. We have more difficult weeks and months ahead but we will get through this drought and repair the damage that will fall out of it.

Our longer-term challenge is to make the network more resilient and better able to respond to these increasingly frequent environmental events.  This is a big challenge and that’s why I am asking all of us to work together. We want the same thing – a thriving and navigable network.

If we all try to listen a little more, give a little bit up, not think that any of us have all the answers, then there is a chance we can do this, together. That’s what I am fighting for. I need to be fighting alongside all of you to make this happen.

Campbell Robb
Chief executive
Canal & River Trust

Edited August 3 by BoatingLifeUpNorth2

[Llamedos]

I've been a bit critical of him so far but in fairness I thought this was excellent. He seems to get it - time will tell I suppose.

[IanM]

Seems a very open an honest letter.  It does seem that he is aware of criticisms and is keen to push the dammed if we do and dammed if we don't situation CRT find themselves in a lot of the time.

[cuthound]

I get the impression that he really is listening and he has a plan for the future which includes spending reserves to do more maintenance.

 

This is a breath of fresh air. Let's hope it works because if it doesn't the canals really will be drinking in the last chance saloon.

[David Mack]

This looks like a welcome openness both about the Trust's current position and about how it is perceived. And very different to that we are (not) seeing from those responsible for the Bridgewater Canal, which has been closed for over 18 months, with no sign of repairs starting.

[nicknorman]

The only bit I didn’t like was his “quandary” between boaters wanting early notification of closures, vs hire companies who want to keep it quiet. Seems a no-brainer to go with the former, since the latter want to deceive their customers by withholding information (if what he says is universally true, which i doubt).

[stagedamager]

i agree, a very well written letter / email.

i worry for the future of some of the network, given the funding issues but hope my fears are unfounded.

[Arthur Marshall]

8 minutes ago, nicknorman said:

The only bit I didn’t like was his “quandary” between boaters wanting early notification of closures, vs hire companies who want to keep it quiet. Seems a no-brainer to go with the former, since the latter want to deceive their customers by withholding information (if what he says is universally true, which i doubt).

I thought it was interesting that he mentioned it. It's obvious that CRT need the huge amount the hire companies pay so there's plainly a bit of pressure from them. It's seemed an honest thing to mention it, which is encouraging.

[BEngo]

Way back in the 90's NABO pushed out a press release warning of likely water  shortages after a  dry previous summer and a very dry winter and calling on BW to do something to prepare.  One of the broadsheets (Times?) picked up on it and ran a back page article which warned of empty reservoirs and dire consequences for boating holidays, farm irrigation, hire 9businesses failing  etc. 

 

Hire bookings plummeted.  The hire companies were not happy.

 

The excrement entered the ventilation.  NABO chairman received a phone call and  a stiff shittygram from BW's Dave Fletcher.  Various hire boat companies resigned from NABO.  Complete cessation of cooperation was hinted at.  )

 

  Then it pissed down all summer!

 

[David Mack]

Hire companies already seem to be under pressure. My observation is that there are fewer hire companies, bases and boats than in years gone by - all presumably because hiring boats out doesn't make enough money to keep a business going, and increasing prices just makes them uncompetitive with other holiday options. That said, I'm not sure how damaging to their businesses it is if CRT give advance notice of stoppages, compared to headlines on widely read sites like the BBC, such as "Boaters race against clock as drained canals close"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8n5615xq6o

[cuthound]

I'm fairly sure most hirers would prefer to be told not to go on a particular ring route because of a closure, than be released to find out themselves and realise they can't get back to base on time.

 

I expect the hire companies would also prefer to be told, rather than to find out when one of their boats fails to arrive back at base on time.

[Arthur Marshall]

53 minutes ago, David Mack said:

Hire companies already seem to be under pressure.

I'm not surprised. The 4 counties ring hasn't has a completely open summer season for years. It's not just people not making bookings, it's that the hire companies can't be sure of getting their boats back.

[Allan(nb Albert)]

3 hours ago, cuthound said:

I get the impression that he really is listening and he has a plan for the future which includes spending reserves to do more maintenance.

 

This is a breath of fresh air. Let's hope it works because if it doesn't the canals really will be drinking in the last chance saloon.

CRT has been spending reserves for some years now with it's accounts showing expenditure exceeding income. The question is are we being told something that is already happening or is CRT really going to raise expenditure levels at above inflation each year? 

 

It would be good if CRT could bring itself to state what the current funding gap is and an estimate of the backlog in maintenance. 

[LadyG]

29 minutes ago, Allan(nb Albert) said:

CRT has been spending reserves for some years now with it's accounts showing expenditure exceeding income. The question is are we being told something that is already happening or is CRT really going to raise expenditure levels at above inflation each year? 

 

It would be good if CRT could bring itself to state what the current funding gap is and an estimate of the backlog in maintenance. 

I think its been discusses previously, the canals need far more income than the Boaters can ever provide.

The Govt need to pay up, as most of the recreational benefit goes to the public rather than the boaters. I cant remember the figures, but the  benefits,  when costed, were massively greater than  one would imagine:  keeping the public healthy (physical and  mental health), and the countryside beautiful, cyclists and  walkers fit, fishermen happy etc etc.

The network of canals are a fantastic wildlife resource, and could be much improved, but this has never been sufficiently emphasised in my opinion.

We need a Chris Packam type to work with the media on  promotion. Look what former petrolhead Clarkson has done for farming!

Edited August 3 by LadyG

[IanM]

12 minutes ago, LadyG said:

We need a Chris Packam type

 

We certainly don't.  He'll have all the canals closed to protect the wildlife from those nasty boats!

[Steve Bassplayer]

Apparently around 450,000 people enjoy canal holidays on hire boats each year. So the general public could be the biggest influence on keeping the canals open in the future. 

 

Projects like the Grand Union Canal (water) Transfer may help too....

 

 

Edited August 3 by Steve Bassplayer

[Jen-in-Wellies]

28 minutes ago, LadyG said:

the  benefits,  when costed, were massively greater than  one would imagine:  keeping the public healthy (physical and  mental health), and the countryside beautiful, cyclists and  walkers fit, fishermen happy etc etc.

It was sounding so reasonable, until you got to that last one. 😀

[Allan(nb Albert)]

26 minutes ago, LadyG said:

I think its been discusses previously, the canals need far more income than the Boaters can ever provide.

The Govt need to pay up, as most of the recreational benefit goes to the public rather than the boaters. I cant remember the figures, but the  benefits,  when costed, were massively greater than  one would imagine:  keeping the public healthy (physical and  mental health), and the countryside beautiful, cyclists and  walkers fit, fishermen happy etc etc.

The network of canals are a fantastic wildlife resource, and could be much improved, but this has never been sufficiently emphasised in my opinion.

We need a Chris Packam type to work with the media on  promotion. Look what former petrolhead Clarkson has done for farming!

I am talking about the difference between what CRT needs to spend to stop the waterways deteriorating further and what it actually spends. That is the funding gap. CRT has not provided this figure since 2014 and says it is no longer calculated. However, it is key to understanding the underfunding problem.

 

[Arthur Marshall]

8 minutes ago, Allan(nb Albert) said:

I am talking about the difference between what CRT needs to spend to stop the waterways deteriorating further and what it actually spends. That is the funding gap. CRT has not provided this figure since 2014 and says it is no longer calculated. However, it is key to understanding the underfunding problem.

 

I think if that was ever quoted the government (and the public) would just say "too much" and close the system down. If anyone thinks the general voter would spend billions on a playground for a few boaters, they're daft. They'd pave it over as cycle tracks.

[Llamedos]

16 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

It was sounding so reasonable, until you got to that last one. 😀

Excuse me. I'm a fisherman and I'm never miserable, in fact I'm a little ray of sunshine all day long!  😂

[IanM]

I once took a picture of a fisherman smiling. 
 

 

[MrsM]

32 minutes ago, IanM said:

I once took a picture of a fisherman smiling. 
 

 

Evidence please or I just don't believe you! 😆

[cuthound]

5 hours ago, stagedamager said:

i agree, a very well written letter / email.

i worry for the future of some of the network, given the funding issues but hope my fears are unfounded.

 

Me too. However unless more finding can be secured I don't see any other option but to cut the size of the network to the size of the funding for the medium term future of the network.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

It was sounding so reasonable, until you got to that last one. 😀

 

Until fishermen stop taking their misery pills it will be impossible to achieve.

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, IanM said:

I once took a picture of a fisherman smiling. 
 

 

 

Are you sure he wasn't just suffering from wind? 

 

Edited August 3 by cuthound
To add spaces between merged posts

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

2 hours ago, Steve Bassplayer said:

Apparently around 450,000 people enjoy canal holidays on hire boats each year. So the general public could be the biggest influence on keeping the canals open in the future.

 

 

That seems a lot. 

450,000 ➗ 52 weeks = 9000 people per week.

Say 6 people per hire boat for a week, that’s 1500 hire boats hired out on the canal every week for a year.

 Where? So why are the hire companies saying they’re struggling?

 Obviously there must be other boats/factors going on to get the figure of 450,000 people.

 

Edited August 3 by BoatingLifeUpNorth2

[Rob-M]

How about all those day boats hired out with crowds of people on