Boat Owners' Views Survey: Call for boaters to take part

[Ray T 637]

8 March 2018

 BOAT OWNERS’ VIEWS SURVEY: CALL FOR BOATERS TO TAKE PART

 The Canal & River Trust is launching its 2018 National Boat Owners’ Views Survey, which is sent out to a third of its boat licence holders, and is calling on boaters to share their thoughts and feelings about their experience of the waterways. 

 In March the Trust will be asking around a third of boaters for their opinions on a range of topics including: how boaters use Trust’s waterways and what their experience of them is like; the services provided for boaters such as moorings, facilities and the licence renewal process; the ways they would like to receive information; and their views on how well they feel the Trust is caring for the waterways. 

 Jon Horsfall, interim head of boating at the Canal & River Trust, said: “We value boaters’ knowledge and it helps us plan our work so we can prioritise where to make improvements.  The Boat Owners’ View Survey allows boaters to give us in-depth feedback about what’s working on the waterways and what needs extra attention.  It can highlight where things like facilities could be improved across the country, areas that offer a particularly great boating experience, spots that could do with a bit of dredging, and how smooth it is to carry out necessary admin like licensing a boat.  And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

 “The survey gives us a chance to see how the way boaters use the waterways is changing, whether it’s a growth in the percentage of boaters living aboard or a change in the average number of miles a boat cruises in a typical day.  We also ask for optional, confidential, information that can help when we approach government and councils to highlight boaters’ needs. 

 “The Boat Owners’ Views Survey is the chance for boaters to have their say and I’d encourage everyone who gets the survey – a third of our licence holders this year – to take part.”

 The online survey is accessed via a link in an email or letter (where the Trust does not hold email addresses) which is being sent to a third of the charity’s boat licence holders.  Our aim is to have contacted most boaters on the Trust’s waters over a three-year cycle.  Boaters will have until 7 April 2018 to complete the survey.

 Boaters who have received a link but would prefer to complete a paper version of the survey can contact the customer service team on 0303 040 4040.

 ENDS

 For further media requests please contact:

Fran Read, national press officer, Canal & River Trust

m 07796 610 427 e fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk   

--------------------------------------------

Fran Read

National Press Officer

[Jo_ 29]

I received this and lost the will to live half way through. It would have taken ages to go through it all properly. And the survey constantly links CRT and the waterways so that if I say I (paraphrasing) love the waterways, boating, being in the community etc., then I'm saying that I'm also in favour of CRT's role etc. So I got to half way through, gave up and just added comments at the end. Maybe others are more commmitted and will get through it all .....

[J R ALSOP 42]

I thought I would be a good boater and fill it in but a few questions in I gave up, read all the rest of questions and came to the conclusion that if they had to ask the questions they shouldn't be in charge. Bring back the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive.