I coined the phrase "nationalisation by stealth" at that time and used it in my correspondence with him but he seemed unconcerned.

NABO shares Mr Coghlan's apprehension and disquiet about the actions of BW and the lack of a "level playing field" to the extent that we are actively campaigning for an independent Waterways Regulator to curb BW.

The swingeing increases in mooring charges (in response to market forces! ) are an example of BW exploiting customers from a position of virtual monopoly and most certainly with advantages that private operators cannot share. We have complained to the Office of Fair Trading but to no avail to date.

We also have the support of Lord Corbett of Castle Vale who has raised questions in the House of Lords and who seems intent on controlling the excesses of BW. We are working closely with him.

We are also unhappy with the latest trend of BW to abandon byelaws and provisions in its various Acts and to introduce terms and conditions in contract to regulate boating activity - the licence terms being the latest manifestation.

NABO also takes exception to boaters' licence money being used to subsidise the Waterways Trust to the tune of millions of pounds every year, just as a ploy for BW to get involved in projects that would otherwise be denied to it, such as the Rochdale Canal.

Not only has BW become a major marina operator, it also now controls rivers and canals which were hitherto not part of its nationalised network (Docklands, Tees, Rochdale, Huddersfield, Droitwich, etc. ) and BW is also involved in developments at Lydney, owns public houses, etc.

And BW is constantly targeting new projects such as the Leam Link and has tried to take over the Upper Avon and Lower Avon.

It also dominates AINA and the Boat Safety Scheme and rigs the activities of the Waterways Ombudsman who it pays for.

It is all very worrying and not in the interests of anyone except BW. Unfortunately, IWA seems to be a partner with BW in its activities and will not support the request for a regulator.

Yours sincerely, Stephen Peters NABO Council Member Dear Sir, I read with great interest the article written by Tim Coghlan with regard to British Waterways. It is fairly unusual these days to have a man stand up and bravely speak the undeniable and unpalatable truth about a big corporation, but these are facts that need to be brought to the public notice.

At the moment, whilst maybe feeling some concern, we are all accepting these actions passively; mainly because most of us are too busy to spare the time to do anything about it and also we are living fairly well at the moment. (Those are thoughts on life in general, but I do worry about the long term future of this country! ) It may be of interest to other readers of BB to know that the independent Upper and Lower Avon Navigation Trusts, which manage the navigation from Stratford to Tewkesbury, have also been in the "sights" of BW.

The present Councils of both Trusts are totally against any form of handover to anybody.

The Avon navigations receive no subsidies of any kind and run purely on licence income, a little "profit" from work for others and the occasional small grant from the local councils for some projects in their areas.

The river Avon may not be the busiest river in the UK, but it pays its way, looks after its users well, supports many small private sector businesses and costs the taxpayer nothing.

If only BW could say the same!

Yours faithfully Chris Fox Topaz Marine services Ltd