CRT - there may have to be a recounting of chickens

Originally called the New Waterway Charity, the new body was eventually named as the Canal & River Trust (CRT). Prior to this the first group of national trustees – appointed by Defra - were named, with Tony Hales CBE in effect carrying his BW chairmanship through into CRT.

The first group of local partnerships – following existing BW administrative areas, plus one for Wales and another for the museums - have been set up; The Waterways Trust being merged with CRT. Other partnership chairmen have been announced and recruiting for members for the main CRT Council and a further three national trustees is in hand.

Money still remains the main unsolved question and the concern of many users - anyone can run the waterways if they are soundly financed.

How much CRT will get to run the waterways is still a matter of negotiation between the Trustees and Defra. It has to be noted that the grant to BW was reduced significantly to £47,300,000 this year and that announcement said there were plans to reduce this further to just £39,200,000 by 2014/15. The latter seems to be a guaranteed future grant around which negotiations are based.

According to a recent statement to a parliamentary group by Tony Hales the Trustees are still placing great faith in that a considerable amount will be raised by charitable donation.

Gloomy reports
With gloomy reports from existing charities in similar what might be called ‘non-essential’ fields there may have to be a recounting of chickens.

On the same subject, there has been considerable criticism of existing BW executive salaries and bonuses, including from the Unite Union, which represents many of BW’s staff. Unite also opposes the clearly stated plans to substitute experienced staff with volunteers.

Looking at other executive salaries in similar charities it is obvious that the current rates cannot be maintained under CRT and we are assured that the matter is a priority.

The biggest, and very enjoyable, event in waterway development was the reopening of the Droitwich Canals on 1 July, probably the last completion of a major restoration project we will see for some years.

It was also encouraging to see the Kennet & Avon Canal at last upgraded and reclassified from Remainder to Cruiseway status. This was closely followed north of the border by a similar reclassification by the Scottish Government of the Forth & Clyde and Union canals - now generally known as the Lowland Canals - to this statutory level. Scotland’s waterways will not be part of CRT but remain under the control of the Scottish government, with BW as in effect maintenance contractors.

The first of January brought in new powers for the Environment Agency (EA) to harmonise boat registration requirements on its navigations including the compulsory holding of third party insurance and a Boat Safety Certificate and that all boat owners on its waters will be required register and pay an annual charge.

Increase in charges
Recently the EA announced an increase in navigation charges by 6.4% from January 2012 and future increases by the consumer price index - plus 2% per year - in 2012, 2013 and 2014; with the promise of a the impact of increases for 2013 and 2014 if it is not confident that its customers can sustain them and the introduction of a rolling year for annual registrations.

The Association of Thames Yacht Clubs (ATYC), other Thames users and the GMB Union expressed anger and serious concerns about future lock manning and possible flood risks when the EA announced the renting out of nine vacant Thames lock cottages.

The EA said it needs to make savings and other lock keepers could perform the same job but users have offered alternative financial proposals within which they believe all locks could be manned and are mounting a campaign to promote these. The question of when EA navigations will come under CRT, which they surely will, is still unanswered.

Still under consultation until the end of 2011 were BW’s proposals for one of the biggest changes in commercial boat licenses for many years in which these boats will be the subject of an Operator Agreement.

This will be a single legal contract between BW and the owner or operator of one or more boats falling into three categories – hire boats, passenger trip boats and other craft used for trading activities associated with the waterways.

The other main development in the licence/mooring saga was the judgement in favour of BW in the case over continuous cruising which will lead to changes.

Liverpool Boat Show

On the boat show front the first big event after London – which had little inland content – was to be the new Liverpool Boat Show. Eagerly anticipated, organised by a major company and backed by the city and BW it was a shock when it was cancelled due to lack of exhibitor support.

There was probably a knock-on effect at Birmingham’s NEC Boat & Caravan Show (celebrating its 50th anniversary) where there were again less marine exhibitors, although inland waterways were well represented. However, there was to be another shock when this show was cancelled for the future due to the caravan industry pulling out of it.

The 2011 Crick Boat Show was another good event, further cementing its position as the leading inland waterways trade exhibition. Organiser Waterways World is further capitalising on its success by using 2012’s extra bank holiday to extend it to four days and their advertising now has the tag line ‘& Festival’.

With the cost of exhibiting at London a major deterrent for small inland waterway companies, the Birmingham NEC show cancelled and the IWA’s decision not to hold an annual festival but to dabble in organising the moorings in London for the Olympic Games, the field is wide open for Crick. It may be the IWA will live to regret its decision.

Congestion – particularly on the Midlands canals and blamed on the proliferation of new marina developments – was the subject aired at a meeting called by Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina.

Perhaps the situation is now levelling out, with a general fall in occupancy of marina berths, due to the drastic reduction in new boats being built brought about by the current economic situation.

Fewer new marinas opened in 2011, although there are some under construction, and more planning applications were refused. The successful new operations seem to be the ones which have associated attractions to bring in the general public.

It has to be asked if it is still a sound business proposition to dig holes in the ground to put boats in – if you have to borrow the money?

Changed hands
Despite this, marinas have changed hands, with Lakeland Leisure Estates, which first bought Saul Marina, acquiring two more; at Great Haywood and at Tattenhall.

British Waterways Marinas also continued to expand its empire with acquisitions and although we are continually told it is a separate company from BW the latter’s accounts reveal some interesting financial dealings.

Perhaps it is something the CRT should take a closer look at in the future; especially in the light of the spectacular collapse of the Waterside Pub Partnership which was placed in administration during the year…

There is no doubt 2011 was a poor year for the inland boatbuilding business, with the economic situation causing a severe drop in orders resulting in a number of company casualties, such as Amber Boats, Sabre Narrowboats, William Piper Narrowboats and Sagar Marine.

Another consequence is owners selling boats and there are a lot on the market. Even so, one of the biggest inland brokers, Harral Brokerage, went into liquidation. Also, there is no doubt that many private boaters cruised less miles last year

For companies offering a range of services the position is much better. There is a lot of maintenance and repair work about and many dry docks are booked up well into late spring. The holiday hire companies generally finished up with good bookings and are optimistic about 2012.

Hire boats
There was even an increase in the number of hire boats on The Broads and there are quite a number of new canal hire boats coming into fleets for next year; one operator we spoke to who currently has 17 boats is adding another six.

If the trend follows the caravan market - where the Caravan Club was overwhelmed when it opened its 2012 booking lines - there will be a lot of ‘staycation’ holidays in Britain.

With the takeover of BW waterways by CRT in April we will see the biggest change in management since nationalisation in 1948. We – the users and the industry – will hopefully have a bigger say in the administration and operation.

It may be some time, even years, before CRT becomes an entirely democratic organisation, but we should take the opportunity to embrace it, support its aims and get involved.

To echo the words of the new chairman of the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO) on Inland Waterways, Tim Parker, on the CRT we should “get in and get going”!