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Meeting of All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways: May 2020
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- Category: Latest News
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A meeting of the APPWG was held on Thursday 14th May using the Zoom videoconferencing facility. NABO attended as observers – the norm for such meetings.
This well “attended” meeting was chaired by the APPWG’ s Chairman, Michael Fabricant, and very appropriately focused on the need for dedicated financial support for waterways businesses.
Wales and the South West April 2020
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- Category: NABO Regional Reports
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With many boaters safely self-isolating, there is little movement on the canals. It was reported that there were scores of dead fish spotted in the Kennet & Avon in Devizes. The EA said the coronavirus lockdown has resulted in a drop in traffic and activity on the canal, and this has created a series of stagnant pools between locks – resulting in the fish suffocating through a lack of oxygen. However, a local fish expert (also a medical professional) commented that there had probably been a toxic leak as the distribution is quite localised. Also, the fish involved are stillwater animals and could cope. A local boater said there had been a large diesel spillage in the area, which may have led to the deaths.
There have been reports that, on the K&A, there have been some unfortunate conflicts where liveaboard boaters, who are understandably very unhappy with the folks cycling or running along the towpaths, have taken matters into their own hands. However, there are a significant number of people who have almost no alternative but to use the towpath to get to work - including some working in Bath hospitals and care homes – perhaps a case of a small minority of thoughtless people spoiling things for the majority?
Mike Rodd
Mostly, but not all about Coronavirus
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- Category: NN Editorials
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Editor, Peter Fellows, has news of other developments, even though little is happening on the waterways.
The ramifications of the Coronavirus lockdown have dominated the waterway news for nearly eight weeks at the time of writing and these are widely reflected in this issue. CRT’s decision not to close towpaths to visitors initially caused an intensely negative response on social media by some liveaboard boaters. NABO’s support for CRT’s decision is explained by Mike Rodd in his Chair’s column. NABO also welcomes CRT’s support: for high-risk liveaboard boaters who are self-isolating; for the extra month’s licence offered to all leisure boaters; and its support for trade and hire-boat businesses, each reported upon in this issue. In his regional rep’s report, Ken Hylins, who is self-isolating on his boat, describes the assistance he is being offered by CRT volunteers and local residents. However, many small waterway businesses do not qualify for the Government assistance on offer and there is a request for members to contact their MPs to rectify this with additional financial support measures. If nothing is done, there is a real risk that many boatyards, marinas, chandleries and hire companies will go out of business.
Open Letter to Richard Parry
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- Category: NABO Responses
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Dear Richard.
Following NABO’s recent Council meeting, I have been asked to write to you to raise the following concerns: we appreciate the efforts that CRT is now making to limit the use of the towpath for exercise, specifically in areas where there are moored boats, but we feel more needs to be done. We are hearing of instances (Nantwich and New Mills, to name but two) where speeding cyclists and serious runners are putting the rest of the towpath population at risk. Because they are exercising strenuously, they are inevitably exhaling more forcibly than a gentle walker or leisure cyclist; and this is why we feel that this particular group should be TOLD, not encouraged, to use alternative routes such as dedicated cycle paths, roads and wide pavements where 2m distancing can be guaranteed. It is often too late if they happen to see a poster once they get to the towpath. We suggest a local radio campaign or a press release sent to the relevant outlets and posters within the nearby communities.