"Charitable Purposes" of the CRT Trust

Sunday, 08 January 2012 15:16

I rarely read internet only "newspapers", but John does and keeps in touch with the latest from the boating world via a number of other sites too. One of the "hot topics" in the world of inland waterways is the transition between British Waterways and the new Canal and River Trust. 

I posted this photo a couple of days ago on my blog

Nominations for the CRT Council have to be in by the 18th of January and individual boaters and organisations are gearing themselves up for the election for the four places on the Council allocated to boaters. The photo is very apposite, as I said I hoped that the CRT would have the same aims - I was encouraged by this link John sent me ......

Narrowboatworld is an internet "Newspaper", devoted to well.... the narrowboat world .....of canals and rivers! Today it published  "Aims of Canal and River Trust" by one of the CRT Transition Trustees, John Dodwell. Mr Dodwell was the Chair of the CBOA - The Commercial Boat Owners Association.

The first paragraph about the charitable purposes of the CRT caught my interest and I quote:

"To hold in trust or own and to operate and manage inland waterways for public benefit, use and enjoyment including (but not by way of limitation):

• for navigation and other use of vessels
• for public access on foot and for recreation and other leisure-time pursuits of the public in the interests of their health and social welfare; and
• for the improvement of commerce and industry generally.

To protect and conserve for public benefit sites, objects and buildings of archaeological, architectural, engineering or historic interest on, in the vicinity of or otherwise associated with inland waterways."

Navigation first - yes! Also - "heritage", ie the objects, buildings etc of historic interest. 

All this is subject to the approval of the Charity Commissioners and, as Mr Dodwell comments, the aims are much wider than just the "taking over of" BW.  Read the rest of the Narrowboatworld article and make your own judgement!

I do hope this may be the new beginning we need and end of an era of stagnation in the care of our inland waterways, even if it takes many, many years. One rider that take the shine off all this: it will take much more money to achieve all the aims - let's hope the priorities are as above!