There is a flow on this canal

Thursday, 12 November 2009 14:45

Observations from a porthole

John has just remarked,  "there is quite a flow on this canal". I had noticed it the other day when we were moored at Little Onn. There are a number of reasons for a flow on a canal.

The prime example that comes to mind is the Llangollen Canal, which is a water source for the population of Cheshire and is managed accordingly. Other reasons for flow are locks filling and emptying, strong weirs and dare I mention it - leaks.

So is the Shroppie water being tapped? There are no locks near enough to cause a flow, but I do gather that there are still leaks on the Shebdon Embankment and probably elsewhere too.

Canals need constant vigilence and maintenance and it must feel like a thankless task when there is limited money and thousands of boaters to please.

Is this not common enough?

I am reminded of a question I was asked once (I think it was at the dreaded appraisal!) - how do you prioritise your work?

• Do I "put my finger in the air" and wait for an answer to my problem?
• Do I fall on my knees and ask to be relieved of the stress of decision making?
• Do I just keep my head down and hope it will all go away?

I would not have been a very good manager if I did any of the above. I worked with needy Carers. I needed to show I cared about what was happening to them and make sure my staff were happy and able to do their job. Jargon and "government speak" would get me nowhere. I had to be honest about what I could do and what I could not do - to everyone.

So I prioritised my staff needs, so they could work to the best of their ability and "went back to the shop floor" to keep in touch with my "users", addressing needs that helped the majority and help them to help themselves. I actively sought funding myself and badgered the "powers that be" to continue and increase funding.

Not everyone was happy, but I had a wider perspective than just the immediate.

So where am I going with this?

I suppose, going back to my original subject of canals, maintenance and the "flow" on the Shroppie, I am saying that we as boaters have our real concerns about the state of the waterways - and valid ones at that. However, BW has a difficult job prioritising work when funds are not enough.

This bollard at the Middlewich Three is now repaired

But - and it is a big but, wasting money on work without talking to experienced boaters first, listening and then acting with an understanding of the issues, might make some of the problems more manageable before they become too big.

A huge job at Vale Royal Lock on the Weaver Navigation

Funding is a huge issue - perhaps some dedicated work on this as a priority would be good. Even if, by this, they make themselves unpopular with "the powers that be" by shouting loudly at those "who can".

Now, where are they hiding?

Yes, the canals are a "National Asset" (so are Carers, by the way, who save the government the equivalent of the cost of the NHS each year - couldn't not say that!), and yes, canals are available to everyone, but not everyone understands their potential and the dire need for funds. Particularly if the "spin" and PR is always positive.

Other users need to know

Perhaps un-ring fenced budgets can be juggled - maybe there is room for "robbing Peter to pay Paul" and moving more to enabling continual, effective maintenance.

"Posh" OTT moorings at Saltaire?

This is a very personal  "rant" (remember who writes the blog!) - and I would be the first to say that I do not know very much about the workings of BW - however I use my eyes everyday on the canals and can "observe from a porthole"!