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Post by kris on May 1, 2016 5:08:36 GMT
It seems like Matthew symonds is bang on message for Crt then, hating livaboard boaters was probably a requisite for getting the job.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2016 22:48:15 GMT
From Kennet and Avon boating community
An open letter to Matthew Symonds and CRT
Following Matthew Symonds’ denial on Twitter that he referred to liveaboard boaters as “gits”, one of the former colleagues who overheard him say so has written the open letter below to Mr Symonds and CRT Customer Feedback. Headed “An Open Letter Re: Article: ‘CRT Relationship Manager: Liveaboards are ‘gits’, K&A Boating Community website, 30th April 2016″, Yaz Brien writes:
Dear Matthew,
I’m not sure that you’d remember me, although we’ve crossed paths a few times over the years.
The first was at an event back in 2007. I was working as Bristol’s Race Forum Development Worker, and you were giving an update to the voluntary sector about the latest local authority strategies.
The second time was in 2011 when I toured you around Bristol Wood Recycling Project during their birthday celebration. I was recently in post as an Employee Director, and you’d accepted our invitation on behalf of the organisation you were working for. I enjoyed our chats as I showed you around, and we talked at length about the work that we were both doing.
The third time was earlier this year, as I was leaving a training session with former colleagues of yours. It was the 4th February to be exact, and we were hovering on the pavement outside the Southville Centre as you passed by and stopped for a quick hello with those that you knew. It was this conversation that forms the source of the comments that you state. via Twitter, are “certainly not something I’ve ever said”. But you did say them Matthew, and you said them twice.
As the group of us swelled with people leaving the training session, twice you were directly asked about your new job as Strategy and Engagement Manager at CRT, as your former colleagues were genuinely interested as to how it was going. Twice you commented that you loved your job, ‘aside from the gits on the liveaboards’. In fact, I recollect they were the only two comments that you made specifically about your job, suggesting to me that they may have been the two most pressing things on your mind when you thought about your work.
From my previous encounters with you, I was surprised and disappointed to hear those words coming from you, however much you may have meant them in jest or good humour. Whilst I appreciate that CRT endeavours to balance a number of needs in relation to the canal network, and understand that those needs may at times be in conflict, making even offhand comments about a section of the beneficiaries of CRT is indeed a serious cause for concern. Furthermore, while you have publically made pains to reinforce the fact that CRT is not a public body, and therefore you are not a public officer, your specific role does include managing and developing relationships across the canal network. My confidence in your ability to do that fairly, and with the needs of all beneficiaries equally in your mind waned on that day, and this is why I have spoken with boat dwelling friends about our encounter and the broader issues with CRT.
To hear now that you have publicly stated, via Twitter, “It is not something I would ever say” and “Certainly not something I’ve ever said” is even more disappointing. While I appreciate that you may regret that these words have now entered a public sphere, I’m displeased to think that you would deny they were ever spoken.
And don’t get me wrong, I was as surprised as you to hear that conversations I have had about our encounter are now in written form swirling around the internet. From my part, I did not write nor publish the article written about you, and nor do I know the writer. But I do know that former colleagues of yours looked uncomfortably over at me when you made the “git” comment as they know I have long been planning to move onto the canal, and also know that I have close ties with members of the boating community around the Kennet and Avon and beyond.
Prior to this role at CRT you had a strong track record in neighbourhoods and communities work, but something is clearly going wrong. And while I don’t want my sharing of your words to become a witch-hunt against you, as you are merely a functionary within a bigger organisation with a strategy in place for management of the waterways, they do lead me to question the current culture, structure and decision-making body at CRT as a whole.
While, as Wikipedia points out, “git” “is usually an insult, more severe than twit or idiot but less severe than wanker, arsehole or twat”, it is not the strength of the insult that is the issue. It is a derogatory comment about a section of the canal community just at the time that the Canal and River Trust is being publically challenged to be accountable, consistant and transparent as to the rules and stipulations that those license holders who are continuously cruising are expected to adhere to.
It is time for CRT to enter into a transparent and constructive dialogue with the continuous cruising users of the waterways, and to cease prohibitive, unclear and constantly changing measures for how continuous cruisers can maintain their licenses and their homes. These positions have been much more eloquently presented to you by boat dwellers themselves, and they must be addressed by CRT.
Yours sincerely,
Yaz Brien
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 4:54:33 GMT
I saw this on the K&A website and thank you for uploading it.I also noted that the Protest on the 10th is getting some publicity there and I hope that adds to the turnout on the day.Some of us may have differing views and aspirations for the Canal Network but surely we can all see the value in developing a credible alternative narrative.This is NOT about people wanting to set up Static Social Housing on the Canal.
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Post by ammodels on May 3, 2016 8:54:59 GMT
If this is proved he should be sacked.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 9:16:22 GMT
I would suggest the actual comment made in the first place could have been explained away, with a bit of nifty footwork. However, Mr Symonds chose instead to suggest it was "lies" on his tweet reply. The strenuous denial, and suggestion that the person reporting it was a liar, is offensive, and Mr Symonds needs to be sacked I agree. This sort of behaviour and mindset is not acceptable for the position he holds.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 11:33:50 GMT
Matthew Symonds replies: (well, sort of)
Hello Yaz Yes, I remember you, the good work that you were involved in at the Bristol Wood Recycling project in Bristol and the brief time we met outside the Southville Centre when you and my former colleagues were attending the training session there, but that's where our memories start to differ I'm afraid. I'm sure I would have mentioned that my new job was challenging and rewarding - but as I have already stated, the words attributed to me are not ones that I said - it's not even a term I generally use. I've said many times, publicly and privately, that living on the canals can be a great lifestyle - but it's important to be aware what is involved. We're also obligated to fairly apply the rules as set down in the Act of Parliament to all boaters. I agree that a constructive dialogue with continuous cruiser boaters is important. I can assure you that I, and colleagues, remain committed to that process. In the past few weeks alone I have had around ten hours of meetings with continuous cruiser boaters. I'm eager to continue those conversations to find agreement where we can, although I accept that we are unlikely to agree on everything. Understandably in some of the work I'm involved with feelings can run high. I know this from some of the less polite messages I have received in relation to my work. However, I personally always believe that polite and civilised engagement is the best way forward. Although we can't (and wouldn't want to) give prescriptive or individual guidance on how boats should move to meet our guidance for boaters without a home mooring, we have given more details of what we expect movement to be as a minimum over a year. Alongside this are details of the continuous cruiser monitoring process and an online map so boaters can see the kilometre lengths that we record boat sightings against. This information can help live aboard boaters to plan their movements in line with the guidance. You don't mention whether you did take up residency on the water - if you did, I hope you're enjoying it and maybe I'll see you on the towpath. If not I might bump into you on the canal or somewhere else. Best wishes, Matthew
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Post by emma on May 3, 2016 11:48:05 GMT
If this is proved he should be sacked. which ammodels was it who said this? ammodels said: So a bit of a non story based on lies and misinformation.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 11:48:17 GMT
No surprises in his continued denial,once he has embarked on that policy he will have to stick to it, unless of course someone else comes forward who was present to validate the complainants version of what was said.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 12:03:31 GMT
No surprises in his continued denial,once he has embarked on that policy he will have to stick to it, unless of course someone else comes forward who was present to validate the complainants version of what was said. I think he has now missed the opportunity to close this by form of an apology. He's just dug himself a deeper hole. If a further witness decides to come forward, I suggest his position will be untenable. Risky gamble.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 12:09:01 GMT
No surprises in his continued denial,once he has embarked on that policy he will have to stick to it, unless of course someone else comes forward who was present to validate the complainants version of what was said. I think he has now missed the opportunity to close this by form of an apology. He's just dug himself a deeper hole. If a further witness decides to come forward, I suggest his position will be untenable. Risky gamble. Yes you have it right,I believe CRT could quite easily go the same way as Railtrack if they continue with these own goals,deemed not fit for purpose.
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Post by ammodels on May 3, 2016 15:51:59 GMT
If this is proved he should be sacked. Hung, drawn and quartered. Each of his four limbs to be stuck on stakes in Newcastle, Carlisle, Exeter and London and his heart to be thrown to dogs and his liver and kidneys tipped into a pig trough. His eyes can be hung on the windscreen wipers of my bus. Or perhaps we could just have a blue and white plaque made which reads: Matthew Symonds lived here between (dates) and said that Liveaboard Boaters are Gits. Twice. (Allegedly). That may be a tad far.
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Post by carlt on May 3, 2016 15:55:35 GMT
Surely as CRT's Relationship Manager he should stick to counselling troubled boaty couples rather than making comments to the press.
Is he CRT's answer to Jeremy Kyle?
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 16:04:18 GMT
Surely as CRT's Relationship Manager he should stick to counselling troubled boaty couples rather than making comments to the press. Is he CRT's answer to Jeremy Kyle? More Dale Winton I believe.
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Post by loafer on May 3, 2016 18:16:42 GMT
If this is proved he should be sacked. Hung, drawn and quartered. Each of his four limbs to be stuck on stakes in Newcastle, Carlisle, Exeter and London and his heart to be thrown to dogs and his liver and kidneys tipped into a pig trough. His eyes can be hung on the windscreen wipers of my bus. Or perhaps we could just have a blue and white plaque made which reads: Matthew Symonds lived here between (dates) and said that Liveaboard Boaters are Gits. Twice. (Allegedly). Blimey NF! I hope I'm one of your friends!
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Post by sunset on May 3, 2016 20:21:36 GMT
Having seen the picture of him I am wondering if he should comment on others ,he looks like he just spent the night under a canal bridge with newspapers as blankets
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