Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 19:52:39 GMT
Moored at the bottom of Foxton locks since 9am, yesterday.
It's been a beautiful couple of days, weather wise.
There have been thousands of people here, yesterday and today, strolling up and down, taking photos, visiting the bars and cafes, having picnics, feeding ducks and generally enjoying themselves.
All ages, sexes, nationalities, and types of people.
Today there has been very little boat traffic on the locks, presumably boaters choosing to avoid a sunny Saturday, guessing at the throngs of people that will be here.
Is it any wonder that C&RT (rightly or wrongly) view boaters as only a small part of their 'customer base'.
Rog
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 19:59:27 GMT
Moored at the bottom of Foxton locks since 9am, yesterday. It's been a beautiful couple of days, weather wise. There have been thousands of people here, yesterday and today, strolling up and down, taking photos, visiting the bars and cafes, having picnics, feeding ducks and generally enjoying themselves. All ages, sexes, nationalities, and types of people. Today there has been very little boat traffic on the locks, presumably boaters choosing to avoid a sunny Saturday, guessing at the throngs of people that will be here. Is it any wonder that C&RT (rightly or wrongly) view boaters as only a small part of their 'customer base'. Rog How many of those thousands who visited pay several hundreds of quid to CRT per year do you reckon? |
|
|
|
Post by Mr Stabby on Jul 8, 2017 20:03:54 GMT
Seems a shame that the gongoozlers turn out in force, and there are so few boats moving. I've done Foxton three times and each time it has been fairly busy, I've also moored at Bingley five-rise, in season, and not one single boat has been through all day.
|
|
|
|
Post by lollygagger on Jul 8, 2017 20:06:31 GMT
There's no way on earth I'd pay even 10p to look at a stinking ditch.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:07:22 GMT
Me for a start.
I don't know about the rest.
I also don't know how many are 'Friends of C&RT' or how many have 'Sponsored a length of canal'.
I guess the car park has taken a huge amount of cash today (whoever owns that) and at least one of the cafes is a C&RT franchise.
Tills have been ringing all day.
Rog
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:09:00 GMT
Moored at the bottom of Foxton locks since 9am, yesterday. It's been a beautiful couple of days, weather wise. There have been thousands of people here, yesterday and today, strolling up and down, taking photos, visiting the bars and cafes, having picnics, feeding ducks and generally enjoying themselves. All ages, sexes, nationalities, and types of people. Today there has been very little boat traffic on the locks, presumably boaters choosing to avoid a sunny Saturday, guessing at the throngs of people that will be here. Is it any wonder that C&RT (rightly or wrongly) view boaters as only a small part of their 'customer base'. Rog How many of those thousands who visited pay several hundreds of quid to CRT per year do you reckon? They might not pay hundreds of quids directly but many of them will be tax payers who subsidise the canals. If you don't believe a sanitised version of canals can be made to work take a look at the Grand Western Canal. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:16:25 GMT
The point that had struck me was that we on here, and boaters in general, can be very 'one eyed' about C&RT and what they should and should not be doing.
I'm usually here in the winter months, when it's busier with boats, but less visitors.
Today was incredible.
Like it or not, agree or not, I better comprehend why C&RT only see us as part of their 'customer base'.
Rog
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:18:07 GMT
How many of those thousands who visited pay several hundreds of quid to CRT per year do you reckon? They might not pay hundreds of quids directly but many of them will be tax payers who subsidise the canals. If you don't believe a sanitised version of canals can be made to work take a look at the Grand Western Canal. At best, 50p a year. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:25:47 GMT
They might not pay hundreds of quids directly but many of them will be tax payers who subsidise the canals. If you don't believe a sanitised version of canals can be made to work take a look at the Grand Western Canal. At best, 50p a year. How many boaters v how many tax payers? It isn't something I like though. GWC is a linear country park that is also used for managing water - very few boats but has a big support (and is pretty much) fully funded by taxpayers. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:28:24 GMT
The point that had struck me was that we on here, and boaters in general, can be very 'one eyed' about C&RT and what they should and should not be doing. I'm usually here in the winter months, when it's busier with boats, but less visitors. Today was incredible. Like it or not, agree or not, I better comprehend why C&RT only see us as part of their 'customer base'. Rog From 2015 At the start of this financial year C&RT had accumulated losses of £4 million from charitable giving and had just 15,800 ‘Friends |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:29:13 GMT
How many boaters v how many tax payers? It isn't something I like though. GWC is a linear country park that is also used for managing water - very few boats but has a big support (and is pretty much) fully funded by taxpayers. Work it out, it's not difficult. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:33:07 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 20:46:25 GMT
There's no way on earth I'd pay even 10p to look at a stinking ditch. Absolutely, and that's why us boaters should get equity rates. No seriously, we provide a service to the community. CRT must fear the encouragement of potential new boaters. I mean, they would have to divert more funds from thier empire building to boating. |
|
|
|
Post by naughtyfox on Jul 8, 2017 22:18:04 GMT
There's no way on earth I'd pay even 10p to look at a stinking ditch. The canal water is almost always filthy. But then Brits do like running baths and wallowing in their own dirt. I'd suggest at least 'skimming boats' that drag a net of some kind to take all that floating garbage off the surface of canals. Typhoid, Cholera and Legionairre's Disease swilling about in England's watery arteries. It's so disgusting. |
|
|
|
Post by naughtyfox on Jul 8, 2017 22:20:42 GMT
'Friends of C&RT' - many have 'Sponsored a length of anal'. |
|
