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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2017 21:35:09 GMT
I either didn't know or had forgotten that David Trimble had a Hudson. One of the ones finished post-Steve's death. Anyway, if you have ever been to Thailand you might have noticed that quite a common name for a beach bar etc is "No Name Bar". Well DT's boat is one better than that, it's called Sine Nomine. I like it! To Kris: I know we have "history" but nevertheless here are my recommendations for your letter to MPs etc. Firstly, get someone to check the spelling, grammar and sentence construction. Theoretically folk shouldn't judge contents by its "wrapping" but in fact they do. Secondly, don't rant. Make observations backed up by evidence. Anyone can make up a rant about something that irks them, and just as easily it can be dismissed as a rant from the ignorant masses. Even though the thought offends you, if your aim is to make a difference you need to play them at their own game. When I was a teenager (about 1990) I used to walk the dog to the park and often met one of the local nutters. He was into writing to his MP and other people in a position of power, a lot. mainly moaning about this or that. He was active in the local residents association. A well known bore. He was literate but his hand writing was very bad. He told me that because he had written so many letters about local affairs someone had decided to have his handwriting analysed and discovered that he was actually mad, and that it was true that you can tell if someone is mad just from their handwriting. I think Nick has a point. MPs must get a lot of communications and they must filter somehow.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2017 22:24:42 GMT
I knew one MP's secretary who identified letter writers as 'the green ink brigade'. Any letter she identified as such, never reached the MP's desk. Shouldn't be like that, but it seems it is. I know there's no point saying it, but I believe Telemachus has a point, and is in his inimitable style, trying to help. I believe any letter will have to be utterly flawless in all regards, to pass through the admin filters, and have any chance of being seen by the MP. I will endeavour to achieve such in my own missive Rog
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2017 22:35:47 GMT
I knew one MP's secretary who identified letter writers as 'the green ink brigade'. Any letter she identified as such, never reached the MP's desk. Shouldn't be like that, but it seems it is. I know there's no point saying it, but I believe Telemachus has a point, and is in his inimitable style, trying to help. I believe any letter will have to be utterly flawless in all regards, to pass through the admin filters, and have any chance of being seen by the MP. I will endeavour to achieve such in my own missive Rog Use search engines for email databases, and you can often find their personal addy's.
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Post by tomsk on Jul 28, 2017 0:13:49 GMT
Below is a rough draft of a letter I intend to send to every mp and member of parliament. Whilst I am under no misapprehension as to its effectiveness, I would suggest anybody who is concerned does something similar. Oh ps where do I find the mp's mailing list? Dear sirs,Madame I find my self writing to you out of concern for the future of the inland waterways. I have to admit to having a vested interest in the waterways as I live on and am in the process of restoring an old ex-working barge. But I feel that I talk to you as a tax payer and voting member of the public. I find it incredible that in everything but name the waterways ( a public asset.)Have been privatised. In that they are in the sole control of a public ltd company, albeit with some charitable aims so registered with the charity's commission. i also wonder if you are aware of the surprising lack of political oversight to the actions of the canal and river trust. Which is what worries me most about the future survival of an already 250year old public asset. The assets of the nation are being sold off at an alarming rate, to satisfy some short term aim. I would sincerely ask that you pay some attention to what is a worrying situation. Regards Kris well ive found the site listing mp's emails, but it's going to be a long job. Is there no way to automate this? Well I need to target whom to communicate with anybody know of interesting mp's or members of the lords with an interest vested or otherwise in the waterways? www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/You are very sweet.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 0:47:56 GMT
Below is a rough draft of a letter I intend to send to every mp and member of parliament. Whilst I am under no misapprehension as to its effectiveness, I would suggest anybody who is concerned does something similar. Oh ps where do I find the mp's mailing list? Dear sirs,Madame I find my self writing to you out of concern for the future of the inland waterways. I have to admit to having a vested interest in the waterways as I live on and am in the process of restoring an old ex-working barge. But I feel that I talk to you as a tax payer and voting member of the public. I find it incredible that in everything but name the waterways ( a public asset.)Have been privatised. In that they are in the sole control of a public ltd company, albeit with some charitable aims so registered with the charity's commission. i also wonder if you are aware of the surprising lack of political oversight to the actions of the canal and river trust. Which is what worries me most about the future survival of an already 250year old public asset. The assets of the nation are being sold off at an alarming rate, to satisfy some short term aim. I would sincerely ask that you pay some attention to what is a worrying situation. Regards Kris well ive found the site listing mp's emails, but it's going to be a long job. Is there no way to automate this? Well I need to target whom to communicate with anybody know of interesting mp's or members of the lords with an interest vested or otherwise in the waterways? www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/You are very sweet. Yes, it's nice to know there are some people left in this world who give a shit. Surely it's more important than mental gymnastics?
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Post by kris on Jul 28, 2017 4:46:04 GMT
Below is a rough draft of a letter I intend to send to every mp and member of parliament. Whilst I am under no misapprehension as to its effectiveness, I would suggest anybody who is concerned does something similar. Oh ps where do I find the mp's mailing list? Dear sirs,Madame I find my self writing to you out of concern for the future of the inland waterways. I have to admit to having a vested interest in the waterways as I live on and am in the process of restoring an old ex-working barge. But I feel that I talk to you as a tax payer and voting member of the public. I find it incredible that in everything but name the waterways ( a public asset.)Have been privatised. In that they are in the sole control of a public ltd company, albeit with some charitable aims so registered with the charity's commission. i also wonder if you are aware of the surprising lack of political oversight to the actions of the canal and river trust. Which is what worries me most about the future survival of an already 250year old public asset. The assets of the nation are being sold off at an alarming rate, to satisfy some short term aim. I would sincerely ask that you pay some attention to what is a worrying situation. Regards Kris well ive found the site listing mp's emails, but it's going to be a long job. Is there no way to automate this? Well I need to target whom to communicate with anybody know of interesting mp's or members of the lords with an interest vested or otherwise in the waterways? www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/You are very sweet. and your a gimp.
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Post by NigelMoore on Jul 28, 2017 11:31:29 GMT
I'm under no illusion about the effectiveness of writing to politicians . . . There is some fascinating, contemporary sounding stuff in government correspondence from the early 70’s, when they were proposing to do away with BW and install a national waterways authority. The opposition at the time had previously promised re-instatement of public rights of navigation on the canals, which the IWA had seen necessary to enable boaters to enforce maintenance obligations. When the party came into power, they were faced with the ‘problem’ of honouring those promises. A Mr Woodhouse, of the “Legal (Transport) Branch” wrote a letter, dated 28 June 1972, to a Mr J E Beddoe responding to a minute of his. Commenting on the difficulties when coming to legislate on transport matters relating to waterways, he says: “ The reason for this is, of course, the existence of an exceedingly well organised and articulate pressure group in the form of the Inland Waterways Association.” . . . “ The waterways enthusiasts are aware that, in general, the waterways system of this country has been neglected for over 100 years and is still being neglected, in spite of all assertions to the contrary. They are, therefore, anxious to be able lawfully to carry out activities which have the effect of drawing to attention of the public the fact of this neglect.” . . . “ You will see from the foregoing that the situation with which we have to deal is quite a complex one. We are concerned partly with honouring promises made by Ministers, when in Opposition, and reiterated since 1970. We are also concerned to do something to try and buy off opposition to the basic proposals in the Water Reorganisation Bill.” . . . “ I am sorry to have written at some length on this matter, but I have very vivid memories of what happened in 1968 when we were dealing with this subject and I can foresee our having all the old troubles over again, unless we can do something which will honour the promises made by Ministers when in Opposition and which will help to meet the not wholly unintelligible suspicions of the waterways enthusiasts that once again Government are engaged in an operation which will allow the waterways to be further neglected with impunity.” It would be Deja Vu, except for the fact that the IWA has morphed into an uncritical authority supporter, with no similar organisation with the same clout currently existing. The above stands, nonetheless, as an illustration of how effective such an organisation could be. Even absent such an organisation, sufficient individual representations could help make politicians sit up and take notice. The basic problem of neglected waterway maintenance has never gone away, obviously.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 11:38:41 GMT
Friends of C&RT could be that pressure group.
With a voice that cannot be ignored totally, because we put in dosh.
Obviously just me that thinks that way .
Rog
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 11:46:56 GMT
Friends of C&RT could be that pressure group. No chance of that. With a voice that cannot be ignored totally, because we put in dosh. You really have no idea of CRT's preferred operating system Obviously just me that thinks that way . Sadly yes.Rog
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 11:54:40 GMT
Friends of C&RT could be that pressure group. No chance of that. With a voice that cannot be ignored totally, because we put in dosh. You really have no idea of CRT's preferred operating system Obviously just me that thinks that way . Sadly yes.Rog Once again I accept your view. However I am curious why you are so quick and eager to dismiss anyone elses suggestions, specifically mine From your writings, I haven't noticed your methods to be totally successful thus far. Rog
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Post by lollygagger on Jul 28, 2017 11:54:45 GMT
Friends of C&RT could be that pressure group. With a voice that cannot be ignored totally, because we put in dosh. Obviously just me that thinks that way . Rog Unfortunately, CRT have put themselves in charge of your wished for pressure group. You would be expecting them to pressure themselves. To have a chance, any such group would have to be separate from CRT?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 12:00:14 GMT
I disagree, and sight the National Trust, RSPB, English Heritage and many other organisations that will listen to the people putting money in.
I know C&RT will not readily change, as does everyone else like Jenlyn, who's been banging away at them with little success, and constantly telling us how hopeless they are.
However it may be a way of applying pressure from within.
Fine, I'm wrong, not the last time I'm sure.
Rog
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 12:05:26 GMT
Friends of C&RT could be that pressure group. With a voice that cannot be ignored totally, because we put in dosh. Obviously just me that thinks that way . Rog ... To have a chance, any such group would have to be separate from CRT? I don't think they have to be separate from CRT but do need some significant rights to challenge the 'board', as a minimum they should be able to (given sufficient support) be able to raise a 'no confidence vote'.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 12:06:54 GMT
I disagree, and sight the National Trust, RSPB, English Heritage and many other organisations that will listen to the people putting money in. I know C&RT will not readily change, as does everyone else like Jenlyn, who's been banging away at them with little success, and constantly telling us how hopeless they are. However it may be a way of applying pressure from within. Fine, I'm wrong, not the last time I'm sure. Rog How do you know I have not had any success? My constant banging on at them with regards maintenance in the South East has stirred them into response, with promises of attending to the areas I have put forward. I shall of course be checking to see if they have indeed done so. At least I make the effort, where as you are happy to sit back with the fairies and dream a dream.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2017 12:13:35 GMT
I disagree, and sight the National Trust, RSPB, English Heritage and many other organisations that will listen to the people putting money in. Rog And that's exactly where your argument falls before it even sets off. "Friends" is not, and never will be a membership. CRT has made this absolutely clear from day one. Being a friend gives you nothing, absolutely nothing, other than personal satisfaction.
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