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Post by JohnV on Apr 29, 2016 7:42:57 GMT
As I have previously posted. This kind of action, I believe is ineffective and frequently counter productive, irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the matter.
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Post by kris on Apr 29, 2016 7:48:44 GMT
I understand your views on it John. But what course of action would you suggest, for people who aren't happy with the direction crt are heading at the moment.
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Post by JohnV on Apr 29, 2016 8:04:09 GMT
I do not have easy fix answers, All I am saying is that the sort of people who run big organisations and quangos are not likely to listen to a gaggle of people outside their offices waving banners. You need people they will talk to as equals to be on your side and the approach needs to be different. How you achieve that I don't know. Mass protests only work if they truly are "mass". There are not sufficient boaters who are having "problems" with CRT to provide sufficient "mass". You have to face the fact that you are a disaffected minority within a minority (boaters) and you are not likely to get support from the rest of the boating community unless or until CRT starts causing problems for them directly. With that in mind a different route is indicated.....but I'm not clever enough to be a route finder.
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Post by kris on Apr 29, 2016 8:22:50 GMT
I wouldn't knock your intelligence, you come across as someone who is able to think rationally about the issues. I agree with what you say about being a minority of a minority. I would suggest that if most boaters realised the consequences of crt's policies and the direction they intend to take the waterways they would be up in arms. The selling off of property (currently happening), and the planned decline in maintenance (also currently happening.) I would argue are already effecting every boater. The only reason more people aren't aware is Crt are good at pr, it's no accident that they have been taking on marketing people. In someways it's a media battle,one thing Nbta are good at is getting the issue into the media. Bad publicity seems to be the one thing that Crt are afraid of, so a small group of people outside the hq might be easy to ignore. But a photo of that group, plus story in the national media is an effective weapon. Any way that's enough words for now.
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Post by loafer on Apr 29, 2016 9:35:51 GMT
Can someone enlighten me to who this NbTa is? Sorry. I've been at the pop again, and possibly a smoke. National Bargee Travellers Association,and if you can scroll to my first post you can see why I humbly believe as many Boaters as possible should try and attend. Get yourself a cheap off peak return from New Street and the protest is directly outside Milton Keynes Railway Station where the CRT offices are located. There is a good Wetherspoons about 200 yds up the hill where we can retire to so it can't be a bad day out,I shall buy you a drink as I shall any of my fellow posters here. I'm afraid I'd spend all of the time in the pub. I'm not a great fan of rallies/protests/large groups of people. I can't even take our boat to a boat festival! Thanks for the virtual pint though. My round next!
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Post by ammodels on Apr 29, 2016 11:09:40 GMT
Why not pop over the Irish sea and attend the meeting? Geography not your strong point?
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Post by ammodels on Apr 29, 2016 11:11:08 GMT
Dont spray water near the NBTAI think most of em are allergic to it... or is that only when there is soap involved as well? Thats a bit unnecessary,don't you think ? You have contributed to some good debate on some of the topics so why be derogatory over some boaters attempting to contribute to the debate also ? It was purely to wind up Kris, he goes a lovely colour of Puce when hes raging.
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Post by ammodels on Apr 29, 2016 11:15:45 GMT
For me the NBTA are diametrically opposed to what I view the canals as for, they were never meant to be a linear housing development. Some of the aims include getting CRT to be recognised as a landlord and have the same responsibilities, we should all be fighting against that one as it would imo chnage the face of canals for every single one of us. CRT are and should only ever be a navigation authority, you buy a licence to travel the canals, you dont buy the rights to live in one spot, you dont get protection for your housing needs because CRT do NOT provide housing they provide a canal system for you to travel on in your chosen home. CRT should provide more moorings and at reasonable rates rather than keep upping them 'for market rate' reasons, offline moorings in marinas would be perfect for most of the people who are complaining because all they want is a cheap place to live rather than the freedom to travel anywhere on our canal system, if that was their ideal then they wouldnt buy wide beams that are limited in their ability to use the system.
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Post by kris on Apr 29, 2016 11:27:22 GMT
So Mr models after being an idiot and a wind up merchant not to mention spamming the forum with gross photos.. I'm supposed to care about what you think and take your views seriously am I ?
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Post by Saltysplash on Apr 29, 2016 12:30:39 GMT
all they want is a cheap place to live rather than the freedom to travel anywhere on our canal system, if that was their ideal then they wouldnt buy wide beams that are limited in their ability to use the system. Ah, I like a good wide vs narrowbeam debate especially one thats fueled by Girth envy. Wide is the majority of the system as you well know. Its just that smelly bit in the middle that causes some problems but come the revolution those locks at Watford will be Widened and The Lift at Foxton rebuilt. In the meantime, for those of us south of Watford we will continue to enjoy the Grand Onion, The Thames, The Medway, The K&A, The Regents, The Lee, The Stort oh and the Slough Canal while swinging cats within the confines of the vessel and watching our massive tellies while quaffing ales from our huge fridges and slurping ice cream from our huge freezers watching the narrow minders getting wet and cold from our centrally heated wheelhouses.
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Post by peterboat on Apr 29, 2016 13:29:04 GMT
all they want is a cheap place to live rather than the freedom to travel anywhere on our canal system, if that was their ideal then they wouldnt buy wide beams that are limited in their ability to use the system. Ah, I like a good wide vs narrowbeam debate especially one thats fueled by Girth envy. Wide is the majority of the system as you well know. Its just that smelly bit in the middle that causes some problems but come the revolution those locks at Watford will be Widened and The Lift at Foxton rebuilt. In the meantime, for those of us south of Watford we will continue to enjoy the Grand Onion, The Thames, The Medway, The K&A, The Regents, The Lee, The Stort oh and the Slough Canal while swinging cats within the confines of the vessel and watching our massive tellies while quaffing ales from our huge fridges and slurping ice cream from our huge freezers watching the narrow minders getting wet and cold from our centrally heated wheelhouses. Have you been on my boat? And you forgot to mention all our huge waterways up north! places where 180 meter long tankers can swim with ease, the joy of proper boats on proper waterways..............now wheres my shovel
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 13:50:57 GMT
Why not pop over the Irish sea and attend the meeting? Geography not your strong point? So your business is no longer in NI then? Or you are doppelganger for the one on CWF. TBH I don't care. I still think you would learn a thing or two if you went to the protest..
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Post by bills on Apr 29, 2016 13:59:26 GMT
. In the meantime, for those of us south of Watford we will continue to enjoy the Grand Onion, The Thames, The Medway, The K&A, The Regents, The Lee, The Stort oh and the Slough Canal while swinging cats within the confines of the vessel and watching our massive tellies while quaffing ales from our huge fridges and slurping ice cream from our huge freezers watching the narrow minders getting wet and cold from our centrally heated wheelhouses. And don't forget - you can put a pool table on a widebeam. That's what I miss on my narrowboat.
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Post by Saltysplash on Apr 29, 2016 14:05:35 GMT
And don't forget - you can put a pool table on a widebeam. That's what I miss on my narrowboat. Not seen a pool table but a mate of mine did have an old Bar Football table on his....god they were boozy nights
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 14:34:17 GMT
I have Xbox with all the whistles and bells. Sadly it won't work in a narrowboat, not enough space. I love me 42 inch tv for playing the games on. Sex is great as well, having a proper queen size bed.
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