Write to Towpath Talk on any water-related topic of your choice and each month the editor will select a letter to be published.

Send your letters to: Towpath Talk Letters, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 6JR or email them to:

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Towpath Talk letters...

LEICESTER WATERWAYS ARE NOT SO BAD!

Dear Sir,

Whilst it is regrettable that Ian and Lesley Lauder experienced problems with the depth of water in Leicester (January Talkback) their rant in your columns is regrettable and unhelpful.

We in the Leicestershire Branch of IWA spend much time and effort promoting the 'Leicester Line' as we know that a well used waterway is usually a more user-friendly one and, as Mr Lauder suggests, more interesting and attractive to look at.

I accept that there is a silting problem in one pound which results from the discharge of a brook which carries large volumes of surface water in times of heavy rainfall. This too is responsible for occasionally carrying litter off the streets into the navigation. The good news is that BW are dredging in Leicester as I write and steps are being taken to improve the silt and litter traps at the mouth of the brook.

Having said all that, I should mention that numerous deeper draughted boats regularly pass through the city without significant problem. Dare I suggest that if Mr Lauder took a more judicious line through the bends and tried tick-over instead of 'full throttle' both before and after becoming stuck, he might make better progress!

Has your correspondent never had any problems with his 'historic working boat' on other urban waterways?

It sounds as if he is not enjoying the 'pioneering spirit' that used to be associated with this sort of boating. Perhaps he should consider buying a more modern boat; not only would he have less problems with depth of water but engines are now fitted with self-starters so he wouldn't have the problem of starting his National by hand on a frosty morning!

So don't let this solitary tale of woe deter other boaters from discovering the delights of the Leicester Navigation; did Ian and Lesley not pause in Leicester to discover Europe's largest indoor market? Did they not enjoy the remote stillness of the 20-mile summit pound? And how could he not comment on the beauty of the middle and lower reaches of the River Soar where he could happily have blown the soot out of 'Badsey's' National?

Such a shame that his whole trip seems to have been clouded by some mud and a duvet! So please come back and give it another try.

This year's Waterside Festival is on 5/6 June and the more boats that attend the better the navigation will be!

Yours etc.

John Evans
Acting Chairman,
IWA Leics Branch
(and historic boat owner!)

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OVERSTAYING MOORINGS

Dear Sirs,

With so much debate going on about mooring rights between BW solicitors and NABO solicitors, can we give an alternative solution to the debate, and give our side, and our way of life a chance?

We are permanent cruisers, and we cruise with up to four boats together. In the spring, summer and autumn months we do move every 14 days. We know our mooring spots and the wardens within these areas, no we are not saints and sometimes we may overstay, and sometimes we may move early.

We enjoy our lives and we work together to keep our boats in good order. We are polite to joggers and walkers and spend many a summer evening sitting on the side of our boats with maybe a BBQ or just enjoying the fresh air and putting the world to rights.

It is the winter months we are most concerned about. In the winter we need to be close to a water point and car parking. Yes we do overstay possibly for the whole of the winter months, but when we are here, we care for the towpath and our surroundings. We set up feeding stations for the wildlife, yes we do collect wood, but we never take from a live tree. We do cut the wood on the towpath, but the sawdust is scattered over the worst of the mud or ice.

We all have dogs, so we pick up after our animals, and every few days one of us will go on ‘poo patrol’ and pick up after the not-so-considerate dog owners. Our rubbish is bagged and kept neat until one of us collects it all and drives to the skips and disposes of it correctly.

Can the wardens not be allowed to see the difference between responsible and irresponsible boat owners who are moored during the winter months? Looking after the surroundings and the wildlife is a positive bonus for BW and in walking your patch, you can see who is looking after BW’s interests and who is not. If there is rubbish scattered around, limbs missing from live trees, then move them on. You never know, we may then moor there and actually clean it up!

Instead of solicitors earning fortunes, cannot a little bit of commonsense prevail, and keep the solicitors engaged on the more important matters?

Encourage the permanent cruisers to overstay November to March, and look after their patch, and give us back a pride in our heritage.

Rob & Jue, Autumn Leaves
Perry, Christiana
Vicks & Ant, Plod
Han & Harry, Good Vibrations
Grand Union, Milton Keynes stretch, Cosgrove to Linslade

• Send your letters to: Towpath Talk Letters, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 6JR or email them to:

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