CANAL restoration charities have slammed the Canal & River Trust after it revealed a new way of working with organisations that repair and renovate waterways.
CRT says it will not support new projects at the expense of navigations it already maintains and will charge charities who do work on its property.
But the Wendover Canal Trust, which has been responsible for restoration of the waterways in Buckinghamshire and has completed many projects, says the tone of the proposals are “negative” and take no account of work which benefits the national charity.
It added that in some projects the CRT should be funding the restoration trusts “rather than the other way round”.
In addition, David Martin, chairman of the Friends of the Cromford Canal, hit out at the CRT, saying its plans had halted vital restoration work on the canal.
He said: “The next phase (accommodation bridge and link to Beggarlee locks) is nothing but stopped and held back by the overly complicated processes that the Canal & River Trust has in place; my exasperation with that body has now passed boiling point. I don’t know how anyone gets anywhere in today’s world! Even communication with the trust is a surprisingly difficult process; it’s like we exist in another time zone!
“Last year other canal societies did warn me about the overly complex processes that CRT now has in place and how frustrated they were with it all.”
Wendover Canal Trust chairman Clive Johnson said: “Rather than seeking to make money from canal restorers, CRT should raise its game in justifying continued state funding. It’s not enough to keep talking about canals, boats and navigation; CRT should be talking much more about 2000 miles of free-access open linear park through deprived areas, the listed structures which they manage and the environmental and wildlife benefits of what they provide.”
Mr Johnson argued that there was a case for restoration organisations not to be charged by the CRT, given the work they do: “The canal system would not exist in its current form and popularity, had it not been for decades of the voluntary efforts of numerous voluntary canal groups.”
In a statement, the CRT said it acknowledged the passion and desire of many restoration societies to restore closed canals back to a full navigable standard. There are clear societal and economic benefits to restoring and expanding the availability of the canal network.
It added: “Any restoration may come with increased maintenance or water demands upon the trust and this will need to be considered when approving any restoration; in this way the trust will ensure no funds or resources are taken away from those navigations it already maintains as navigable and that it has the resource and water to maintain any newly restored canals to the same standard as the rest of the network.
“Restoration projects will often be a complex undertaking and, in many cases, will be considered a major civil engineering project. Such work needs to comply with relevant legislation, and this requires skills, knowledge, experience and time. Although the trust is aware that restoration societies may be resourced with the skills to deliver such work, the trust strongly recommends that professional support with the appropriate insurance in place is sourced to deliver the work or elements of it.
“Any organisation wishing to undertake restoration works on trust property will need to satisfy the requirements and competency checks which are described within this plan and the trust will require cost reimbursement for any work/staff time. A cost estimate can be prepared based upon a project scope of works and the trust may have to procure dedicated resources to deliver its part in a restoration.”
The Wendover Canal Trust said there needed to be more detail on what CRT charging would look like, adding that some of the wording “appears to require restorers to write CRT a blank cheque for whatever you choose to charge”.
In addition, CRT is asking restoration trusts to fully comply with all health and safety, and other legislation which the Wendover trust says could deter volunteers from helping on projects.
CRT has stated that it is lobbying the Government for more resources but in the meantime, it must use its resources in the most effective way, ensuring existing waterways are maintained and navigable.
