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Page 1 of 2 WITH wastage in mind it was in July 2006 that I was advised of three tractor type ride-on mowers, with trailers, being delivered to the West Midlands. Those mowers together with their trailers said to be worth around 17K each were subsequently found to be too wide for the towpaths!
Further information received in respect of one of those mowers, still on the trailer on which it had been delivered, and with only one hour of running time on the clock, claimed the return of this mower to the dealership from which it had been purchased was at a loss of 3K to British Waterways.
Until now however the last I heard of the further machines was seven weeks later when I was told the remaining two machines had been stored pending a decision with regard to their fate. Since then the whereabouts of the further two mowers has remained a mystery.
However, if information now received is correct that mystery could have been solved with I'm told two ride-on mowers having been removed from storage and entered as ‘barely used' onto British Waterways recent list of tools for sale. Could it be that 'easy come—easy go' when spending other peoples' money applies here?
Exclusive tool hire—the way forward
I've been advised that British Waterways has entered into an exclusive multi-million pound five year contract with HSS to supply all of the tools it will require.
That we have no need to worry as given British Waterways' corporate status any tool required is to be made available on a 24/7 basis by HSS, thus even weekend and Bank Holiday closures will not affect procurement.
Worried about an emergency?
For any still concerned with regard to the timely availability of the necessary equipment should an emergency arise British Waterways assures me that we shouldn't worry, it will be hiring those tools it considers to be its ‘core needs' for periods of 26 weeks at a time.
Furthermore, should anything go pear-shaped British Waterways tells me it can always call upon its cavalry, in the shape of May Gurney, to come to the rescue. I trust all are now reassured. However, from what I hear operatives working on the bankside have appeared to be quite surprised to find they are now to rely upon hired tools. I can only assume therefore that British Waterways has deemed any consultation with them unnecessary, other than with those said to have trialled the scheme for efficacy in the Manchester and Pennine Region.
Loss or damage
However, according to British Waterways, tool hire can only be advantageous. It removes the necessity for maintenance, ensures issues of compliance are met and eradicates the worries of either loss or damage to the tools. It is however with loss and damage that I have concerns.
Insurance is not cheap and major damage or loss will have to be paid for. Wastage cannot be allowed to continue as it has in the past with the ‘Corporate 0' i.e. any amount asked for being rubber stamped as in the case of the once situated Barton Turns waste facility now adjacent to the A38 on the Trent & Mersey, the dog bins on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the Bosley locks bollards on the Macclesfield Canal, to name but a few.
Economy for those who've never had to practice it has to be learned, and in order that it is I'm asking all who have an interest in the future of our waterways to be alert and to tell us if you suspect wastage, whereupon we'll do our best to check it out.
At the end of the day its taxpayers' money, yours and mine that will be footing a major part of the bill for the waterways, and it could be down to us, the users, to ensure their survival.
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