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THERE seem to be a lot of misconceptions about the idea of British Waterways hiring equipment instead of owning it writes Richard Swan.
 Having been very much involved in hands-on volunteer work for the past 15 years it has become apparent to me that there are now significant problems in keeping equipment maintained and certified to an acceptable standard for organisations like British Waterways and canal societies.
In my area both British Waterways and the canal society have made increasing use of tool hire with very few problems. The hirers we use are mostly available at weekends if we need to contact them, and they have to certify that the tools are fit for purpose. The worst problem we have encountered is having to take delivery of heavy equipment early for a weekend work party to use, which can be a nuisance at remote sites.
It has always been a bone of contention with me over the years that British Waterways have had expensive equipment like dredgers sitting doing nothing for months on end. This has represented capital tied up with no return, neither financial nor in terms of waterway maintenance, but I suspect that its balance sheets have never shown any cost benefit analysis of their investment in equipment. Hiring does at least reduce capital expenditure on grossly underused equipment which has to be good for us all.
Lost contact
Having seen the email from Tom Reynolds about his difficulty in contacting Robin Evans, I'm wondering if this is a new policy introduced by British Waterways. I was talking to someone yesterday who asked for the direct line number of a supervisor and was told that they weren't allowed to give it. What nonsense, the number is in the public domain having been published in a magazine with the agreement of British Waterways.
 Gun Jumping
It can probably be considered a long term cost saving but I was surprised to see waterways vans decorated with the new title and logo last week. I wonder if anyone else finds it a little disturbing that parliamentary approval is being assumed, and money spent on that basis, when in theory the whole process could be vetoed by an adverse vote by MPs.
Like the tag line, 'Keeping people, nature and history connected'. I wonder who dreamt that up?
Volunteers
Last week, before the cold weather struck, I was surprised to see a team of 'volunteers' wandering about on the towpath. It transpired that they were from the local Young Offenders Institution and even their governor had turned out to see them at work. I suppose that volunteering to work on the waterway is one way for them to get away from the prison for a change of scenery and gives them something to do.
They could be a valuable resource for the cash strapped Trust, but I do wonder how truly cost effective they are when you take into account the salaries of the British Waterways Volunteer co-ordinator and the supervising prison officers who accompany them.
Welcome
Pleased to see that narrowboatworld has a new columnist in Orph Mable. It will be interesting to see the views of someone whose business is dependent on the integrity of the navigation being maintained. At least the livelihood of us leisure boaters doesn't depend on the competence of British Waterways for which I, for one, am truly grateful.
Welcome also to the new owner of Middlewich Narrowboats who I hope will be able to get the business thriving again in spite of the recession. He will have his work cut out to get the fleet improved, his description of the boats as 'rather shabby' was quite an understatement.
Mon & Brec
The management team at Wales & Border Counties must be relieved that tribulations of the Mon & Brec no longer affect its budget since it was transferred off its patch.
Since it is responsible for the Shroppie and the Llangollen, which are two of the most heavily used waterways in the country, and given that the Shroppie is far from leak proof, it must be a great relief to know that they will not have to raid their budget for the Mon & Brec.
More seriously though, the sort of problems being experienced there are really outside the budget capabilities of individual management teams and will have to be addressed centrally. Given the forecast financial shortfall of Canal & River Trust it makes you wonder how this can be funded.
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