Observations please!

Next time you take a stroll along the towpath, have a good look around and then take some time to reflect upon what you are really observing. 

If you should observe a lock where water is leaking out of, by leaking through, leaking under or leaking around the gates. 

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

Next time you struggle to open or close a paddle or lock gate and putting yourself at risk of injury. 

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

Next time you see racist, homophobic or other questionable graffiti on a bridge or balance beam. 

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

If you should see deep puddles of standing water on the towpath, areas of deep mud or collapsed towpath edges. 

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

Every shopping trolley, every plastic bag, every bottle, aluminium beer can or polystyrene container.

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

If you should  observe  rampant weed growth that prevents navigation or falling trees blocking your way. 

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

If you should  observe  the aftermath of rare flora cut, strimmed and hacked into oblivion before having the time to set seed. 

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

If you arrive at places where the water is too shallow to moor a boat close to the edge. 

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

Every pound you observe that is low and leaking.

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

Every area of canal that needs to be dredged.

What you are observing is evidence of the abject failure of British Waterways management to properly maintain and improve the canal system.

This is the British Waterways management team who were paid more than the prime minister and he is supposed to look after the whole country. But a failing Prime Minister we get to vote out.

This is the  same management team that is going to lead us to the promised land of plenty through CaRT. Yet we all know who will be getting the plenty!

Welcome to the bright new world of the "volunteer". The volunteer who according to BW/CaRT are the answer to all the problems that have beset the British Inland Waterways.

• Which volunteer will do the dredging?
• Which volunteer will maintain the lock gates?
• Which volunteer will repair the towpath?
• Which volunteer will clear the canal of cans, bags, bottles, trolleys and a whole myriad of pick-and-mix of detritus?

Ask yourself, which director or senior manager, will be leading by example? Welcome to the world of CaRT and Porcine Avionics!

Later....