Boaters and boating are to get more attention from the Canal & River Trust, according to new Chief Executive Richard Parry.
Boaters and boating are to get more attention from the Canal & River Trust, according to new Chief Executive Richard Parry.
An extra £2m for this winter’s engineering work programme, another £2m to be put into clearing overhanging trees from canal banks, plus a survey of boaters’ views and a programme of boater meetings are all on the way, he revealed at a press conference to mark his first four months in the job.
Having spent much of that time getting to know the waterways, Mr Parry said that “all our users, especially boaters, are vital to the Trust” – and announced a series of measures aimed at improving CRT’s communication with its boating customers.
These include a series of meetings around the country in 2014 which will be open to all boaters; regular meetings with IWA, NABO, RBOA and other national organisations; setting up a boaters’ research panel to try to keep abreast of what boaters make of what CRT’s doing; a survey of boaters’ views over winter 2013-14; and regular ‘live chat’ sessions via social media for those who can’t get to meetings.
You can see Canal Boat Editor Nick Wall’s interview with Mr Parry after the meeting, here.http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/new-chief-executive-seeks-wider-engagement-with-boaters
