We received the ballot paper today, & the first thing I noticed was the apparent confusion as to which address to send the forms to…
Note the address on here…
Compared with the one on the stamped addressed envelope…
Not only is much of the address missing, but the post code’s different. Looks a bit suspect to me, we’ll be voting online…
Then there’s this, don’t ya just love it…?
:
With the best of intentions – oh no it’s not…
Heth’s Analysis of the candidates statements: I won’t say which order we voted, but I can tell you the key words / sentences that made us decide on a yea or nay. Some people can say it all in 150 words, others can’t…
It’s easier to list what Dave & me were both NOT looking for, the neglect of the waterways in the past is clear to all of us. But the future isn’t, so here’s the potential problems neither of us wanted to read about in the 150 word statements:
- Anyone who’s worked for BW in a position of authority
- Spouting qualifications & pasting over cracks in experience
- Support for localised areas only, depending on circumstances
- Limited knowledge of the canal boating lifestyle
- Limited or no knowledge of how to drive a canal boat
- Anyone London based where funding isn’t an issue
- Anyone who thinks membership of boating organisations is more important than experienced canal boaters without affiliations
- Anyone focused on yachts or sea going vessels
So here we go…
Barton, Patricia: Mentions localised involvement / 42 years IWA involvement – NAY
Blundell, Malcolm: Well this is a mouthful, quote “I was a professional leader, managing an intelligence analysis centre concentrating upon protecting the national infrastructure” blah blah. Couldn’t even be bothered quoting the remaining b*llshit. Sounds like he’s in the FBI. {Scary} – NAY
Bonello, Michael: Work experience & trustee of a different yet respectable charity, doesn’t appear relevant to CART. Although equality & rights would’ve been welcome while BW ruled the waves. Have you noticed how one of his sponsors is an “R Evans?” Everyone else’s first name is listed except the mysterious “Mr R.” Ha Ha Robbing you’ve been sussed, you’re cover’s just been blown apart – NAY NAY NAY
Brown, Christopher: All good stuff, even if it is a bit watery at first. “Endeavour to promote the interests of private boaters & be a voice for their views.” sounds promising though. That’s a “reserved” – YES
Bryan, James: Opens with “I wish to represent the voice of the ordinary boater on the council, I think the maintenance of the canals & the costs to use them should be at the forefront of the Trust’s future plans.” The rest is just as good – YES
Bullock, Paul: Employed for 10 years with BW & BWML, I was wondering just how high up the chain this guy was till I read that he’s fully “aware of the constraints placed on the operational capacity of a management system.” Any doubt means a – NAY
Caplan, Ivor: [But I want to call him Ivor Captain] Mentions localised canal interest, regeneration of lesser used parts of the system, (not a priority) major involvement in IWA – NAY
Cawson, Sue: Looks back in her statement, not forwards – NAY
Amendment: Have since spoken to Sue on the Boaters Manifesto group online. She presented a much better statement on there without intending to. A true boater representing the boaters & the waterways from our perspective – YES
Cowan, John: Does canal boating holidays & shares a narrowboat with 7 other people on a part-owned basis, long term boating experience may be limited – NAY
Dean, Robert: Has canal boaters at heart, I’d have to quote all of it – THAT’S A YES
Farrell, Ann: Mentions localised canal interest, Check last 3 wasted words in statement, wants us all to learn Latin before we sail anywhere – NAY
Fincher, Alan: Now that’s more like it, someone with no regional affiliations, no associations & common sense without misguided self promotion. A genuine, dedicated boater who puts boaters first – THAT’S A YES
Gee David: Bricklayer to Building Inspector to Business Manager for NHBC, feels there needs to be input from the grass roots boater – THAT’S A YES
Harrison, Ian: Experienced & committed to protecting the future of the Inland Waterways, Years of engineering experience / working with Local Government, well, that’s a “reserved” – YES
Henderson, Clive [Thought he was a comedian] Oh silly me, HE IS!!! Chairman of the IWA & the BW Advisory Forum, you’ve got to be kidding! That’s an admission of total failure, with that kind of experience it’s – NAY NAY NAY
Hughes, Bernard [OBE] This one was difficult, a Devon County Councillor “with time available” but situated a long way from the main canal system. Might mean a lot of travelling. He seems dedicated, with interest in many areas of the canal system rather than local interest alone. Could’ve forgiven him being a member of IWA & various other organisations, but then I noticed his areas of involvement only covers the southern half of the system – NAY
Kelly, Frank: Too focused on one issue, & that place called London – NAY
Lee, Val: Respectable history of volunteering, not enough detail concerning what she has to offer for the future unless it’s promoting volunteering. This statement is unclear in its aims – NAY
Mayall, David: Brilliant statement, his first paragraph highlights that the voice of boaters (not affiliated with associations) goes unheard. It’s also good to hear that he has enough experience to understand some of what boaters want – THAT’S A YES
Norris, Rex: Genuine respect for spending 25 years in the RAF, but cruising to only 4 different canal destinations is not many. Self employed running a small-holding & into building maintenance, time & energy might be an issue. Also, owning a business or 2 in Buckinghamshire, the boat being secondary to that, & the location. We need funding to reach further up than Watford Gap – NAY
Pearce, David: This started off bad & just got worse, with “wide experience in industry, academia, government & naval projects.” Nothing relevant there, even the latter has nothing to do with the canal system. Then “Whitehall policy group head & pension scheme trustee” is the real killer. Take the ee out of trustee & you’re left with trust issues. “St Pancras Cruising club commodore,” hmm, that’s a yacht basin. National chairman of AWCC, creditable (I think). “Closely involved with BW & DEFRA in discussions leading up to the CART” no mention of what he achieved, or didn’t. And the final nail in the coffin, a member of IWA & current secretary of BW advisory forum. Another joker on a GRAND scale – NAY
Peters, Stephen: Owner of a river cruiser based on the River Seven. Member of RYA, (Royal Yachting Association). Avon Navigation Trust (localised interest). RNLI Governor (now we’re at sea). Cruising & Seamaster club (back on the river without a canal boat). So, apart from being the Hon sec of Droitwhich Canals Trust in the 1980’s (long time ago). Where’s the connection with the canal system of today? - NAY
Pinfield, Bob: Appears to have been boating on the River Severn for over 30 years. (In the summer months). Treasurer of 2 yacht clubs, another RYA instructor, Relevance?? Knowledge & experience gained over many years relies solely on being a boater & there’s a contradiction – NAY
Robertson, Ian: Sounds experienced in leisure management but hasn’t specialised in canal boating, & by the sounds of things hasn’t ever driven a proper canal boat. Relevant strengths are too vague – NAY
Roper, Paul: Sound statement apart from the fact that he’s presently an IWA Trustee – NAY
Rudd, Stephen: Excellent statement for all of us, another one I’d have to quote all of – THAT’S A YES
Scott, Peter: States common sense, nothing more, but gives no idea as to how he would tackle the policies he lists. Chairman of 2 different IWA areas also means localised interest – NAY
Scott, Robert: Along with many years of boating experience it seems that “maintaining & improving the system for all boaters” is his top priority – THAT’S A YES
Smetham, Tony: Active member of London Boaters, carries belief that the way it works down there could be used as a template for the rest of us. Not a chance, each area has different needs & requirements, if only it were that easy! Beyond that there’s just one more paragraph with ref to leisure VS residential users which sort of contradicts itself. Shame really because his last sentence tells us he’s independent of all boating organisations, even so, it has to be – Nay
Tidy, Andrew [Cap’n Ahab] Shows genuine dedication, “boaters must remain core to it’s operation” – THAT’S A YES
Vinnicombe, Alfred: Sounds promising till the sentence “British Waterways have done a good job.” Dropped a clanger there, had to do a double-take when I read that, thought it had to be a mistake! – NAY
Welch, Keith: A “long standing IWA Trustee specifically responsible for supporting waterway restoration.” (Oh dear). Personally I believe the existing crumbling canal system should be the only priority for “restoration.” Projects concerning opening up / restoring old canals (unless totally privately funded) can wait for more affluent times. Shame really because his main points are specific & relevant, but he’s looking outside the box – NAY
Basically canal boaters are the ones who know most about the inland waterways, & yes, how to manage them. Members of previous & present management have already proved their incompetence & greed in a spectacularly self indulgent way. So let’s not allow them back in, & hope that the damage can be repaired…
