BLUEMOMENT

The link to the survey is about half way down the page: -

https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/our-vision/

Scottish Canals invite the public to help shape the future of Scotland’s 250 year old canal network.

Scottish Canals is looking for the public’s input when it comes to shaping the next 250 years of Scotland’s canal network.

For the first time in Scottish Canal’s history the Corporate Vision will be guided directly by the people of Scotland.

The plan will set the scene for the next five years of work for the waterways and all are encouraged to have their say on how they too can be a part of conserving them as part the country’s rich heritage and transforming them to play a vital role in Scotland today.

Scottish Canal’s is looking for the public’s help to grow, become more vibrant, accessible and inclusive and are keen to look at new ways to continue to improve these important blue and green heritage assets to remain relevant now and in the future.

The canals are used daily by boaters, cyclists, walkers, local residents, businesses owners and paddlers and have recently been reimagined from former industrial transport arteries to corridors of opportunity, tourism, and transformation that greatly benefits the people and economy of Scotland.

Maybe as tax payers, the canals should be self funded, entirely free from tax payer subsidy. The Crinan canal management is a disgrace and the rest are pointless, redundant and antiquated pieces of engineering that cost a lot to maintain for no return. Who actually visits Scotland to see any of the canals? What roles does a thin stretch of festering water actually serve? When I pass through Edinburgh and drive over the canal bridge at the city basin, it looks excrement. Crinan canal is closed to navigation from October to March, 6 x months, half the year. A waste of space.

The canal board see them primarily as (non-boaty) visitor attractions that landlubbers can drive to, pay to park their cars, wander about gawking and then buy coffee and cakes at the visitor centres. The fact that they need to be maintained to navigable standards is an expensive and annoying distraction to those in charge. If they could fill them in and build more of those bloody kelpies, they would.

The Crinan is too far from the majority of the population to fit their ideal profile, although it can be bloody handy occasionally for actual boat users (and potentially a safety aspect too allowing less experienced to avoid a rough rounding if the mok).

The caly also seems to be reasonably well used by skandinavians in bigger, tougher boats. I never understood this - they are missing out the best bits of the west coast and Hebrides. Suppose it keeps them quieter for the likes of us.

Basically, they need a boat owner on the board and probably among the management. Those running the place are the sort of useless twats in high-vis and clipboards that can only get jobs in quangos, not in real companies. The Ardrishaig sealock staff are some of the grumpiest I've ever come across. Crinan end is better.

Fill’em in and cut all the costs……
If not, then upgrade the tech to allow users to open and close bridges (remote monitoring) increase hours of use and months of use and price to dramatically increase / encourage use

Also needed: better public transport links, so that you’d leave a boat in the canal for a few weeks and could get to/from it without your own car

On upgrading, I was watching something on telly about the French canals. They give you a remote control so you can open the lock before you get there. Shut it again, open the relevant sluices, open the other lock etc, all using the remote without getting off the boat. Problem here is the "heritage" aspect - you cant get grant funding for anything that changes the historical aspects of things, so we are stuck with antiquated technology.

The locks are not the restriction.
Tech for the bridges and sea locks would be a good starting point, eliminating the lunchtime stoppages and allowing evening/night movements
The idea of giving a remote control to use, and returning it after (or an app that has an activation code to only allow use for 1 passage/a few days) would be a good solution

Gardenshed wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 7:32 pm
Also needed: better public transport links, so that you’d leave a boat in the canal for a few weeks and could get to/from it without your own car

Buses run the length of the Caledonian from Inverness to Laggan Locks, with a Fort William bus to drop you off at Neptune's Staircase or take the train to Corpach. Glasgow to Campbelltown plus local buses pass through Ardrishaig with only a short (if midge ridden) walk to Crinan or you can take the regular (once a day if I remember right) bus. So, in my mind the links are fine, just a pity about the timetables.
I have happily dumped my boat at Banavie while I popped back to Ed'burg for some messages. Ain't bus passes wonderful?

Crinan Canal works news: -

https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/news/c ... orks-2022/

Welcome investment and I hope that usage of the canal will increase. I do enjoy a canal transit, seeing it as a pleasurable experience, as opposed to time saving shortcut.

From YBW Scuttlebut :-

URGENT - if you want to give your comments please do so in the next 48 hours

Web site is here - Let's Grow Together - Scottish Canals

Just heard back from Scottish Canals. They claim this survey was widely publicised when launched on 9th November (not sure where, so will ask).
They have extended the closing date (without updating the website) to Thursday 5th January - ie 2 days time

So if you want your views on priorities heard, including boat navigation if you thinks so, complete the survey ASAP

I suggested they should apply RET to transit charges - I'll not hold my breath!

Further update from YBW

UPDATE - In response to my further email, the deadline has now been extended to 10th JANUARY

Well done to Scottish Canals for responding so promptly to this request

marisca wrote: ↑Wed Jan 04, 2023 8:49 am I suggested they should apply RET to transit charges - I'll not hold my breath!

What is RET, probably going to be obvious, thanks?

RET = Road Equivalent Tariff. What has loaded Calmac ferries with camper vans since it started!