Author Archive

Head to Head

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016
Matthew Symonds

Matthew Symonds

Matthew Symonds, subject of an allegation that he referred twice to liveaboard boaters as gits has cut his holiday in Holland short to publish this, official, rebuttal.

“Hello Yaz

Yes, I remember you, the good work that you were involved in at the Bristol Wood Recycling project in Bristol and the brief time we met outside the Southville Centre when you and my former colleagues were attending the training session there, but that’s where our memories start to differ I’m afraid.

I’m sure I would have mentioned that my new job was challenging and rewarding – but as I have already stated, the words attributed to me are not ones that I said – it’s not even a term I generally use. I’ve said many times, publicly and privately, that living on the canals can be a great lifestyle – but it’s important to be aware what is involved. We’re also obligated [sic] to fairly apply the rules as set down in the Act of Parliament to all boaters.”

Speculation has been mounting about whether Matthew would do the honourable thing and ‘fess up or entrench himself and call his former colleague a lair. It seems now it is the latter.

The non-seqitur seems a little strange to our ears. You meet a bunch of old colleagues and say “living on the canals can be a great lifestyle  but it’s important to be aware what is involved”. Sounds more like his standard press statement than a casual response to “How’s the new job”.

But he asked us to print his rebuttal so we leave you to draw your own conclusions in this ‘her word against mine’ Mexican standoff.

The full text of Mr Symonds’ reply can be found here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/original/27661-matthew-symonds-response-to-misleading-article.pdf

Matthew Symonds issues denial

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016

Although holidaying in Holland, Matthew Symonds made time to issue his first denial via Twitter that he called liveaboard boater ‘gits’.

Read more…

Battlelines drawn

Friday, April 22nd, 2016

Nick Brown of NBTA met with CRT yesterday. This is his summary of that meeting.

“Meeting with CRT in MK: Head of Legal (Jackie Lewis), another of the Legal Team (Tom Deards), Head of Boating (Mike Grimes) and Matthew Symonds.

We are still mulling over the conclusions but suffice to say the meeting didn’t go well they conceded very little (if anything).

Read more…

Off the Cut

Tuesday, April 12th, 2016

Off the Cut, Wendy Zakiewicz’s moving documentary about a Kennet and Avon boater’s struggle against being made homeless through the actions of CRT, provides a unique insight into a community of boaters living on the Kennet and Avon canal.

The film follows a family on their pedal powered boat as they embark on a journey in which their way of life, and that of the whole community, comes under threat.

Skippers Wanted

Thursday, March 17th, 2016

A wonderful opportunity to do some boating in a different part of the country and get involved in a very worthwhile project.

We need to find 3 experienced steerers, no certificates needed, for a project that involves taking a group of young people from Birmingham to Manchester for a dance performance on hire boats. This is the first two weeks of July.

Read more…

Traditional ropework

Sunday, February 7th, 2016

 

imageBeautiful and traditional ropework decorating the ellum of British Waterways’ Romsey, a ‘big Ricky’ butty, a six plank wooden-hulled boat, of which a considerable number were built for the GUCCCo. by Walkers at Rickmansworth in the 1930’s.

Tony Dunkley writes

Read more…

The rising conflict between cyclists and pedestrians

Monday, July 27th, 2015

Originally posted on the London Boaters’ Facebook Page by Mick Fitzgibbon

Original Article

The first reports of cycling accidents started to appear in newspapers about 10 years ago. The number of incidents and issues is growing.

Read more…

Short Term Licences

Monday, June 29th, 2015

Here is the internal CRT document that outlines the process by which a customer is required to take out a short term licence and the steps from there to a Section 8 action.

CC-monitoring-process

Read more…

A story

Wednesday, June 24th, 2015

Once upon a time there was a farmer, let’s call him Richard Head. Farmer Head was in the lucky position of having a short section of disused canal on his land. There was also a bunch of Old Men with long beards who thought this canal was the Best Thing in the World and wanted to see it restored to its former glory.

Read more…

The neighbours….

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015

We were approached by Public Protection at Wiltshire Council who asked if it would be ok to relay the following message about gatherings at Party Spot near Bradford-on-Avon.

Read more…