Vanessa talked of long-lost days gone by, which in some aspects is true - only a very few horse-drawn boats now operate, and those nowhere near Brentford, whose towpaths can no longer be used as such around the Ham - but while the nature of boating has changed from virtually all cargo carrying to virtually all pleasure boating, the fact remains that there are apparently more boats on the system now, than there were in the hey-day of commercial traffic. This is a number growing, according to British Waterways, by around 750 boats per year!The last few weeks have seen an amazing amount of boat traffic through the Brentford pool, largely due to the summer and the recent Waterways Festival at Reading. Our boatyard has received on average a call-out every week, whether from the lock-keepers or Canal & River Rescue, to attend to various problems experienced by boats either coming from the Thames or about to venture onto it.This is a growing trend, and to be welcomed, (the traffic increase not the problems!) - bringing life and colour back to the waterways.Also to be welcomed are the Government drives to move more freight back onto water, which is happily supported by most all new residents surrounding the pool here.So yes, the old style and character is inevitably changed, but one might even dare to hope that Brentford will become once more a bustling and useful centre of canal use with colour and character of its own time, with increased commercial as well as recreational activity.For this to happen there must be recognition from the Council and the locals that sustainability of such increased use is dependent upon preservation, improvement and increase in both the boatyards large or small that service the boats, and the essential infrastructure such as wharves, moorings, docks, slipways and loading points.It should also be noted in this context that no one area or Borough can help operation of the canals in isolation from the others, there needs to be the connected network of facilities that extends throughout London's boroughs and beyond. While British Waterways are concentrating on propety development to the detriment of navigational and operational concerns, it is down to us to demonstrate to ALL the local authorities just how vital their own role has become.
Nigel Moore ● 6834d