River Severn weir letter
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Referring to this popular iGreen article, the story that started iGreens, Robert Aspey writes:

I know many people who own motorboats as well as enjoying canoeing.

Why not try hiring a canal boat for a week, to see how enjoyable motor
boating can be. The best book I have read on the subject is "Narrow Boat" by
LTC Rolt.

I have canoed the river Severn down from Iron bridge, and also cruised
many rivers in my motor boat. Both are equally enjoyable.

If carried out in a sensitive way, with variable weirs, and canoe passes,
I would support extending navigation on some rivers such as the upper Severn
and Avon, while retaining most rivers in their natural state.

As with most things in life, I feel we need to work together and strike a
sensible balance, in order to avoid conflict, which benefits no one.

Robert Aspey   1 March 2005

iGreen reply

Hi Robert,

I'm not unsympathetic to motor boating.  I have made one trip on a canal narrow boat and you are right, it was fun.

Nor do I have a problem with motorboats on canals or other commercial navigations[1].   The point of my article was to argue that governments should not be building or maintaining weirs, which turn flowing rivers into navigations, just for leisure use.   I assume you would accept that a free-flowing river is more “environmental” than a canalised one. 

Nor am I saying that people should never canalise rivers.   I guess if motor boaters wanted to get together and buy up the riparian rights, or whatever they are called, then we should not stop them.  But it would be expensive and would probably never get done without government help.  I'm basically arguing for small government.

Jim Thornton  5 March 2005

 

Let Robert have the last word:

Jim, - For me I am happy that existing river navigations do have weirs retained for leisure use, many act as important links in the navigation network of the UK. I live on a steel cabin cruiser with my partner, the only way we could afford to purchase one was by renting out our house. One of the most enjoyable cruises we have taken was along the river soar navigation into Leicester.

Robert Aspey

Click here to read the original "What's wrong with weirs" iGreen article


[1] I think they should pay their way of course.  When governments get involved in leisure activities they tend to be regressive.  They support middle class ones like canal boating and opera, and tax the popular but working class football and pop music.  But that is another argument.

 

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Last modified: September 10, 2006