New Canal Link

[gregs dad]

I would rather see narrow boats in the Salthouse than nothing at all, As regards living on them very few owners do, using them like motorists use caravans to travel the country. I also think narrow boats and barges are very much a part of of our heritage, I can still remember the coal barges supplying our power stations in Liverpool

[Waterways]

I would rather see narrow boats in the Salthouse than nothing at all,

That is a poor excuse. There is an alternative. There has been requests for deep water vessels to moor there: The Maxman, HMS Wimbrel, Many of the historic ship collection that had to shamefully be dispersed around the country, never to come back again. Those ships should be there, along with the odd sailing ship, not inland barges that really just do not fit in and look ridiculously out of place.

As I keep reminding people it is a World Heritage Site and site must be reinstated to as original as much as possible. Making a canal barge basin out of these historic docks is putting two fingers up to our maritime heritage.

As regards living on them very few owners do, using them like motorists use caravans to travel the country. I also think narrow boats and barges are very much a part of of our heritage, I can still remember the coal barges supplying our power stations in Liverpool

I am not saying they are not. The barges in Liverpool were wide barges mainly towed by tugs. They would string many together and travel from dock to dock or from Liverpool to Birkenhead. The odd canal barge, like thsoe in the picture would be about, however few and far between.

Having the whole of these docks as an inland canal barge basin is NOT a part of our heritage at all. British Waterways own the south docks and barges is all they understand. The stupid city council went along with it ignoring heritage and history, thinking they can own the pound or two.

The current council are a disgrace and the sooner they go the better.

[gregs dad]

Come now, I think somebody has already pointed out they are not barges in the photos but narrow boats.
Regarding putting old ships and boats in the docks it didn`t work with the warships in Birkenhead.

[Waterways]

Come now, I think somebody has already pointed out they are not barges in the photos but narrow boats.
Regarding putting old ships and boats in the docks it didn`t work with the warships in Birkenhead.

They are barges. The term narrowboat is to make them more acceptable. They carried coal and cargo.

It did work in the East Float. They had to move as the area was being redeveloped. It was actually Wallasey the ships were in. Birkenhead/Wallasey is not Liverpool city centre which is a World Heritage Site and receives 1000s of tourists. The place the ships were at was not attractive at all.

Back to the prime point. The inland canal barges are out of place in deep water World Heritage Site city centre docks, precluding deep water ships. Look at what the WHS was awarded for. This is not in-keeping with the contract with the UN (UNESCO).

As I have stated, I think excavating Harrington and Toxteth Docks is ideal for these barges, leaving the prime city centre docks for historic and visiting deep water vessels.

I am not against them, they not suitable in the city centre WHS docks.

[gregs dad]

The term narrow boat has been around since the 18th century when they were made to navigate the locks and their beam could not exceed 7 foot anything over was a barge. Barges were used on rivers and docks and some canals nearly always being towed by horses or tugs.Narrow boats were used as public transport in some places such as the "Wigan Flyer" which plied the canals. In the early days they also carried mail.The modern ones we see now started about 1970`s with their steel hulls and fibreglass fittings