Slipway is just a smokescreen

The letter from Roger Clay (Courier last week) tries to justify a slipway on the River Avon. There are very few small boats operating on this stretch of the river, as it is a haven for wildlife, so the necessity of having a slipway is totally spurious and a smokescreen for the main intention of opening up the river and launching powered boats. He mentions “the launching and recovering those small boats that already operate on this reach of the river” and “be of benefit in an emergency” referring to the M40. Who will be in distress? Who will be on call in such an emergency, what equipment will be on hand, how will it be used and to what benefit?

The main users of this stretch of the river are fishermen and the Warwick University Boat Club, who always have a motor boat in proximity of the rowing boats, coaching the crews and available if the rowers experience difficulties.

The proposal to open the river was heard a few years ago, in a three day hearing at county hall, and it was unanimously rejected. Why are the trust resurrecting it again, and using what could be construed as underhand tactics by trying to get more boats on the Avon?

Opening up the Avon was opposed by Warwick Castle and Charlecote Park, who would need to erect barriers and fences to keep their river boundary intact and stop unwanted quests. The overwhelming majority of people who have river frontage also rejected it, as did three rowing clubs, being Stratford, Warwick University and Warwick Boat Club, who stated that rowing and powered boats do not mix, perhaps Mr Clay was anticipating the dangers if we see more boats on this stretch of the Avon, which when launched from his slipway will cause accidents with the Warwick University rowers.

The slipway would be on the same stretch of river as Warwick Castle, so I am sure they would wish to say something about it.

I hope others can see through this. - Tony Baker, via email.