SOMEONE has been putting up posters by the canal that goes from Kingshill to Waitrose (didn’t know there was one? Go and have a look!).

Unfortunately, the posters contain misleading information which has caused some concern amongst towpath users.

As a skipper of the trip boat ‘Dragonfly’ and as a nature lover, I feel obliged to offer some corrections: n The canal is owned by Swindon Borough Council — they are responsible for its maintenance, keeping it clear of rubbish etc n The council removed most of the fish and water voles recently to protect them from disturbance by works on the canal at Wichelstowe, hopefully to begin soon n ‘Dragonfly’ — a narrowboat, not a barge — is owned and operated by the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust. With rare exceptions, it operates only at weekends, four trips per day. It causes no pollution — the onboard toilet is a chemical one, which is emptied at a chemical disposal point n The boat has a beneficial effect in keeping the canal clear of weeds; its passage also stirs up nutrients for fish, so anglers and boats co-exist happily. Fishing is not permitted on the canal — but the heron benefits!

n Nesting water birds seem unaffected by the boat’s passage. Indeed, ducklings, swans etc come to the boat looking for food n The swans that have been nesting there have been driven away, not by us but by other swans. Swans are free to come and go as they choose; the swan that was injured by an (illegal) fish hook was spotted by us, and we initiated its treatment.

In summary, I cannot see how it can be claimed that the boat or its passage has any detrimental effect on the canal.

Indeed, there may be some beneficial effect. For further information, see the Wilts & Berks website, www.wbct.org.uk.

CHRIS BARRY The Bramptons, Swindon