 Bollard overkill
On 22 Jun, 08:54, Dave Mayall <david.may...@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
> On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:47:08 +0100, "Paul Scott"
>
> <notvalidpmsc...@> wrote:
> >Took a trip down the South Oxford to Lower Heyford and return, and BW seem
> >to have won the bollard lottery and are busy installing three bollards
> >alongside all the narrow locks that don't already have them, ie nearly every
> >one except maybe Somerton. Most boaters I discussed this with can't imagine
> >they'll be much use, especially in the deeper locks, and may even be less
> >safe if ropes get snagged up when going down...
>
> >Given the higher than normal number of rotten balance beams and
> >broken/missing paddle gear, and the fair few lock mooring bollards that are
> >about to be pulled out of the ground, what drives this new enthusiasm for
> >'lock bollards'? Elfin Safety perhaps?
>
> It's a target innit?
>
> Big organisations like targets, and they have to be measurable
> targets, so they can work out if they met them.
>
> BW has set targets, and bollard installation is one of those targets
> (bridge numbers is another).
>
> Targets tend to be less than effective when it comes to actually doing
> what is needed.
Agreed. Having seen the standard of their bridge numbers-on-sticks, I
would hesitate to tie up to one of their new bollards. What're they
made of? Softwood?
Tone
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