“The Garonne Canal is a heritage to be defended. » For the national association of inland water boaters (ANPEI) and its president, Anne Ackermans, the stopover in Caumont, Tuesday 7…
“The Garonne Canal is a heritage to be defended. » For the national association of inland water boaters (ANPEI) and its president, Anne Ackermans, the stage in Caumont, Tuesday May 7 in the afternoon, had a very specific objective: “Save the river heritage for the maintaining navigation on inland waterways and making local residents aware that they have a beautiful heritage. » The ANPEI delegation was welcomed by Christian Chevannes, president of the Caumont Cultural Association and its history. A visit to the village and a reception at the heritage house followed, with a friendly drink offered by the municipality.
Solidarity
ANPEI boaters, who bring together around 1,000 boats within the association, were to converge on Caumont from Buzet, upstream, and Meilhan, downstream. However, one downside disrupts the initial program: the closure of navigation under the damaged Tersac bridge. “I thank the solidarity of Jean Barbe’s Voyages Meilhanais, which provided the association with a bus to transport our members stranded downstream to Caumont,” greeted Anne Ackermans. We are trying to direct public policies towards a substantial budget to be allocated to Voies navigables de France (VNF) for the maintenance of the banks, locks and built heritage, such as lock keepers’ houses. »
ANPEI is campaigning for the return of barges transporting goods to the canal, but also for the cleaning of all the canals to return them to their original level, which “would lead to a drop in water temperature” . Anne Ackermans also insisted on good relations with farmers, noting that “boaters participate in the circulation of water, but do not consume it”.
The next ANPEI activist cruise will take place in Burgundy, from May 25 to June 2, between Vandenesse-en-Auxois and Venarey-Les-Laumes, on the Burgundy Canal, which provides a connection between the Saône and the Seine. “VNF plans to cut this connection,” regrets the president.
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