The Regent’s Canal, where the ‘floating classroom’ would be moored

• HOW could anybody possibly object to the idea of a floating classroom on a canal that adjoins a primary school? I am sure a lot of your readers will be asking this question after your report, (School’s floating classroom plan sparks objections from canal neighbours, October 11).

Unfortunately granting permission to this plan is not the no-brainer decision that most people would expect it to be. Unsurprisingly there have been fierce objections from immediate residents, who are concerned about noise and safety issues, but they are not the only ones affected.

There are over 2,000 miles of interconnecting waterways in our country and a golden rule is that the towpath side is reserved for moving boats while the offside is mostly private land.

So this really is an exceptional situation for the Canal and River Trust to release an open public stretch for exclusive use. If this sets a precedent for similar ventures elsewhere then local issues like this will soon escalate into national ones.

If the council decides to give this plan the thumbs up then it must appreciate that it is being scrutinised by a much larger audience than a handful of nimbys and the CRT probably knows already that it will be vilified if it gives a similar concession to a private company not a community school.

IAN SHACKLOCK
Monsell Road, N4