A BOATER on the Oxford Canal is lobbying waterways bosses to cut back vegetation which is damaging his canal boat.

Richard MacKenzie usually moors his narrowboat at Shipton-on-Cherwell near Kidlington, and sometimes journeys along the Oxford Canal.

However he said the section between Wolvercote and the city centre was uncared for and the 'most dangerous section of this historic navigation' and is urging the Canal & River Trust to take action.

Mr MacKenzie said he was disappointed with the response from the trust after initially raising the matter five months ago.

He told trust managers: "We have travelled the entire length of the Oxford Canal between Hythe Bridge Street in Oxford, to Hawkesbury Junction near Coventry, twice this year but the section between Wolvercote and Oxford city centre is, in my opinion, the most uncared for and the most dangerous section of this historic navigation.

“I have had damages to my boat due to these branches that in some areas take up two thirds the width of the canal.

“On several occasions, you are also left blind due to overhanging weeping willows.

“Canoeists and kayakers use this water as well as narrowboats.

“I do hope that someone won’t be seriously injured because of this blind navigation before action is taken to manage the vegetation.

“To be honest I am totally aghast at the lack of movement on this.”

Mr MacKenzie is now planning to make a claim for compensation to the Canal & River Trust as his boat has been scratched by vegetation.

The trust wrote to Mr MacKenzie earlier this year to inform him that offside vegetation works in Oxford were usually planned for September outside of bird nesting season but they added that they would attempt to complete the work earlier if possible.

In July environmental campaigners urged county council staff to take care when they cut back riverside vegetation as part of the Riverside Route to City Centre scheme to upgrade pedestrian and cycle links.

They presented a petition to council leader Ian Hudspeth urging contractors to protect nesting birds during work between Folly Bridge and Gasworks Bridge, with the scheme due to be completed next month.

The council said as far as possible it would maintain a green strip beyond the three-metre towpath.