Sir, I am a regular user of the Oxford Canal. I take groups of mainly old people for trips on canal and River Thames as volunteer crew on the 70ft charity narrowboat The Venturer.

Our boat is based at Hayfield Wharf, pictured in 1890 - when it was a busy coal wharf - in Chris Koenig's excellent article about the canal, From artery to backwater (In Business, October 20).

To our mostly-infirm passengers, the canal is a source of pleasure and wonderment because of its combination of natural assets, industrial heritage and special intimacy with city and Thames. Many are old Oxonians who remember it as more artery than backwater.

The towpath is often busy with parents and children, joggers, cyclists, etc, who clearly value it as a traffic-free 'lung' taking them to the city's heart. As we slide The Venturer through Isis Lock, the process is a crowd-stopper, particularly for overseas' visitors.

We are even privileged occasionally to spy your columnist Chris Gray emerging decorously from his favourite pub, The Waterman's Arms in Osney.

To me, the canal is a priceless asset. In other English cities, canals have been turned into a showcase for residents and visitors alike. What a change from traffic-congested streets. But what do we do? In your headline-writer's words, we allow it to deteriorate 'from artery to backwater'. We leave it 'tired' if not downright neglected. Despite everything, it is hoped that, having survived - just - since 1790, the canal will have its value recognised by the city council and be restored to take its rightful place among Oxford's other treasures.

John Wright, Oxford