Archive for February, 2011
Monday, February 28th, 2011
Documents obtained via Freedom of Information show that BW has recruited Will Chapman, the driving force behind Save Our Waterways, to set up local mooring strategies led by “well-informed boaters who are also parish councillors” as Sally Ash reported in December at the Kennet and Avon local mooring strategy meeting. We understand that Mr Chapman is a Parish Councillor in Alrewas.
In doing this BW has presented local mooring strategies as a key part of BW’s move to charity status, which assumes there will be considerable input from local (settled) communities into the governance of the charity on a local level. Sally Ash gave a presentation to Lichfield District Parish Forum on 24 January which blurred the boundaries between “local mooring strategy steering groups” and the overall local governance of the new charity. This will undoubtedly cause problems. On the Kennet and Avon, where a trial local structure is being piloted, there is a clear distinction between the Local Mooring Strategy Steering Group, which has a time-limited job to do, and the Kennet and Avon Canal Partnership Board, which is an ongoing local management board.
Tags: continuous cruising, Damian Kemp, FOI request, Local Mooring Strategy, Sally Ash
Posted in BW Policy News and FOI Act Requests, Continuous Cruisers, Moorings Consultation | 12 Comments »
Saturday, February 19th, 2011
Another BW press release which puts the Sally Ash operation in perspective – we seem to remember there was an outcry in this country when the Chinese cleared what they saw as undesirables before the Olympics — and again when South Africa hosted the World Cup.
Boating in London during the Olympic Games
Boaters interested in visiting London during the 2012 Olympic Games will be able to pre-book BW visitor moorings more than a year in advance when a when a web-based booking system for visitor moorings goes live in April 2011 to coincide with ticket applications for the Games themselves.
Pre-booked moorings will be available at key locations across London. These are likely to include simple towpath moorings on the Capital’s canals and River Lee as well as both unserviced and more expensive serviced berths in Docklands.
Research conducted at the end of last year suggests that there will be strong demand for moorings in London during the Olympic summer and well over 500 people have already registered to receive further information about securing visitor moorings.
Sally Ash, head of boating at BW, comments: “We are looking forward to welcoming visiting boats to London during summer 2012 and want to make sure the waterways are right at the heart of the Olympic party. Our canals, rivers and docks are perfect bases to discover the capital, with many also having easy access to the Olympic Park.”
Scheduled to go live on 11 April 2011, boaters who register or have already registered their details at www.waterscape.com/londonboats2012 will automatically be emailed inviting them to browse the available mooring sites, book and pay. Moorings will be available on a first come first served basis.
Games ticket applications open for six weeks from 15 March to 26 April 2011 (there is no advantage to submitting your Games ticket application on the first day or the last day). For information on Olympics tickets visit www.tickets.london2012.com/about_tickets.html.
In order to manage the London canal network efficiently at this busy time and ensure moorings are reserved for those who have booked them, there will be a ‘controlled zone’ for several weeks throughout the Olympic summer. Visiting boats will only be able to enter with a confirmed booking of a visitor mooring (with BW, another operator or individual) or a home mooring.
Tags: liveaboards, mooring policy, Sally Ash
Posted in News | 3 Comments »
Saturday, February 19th, 2011
Yes, mention of Sally Ash and the 1995 Act on the same piece of paper. We hear Ms Eichmann is currently undergoing flailing to ensure her place in the bunker after all the lies she has told.
BRITISH WATERWAYS ANNOUNCE RIVER LEE NAVIGATION MOORINGS MANAGEMENT PLAN
British Waterways is today (18 February 2011) calling upon local authorities, residents, boaters and all who use the River Lee and River Stort Navigations and the Hertford Union Canal to comment on its proposals to introduce a new moorings management plan for the area.
Read more…
Tags: continuous cruiser, Damian Kemp, Lee Navigation, liveaboards, mooring policy, Moorings Consultation, Sally Ash
Posted in Moorings Consultation | 1 Comment »
Saturday, February 19th, 2011
The consultation is published here;
British Waterways Consultations
With a closing date 7 weeks away from the date of publishing, yet another illegal act by BW.
WIth this choice gem of disinformation;
To qualify for a boat licence (as laid out in the 1995 British Waterways Act) a boat must have a ‘home mooring’ – somewhere where it may lawfully be kept when not being used for cruising. An exception is made for boats which hold a ‘continuous cruiser’ licence, which requires them to genuinely move around the waterway network without mooring in any one place for more than 14 days. Some boats on our canals and rivers, and in this particular area, hold a continuous cruiser licence but are moving only limited distances, if at all, and mooring in just a few locations.
Prizes are available for the person who finds the most lies in the above paragraph.
And who has made the FOI request for the evidence for this statement?
The plan has been drafted in response to… …the concern raised by other waterway users
Tags: continuous cruising, Damian Kemp, Lee Navigation, liveaboards, mooring policy, Sally Ash
Posted in Moorings Consultation | 3 Comments »
Friday, February 18th, 2011
The River Lea to be precise.
British Waterways have made proposals for the Lee Navigation that break a number of laws.
The River Lea in Bow
You can download them here; British Waterways Mooring Management Plan.
Read more…
Tags: British Waterways, liveaboards, Local Mooring Strategy, mooring policy, moorings, Moorings Consultation, Sally Ash, Section 17
Posted in Moorings Consultation, News | 2 Comments »
Friday, February 18th, 2011
The Rat said nothing, but stooped and unfastened a rope and hauled on it; then lightly stepped into a little boat which the Mole had not observed. It was painted blue outside and white within, and was just the size for two animals; and the Mole’s whole heart went out to it at once, even though he did not yet fully understand its uses.
`This has been a wonderful day!' said he, as the Rat shoved off and took to the sculls again.
Read more…
Tags: Messing about in boats, rowing boat
Posted in Stories | No Comments »
Friday, February 11th, 2011
In a surprise move, Sally Ash, the BW Chair of the Local Mooring Strategy Steering Group, resigned last night. At about 9pm on February 10th, she sent the email below to the steering group members:
Read more…
Tags: Local Mooring Strategy, Sally Ash
Posted in News | 2 Comments »
Thursday, February 10th, 2011
The fifth meeting of the Local Mooring Strategy steering group took place on 28 January. It ran much more smoothly and constructively than the others due to the absence of the BW Chair, Sally Ash. The bullying atmosphere experienced by boaters’ representatives was conspicuous by its absence as BW’s Damian Kemp ran the meeting with a minimum of fuss. Despite being the Project Officer for the Local Mooring Strategy, Mr Kemp has shown willingness to take boaters’ views and rights on board. Unfortunatley he has little power within BW.
Read more…
Tags: continuous cruising, Damian Kemp, liveaboards, Local Mooring Strategy, Sally Ash
Posted in BW Policy News and FOI Act Requests, Moorings Consultation, News | No Comments »
