Archive for August, 2011

Policy and Law Reform Objectives for Boat Dwellers Proposed

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

A boaters’ group has proposed that the transfer of British Waterways to charity status would be an ideal opportunity to put in place statutory protection for the homes of all boat dwellers in the UK. Currently there is no legal recognition of the homes of boat dwellers (a boat is a chattel in law) and no statutory protection from eviction.

Read more…

BW directors to get bonuses for move to charity

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

A look at the BW Directors’ targets for 2010-2011 (obtained in a Freedom of Information request) shows that three of the eight executive directors of BW are likely to get bonuses for achieving the move to charity status. The directors’ bonuses are linked to achieving these targets. BW has just announced that in 2011 the Directors will get up to £15,000 each in bonus payments on top of their six-figure salaries. The staff who matter most, who do maintenance and repairs and look after boaters and the waterways every day, will get a paltry £100 or so in comparison.

Read more…

IWA reveals anti-liveaboard prejudice in Local Mooring Strategy

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) representative on the Mooring Strategy Steering Group has made it clear that his understanding of the local mooring strategy is to “reduce the numbers of those living on the canal” so that within 5 years “they would be able to plan for a different life-style”. In an email to BW’s Sally Ash, the IWA rep Tim Wheeldon also stated that “there will be no question of anyone being forced to give up home, school or job in the short term“.

Read more…

Bradford on Avon Community Agriculture welcomes boaters

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

A number of boaters are involved with Bradford on Avon Community Agriculture, a community co-operative that grows organic fruit and vegetables. It’s open to anyone to join. You can drop in and help when you’re in the area, and benefit from fresh organic food in return.

Write to your MP before BW Charity Bill goes to Commons Committee in September

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

The Public Bodies Bill, which will transfer BW to charity status, will be considered by the Public Bill Committee in the House of Commons between 8 September and 13 October. The Committee will consider the Bill in detail and probably make more amendments. The Committee Chair is David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend West.

Please write to your own MP as a matter of urgency asking him/ her to make sure that the British Waterways amendment (99A) is deleted from the Bill.

Read more…

Boaters featured in ITV news and Private Eye

Friday, August 5th, 2011

BW’s unlawful actions towards liveaboard boaters were held up to the media spotlight again by ITV on 24 June in The West Country Tonight. You can watch this on

http://www.itv.com/westcountry-east/fear-for-boat-dwellers43456/

On 22 July, BW got the Private Eye treatment in an article alerting readers to the dangers of transferring existing enforcement powers such as forcible entry, search and seizure to an unaccountable private body such as the New Waterways Charity.

You can read the Private Eye article here Waterways Power Surge

MP asks Parliamentary Question on behalf of liveaboard boaters

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Duncan Hames, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham, whose constituency includes the Kennet and Avon canal between Dundas and Hilperton, was contacted recently by a number of boaters concerned that the transfer of BW to charity status would put them at increased risk of homelessness. As a result, Mr Hames asked this question in the House of Commons on their behalf:

Read more…

K and A Trust Whitewash!

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Well, Lime Mortar Training Course actually. BW is running a training course in Lime Mortar techniques for Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Working Party Volunteers. There are 12 places. The course will be held in Bradford on Avon on Monday 22 August at 9am.

Read more…