The IWA’s response to the news that Nick Brown discontinued his Judicial Review of CRT’s Guidance for Boaters Without a Home Mooring is alarmingly off-piste. IWA Chair Les Etheridge weighed into the discussion saying “Visitor moorings on the inland waterways need to be managed with the best interests of the whole boating community”.
In a meeting between CRT and the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO) on 14th January, NABO stated that “Putting the legal arguments to one side, NABO, as a policy decision, are happy for the pilot [roving mooring permit] operation to proceed and will monitor a) its success and b) its effect, if any, on other boaters and the availability of moorings. NABO feels that at least a roving mooring permit is a compassionate attempt to resolve a problem which has been allowed to get out of control. NABO will at this time raise no legal objections during this process but would suggest that the effectiveness of the roving mooring permits is monitored at 6 and 12 month intervals and NABO would like to be party to the findings”.
A boat dweller who is facing court action by CRT was told that Richard Parry will not personally scrutinise every decision to take boat dwellers to court, whether against sick boaters or otherwise, according to a petition on the 38 degrees web site. This is in direct contradiction to the discussion between a K&A boater and Mr Parry.
Later this year, the National Health Service (NHS) plans to start selling patient information to drug and insurance companies. This month NHS England is sending a leaflet entitled ‘Better Information Means Better Care’ to 26 million households explaining that data will be shared with researchers and organisations outside the NHS – unless you choose to opt out by writing to your GP. Needless to say, most boat dwellers will not get this leaflet.
A boater who works for the charity Victim Support has informed us that people whose boats have been burgled can apply to Victim Support for cheap (sometimes free of charge) security equipment. This includes padlocks, bolts and personal security devices. If your boat was burgled and you need new locks or other support, contact Victim Support on 0117 947 3065.