Archive for March, 2021

Boat Safety Scheme Survey

Saturday, March 27th, 2021

The Boat Safety Scheme is running a survey between 15th March and 9th April 2021. The survey seeks boaters’ views on certain safety installations such as smoke alarms and whether these should be required to pass the Boat Safety examination.

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Recent challenges and threats to Roving Canal Traders

Friday, March 26th, 2021

A number of liveaboard boaters on the K&A are Roving Canal Traders. Roving Traders have been facing problems with local authorities recently regarding their trading activities. Nevil Ingram of Justice for Roving Canal Traders writes:

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There’s still time to do the Census

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

The deadline for completing the 2021 Census is the end of April, and the Census telephone helpline has added a special line for people living on boats or in caravans, vans, tents or other transient accommodation. This follows the severe difficulties that some liveaboard boaters experienced trying to get a Unique Access Code to do the census online. You can now call the Census helpline and select option 4 .

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Covid-19 vaccination clinics by boat from 6th April

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

From Tuesday 6th April 2021, the Julian House Travelling Communities Support Service will be running Covid-19 vaccination clinics by boat. 

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CRT threaten to remove boaters’ possessions from towpath between Avoncliff and Bridge 173 in April

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

CRT has stated that it will remove any items left on or beside the towpath between Smelly Bridge (Bridge 173) and Avoncliff if these are not removed before April 2021. Due to the pandemic, CRT has provided a skip at Bridge 173 for boaters to dispose of any unwanted items.

CRT is threatening to terminate the licences of boaters who “persistently obstruct the towpath or use Trust land for storing items from their boat”. This is another reason to oppose and resist CRT’s proposed changes to the Boat Licence Terms and Conditions

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CRT U-turn on range expected during a 6-month restricted licence

Sunday, March 14th, 2021

CRT has stated that boaters without a home mooring on a restricted 6-month licence are not expected to cover the same range as those on a 12-month licence. Matthew Aymes, CRT Customer Support Manager, Licence Support (ie enforcement manager) said in an email on 23rd February 2021:

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Boaters can continue to use red diesel in England, Wales and Scotland

Friday, March 5th, 2021

The Government has responded to the Treasury consultation on reforms to the tax treatment of red diesel that ran in the summer of 2020. The owners of private pleasure boats, a term within which the Government includes boats used as homes, can continue to use red diesel as they do now, in England, Wales and Scotland. They will not be able to use red diesel in Northern Ireland.

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Census helplines are open now!

Monday, March 1st, 2021

Free telephone and text helplines for the 2021 Census are open now. For England, 0800 141 2021.

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