Wilcot Parish Council has proposed installing bollards in the lane by the canal to prevent vehicles parking. This is the latest idea by the parish council to stop boaters parking their cars in the lane. It is not clear at present whether the proposal is to prevent parking throughout the lane.
There will be a boaters’ meeting next Tuesday 28th January to discuss what the options are for the liveaboard community now that BaNES Council has voted to remove the only 14-day moorings on the River Avon. The meeting is at 7pm on Tuesday 28th January 2020 at the George Inn, Mill Lane, Bathampton BA2 6TR.
The elections for the CRT Council began on 20th January 2020 and will end on 14th February. Only boaters with a 12-month licence can vote. If you have an email address that is registered with CRT, you will get an email with a link to your vote. If CRT do not hold your email address you will get a letter with the link to vote online. The letter will be sent to the postal address associated with your boat licence. If you haven’t received an email or a letter, contact council@canalrivertrust.org.uk as soon as possible.
CRT has reneged on the agreement that it made in May 2019 with boaters and Wadworths Brewery to re-instate the boaters’ rubbish bins at the Bridge Inn, Horton, near Devizes.
In December 2019, fourteen boaters sent a complaint to Acting Regional Director Jon Horsfall that no progress had been made on constructing the proposed new bin site at the pub and also that the water tap at the Bridge Inn had been out of service since November 2019.
Despite verbal and written submissions to the Council meeting from liveaboard boaters, BaNES Council cabinet voted on on 16th January 2020 to close Mead Lane moorings on the River Avon and to carry out a structural survey of the river bank. The Council has ordered boaters to leave the moorings within 21 days of the decision, even though the Avon is in flood and has been on red boards since 10th January, with CRT advising boaters that it is not safe to navigate.
If you are moored at Mead Lane, DO NOT MOVE unless it is safe. You can check for any updates on river conditions by phoning CRT on 0303 040 4040 or email
enquiries.walessouthwest@canalrivertrust.org.uk.
See also https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices
Wiltshire Council has just started a two-year project to tackle inequalities amongst Boaters, Gypsies and Travellers in Wiltshire. This is a partnership between Julian House and the Wiltshire Traveller Reference Group. Julian House is now recruiting for a Boater Outreach and Engagement Worker to cover Bradford on Avon to Devizes and beyond. If you are interested in applying for this part-time job, see https://www.julianhouse.org.uk/jobs.htm
People from the liveaboard boater community are encouraged to apply. The closing date is 12 noon on 27th January 2020.
Liveaboard boaters will address BaNES Council on the importance of keeping the moorings at Mead Lane, Saltford open on Thursday 16th January 2020. The consultation report will be discussed by the Council’s cabinet at 7pm on 16th January at The Guildhall, Bath. The meeting is open to the public; Mead Lane moorings is item 15 on the agenda. The Council’s cabinet will take a final vote on which of the options outlined in the consultation report it will adopt.