Latest Posts in Brief « Kennet and Avon Boating Community Website

Boaters’ showers every Tuesday in Devizes

April 6th, 2023

The St James Centre in Devizes is offering showers (suggested donation £3) and free tea and coffee on Tuesday mornings at 8am to 10am. The centre is in Estcourt Crescent, postcode SN10 1LR, close to the London Road bridge no 138.The shower is on the ground floor and is fully accessible for people with disabilities.

BaNES Council funding for boaters’ fuel costs if you cruise all or partly in the council area

April 5th, 2023

We have heard from a contact in the BaNES Council Public Health department that the Council hopes to continue to offer discretionary payments for fuel in the coming financial year from April 2023. The funding is administered by Citizens Advice.

Help Bristol Harbour boaters fight huge mooring fee hikes

April 3rd, 2023

Bristol’s harbour community is seeking a Judicial Review against Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees’ Cabinet decision to implement unreasonable new harbour fees and charges, without conducting stakeholder consultation.

K&A Floating Fayre, Bathampton 8th and 9th April

April 2nd, 2023

The K&A Floating Fayre is coming to Bathampton for its spring outing! Come to the canal by the George Inn and the nearby Jubilee Gardens on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April 2023. Roving canal traders will be selling unique art, crafts and jewellery; also records, bike repairs, gifts of all kinds, food and drink. There will be music and buskers, including the Towpath Singers.

Court cases started over denial of energy bills support

March 29th, 2023

In spite of extensive efforts by all boater organisations, and even by CRT, to get the Minster and senior Government officials in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (now called Energy Security and Net Zero) to include itinerant liveaboard boaters in the Energy Bills Support Scheme, our community has been excluded, along with itinerant vehicle and caravan dwellers. The Government web page for the scheme says that the grant is “under review” for both communities, but there is no information on the reasons for the review or how long it will take.

Only 9 days left to respond to CRT’s discriminatory Licence Fee ‘Consultation’

March 28th, 2023

CRT’s consultation on future boat licence pricing proposes to impose higher fees for boats without a home mooring. Have you filled in the consultation survey yet? Please oppose this attack on our community by rejecting it in the questionnaire! The deadline is 4pm on Thursday 6th April 2023. You have only 9 days left to respond!

Oppose licence fee increases for boaters without a home mooring and widebeams!

March 1st, 2023

Canal & River Trust’s consultation on future boat licence pricing proposes to impose higher fees for boats without a home mooring. Please oppose this attack on our community by rejecting it in the consultation questionnaire! The consultation runs until 4pm on Thursday 6th April 2023.

Liveaboards without a home mooring locked out of energy bills support – what to do next

March 1st, 2023

The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding – a grant of £400 against the cost of living crisis to help with fuel bills – went live for the UK last Thursday (in advance of what was meant to be the launch on 27th February).

In spite of extensive efforts by all boater organisations, and even Canal & River Trust, to get liveaboard boaters, both with and without a mooring included in the scheme, we have been specifically excluded.

Liveaboards without a home mooring excluded from energy bills support – online campaign meeting tomorrow 22nd Feb

February 21st, 2023

Itinerant boat dwellers are now specifically excluded from Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding. The only way our community will get the grant is if we campaign for it. There will be an online/ phone campaign meeting tomorrow, Wednesday February 22nd 2023 at 7pm. Campaigning is also taking place locally.

Off grid households won’t get Energy Bills Support Funding until 27th February

February 6th, 2023

Last week the Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart announced that the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding will launch no later than 27th February 2023. Liveaboard boaters,including many on permanent moorings, and many other off-grid households living in vehicles, caravans and on the land will be waiting even longer for the support that most people got around 4 months ago, including second home owners for both of their homes

This is extremely disappointing news – please write to your MP using this template letter: Template letter to MPs re Energy Bills Support Scheme

Kennet and Avon Boating Community Website