CRT

CRT Head of Boating runs hire boat company

Thursday, July 12th, 2012

On the day that the Canal and River Trust held its launch in London, boaters have discovered that Head of Boating Sally Ash has been the director of a canal holiday brokerage company since 2004. Liveaboard boaters have often speculated about the reason behind her department’s policy of harassment and bullying of boaters without home moorings, and this conflict of interest provides a possible explanation.

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BW transfer becomes law with concession to itinerant boat dwellers

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

Both Houses of Parliament passed the BW Transfer Order on 27th June following debates on 25th and 26th June. In the debate in the Commons First Delegated Legislation Committee, Waterways Minister Richard Benyon announced that the Navigation Committee of the Canal and River Trust (CRT) “… will include at least one boater without a home mooring who understands and campaigns for the interests of itinerant live-aboard boaters.”

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MPs to consider BW Transfer Order on 26th June

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

The House of Commons First Delegated Legislation Committee will consider the Draft British Waterways Board (Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 on Tuesday 26th June. Please write to your MP now asking him or her to vote against the Order when it is returned to the floor of the House of Commons for a vote a few days after the Committee has considered it. An example letter is below.

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House of Lords to debate BW transfer on 25th June

Monday, June 18th, 2012

The House of Lords will debate the Draft British Waterways Board (Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 in the Grand Committee on Monday 25th June. Please write to as many Lords as you can before Monday asking them to vote against the Order. We have included an example letter below.

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Local Mooring Strategy consultation delayed

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

The consultation on the Kennet and Avon Canal Local Mooring Strategy has been delayed by a month in order to accommodate BW’s consultation on changes to the terms and conditions of Houseboat Certificates. The Local Mooring Strategy consultation is now planned to run from the end of June until the end of October 2012.

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Overstay charges: BW asks “WILL people pay?”

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

BW’s Boating Projects report for May 2011 shows that BW is unsure whether people will pay overstaying charges. When Head of Boating Sally Ash reported on the progress of BW’s trial of “Extended stay charging” on the visitor moorings at Thrupp, she wrote: “Pertinent questions: WILL people pay? Are they more likely to pay if we offer pay-by-mobile”. This uncertainty demonstrates that the entire system of overstaying charges is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

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Parliamentary Committee recommends CRT must consult boat dwellers

Saturday, May 26th, 2012

The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has recommended “that the Canal and River Trust demonstrates that it has taken into consideration the specific needs of all stakeholders, including itinerant boat dwellers, in the development of all future byelaws”.

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BW to take enforcement action against all boats travelling less than 30km

Friday, May 25th, 2012

BW’s internal Licensing and Enforcement management reports between June 2011 and March 2012 show that BW has set a target for “all boats not moving at least 30km during their contract period to be within enforcement process “. The reports were obtained by a Freedom of Information request.

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Local Mooring Strategy proposals to include roving mooring permit

Sunday, May 20th, 2012

It has emerged from the minutes of a meeting on 8 December 2011 between BW and Bath and NE Somerset Council that BW intend the Local Mooring Strategy to include roving mooring permits.

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Wiltshire Council traveller strategy includes boaters

Sunday, May 20th, 2012

Wiltshire Council appears to be leading the way amongst local authorities in including “Bargee Travellers” in its Gypsy and Traveller Strategy.

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