Moorings Consultation « Kennet and Avon Boating Community Website

Moorings Consultation

Well the mooring consultation periods are finished.
Deep breath folks….. It’s not over yet by a long way.
If, as is believed, the local strategy is a done deal British Waterways are now moving into forming the steering groups.

Public Meeting on Local Moorings Strategies, June 1st in Devizes

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

BW is to hold a public meeting on June 1^st, at Devizes Corn Exchange at 6.30pm, to announce its plan to go ahead with local mooring strategies. This is despite the fact that 73 of the 98 responses to the consultation on developing local mooring strategies, and 88 out of 161 responses to the national consultation, opposed the plan. Quite a few boaters are planning to go to this meeting. It is an opportunity to tell BW what we think of the proposals. Anyone can attend but you need to book a place. The meeting is being hosted by Wiltshire Council. If you want to go, contact Margaret Tipper at Wiltshire Council on 01225 718441 or email her: margaret.tipper@wiltshire.gov.uk

Consultation stitch-up part 2

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Some boaters have now looked at all the responses to the consultation on Moorings Policy for England and Wales (the national consultation). The responses to this bigger consultation also show a majority opposed to local mooring strategies. Of 161 responses, 88 were against local mooring strategies, 48 in favour, and 25 either did not answer the question or were neither in favour nor against. We are still seeking answers from BW

BW contradicts itself over consultation

Monday, May 10th, 2010

The email correspondence below from Sarina Young of BW completely contradicts what Damian Kemp told the Kennet and Avon canal User Group meeting on 29 April. According to Damian, the consultation responses have been analysed. According to Sarina on 7 May, they have not been analysed. Draw your own conclusions!

Kennet and Avon Canal User Group meeting transcript

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Thanks to an extremely competent minute taker, we can now publish a transcript of the User Group meeting on 29th April here. Read all about it!

k&a-users-forum-290410

Posted in BW Policy News and FOI Act Requests, Continuous Cruisers, Moorings Consultation, News | 1 Comment »

Consultation stitch-up at Kennet and Avon User Group meeting

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Although 73 out of 98 responses to the consultation on local mooring strategies opposed the idea, BW has said it will go ahead and start setting up the first local mooring strategy group on the Kennet and Avon between Devizes and Bath. BW justifies this by saying that many of the consultation responses were from groups and so these responses were treated as being from the total number of their membership rather than one response. I believe that this completely discredits the consultation process

Why did we bother?

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

The following report appeared on Narrowboatworld yesterday, see:
http://www.narrowboatworld.com/index.php/leatest/1776-mooring-consultations
It says:

Robin makes it up as he goes along

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Robin Evans recently made the following statement to the press;

“ We are determined that our waterways should thrive as working navigations, for this is at the root of their heritage. We want waterways that are vibrant with boat movement, rather than extended linear boat parks.”

Sounds reasonable, perhaps?

Heads up – another consultation!

Monday, March 8th, 2010

The deadline for this is 28th March!
DEFRA which among many other things is the government department with responsibility for inland navigable waterways, has launched the public consultation www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/waterways/ stage of its ongoing review of policy regarding waterways. DEFRA is the government department to whom BW is responsible and who they are funded by.

London boaters reject consultation

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

One of the areas identified by British Waterways as a ‘problem area’ that needs action is the River Lee in London and the connected London waterways. The River Lee is another example of a vibrant boating community that feels under threat from Sally Ash’s proposals to restrict mooring rights.

Limpley Stoke councillor speaks out

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

….about the actions of British Waterways.

Bill Bailey, parish councillor in Limpley Stoke, wrote a letter to his fellow councillors recently after seeing their chairman’s preemptive response to the consultation.

Kennet and Avon Boating Community Website