News

As it happens, we will get it out to you.

Please come to Wilcot Parish Council meeting 9th Jan to object to removal of parking by canal

Friday, January 5th, 2024

It has been suggested by Wiltshire Councillor Paul Oatway that boaters should attend the Wilcot Parish Council meeting at 7pm on 9th January 2024 to demand that the recent obstruction of parking in Wilcot is reversed and the lane beside the K&A canal is cleared of the rubble and earth that is obstructing parking.

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Vote for Rosie and Nick in CRT Council elections

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

Voting opened on 13th December in the CRT Council elections. We recommend voting for Rosie Strickland and Nick Corrigan in the Private Boating constituency. Both are members of the NBTA and intend to promote the interests of liveaboard boaters without a home mooring if they are elected. Please vote for both of them as your first and second choices.  Below are their manifestos from the CRT web site – see
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/how-we-are-run/the-council/council-elections-2023-24/private-boating-candidates  You may also be interested in voting for Penelope Barber and Fiona Burt in your third and lower choices.

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Kennet and Avon Boaters Association update, tomorrow 20th December, BoA

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

The newly formed Kennet and Avon Boaters’ Association will hold a community update at the Canal Tavern, lower wharf, Bradford on Avon tomorrow Wednesday 20th December at 6.30pm. Come and find out what they have done and how you can get involved. All are welcome.

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Pay it Forward for fuel

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

If you or anyone you know would like a helping hand and could do with a bag of coal or wood from Pay It Forward, please fill out this quick form below or get in touch with floatyboatfund@gmail.com

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNgbB3d5oJBtKPvXiCiiD9fonHDhQ8CbaPHX0ZA4XcvUIDNg/viewform

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New community coal boat Bath to Foxhangers

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

Due to a clear need in the community on the west end of the K&A, Bradford Wharf Services (BWS) and Floaty Boat are teaming up to run a coal boat between Bath and Foxhangers this winter. They will be using Ishtar, a boat built by BWS in 2007.

This is a not for profit service for the community and any profit made will be donated to Floaty Boat for other community projects. The plan is to deliver every Wednesday, one week from Bradford Wharf to Bath and the next week from Bradford Wharf to Foxhangers so deliveries will happen fortnightly.The next run will be to Bath on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st December. The run to Foxhangers will be in the first week of January.

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Second meeting of new K&A Boaters Association tomorrow 7th December, Avoncliff party spot

Wednesday, December 6th, 2023

The second meeting of the new Kennet & Avon Boaters Association takes place tomorrow, Thursday 7th December 2023, at 6pm to 11pm. There will be a Community update on the activities of the association; family-friendly films between 6pm and 7pm, and more boater-orientated short films later. The meeting will take place at the Party Spot at Horsefield, below the towpath between Smelly Bridge and Avoncliff aqueduct.

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K&A Floating Winter Fayre, Bradford on Avon, 25th and 26th November

Tuesday, November 21st, 2023

The Kennet and Avon Floating Winter Fayre is this weekend, Saturday 25th to Sunday 26th November 2023. Open 10am to 5pm below the lock at Bradford on Avon. Loads of beautiful art, traditional and new crafts, gifts, jewellery, food, drink, sweets, clothes, live music and much more. Get all your Christmas presents! Shop local and support canal traders!

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Have your say about parking in Wilcot on 27th November!

Monday, November 6th, 2023

Wiltshire Council is holding a Highways Matters Event hosted by Pewsey Area Board in Pewsey on Monday 27th November 2023. This is an ideal opportunity for boaters to demand that the Council takes action over the recent obstruction of parking in Wilcot.

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Licence Surcharge Protest at CRT offices, Birmingham, 25th November – bus from Pewsey and BoA

Sunday, November 5th, 2023

CRT is planning to levy a ‘surcharge’ on boats licensed without a home mooring, which will start at 5% of the licence fee in April 2024 and increase to 25% by 2028. This could price us off the waterways and eliminate our nomadic way of life. There will be a national protest march on CRT Chief Executive Richard Parry’s office at Cambrian Wharf in central Birmingham to oppose the surcharge on our community. The march is organised by the National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA).

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Wilcot parking trashed

Wednesday, November 1st, 2023

The lane where boaters park their vehicles in Wilcot has been ‘landscaped’ to make parking impossible, according to boaters who are moored there. On 24th October, rubble and earth was piled up along the whole length of the lane on both sides, making a steep bank as shown in the photographs below. This was done even though there were some boaters’ cars parked in the lane at the time.

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