In a vindictive move reminiscent of the totalitarian regimes of Stalin and Pinochet, CRT is threatening to seize and destroy the belongings of boaters including bicycles and childrens’ toys if they have been left, however temporarily, on the towpath. This draconian act is typical of CRT’s harassment of liveaboard boaters, and it shows that CRT will go to any lengths to pressurise liveaboards without home moorings to leave the waterways.
Yesterday in Bath, CRT began affixing notices to boaters’ property threatening that if the property was not removed by 9th October, CRT would seize and destroy it from 12th October. It became apparent that this was happening on other canals in what appears to be national CRT policy. Boaters who have permanent moorings on the towpath and those without home moorings are both being targeted. The notices make the vague and nonsensical allegations that boaters’ belongings are ‘unsightly’ and contain ‘contaminants’ and that they will be deemed as fly-tipped if they are not removed.
While it is an offence under the Byelaw 31 of the General Canal Byelaws 1965-1976 to obstruct the towpath, the boaters’ belogings in question are not obstructing the towpath and in any case CRT is not seeking to use its Byelaw powers to remove boaters’ property. Whilst the Navigation Rules within the Boat Licence Terms and Conditions state at 4e that “you must not… obstruct the towpath or use our land for storing items from your Boat”, storage implies a degree of permanence. Boaters without home moorings are not storing items such as bicycles and childrens’ toys on the towpath, they are using them daily for periods of up to 14 days in any one place. CRT has no enforcement powers against ‘unsightly’ boats or belongings.
If CRT seizes your possessions they are violating your rights to peaceful enjoyment of your property under Article 1, Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. More importantly, if your boat is your home, case law has established that your home includes the immediate environs of your home, such as the towpath directly outside your boat when it is moored, and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights entitles you to respect for your home and family life, and that any interference with your home has to be a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate end. We believe that for CRT to seize your possessions that have been left outside your boat temporarily, which are not obstructing the towpath, is a disproportionate interference with your home. If you wish to complain to CRT about this, write to the Head of Customer Service ian.rogers@canalrivertrust.org.uk
Alternatively, if you have large items of rubbish that you want to dispose of but cannot due to the lack of CRT rubbish bins, leave them on the towpath on 9th October and they will be removed by CRT free of charge.
See also http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/using-the-bw-complaints-process/
Here is a photo of the CRT notice
Tags: complaints, continuous cruising, liveaboards, traveller's rights