The interim 12-month local plan for the K&A between Bath and Foxhangers starts today, 1st May 2014. We publish the information that was emailed to boaters on the K&A yesterday below and we will publish our analysis of the legality of this plan soon.
CRT has stated that it will provide this information to all boaters who may be affected so we assume that it will be sent by post to the address that CRT hold for your boat licence. CRT has not stated how it will inform boaters without a postal or email address or those who have difficulty with reading. However, notices with this information have been posted in some locations between Bath and Foxhangers. The consultation on the Towpath Mooring Plan ran from August to November 2013.
You can also download the information published below here:
K&A Interim 12-Month Local Plan
K&A Interim 12-Month Plan FAQs
Kennet & Avon interim 12-month local plan: guidance for boaters without a home mooring*
The western end of the Kennet & Avon Canal between Bath and Foxhangers is an attractive and popular stretch of canal that attracts a large number of boats. Following consultation with local boaters, the Kennet & Avon Waterways Partnership and the Canal & River Trust has created an interim 12-month local plan for the area aimed at reducing the congestion that is affecting the canal.
Many boaters already navigate the canal in a way that is consistent with this guidance, so they probably won’t need to do anything different. It’s important however that everyone understands how the plan is being monitored and knows how to comply so as to avoid the attention of our enforcement officers.
The 12-month local plan
From 1st May 2014 boats between Bath and Foxhangers are expected to:
1. Move to a new neighbourhood every 14 days
2. Spread their mooring pattern evenly across 14 different neighbourhoods (see map) covering a range of at least 20km
Our checkers record the location of each boat at least once every 14 days and our analysis of the resulting data shows us the extent to which you have met the terms of the plan.
1. Move to a new neighbourhood every 14 days (see map)
You need to move between the 14 defined neighbourhoods, moving from one neighbourhood to another every fourteen days (or more frequently).
What we measure: approximately every 14 days we review recent sightings to answer: Has the boat moved to a different neighbourhood since the last time we saw it?
2. Spread your mooring pattern evenly across the different neighbourhoods, covering a range of 20 km
Moor in at least 12 of the neighbourhoods regularly over the whole 12 month period, unless of course you are outside the plan area (during that time you need to follow the national guidance). Going to and fro between just a few neighbourhoods isn’t sufficient.
What we measure: every three months we review all our sightings of your boat over the previous months to answer … in how many different neighbourhoods have you been sighted?
If you’ve been in the plan area for most of the time and we’ve seen you in at least 6 different neighbourhoods during the first three months, this is sufficient. Over the 12 months we expect you to have spread your mooring pattern evenly across at least 12 different neighbourhoods.
What if something happens to stop me complying with the guidance?
If something crops up that means you can’t comply, such as illness or boat breakdown, we’ll normally allow a temporary suspension of the requirement to move while you recover or sort out the problem. So contact our customer services team without delay by calling 0303 040 4040 during normal working hours and ask to be connected to the K&A West enforcement team. Or email KAMooring@canalrivertrust.org.uk.
Keeping your own records
We recommend that you keep your own movement log so that if you feel we have made an incorrect assessment at any time, you have evidence to back this up.
*Boaters with a home mooring
If your home mooring is within the local plan area, we understand that you might use the neighbourhoods closest to your home mooring more frequently than those further afield but we would ask that you always return your boat to your home mooring when not being used for cruising.
If your home mooring is elsewhere but you are visiting the canal between Bath and Foxhangers, we ask that you follow this guidance until you leave the local plan area.
What happens at the end of the 12-month local plan period?
You’ll need to start following the national guidance.
How are you evaluating the results of the plan?
We will publish a report every three months with statistics on how boats are moving in the area.
Winter Moorings
If you’d like to stay put during the winter (November – March incl.), we’re planning to offer winter permits that allow you to remain moored in one place. These are subject to availability and some simple eligibility criteria. We will communicate details during August 2014.
Visitor Moorings
Maximum stay times at Visitor Moorings between Bath and Foxhangers will be set at 48 hours from 1st May 2014 along with no more than 7 days being spent at the site during any one calendar month. An extended stay charge of £25 per day will apply. These stay times will apply to all boats with the exception that holiday hire boats will be exempt from the ‘7 days in a calendar month’ rule.
Contacting us
If you have any questions, or have temporary difficulties that prevent you from moving, please email KAMooring@canalrivertrust.org.uk or call us on 0303 040 4040.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for 12 month local plan for the Kennet and Avon Canal between Bath and Foxhangers.
Why is there a 12 month local plan?
The large number of moored boats on this section of the canal, complaints about boats moored in one area for long periods of time, and concerns from boaters and other stakeholders about the continued growth in boat numbers, led the Trust to support the development of a local plan for this part of the network, developed by those local to the canal.
Who did you consult about the plan?
A consultation on the waterway partnership plan was carried out between August and December 2013. An invitation to take part in the consultation was sent to the registered owners of all boats sighted on the K&A in the 12 months to June 2013, boats with a home mooring, trade boat operators on the K&A, local councils, parish councils, boat clubs, angling clubs and other stakeholders. More than 430 responses to the consultation were received. These were considered by the Trust and discussed with the K&A partnership to inform the final 12 month local plan.
Who does the plan apply to?
All boaters on the western end of the K&A between Bath and Foxhangers are asked to follow the guidance in the 12 month local plan. The guidance on the website and printed leaflet set out what the plan means for boaters with and without a home mooring. If you’re still not sure what this means to you, please email any queries or questions to kamooring@canalrivertrust.org.uk or call the customer service number 0303 040 4040 during normal working hours.
What if it is reasonable in the circumstances for a boater not to move?
If boaters believe that it is ‘reasonable in the circumstances’ that prevent them from following all the above terms then they should contact the enforcement team (via the customer service number or email KAMooring@canalrivertrust.org.uk ) immediately to notify them of the circumstances and to discuss them. The Trust will consider reasonable circumstances compassionately
What about winter moorings?
Between November and March boaters may be able to purchase a winter mooring permit (subject to eligibility criteria and availability) that would allow them to remain moored in certain locations (depending on the type of winter mooring permit). A valid winter mooring permit would exempt boaters from the terms of the 12 month local plan for the period of their permit.
What happens at the end of the 12 month local plan period?
The purpose of the interim 12 month period is to enable those boaters without a home mooring based in this area a period of time to regularise their movement so that, after this, they can then comply with the relevant legislation and the Trust’s Guidance.
When will the 12 month local plan start and how will it be evaluated?
The measures in the plan will begin on 1 May 2014. The Trust will collect monitoring information and publish a summary report every three months setting out how boaters are or are not complying with the plan.
What does neighbourhood mean?
The canal between Devizes and Bath has been divided in to 14 separate areas, these are now called ‘neighbourhoods’. The reference to ‘neighbourhoods’ in the plan means these 14 areas. You can see a map of the neighbourhoods below.
What does 20km range mean?
The 20km range means the distance between two points. The range does not mean that boats only need to travel 20km, but rather that they can restrict their journey to travelling evenly between ‘neighbourhoods’ within a 20km section of the local plan area.
I have a home mooring, do I need to follow the local plan?
If you’re away from your home mooring and visiting the local plan area (between Bath and Foxhangers) we ask that you follow this guidance until you leave the local plan area; or, if your home mooring is within the local plan area, you return there at the end of a journey.
What changes will be made to Visitor Moorings?
All Visitor Moorings on K&A canal between Bath and Foxhangers will become 48 hour from the 1st May. This will mean that the stay time on visitor moorings that were 72 hour will be reduced and those that were 24 hour will be increased. A new 7 maximum days in a calendar month at any visitor mooring will also be introduced. These stay times will apply to all boats with the exception that holiday hire boats will be exempt from the ‘7 days in a calendar month’ rule.
What will happen to boaters who overstay on a visitor mooring?
Anyone exceeding the single visit or maximum days in a month stay time will be subject to a daily £25 extended stay charge for each additional day (24 hour period) moored.
How will visitor moorings be monitored?
Volunteer visitor mooring rangers will be recruited to support CRT staff in taking daily sightings of boats moored at the visitor mooring sites.
How will any extended stay charges be issued?
These will be sent to the address registered for the boat, but the Trust will contact the boat license holder by phone and/or email as well to inform you that an invoice has been issued. The local plan states that a review of the length and location of visitor moorings will take place during the next 12 month, who will undertake this and how will I be able to have a say?
This will be carried out by the Trust working with the K&A waterways partnership. We will consult on any changes proposed to visitor moorings before these are agreed or implemented.
The local plan says that I can request my own boats sighting data from the Trust, how do I do that?
You can request this information by contacting the Canal & River Trust customer service line on 0303 040 4040 during normal working hours. The Trust will endeavour to get this information to you within 15 days.
The local plan states that a short anonymised summary of boat movements between Bath and Foxhangers will be published on a quarterly basis. Where will this information be made available?
The quarterly report will be published on the K&A waterway partnership page of the Canal & River Trust website http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/noticeboards/kennet-and-avon-waterways
The plan asks boaters to leave space between boats to accommodate anglers and for fire safety reasons, what does this mean?
We’re asking boaters to use their common sense and be considerate to the needs of anglers. The local plan does not require a specific distance to be left between boats, but rather that boater leave room for anglers where possible. In most cases we expect that boaters and angers will be able to speak with one another to accommodate each other’s needs amicably.
Here is the map
Here are the background documents for this plan:
CRT’s final report and conclusions on the Towpath Mooring Plan consultation CRT Final Report K&A Towpath Mooring Plan
CRT’s analysis of the consultation responses CRT report on K&A Consultation Jan 2014
CRT’s summary of the consultation responses K&A Consultation summary of answers and comments
The original Towpath Mooring Plan by the K&A Local Waterway Partnership published on 25 March 2013 Mooring sub group final report for Partnership 25 March 2013 RR preamble
See also:
http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/local-mooring-strategy-to-start-on-1st-may-for-trial-12-months/
http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/local-mooring-strategy-finalised/
http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/roving-mooring-permits-bite-the-dust/
http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/crt-concedes-that-a-minimum-distance-is-unlawful/
Tags: continuous cruising, K&A Interim 12-month Local Plan, liveaboards, Local Mooring Strategy, Local Waterway Partnership, mooring policy, Moorings Consultation, Section 17, Waterways Act 1995