Our tireless correspondent, after the evasive reply from Dr Smith, reported here, has written to the other Parish Councils attending the infamous 10th September meeting where allegations that ‘liveaboard’ boaters;
“freely dispose of human waste and every other manner of trash in whatever location they choose”,
and that they;
“threaten anyone who chooses to call attention to the situation”.
We are shocked that such criminal acts appear to have gone unreported and punished and we are determined to track this down to their source.
Dear Mrs Hopkins and Mrs Wilcox
I would like some clarification about statements made in a meeting between councillors from Monkton Combe, Claverton and Bathampton about the boat dwellers on the Kennet and Avon canal.
In the minutes of the meeting of councillors and 2 Bathampton residents on 10th September in Bathampton Village Hall, attended by Richard Wright and Dave Batho of Claverton Parish Council and Lyn Alvis of Monkton Combe council the following allegations were made under the heading “Parish Councils’ Perspective on Canal Issues”
That ‘liveaboard’ boaters;
“freely dispose of human waste and every other manner of trash in whatever location they choose”,
and that they;
“threaten anyone who chooses to call attention to the situation”.
As you will appreciate these are allegations of serious criminal acts.
I have written to the Clerk of Bathampton Parish Council who denies that their representative Keith Rossiter made these allegations. I would therefore ask you if your council, or your representative(s) at these meetings, made either or both of these allegations.
Further if it is the case that these allegations were made by members of your council, I would ask for the police and/or Environment Agency report numbers as a complaint to one of these bodies would be the appropriate action for these allegations.
I would like to point out that I received a copy of the minutes to this meeting from British Waterways. The fact that the minutes were forwarded to them indicates to me that the 3 Parish Councils wish these, and the other, allegations to be a matter of record and the subject of action by British Waterways.
I look forward to hearing your views on the matter.