It has emerged from the minutes of a meeting on 8 December 2011 between BW and Bath and NE Somerset Council that BW intend the Local Mooring Strategy to include roving mooring permits.
The minutes taken by BaNES state “Sally and Damian continue to work on the Moorings Strategy. A document setting out options for zoning (visitor moorings and roving permits) will be sent out for consultation. The strategy and delivery plan will follow the consultation. Both documents will be shared with Bath and North East Somerset Council before going out.” Sally Ash is BW’s Head of Boating and Damian Kemp is Boating Consultations and Communications Manager.
The majority of the members of the Local Mooring Strategy Steering Group, including NABO and RBOA, opposed roving mooring permits on the basis that they are unlawful. The proposed roving mooring permit would “allow” boaters without a home mooring to remain in a specific geographic area while still moving every 14 days, in return for a fee. However, Section 17 3 c ii of the 1995 British Waterways Act already entitles us to do this – in return for the standard licence fee. BW unilaterally disbanded the Steering Group in November 2011.
The minutes of the meeting were obtained through a Freedom of Information request to BaNES Council for information on its policy towards boat dwellers. You can download them here Meeting notes – BW and B&NES 8 Decemebr 2011
The full FOI response from BaNES is here
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/policy_on_boat_dwellers#comment-27286
BW’s FOI response to a request for internal correspondence about the Local Mooring Strategy, including BW’s minutes of the 8 December meeting, is here
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ka_mooring_and_mooring_strategy#incoming-277491
Tags: BANES Council, continuous cruising, Damian Kemp, FOI requests, liveaboards, Local Mooring Strategy, Sally Ash