Here’s the precis of Panda’s presentation to the Area Board for Bradford-on-Avon on Thursday 21st January 2010. It will form the basis for a press release to present the positive role of the boat dwellers amongst the local community, show how the threat to the boater’s lifestyle is a cause for concern throughout the community and ask the council to exercise their duty of care towards boaters as travellers.
Tuesday 8th December 8pm Love Lounge @ the Bell
Thursday 10th December 8pm Canal Tavern
Two meetings, one in Bradford, one in Bath to discuss our collective and individual response to the consultations. As with true sneakiness and contrary to government guidelines on public consultation (yes, there will be a complaint) this consultation straddles Christmas and New Year we feel it is important to get our voice heard as soon as. For the last moorings consultation 8% of the response came from the Western Kennet and Avon. We know that you want to make your voice heard, come along and gather the information and resources to make your response as effective as possible.
There are two consultations running:
1. Moorings Policy for BW’s network in England and Wales, deadline 31 January.
2. Proposals for developing local mooring strategies, deadline 11 January (You may have received a letter about this one, delivered to your boat).
Please be there – BW want to introduce mooring restrictions that could severely restrict our way of life, so responding to these proposals is important for the future of our community! You can read the consultation documents online at:
http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/listening-to-you/consultations-and-reviews/current-consultations
If you can’t come to the meeting, please respond to both consultations. You will find some of our thoughts about the proposals on this website. If you don’t respond your future will be decided without your input.
We cannot emphasis enough how important it is to respond to this consultation, this meeting is a good place to do that.
If you need help getting to either venue, let us know and we’ll co-ordinate lifts.