BaNES Council is recruiting for a project manager with knowledge of boating to lead its Better Moorings Project. The closing date for applications is 5th November. See https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/ and search for Better Moorings Project Manager.
BaNES Council says that the Better Moorings Project is:
We have received an invitation from Bath and NE Somerset Council (BaNES) to attend a workshop on the Bath Local Plan on Monday 30th January 2023 at 4.30-7.30pm. If you can attend and you want to put forward the views of the liveaboard boating community on the future of Bath and its environs, please sign up using this link https://forms.office.com/e/94cYJawJwB
Liveaboard boaters at Phoenix boatyard on the River Avon in Keynsham were granted a Certificate of Lawful Use by BaNES Council Planning officers in January 2022. This means that their residential use of the moorings is lawful and the Council cannot take planning enforcement action against them for living on the moorings.
A group of students from the University of Bath are are investigating the current safety concerns of liveaboard boaters on the River Avon. The research project on River Avon towpath safety is being carried out alongside the Bath River Line project, run by BaNES council, which plans to develop the areas surrounding the River Avon in Bath. The anonymous survey covers safety on the River Avon towpath and aims provide information about the safety needs of liveaboards to the Bath River Line Project.
Following a Judicial Review challenge by Community Law Partnership (CLP) on behalf of a liveaboard boater, BaNES Council is reconsidering its decision to close the 14 day moorings at Mead Lane, Saltford, on the River Avon between the beginning of November and the end of February every year. The judicial review has therefore been stayed until the end of June 2021. We would encourage any boaters who are concerned about the loss of these moorings to make submissions to BaNES Council: contact Mandy_bishop@bathnes.gov.uk
BaNES Council is running a public consultation on river parks and towpath improvements on the River Avon between Churchill Bridge and Newbridge in Bath. The consultation asks questions about people’s use of the towpath but does not include an option to say that you use the towpath for mooring your boat, and does not mention boating at all. This needs to be challenged! The deadline for responses is Friday 8th January 2021.
In January 2020 BaNES Council attempted to close the 14-day moorings at Mead Lane, Saltford following a long campaign by local residents hostile to liveaboard boaters. Allegations were made that the mooring of boats had damaged the river bank. A decision was made to carry out a structural survey, which took place on 3rd September 2020. The survey by Atkins Global engineering consultancy found that there was no damage to the bank from moored boats.
The Floaty Boat Fund is raising money to help boaters affected by the sinkings and strandings on the River Avon following the failure of the Environment Agency’s (EA) sluice gate at Twerton on 15th September. While the fund cannot offer financial support to individuals, money raised will be used to provide appropriate support. You can donate here:
A friend of James, whose home was sunk, has started a fundraiser to help him repair his boat. You can donate here:
https://uk.gofundme.com/f/james039-lost-houseboat-fund
Boaters affected by the sinkings and strandings can claim compensation from the Environment Agency, who say that “If you believe you have a reasonable and legitimate claim please notify us via the following email address, with TWERTON INCIDENT as the subject”:
Estates-SW-Thames@environment-agency.gov.uk