The local mooring strategy process appears to be grinding to a halt. The ninth meeting of the steering group, which was to be held in Devizes on June 17th, was postponed because BW decided it would be better to hold it after June 23rd when national user groups were due to meet with BW to “discuss” changes to the Mooring Guidance for Continuous Cruisers following the BW v Davies judgement. If nothing else, this proves that the mooring strategy is designed specifically to target boats without moorings.
Posts Tagged ‘Sally Ash’
Mooring strategy meeting postponed twice
Thursday, July 21st, 2011BW’s enforcement powers challenged in Local Mooring Strategy meeting
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011The Kennet and Avon Local Mooring Strategy steering group held its eighth meeting on 9 May 2011. The National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) had written to the steering group and to BW stating that research has shown that BW does not have the legal power to set mooring restrictions of less than 14 days or to erect signs specifying compulsory mooring restrictions; that BW therefore does not have the power to compel boaters to pay overstaying charges, and that it does not have the power to impose fines for overstaying. The full letter and BW’s response is below.
Press Release 2: British Waterways
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011The following is a press release issued by British Waterways about the judgement in the case British Waterways v Paul Davies
1 April 2011
British Waterways welcomes today’s (31/3/11) Judgment made in Bristol County Court in which His Honour Deputy Judge O’Malley said he favoured BW’s interpretation of Section 17 of the British Waterways Act 1995 (relating to Continuous Cruising).Read more…
BW admit trying to price liveaboards out at Lea and Stort consultation meeting
Sunday, March 6th, 2011On March 1st and 2nd, BW were faced with packed halls of angry boaters as they held public meetings to ‘discuss’ the proposals for the Lea and Stort Navigation. It was clear that BW thought they could impose these draconian mooring restrictions without much opposition and did not expect an attendance of 300 intelligent, motivated and furious people.
Save Our Waterways – from liveaboard scum!!
Monday, February 28th, 2011Documents obtained via Freedom of Information show that BW has recruited Will Chapman, the driving force behind Save Our Waterways, to set up local mooring strategies led by “well-informed boaters who are also parish councillors” as Sally Ash reported in December at the Kennet and Avon local mooring strategy meeting. We understand that Mr Chapman is a Parish Councillor in Alrewas.
In doing this BW has presented local mooring strategies as a key part of BW’s move to charity status, which assumes there will be considerable input from local (settled) communities into the governance of the charity on a local level. Sally Ash gave a presentation to Lichfield District Parish Forum on 24 January which blurred the boundaries between “local mooring strategy steering groups” and the overall local governance of the new charity. This will undoubtedly cause problems. On the Kennet and Avon, where a trial local structure is being piloted, there is a clear distinction between the Local Mooring Strategy Steering Group, which has a time-limited job to do, and the Kennet and Avon Canal Partnership Board, which is an ongoing local management board.
Read more…
China, South Africa now the River Lea
Saturday, February 19th, 2011Another BW press release which puts the Sally Ash operation in perspective – we seem to remember there was an outcry in this country when the Chinese cleared what they saw as undesirables before the Olympics — and again when South Africa hosted the World Cup.
Boating in London during the Olympic Games
Boaters interested in visiting London during the 2012 Olympic Games will be able to pre-book BW visitor moorings more than a year in advance when a when a web-based booking system for visitor moorings goes live in April 2011 to coincide with ticket applications for the Games themselves.
Pre-booked moorings will be available at key locations across London. These are likely to include simple towpath moorings on the Capital’s canals and River Lee as well as both unserviced and more expensive serviced berths in Docklands.
Research conducted at the end of last year suggests that there will be strong demand for moorings in London during the Olympic summer and well over 500 people have already registered to receive further information about securing visitor moorings.
Sally Ash, head of boating at BW, comments: “We are looking forward to welcoming visiting boats to London during summer 2012 and want to make sure the waterways are right at the heart of the Olympic party. Our canals, rivers and docks are perfect bases to discover the capital, with many also having easy access to the Olympic Park.”
Scheduled to go live on 11 April 2011, boaters who register or have already registered their details at www.waterscape.com/londonboats2012 will automatically be emailed inviting them to browse the available mooring sites, book and pay. Moorings will be available on a first come first served basis.
Games ticket applications open for six weeks from 15 March to 26 April 2011 (there is no advantage to submitting your Games ticket application on the first day or the last day). For information on Olympics tickets visit www.tickets.london2012.com/about_tickets.html.
In order to manage the London canal network efficiently at this busy time and ensure moorings are reserved for those who have booked them, there will be a ‘controlled zone’ for several weeks throughout the Olympic summer. Visiting boats will only be able to enter with a confirmed booking of a visitor mooring (with BW, another operator or individual) or a home mooring.
Tales from the Riverbank 2
Friday, February 18th, 2011The River Lea to be precise.
British Waterways have made proposals for the Lee Navigation that break a number of laws.
You can download them here; British Waterways Mooring Management Plan.