I recently made a Freedom of Information request for the minutes of the Kennet and Avon Canal Users’ Forum for 2000, 2001, 2002 and minutes for 2003 excluding November and December. This is the reply I received:
“After an extensive search, we are unable to locate the requested documents. Since 2003 British Waterways has been through a number of organisational restructures with a number of staff relocating or leaving BW, It is thought that during one these restructures the folder containing the requested documents has been lost. However if the documents are ever recovered I will forward copies to you.”
I’m sure they will drop through my letterbox any minute now! I have however, obtained the minutes of the Kennet and Avon Canal Users’ Forum from November 2003 onwards. The items on the Trial Moorings Code (remember the lock-miles rule BW wanted to bring in?) are instructive. BW wrote to NABO in 2003 and said the Trial Moorings Code was not legally binding. The Code was dropped after NABO informed BW about the legal advice they had obtained which said that BW did not have the power to enforce the Code. If you want to trawl through past Users’ Forum minutes the files are too big to upload onto our site but if you email info@boatingcommunity.org.uk we will send them to you. You can find past minutes of the Kennet and Avon Users’ Forum going back to July 2004 on BW’s web site here http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/user-group/archive. Meanwhile, here is an extract from the Kennet and Avon Users’ Forum meeting on 12 November 2003: http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Kand-A-Users-Forum-Nov-2003.doc
Don’t forget the next Kennet and Avon Users’ Forum, on 29 April at Devizes Wharf. See http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/wordpress/?p=725#more-725
Tags: bona fide navigation, continuous cruising, FOI requests, Kennet and Avon Canal Users' Forum, mooring policy, NABO, Section 17, Waterways Act 1995