The lane where boaters park their vehicles in Wilcot has been ‘landscaped’ to make parking impossible, according to boaters who are moored there. On 24th October, rubble and earth was piled up along the whole length of the lane on both sides, making a steep bank as shown in the photographs below. This was done even though there were some boaters’ cars parked in the lane at the time.
It is believed that the obstruction was built by the Stowell estate and that the estate owns the road verges where this was done. However, the land is highway, including the verges. It is an offence to build an obstruction on the highway, and a number of people have made complaints of flytipping to Wiltshire Council.
See
and
https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/mywilts-online-reporting
The action of the Stowell estate will be counter productive, forcing boaters to park their vehicles on the main road through the village, which some residents have objected to even though all citizens are free to park on the public highway where there are no yellow lines etc. Disabled boaters who need easy access from their boat to their vehicle will now have difficulty mooring in Wilcot. Anglers and many other canal users will also be inconvenienced.
There has been a long history of the residents of Wilcot trying to prevent liveaboard boaters from mooring in the village. However, canal users including boaters have been parking in the lane alongside the canal for the past 30 years.
See also
http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/why-car-parking-has-become-more-important-for-liveaboards/
Tags: continuous cruising, flytipping, liveaboards, parking, prejudice, Wilcot, Wiltshire County Council