BW recently released a draft summary of the Local Mooring Strategy proposals to the Steering Group and the representatives of unaffiliated boaters on the Group responded to these draft proposals this week. BW has asked for responses from Steering Group members prior to putting the finalised proposals out to consultation. Watch out for boaters’ meetings soon to make sure you have your say about it. BW’s summary of the proposals and the unaffiliated boaters’ response is below.
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BW Policy News and FOI Act Requests
It’s happening now. At the moment much discussion is going on about the corporate stance, both published and secret, of British Waterways and we are getting material flooding in. It will be heard here. The results of Freedom of Information Act requests will be also be aired here. Keep them coming.
BW release draft mooring strategy proposals
Saturday, February 11th, 2012New job for Damian Kemp
Monday, January 30th, 2012Damian Kemp, BW’s Project Officer who chaired the Local Mooring Strategy Steering Group and did the legwork for the 2009 consultations on National Mooring Policy, Local Mooring Strategies and the now discredited Lee and Stort Moorings Managament Plan, has a new job.
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Latest information on BW’s “CC Procedure”
Monday, January 30th, 2012After a delay of around 15 months BW has finally coughed up some information about changes to its “continuous cruising” enforcement procedure.
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BW Charity Transfer Delayed
Monday, January 30th, 2012 It looks like the transfer of BW to charity status will be held up due to the time the Parliamentary procedure is expected to take.
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FOI will apply to Canal and River Trust
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012After some embarrassing shilly-shallying a few weeks ago in response to questions from Chippenham MP Duncan Hames, the Waterways Minister Richard Benyon has confirmed that the statutory functions of the BW charity will continue to be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Mr Benyon’s statement is part of the DEFRA’s conclusions following the supplementary consultation in September and October on the transfer of BW to charity status.
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Public Bodies Bill becomes law but still time to object to BW charity registration
Friday, December 16th, 2011The Public Bodies Bill that will enable the government to transfer BW to a charity, gained Royal Assent on 14 December and is now law. There is still time to object to the registration of the Canal and River Trust. We understand that the application to register the charity will be made very soon so there isn’t a lot of time to get your objections in.
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BW to finish mooring strategy without any more meetings
Friday, December 16th, 2011BW has decided unilaterally that there will be no more meetings of the local mooring strategy steering group and the mooring strategy will be completed in-house. In a message to the steering group members, Damian Kemp said
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What to do if you get enforcement letters from BW such as a CC1 or Pre-CC1
Monday, November 21st, 2011A number of boaters have been served with enforcement letters in the last few months. This has mainly been on stretches of the canal above Devizes. Here is some advice about how to respond to them that we hope will be helpful. You can also download this briefing below as a 4-page leaflet.
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BW and Councils at odds over turbidity
Saturday, October 29th, 2011A row has been simmering since the Spring about the problem of turbidity on the eastern K and A. Wiltshire Councillors have accused BW of violating the Heritage Lottery Fund contract after BW agreed with Natural England not to issue any more hire boat licences on the eastern end of the canal.
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Staff picket BW AGM over Directors’ bonuses while boaters question new charity trustees
Saturday, October 29th, 2011BW directors and members of the public attending the BW AGM on 13 October were greeted by a group of BW employees condemning the “already overpaid directors” £15,000 inflation-busting bonuses as a disgrace while employees pay was not increased. The staff handed out a leaflet asking “are these the people you want to run your charity in future?”.
Graphic designer Simon Greer's take on the new logo