The anti-liveaboard Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has been elected to three of the four private boater places on the Canal and River Trust Council. Clive Henderson, Ivor Caplan and Keith Welch, all connected with the IWA, gained the most votes with Ann Farrell in fourth place. The two boating business places were taken by Nigel Stevens, owner of Shire Cruisers hire boats and a past Chair of BWAF, and Anthony Matts.
Liveaboard Frank Kelly who stood for election said
Read more…
This Thursday evening (March 15th) Alton Parish Council is to hold a second meeting to discuss getting rid of all the temporary and permanent moorings outside the Barge Inn, Honey Street and at Gibson’s Boat Services (now Moonboats). In addition we understand that the Parish Council wants to prevent boats from mooring anywhere in the Parish. British Waterways and a Community Police Officer have been invited to attend the meeting, but no attempt has been made to consult local boaters. However a number of boaters plan to attend the meeting and would welcome other boaters joining them.
Read more…
Mark Stephens, the Kennet and Avon Canal Manager, has responded to a complaint from a boater with the following news about the closure of the sanitary facilities at Dundas.
Read more…
Boat dwellers in Oxford are under threat from a group called the Unlawfully Moored Boats Enforcement Group, made up of Oxford City Council, the Environment Agency, British Waterways and Thames Valley Police. Oxford City Council has just given this group £44,000.
Read more…
Bath and NE Somerset Council is looking at whether to include boat dwellers in its provision for travellers.
Read more…
We understand that Sally boats is to increase its stag party business. The boats are likely to run between Bradford on Avon marina and Avoncliff, with the Cross Guns as their destination.
Read more…
There are now three coal and diesel boats trading on the Kennet and Avon canal, selling diesel and a variety of solid fuel, gas, logs and other items:
Read more…
On 28 November 2011, BW’s Damian Kemp informed members of the Local Mooring Strategy Steering Group by email that there would be no more meetings and that BW would complete the Mooring Strategy in-house. Yet this message has turned out to be entirely dishonest – BW had already planned in September 2011 that the October 2011 meeting was to be the last.
Read more…
Waterways Minister Richard Benyon has issued a Red Tape Challenge asking the public which aspects of waterways legislation should be repealed. He wants people to respond before 23rd March 2012. You can respond on the web site
http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/water-marine-inland-waterways/
or you can send a private submission to the Red Tape Team at
redtapechallenge@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk
In order to protect boat dwellers from homelessness, we believe that the following laws should be repealed:
Read more…
There have been further developments regarding the local mooring strategy at the Kennet and Avon Local Waterways Partnership Board.
Read more…