Archive for February, 2014

IWA lose the plot on continuous cruising

Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

The IWA’s response to the news that Nick Brown discontinued his Judicial Review of CRT’s Guidance for Boaters Without a Home Mooring is alarmingly off-piste. IWA Chair Les Etheridge weighed into the discussion saying “Visitor moorings on the inland waterways need to be managed with the best interests of the whole boating community”.

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NHS data sale postponed for 6 months

Saturday, February 22nd, 2014

After a concerted campaign by concerned people, NHS England has announced that Care.data, the plan to upload everyone’s medical records to a central database, is being postponed for 6 months.

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NABO drops opposition to roving mooring permits while CRT CEO says the permits will not be available nationally

Friday, February 21st, 2014

In a meeting between CRT and the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO) on 14th January, NABO stated that “Putting the legal arguments to one side, NABO, as a policy decision, are happy for the pilot [roving mooring permit] operation to proceed and will monitor a) its success and b) its effect, if any, on other boaters and the availability of moorings. NABO feels that at least a roving mooring permit is a compassionate attempt to resolve a problem which has been allowed to get out of control. NABO will at this time raise no legal objections during this process but would suggest that the effectiveness of the roving mooring permits is monitored at 6 and 12 month intervals and NABO would like to be party to the findings”.

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Judicial review of mooring guidance discontinued – outcome “very little use” to CRT

Friday, February 21st, 2014

Nick Brown, claimant in the judicial review proceedings against Canal & River Trust (CRT) to decide whether the Guidance for Boaters Without a Home Mooring is lawful, discontinued the action on 19th February. He said “During the hearing it became apparent that this case could not after all decide on the lawfulness of the Guidance because I am not facing any enforcement action myself. Therefore the case should not continue”.

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Petition reaches 5000 but CRT reneges on personal scrutiny of enforcement cases by Chief Executive

Monday, February 17th, 2014

A boat dweller who is facing court action by CRT was told that Richard Parry will not personally scrutinise every decision to take boat dwellers to court, whether against sick boaters or otherwise, according to a petition on the 38 degrees web site. This is in direct contradiction to the discussion between a K&A boater and Mr Parry.

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Avoncliff planning application: comment by Friday 21st February

Monday, February 17th, 2014

There is a planning application for a permanent trade mooring at Bridge 173 at Avoncliff (Smelly Bridge) for a cafe boat.

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CRT advisory group recommends fewer visitor moorings

Thursday, February 13th, 2014

Mark Walton, who is the only liveaboard boater without a home mooring on CRT’s Navigation Advisory Group (NAG) has reported back on discussion about visitor moorings within the Licensing and Mooring sub group of NAG.

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NHS data sharing – know your rights to opt out

Thursday, February 13th, 2014

Later this year, the National Health Service (NHS) plans to start selling patient information to drug and insurance companies. This month NHS England is sending a leaflet entitled ‘Better Information Means Better Care’ to 26 million households explaining that data will be shared with researchers and organisations outside the NHS – unless you choose to opt out by writing to your GP. Needless to say, most boat dwellers will not get this leaflet.

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Boat Burglary? Victim Support can provide security equipment at low cost

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

A boater who works for the charity Victim Support has informed us that people whose boats have been burgled can apply to Victim Support for cheap (sometimes free of charge) security equipment. This includes padlocks, bolts and personal security devices. If your boat was burgled and you need new locks or other support, contact Victim Support on 0117 947 3065.

K&A boaters action group next meet Feb 10th, Bath

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

The next meeting of the K&A boaters action group will be on Monday 10th February 2014 at 7.30pm in Bath.

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