Latest from the IWA propaganda machine. Overstaying on visitor moorings People have been living on boats on the inland waterways for many years. Some of these residential boaters do not have a home mooring but are designated as continuous cruisers, with many of them roaming widely across the network in a progressive journey. For many years there were no significant issues associated with this but in recent years there has been an increase in the numbers of people living on boats without a home mooring, and sometimes staying within a small geographic area. When coupled with the general increase in boating and a historic lack of enforcement of mooring rules this has caused difficulties at designated visitor moorings in some areas. IWA’s general views on the issues are as follows: IWA is supportive of those wishing to live on their boats and encourages the provision of residential moorings. IWA supports the rights of residential boaters to cruise the system without being required to have a home mooring. However IWA recognises the difficulties created when large numbers of boaters wish, for whatever reason, to stay within a small area, and in such cases it is necessary to limit the length of stays within such areas. The solution requires a clear definition of the rules and strong enforcement action. IWA believes that difficulties in some areas have been exacerbated by a lack of enforcement by navigation authorities and that those who have enjoyed this way of life without interference need to be treated reasonably in any tightening and enforcement of the rules. IWA believes that central London is at saturation levels on its visitor moorings to the extent that genuine visiting boats are put off making the journey through London for fear of not being able to find an overnight mooring. To an extent the well policed part of the Paddington Arm with its 24hr and 7 day moorings alleviates this concern, perhaps indicating what the solution could be elsewhere. Enforcement of the rules Mooring rules are usually covered in the licence conditions and associated guidance notes set out by each navigation authority. Enforcement of these rules has to be carried out by the navigation authority and/or relevant landowner. IWA welcomes Canal & River Trust’s recent announcement of an additional £500,000 per annum provision for 2013 to 2015 to provide clarity and to increase enforcement. A recent document sets out IWA’s analysis of how the problem of boats overstaying on Canal & River Trust moorings in the London area could be solved. The document proposes a new regime of mooring in London based on a mixture of greater enforcement and self-regulation where this can be achieved and looks at some of the issues involved in implementing the vision. A mix of 4, 24, 72 hours, 7 day or 14 day moorings is proposed along with a non-return period stipulated for all locations. In these instances signage should be in place clearly defining the period a boat can moor, the non-return period and any charges that may be incurred for overstaying the specified period. The paper also recommends the provision of more affordable residential moorings and a self-financing permit scheme to identify those people who have permission to keep a boat without a home mooring in the London area, or those who need to spend considerable time moored in the area. IWA is concerned that enforcement needs to be carried out in areas where there is not yet a critical problem, but where the potential for such problems exist.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 18:52:06 +0000
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