Boaters' Update April 2008

Crick Boat Show Offer
Crick Boat Show is just around the corner, taking place over the second May Bank Holiday Weekend, 24 to 26 May at Crick Marina alongside the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire.

Boaters’ Update readers can save money and claim a FREE Show Guide, with every online or telephone advance booking before 12 May. Just use the code CBS5 when ordering tickets via www.crickboatshow.com or when calling the box office T 0871 230 5572.
More information about Crick Boat Show

New customer service standards
BW is introducing customer service standards which will clearly define what boaters and other customers can expect from BW. The standards cover safety, people and performance. BW's head of customer service, Jonathan Bryant says: "The standards are intended to clearly define the levels of service customers can expect when they visit a BW waterway or drop into or phone a BW office."

Examples of 'safety' standards include: clear marking of cill positions in locks; trimmed vegetation at winding holes; and clearly visible and legible safety signs. 'Performance' standards include customers receiving boat licences within fifteen days of BW receiving their application and postal enquiries replied to within five working days. 'People' examples include BW staff being friendly, helpful and conscientious and taking ownership of customer enquiries. BW plans to review these standards every year and adjust them where necessary to incorporate feedback from customers.
More on the customer service standards

Hilary Benn MP, visits Prescott Lock
This month the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for the Environment visited the Prescott Lock on the Bow Back Rivers, part of the London 2012 Olympics site. He witnessed the first sluice gate being installed at the lock and praised the project’s environmental credentials which by facilitating waterborne freight will remove up to 1,200 lorry journeys a week from the capital’s road during the construction phase of the Olympic park. On the project he said, "Environmental responsibility does not begin when we hit 2012 only, if we are serious about our commitment to a sustainable games then we have to live up to these standards in our design and construction phases also."

And he continued, "That is why I am delighted today to see the lock which will allow the movement of construction materials by the capital's waterways rather than on roads."
More information about Hilary Benn’s visit to Prescott Lock

Waterside Pub Partnership builds first 'eco' pub in Scotland
The Waterside Pub Partnership (WPP) is an innovative joint venture between Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises (S&NPE) and BW, with a proportion of its profits reinvested into the upkeep of canals and rivers. Its latest addition is The Boathouse at Auchinstarry in Scotland, the Partnership's first new build pub, constructed with sustainability in mind. It includes a geothermal heating system which harnesses the residual heat in the canal to generate hot water and heating, whilst an environmentally friendly reed bed treats waste. All the timber used in the construction has been harvested from a sustainable source and additional eco friendly features include high levels of insulation, water saving sanitary fittings, energy efficient lighting and low energy consumption refrigeration and cellar cooling. The result is an estimated minimum 25% reduction in energy consumption compared to similarly sized pubs.
More information about The Boathouse 'eco' hotel pub

Lock Keeper wins award
Congratulations to BW lock keeper Johnathan Chater who has been announced the winner of the 2007 Lock Keeper of the Year Award. Now in its eleventh year, the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO) award recognises lock keepers and bankside staff who have offered exceptional service to boaters. Nigel Hamilton, Hotel Boat Section chairman and vice chairman of APCO, commented: "The award is voted on by some of the most widely travelled boaters on the system, and nominations were received from many different navigations. In becoming Lock Keeper of the Year, Johnathan proved himself to provide exceptional service during the difficult conditions on the River Severn during last summer’s floods."

Johnathan, who was a BW lock keeper at Gloucester Docks for over three years, before moving to work on the Kennet & Avon Canal in October 2007, comments: "It was a great surprise to win this award – it’s the first thing I’ve ever won!"
More about Johnathan’s award

Nottingham towpaths sprint to glory
Nottingham’s towpaths have been rated as some of the best places in the country for people to go running. The magazine, Runner's World rated the 20 biggest UK cities by population to find the best one for running and Nottingham came out on top. The waterside routes along the Nottingham Canal to Attenborough Nature Reserve, and along the River Trent between the city centre and Colwick Country Park, are among the many attractions the magazine recognised in making the award. Local runner, Kate Else says: "The canal in Nottingham city centre is a great place to run. I leave the office and in a few seconds I’m able to run in a quiet, tranquil environment away from all the traffic and car fumes."
Find out more about the Runner’s World poll

Waterways Renaissance Awards 2008
BW is celebrating winning three categories at this year’s Waterways Renaissance Awards as well as picking up an Outstanding Achievement Award for its heritage led restoration work at Stourport Basins. In addition to the projects achieving top spot in the Design and Construction, Partnership and Historic Environment categories, BW schemes were either runner up or commended in a further eight instances.
Stourport Basins win Outstanding Achievement Award
Keadby Lock wins top award

BW mooring vacancies update
As we approach the half way point in the trial of mooring tenders, some 130 mooring contracts have been awarded. Of these, just over one in five were secured at less than the current guide price. An average visit to the site will reveal around 27 vacancies advertised at mooring sites throughout the BW network, and each site remains open for tenders for 28 days. The detailed mooring site descriptions appear popular, with the average vacancy being downloaded 80 times by site visitors. To look at current vacancies, go to www.bwmooringvacancies.co.uk.

Formal consultation on the pricing and vacancy allocation system for BW long term moorings will begin in the second half of May. In the meantime, pre-consultation discussion papers are downloadable from the British Waterways website.

Licence evasion update
Plans are underway for BW to introduce a late payment charge for boaters whose craft remain unlicensed one month after the expiry of their previous licence. A short consultation covering the introduction of the charge is being held with boating interest groups.

And in the first two months of the year, BW’s enforcement teams have recovered just under £400,000 of backdated licence fee income. Of the 400 Section 8 proceedings that were started against unlicensed boats in 2007, to date, just over half of these cases have been resolved with a further 50 boats being removed or destroyed. In 2008 the pace continued with over 20 craft removed, destroyed or are about to be sold.

Advice on hiring out private boats
In the current economic climate and with costs of boating rising, it might appear tempting to earn a little money on the side from your boat by hiring it out. After all, this is common practice amongst second home owners. However, Sally Ash, BW’s head of boating, is advising people to be cautious. "There are many reasons why you should think very carefully before doing this," says Sally. "The safety and public liability issues are complicated, and you could find yourself answering to a Coroner if the worst happened. BW's licence terms for leisure business licences are more stringent than for private boats, with particular emphasis being placed on additional BSS requirements, boat handover procedures and customer service."

Following a recent upturn in enquiries from private boaters on this subject, BW has just released an advice note on this subject.
View the advice on hiring out private boats

A day in the life of a patrol officer
And finally, have you ever wondered how patrol teams work? BW’s adventurous customer service advisor, Jo Hatch, spent the day with BW patrol officer, Andy Beal on the Rivers Lee and Stort.
Find out about Jo’s day as a patrol officer

Register now for the Boaters' Update
To sign up for your free monthly e-newsletter, simply email your title, first name, surname and postcode to boatersupdate@britishwaterways.co.uk.