Boaters' Update February 2010

Want to muck in and make a real difference to your local waterway?
Be part of BW’s annual Towpath Tidy by rolling up your sleeves and volunteering your time at one of the many events taking place between
1-14 March 2010.

Last year’s haul included a discarded photocopier, a fridge full of food and even an aeroplane propeller! What will you find this year? There are lots of activities taking place across the country from litter picking and painting lock gates to graffiti removal and even cutting back overgrown bushes along the towpath. You can make a real difference to your local waterway and make friends along the way.

To find your nearest Towpath Tidy event.

Follow Towpath Tidy on Twitter or join the Towpath Tidy group on Facebook.

'Don’t delay, check your cooker now’ says the Boat Safety Scheme
The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) is urging boat owners to check the brand and model of their cooker following an urgent appeal from the manufacturers of Belling, Flavel, Leisure and New World cookers as there is a serious risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from some models.

The BSS is also alerting anyone with a battery powered carbon monoxide alarm supplied by Lloytron (model B822) or PowerPlus (model BWK034C/Ref 6167) that some units are being recalled.

For more details about the cooker models and battery powered alarms

For the BSS leaflet, 'Avoiding the Silent Threat - Carbon Monoxide'

Or see the BSS website: www.boatsafetyscheme.com

2009/10 Winter stoppage programme: dates extended
Last month’s spell of particularly cold weather caused disruption across the UK, including on BW’s waterways where an estimated 90% of the network froze. In particular, scheduled engineering works that are part of BW’s winter stoppage programme have been delayed.

BW’s operations director, Vince Moran comments: “Subject to the weather over coming days and weeks, we will do what we can to recover as much ground as possible. It is highly likely that we will need to use the weeks between the end of the published programme and Easter to complete many works. If things get really tight, priority will be given to gate replacement.

“If it transpires that some stoppages are required to continue beyond Easter, we will keep the disruption to an absolute minimum and try to ensure that alternative routes are available.”

Stay up-to-date with progress on winter stoppage planning and details of current advice and any emergency restrictions at www.waterscape.com/stoppages

Register now for the stoppage alerts at www.waterscape.com/signup

No increase to BW’s 2010 licence fees
BW licence fees are not being increased in 2010, although there is a current consultation on proposals to reduce the prompt payment discount which moves emphasis away from the current discount for paying on time to charges for those who renew late. The consultation closes on 28 February 2010. Go to www.britishwaterways.co.uk/current-consultations or click here to open the document direct.

For BW licence fees from 1 April 2010 – 31 March 2011 www.britishwaterways.co.uk/license-it

Boat checker update
Last month website users reported 25 sightings of unlicensed boats. Of these 12% have subsequently relicensed and a further 52% were already in BW’s enforcement process. 28% resulted in new cases being opened for action, and the remaining 8% were boats which were not identifiable through a valid boat index number but the details have been passed to BW’s enforcement teams for further investigation.

Visit the online boat checker

BW mooring fees
BW has announced news of price adjustments for its long-term moorings customers to take effect for permits starting from 1 April 2010. A general increase of 2% to cover inflation is being applied to the great majority of moorings. The exceptions to this rule were 66 sites which had been flagged for a further assessment for 2010, generally because the current price is still well below market value. Having reviewed these 66 only 24 sites will receive an increase for 2010, the other 42 will receive the 2% inflationary increase. Customers at these sites will receive an individual letter during the first half of February notifying them of the increase and explaining the reason for it. At three sites, for exceptional reasons, the net price will be unchanged or reduced. The full site by site price list will be published on waterscape.com before the end of February. The return of VAT to 17.5% from 1 January is also reflected in permit prices.

Public consultation on BW’s mooring policies - late submissions
BW’s two consultations relating to moorings policy www.britishwaterways.co.uk/mooringconsultation09 closed on 31 January 2010, but BW will accept late submissions up until 12 February 2010. Thanks to the 134 individuals and 22 organisations who have sent in responses to date.

If you would like to volunteer as a reviewer for the next stage of the process, visit the information about this on the volunteering pages of waterscape.com.

National Lottery Awards open for 2010
The search is on to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded heritage projects. In the last year alone over £244 million of Lottery funding has gone to projects in the Heritage sector. And now, the National Lottery is encouraging any projects that have received funding over the past 15 years to enter the National Lottery Awards 2010.

National Lottery Awards ambassador and former Coronation Street actress, Sally Lindsay, says: "Lottery players raise £25 million every week for projects both large and small, which are benefiting people and communities all across the UK. The National Lottery Awards recognise the dedication of the people behind these amazing projects who are making a difference."

Programme Manager of the Restoration of Stourport-on-Severn Canal Basins, Chris Bailey says: "Winning our category in last year’s National Lottery Awards was the most fantastic experience. Knowing that so many people in our local community supported us throughout the whole process was the best feeling and it has been a huge boost to everyone involved in this project, which has successfully transformed the area. Receiving the national exposure of appearing on the BBC1 show has raised our profile tremendously."

For more information see National Lottery Awards open for 2010. Nominations should be received before 5pm on Friday 12 February.

Read how 15 years of Lottery funding have boosted our canals and rivers

Support the International Year of Biodiversity
The United Nations has declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, supported by over 200 partners across the UK including BW. So this year BW is asking all lovers of canals and nature to do something to support biodiversity; to do just one thing to help preserve life on earth.

There are hundreds of ways you can help to conserve biodiversity from learning about your local wildlife, or feeding the birds during the cold winter months, to taking part in BW’s Wildlife Survey 2010 or giving a donation to a conservation charity. Take a look at the long list of fun pledges on the International Year of Biodiversity UK website.

Share your pledges with waterscape’s editor, Natalie Bhogal, by email feedback@waterscape.com or a tweet http://twitter.com/waterscape_com!

For more details about the Internal Year of Biodiversity

Crick Boat Show and Waterways Festival 2010
And finally, have you penciled 29 – 31 May 2010 in your diary? The boat show celebrates its tenth year at Crick Marina in Northamptonshire. This year there will be a new site layout, expanded craft area and even more fun children’s entertainment…as well as a few other surprises!

BW’s head of boating, Sally Ash says: “We are really excited about this year, particularly after such a successful 2009 Crick Show, where more than 250 businesses exhibited - and not just those with boating products to sell. Exhibitors are showing a lot of interest, no doubt helped by the fact that exhibition fees are being held at 2009 prices and an early bird discount is being offered for those booking before the 12 February.”

To book your exhibition space visit www.crickboatshow.co.uk, email crickboatshow@rem-events.com or call 0871 700 0685.

For further information on the Show or to book tickets in advance for savings on the gate price visit www.crickboatshow.co.uk

Register now for the Boaters' Update
Sign up for your free monthly boaters’ e-newsletter, the weekly waterscape newsletter or stoppage alerts by clicking on www.waterscape.com/signup

Last updated: 08/02/2010