Boaters' Update June 2008
This month we cover the latest on the moorings tender trial, the new wildlife photography competition and John Craven reveals his favourite canals.
John Craven reveals his top ten canals
TV presenter John Craven has been speaking to the BBC’s Countryfile magazine about Britain’s best canals.
In June’s edition of the popular magazine, John picks his top ten waterways around the UK. Find out his choices including the best canals for tranquility, cycling and scenery by visiting John Craven’s top 10.
BW consults on pricing and allocation of long term moorings
BW has begun its 12-week public consultation on the pricing and allocation of its long term directly managed moorings.
A consultation paper which includes a review of the current mooring tender trial and considers the options available for allocation and pricing vacancies can be viewed on the BW’s mooring consultation webpage.
BW chief executive, Robin Evans, is keen to discuss the consultation with boaters as part of his nationwide summer schedule of customer meetings. Robin comments: "BW directly managed moorings account for approximately 15% of long-term moorings on our network so this is a relevant issue for many boaters. It is also of interest to boatyards, marinas and other mooring operators whose mooring sites mustn’t be inadvertently undercut by BW if we are to continue to have a thriving inland marine market."
The consultation document summarises a range of BW’s mooring policies, explains the framework set for prices of its long-term moorings and analyses five options for allocating vacancies. The five options include returning to waiting lists, adopting the tendering system currently being trialed, modifying the tendering system, moving to open auctions or a fixed price lottery process.
The document includes a feedback form to help readers to respond. The outcome of the consultation, and specifically the chosen method for BW to allocate long-term moorings in the future, will be published later in 2008. The closing date for responses is 20 August 2008.
Read more about the consultation
Licence evasion update
BW’s patrol teams have recovered over £650,000 of overdue and backdated licence fee income during the first four months of this year. In particular, the targeting of unlicensed boats has seen 41 boats seized, resulting in 25 being destroyed and four sold to recover costs.
National enforcement manager, Denise Yelland, makes the point: "Once we’ve seized a boat, the owner has a period of time in which they can still pay up their overdue licence fees, otherwise we’ll start to take action to either sell their boat or destroy it if it has little or no value."
BW’s increased action, particularly throughout the Midlands and South East, means that it now has to look for additional organisations that can offer the services required to seize more boats. BW is looking specifically for companies that specialise in surveying and removing asbestos and ones that can store, lift and provide boat brokerage services.
Achilles-accredited contractors interested in providing such services should contact Denise Yelland on 07825 734 784 or denise.yelland@britishwaterways.co.uk
Read about the License it or Lose it campaign in the East Midlands
Reduction in towpath moorings
BW is addressing a common concern amongst cruising boaters about excessive lines of moored boats along the towpaths. Following the launch of its Inland Marina Investment Guide in 2006 and the subsequent upsurge in marina openings, some 100 long-term towpath moorings have been closed, with further berths to follow throughout 2008 as more new marinas open and BW customers vacate their moorings for other reasons.
General manager of BW’s New Marinas Unit, Nigel Sheppard, says, "We know that long lines of boats are an annoyance for waterway visitors – either because it means that there are fewer visitor moorings available or because long lines of boats become a barrier cutting off the towpath from the water.
"During 2007 more than 1,100 new offline berths were created at a total of nine sites throughout the network. This year we expect to see another 1,500 come on stream at nine further sites."
Read about the offline and online long term moorings policy
Read more about the Inland Marina Investment Guide
Enforced time limits at visitor moorings
BW is developing clearer directions on setting and enforcing time limits on visitor moorings, following boating user groups' concerns about difficulty of finding space at many visitor moorings and the difficulties of enforcing time limits at moorings.
Although still a working draft, BW say that the apparent solution could lie in prompt action under S8(5) of the British Waterways Act (1983) enabling BW to move any boat causing an obstruction. This could apply whether the boat is on a long-term mooring with an expired permit or simply overstaying on a visitor or short term mooring. Under the proposals, the boat move will be at the boat owner’s expense, but credible, timely implementation of the new direction will increase demands on local enforcement staff time.
The proposals have been issued to waterway interest groups and the British Waterways Advisory Forum for comment.
BW’s chairman reappointed
Tony Hales, BW’s chairman, has been reappointed to the role for another three years. He commented, "I am delighted to be re-appointed in my role at BW. In the last three years I have been inspired by both the people who work upon and use the waterways as much as I have been inspired by the waterways themselves."
Tony, who recently received a CBE for services to the armed forces, continues, “What is clear is that our canals and rivers are playing an ever increasing role in our lives as they are discovered by more and more people, who choose to live, work and enjoy life by the water. As the custodians, I and my BW colleagues have the challenging and fundamentally important task of looking after the network to ensure its place is safe and welcoming in tomorrow's society."
Read more about BW’s chairman being re-appointed
Are you building a new life in the country?
Producers for the Channel Five TV series ‘Build a New Life’ are looking for hands on people who are starting work on a property renovation. The producers would like to hear from people who are or looking to renovate an old boat or barge into their dream home or business.
If you are interested in taking part please call 0207 985 7165 or email Cecily.ancliffe@shinelimited.com
Help protect Britain’s wildlife and enter the wildlife photography competition
BW’s Wildlife Survey has been launched, and it needs your help to protect the wildlife on Britain’s canals and rivers by taking part in the British Waterways 2008 National Wildlife Survey. The survey, which is in its fifth year, received over 4,000 sightings of over 60 different species last year and hopes to be as popular this year. BW has teamed up with the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) to focus on dragonflies and damselflies.
The information gathered will be added to BW’s species database that records biodiversity on the waterways and is used to help plan the management of the canals and rivers and the protection of their rich array of wildlife.
Take part in the wildlife survey
Survey forms are also available from the BW Customer Service Centre on 0845 6715530.
BW has also launched a photography competition, where the best dragonfly or damselfly photo will win £100. Children can also join in by sending their photos of any wildlife on the canal and the winning photo will win £50 worth of vouchers.
Find out more about the photography competition
BW’s boss on tour
BW’s chief executive, Robin Evans, has started his nationwide tour to meet with boaters, anglers, walkers, and other interested local canal users, giving customers a dedicated forum to discuss their interests and express their views on the management of the waterways.
Find out remaining dates and venues
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To sign up for your free monthly e-newsletter, simply email your title, first name, surname and postcode to boatersupdate@britishwaterways.co.uk
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