Boaters' Update November 2009

Cool Canals Reader Offer
The best selling guidebook Cool Canals, by Phillippa Greenwood and Martine O’Callaghan, is a perfect Christmas gift for anyone who enjoys spending time on or around Britain’s canals and rivers. It’s packed full of ideas, things to do, places to visit as well as some of the more quirky things you can discover on and along the canals.

And don’t just take our word that it’s an essential read, Waterways World magazine said; “Don’t plan a holiday or day out on the canals without getting hold of a copy” and Canals & Rivers magazine said; “If you want to explore a little further than the local canalside pub, Cool Canals will open many fascinating doors.”

The authors are offering Boaters’ Update readers the chance to buy the book at the special price of £10.99 (RRP £14.99) including FREE postage and packing. To order your copy visit [www.coolcanalsguides.com www.coolcanalsguides.com] and enter the code BW02 to get the special offer price. Offer ends on 31 December 2009.

Bumper year for 'Ratty' on Britain's canals
The water vole is the UK's fastest declining mammal, but according to the results of BW’s latest Waterway Wildlife Survey they seem to be making good use of canals, with twice as many sightings recorded across the country than in the previous year’s survey.

Rare butterflies, otters, a porpoise and even an alligator snapping turtle were among the less common of the 42,500 sightings recorded, while mallards, Canada geese and swans were the most commonly seen.

BW’s national ecology manager, Dr Mark Robinson says: "Canals and rivers are ideal wildlife corridors that support a vast array of wildlife, including bats, newts and otters. Whether you are in the middle of a city, or somewhere more remote, you are almost guaranteed to see some exciting wildlife on the waterway. If you look a little harder you might even see something rare or unusual.

"It is particularly encouraging to note the number of water voles spotted this year. Each record helps us to monitor, protect and preserve the amazing biodiversity found on our waterways. With 50 percent of the UK’s population living within five miles of a freely accessible canal or river, there’s never been a better time to get closer to nature."

Read more about BW’s 2009 Wildlife Survey results

Waterway priorities – your views matter
During 2010 BW’s waterway managers will be inviting boating representatives to join their summer programme of waterway inspections. The process, part of the year-round condition checks of BW’s locks, bridges, embankments and other waterway structures, informs where BW targets the funds available to spend on waterway maintenance.

The summer inspections, much of which will be conducted by boat, will be a chance for managers to benefit from the boaters’ perspective and to ensure boater’s priorities are taken into account when planning future work programmes.

BW’s director of operations, Vince Moran comments: “Asking boaters to get involved in the summer inspections can only help to build upon the constructive dialogue we have with the boating community. The ‘onboard’ meetings will be an excellent opportunity for waterway managers and boating representatives to discuss maintenance issues on site and share views on expenditure priorities at local level. It will be an opportunity for BW managers to show first hand the choices and dilemmas they face when working with a finite pot of money.”

Further details on the meetings will be available early next year.

BW’s Moorings policy consultation
BW has launched a three month consultation to seek views on its proposed policy for both leisure and residential moorings in England and Wales. The aim is to address some of the challenges arising from the sustained growth in boating and how mooring space along the waterways should be managed.

BW’s chief executive, Robin Evans comments: “There is no question that boats are good for both local economies and the wider network, and this consultation considers mooring policy in the context of an ever increasing number of boats.”

The consultation process has incorporated advice from the Inland Waterways Association, Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs, Residential Boat Owners Association, National Association of Boat Owners and other organisations represented at BW’s twice yearly ‘waterway users special interest groups’ meetings.

Over to you. If you’re a boat owner, particularly a residential boater, part of the boating trade, an angler, a waterside business, a neighbour or a local authority - BW is seeking your views.

Read more about BW’s Mooring policy consultation

To find out how to log your views click here. Deadline for comments is 31 January 2010.

Mooring auctions
BW’s new open auction system for allocating vacancies at mooring sites has been running since September 2009 with positive feedback received for both the new website and the revised system for making bids. Much of the uncertainty about how much to bid has been removed and several people have seemingly picked up bargains. 35 mooring auction vacancies ended in October with 23 allocated at the end of the auction period.

To view the website and over 40 auctions currently running go to www.bwmooringvacancies.com

VAT Back to 17.5%
In November 2008 the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report announced a temporary reduction in the standard rate of VAT to 15% between 1 December 2008 and 31 December 2009. The standard rate of VAT returns to 17.5% on 1 January 2010.

BW will therefore have to charge VAT at the rate of 17.5% on any sales of standard rated goods or services that are made on or after 1 January 2010.

Due to the closure of BW offices over the Christmas and New Year period, boat licence and mooring applications received and paid on or before 23 December and online renewals up to 31 December 2009 will be processed at the 15% rate. Applications received after 23 December and online renewals from 1 January 2010 will be processed at the 17.5% rate. To help Gold licence customers, a special payment gateway will be available from 23rd – 31st December to receive payment at the 15% VAT rate. It will still be necessary to submit the application by post, clearly marking it that payment has been made online.

Where customers are paying by direct debit, boat licence and mooring applications received by 23 December will be processed at the 15% rate. All applications received after 23 December will be processed at the 17.5% rate.

2010 Licence Fees
BW has announced that headline licence fees, including that for the Gold licence, will remain unchanged next year. However, it is proposing some changes later in 2010 that will affect the prompt payment discount, and payments by credit card (rather than debit card) will be subject to a charge of £7.50 per transaction. This amounts to about two thirds of what it actually costs BW to secure the payment from the card company.

For more information, go to www.britishwaterways.co.uk/licensing. Comments on the proposals are invited before 28th February 2010.

BW cracks down on unlicensed boats
BW’s National Boat Check takes place in November each year when many boats have returned to their home mooring for the winter. BW takes a serious view of unlicensed boats and, on top of day-to-day enforcement action, has already seized 70 unlicensed craft this year from owners who refuse to pay. Where possible the boats are sold to recover costs and overdue fees while those with little or no value are generally crushed.

BW’s marketing director, Simon Salem says: "Most boat owners are happy to contribute to the running of our waterways and are fully paid up licence holders. The income we receive from them is very important in helping us to maintain canals and rivers. Unfortunately, a small minority of licence evaders still exist and we will be working extremely hard over the next fortnight to make sure we know who they are and where they are, so we can take the necessary action."

Read more about BW’s annual National Boat Check

Boat checker update
Local BW patrol teams also carry out interim checks throughout the year and take enforcement action to make sure that boats are properly licensed. Last month BW received 87 sightings of unlicensed boats.. Of these reports, 15% related to boats which had already relicensed and a further 56% were already in BW’s enforcement process, 8% resulted in new cases being opened for action, and the remaining 21% were boats which were not identifiable through a valid boat index number but the details have been passed to enforcement teams for further investigation.

Visit the online boat checker

BW celebrates volunteering
BW is celebrating the importance of volunteers to the nation’s canals and rivers by recognising ten groups in particular whose work has dramatically benefited the waterways over the past 12 months.

BW’s chief executive, Robin Evans said: "The waterways have a long history of volunteering and the actions of these groups and individuals are still central to the delivery of physical works, customer service, research and promotional activities. We are delighted that people are making the choice to volunteer and put something back into the community in these tough times. All the groups have done fantastic jobs and deserve to be celebrated. They are a great example of what volunteering can achieve, and we are proud to be associated with them.

"I’d like to thank all our volunteers for the time, passion and dedication they have shared with BW over the past year, and hope that we will continue to nurture these relationships in the future."

Last year BW was involved with volunteer-led projects that contributed 16,000 volunteer days to the promotion and upkeep of the waterways worth in excess of £1 million, doubling 2007-8’s total of 8,000 volunteer days.

Read more about the ten winning volunteer groups nominated by BW staff

More opportunities to get involved
And looking ahead there are even more opportunities to volunteer and get involved by the water. BW has published new web pages at www.waterscape.com/volunteer which highlight the breadth and diversity of waterway volunteering opportunities.

BW’s national volunteering manager, Edd Moss comments: “BW has seen a welcome increase in the number of volunteers; especially graduates looking for experience, who have been helping within engineering, hydrology and more. Increasing this, together with more traditional areas of support, very much remains the corporate priority as BW continues its journey towards becoming a ‘national trust’ for the waterways.

“We’re currently developing an online search mechanism for volunteering opportunities so that anyone thinking of giving up some time to assist a waterway project can view a list of volunteering organisations near them and find opportunities of interest.”

Liverpool Canal Link wins prestigious regeneration award
BW’s Liverpool Canal Link team was announced as the winner of the Regeneration Award at the British Construction Industry Awards (BCIA). The Canal Link was recognised for the significant impact and regeneration of derelict land in North Liverpool and creating a world class waterfront facility for all to enjoy.

BW’s principal project manager, Richard Longton said: “The British Construction Industry Awards are the longest standing, most rigorously judged and highly prized awards in the UK construction sector. I am absolutely thrilled the Link won the Regeneration Award and that the project has been acknowledged as a superb example of what can be achieved by a dedicated and professional team. The Canal Link is a true catalyst for regeneration both along the Mersey waterfront and though the canal corridor to North Liverpool and Sefton and the pier head is world class!”

Re-establishing an historic connection between the city’s currently underused South Docks and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the Canal Link opens up the city’s waterfront to the previously untapped leisure and tourism industry already thriving on Britain’s canal system – echoing a time past when waterways brought economic prosperity to Liverpool.

Read more about the Liverpool Canal Link’s award

BW and English Heritage team up to promote high quality waterside development
BW and English Heritage have launched England’s Historic Waterways: A working heritage – promoting high quality waterside development.

The publication highlights the importance of good contextual waterside design, showcases existing good practice and illustrates how successful development grasps the historic character and uniqueness of the waterways. The richly illustrated document has been produced to support and inform architects, planners, developers, conservationists and regeneration agencies who can download it from BW’s website in three parts click here to see publication.

BW’s chief executive, Robin Evans comments: “Our waterways make a significant contribution to the visitor economy and a key part of their success has been their ability to adapt and embrace a 21st century mix of leisure, business and cultural uses. Savvy architects, developers and local authorities have already recognised the benefits of creative regeneration of the historic waterfront. This publication is intended to build on that recognition by beginning a long-term discussion on how all interested parties can realise the full potential of historic waterside locations.”

Plug gets pulled on Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
And finally the 1007 foot iron trough lining of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (Britain’s latest World Heritage Site) has been drained for inspection this month ahead of next year’s visitor season. The iconic structure was last drained in November 2003, ahead of its 200th birthday celebrations in 2005. On that occasion, a full paint system was applied to protect the metalwork from rusting. The towpath was refurbished and an all weather surface applied.

The aqueduct is drained by the removal of a large plug located in the middle of the structure. When released, it sends a huge torrent of water cascading into the River Dee almost 130 feet below. The aqueduct holds 1.5 million litres of water and takes around two hours to drain.

The ceremonial pulling of the plug was undertaken by a ten year-old pupil from Ysgol Bryn Collen primary school in Llangollen, who won a competition and described his experience as “something for the grandchildren”.

Read more about the dewatering of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

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Last updated: 18/11/2009