Lee Navigation: Outline of initial mooring strategy ideas

Overview

BW accepts that mooring patterns are not acceptable on the Lee and we’ve outlined a two phase strategy that we believe will effectively improve the current conditions. The initial stage concentrates on the basics of introducing a new mooring and cruising regime for the . Phase two extends the strategy to immediately adjacent waterways and develops/tweaks the finer detail to underpin the sustainability of the new regime.

These are only our initial ideas and we actively seek the views of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, other local organisations and those of national interest groups (such as the Inland Waterways Association).

Phase One – Proving the concept, 2011

Defining Neighbourhoods When a boater buys their licence and declares themselves a continuous cruiser they commit to making a progressive journey around the network or a significant part of it. This progressive journey is defined by moving from one neighbourhood to another and not immediately returning to the neighbourhood they have just left (i.e. not going from A to B to A – the only time this is permitted is when they reach a dead end or when they are changing the direction of their travel so it would be something like A to B to A to Z to Y etc). Ordinarily it is up to enforcement teams around the country to move boats on but boaters will not be told how far they have to move in order to reach the next neighbourhood – this is all down to legal complexities. The only time we can define what actually constitutes a neighbourhood is in the context of a local mooring strategy such as we are doing with the Lee. The maximum amount of time a boater can stay, uninterrupted, in a neighbourhood is 14 days.

Our proposal is to have four neighbourhoods on the Lee and two on the Stort: 1. Neighbourhood One – From the start of the Lee at to the A406 North Circular. 2. Neighbourhood Two – From the A406, North Circular to the M25. 3. Neighbourhood Three – From the M25 to (Junction with ). 4. Neighbourhood Four – From Feildes Weir to the end of the Lee at . 5. Neighbourhood Five (River Stort) – From Feildes Weir to A1184, Cambridge Road (by Premier Inn) 6. Neighbourhood Six (River Stort) – From A1184 to end of Stort.

Summary of neighbourhood rules  Continuous cruisers will be expected to use all six neighbourhoods in a year.  Continuous cruisers cannot return to a neighbourhood they have just come from unless they have reached a terminus.  Every 14 days continuous cruisers must be in a different zone.

Exceptions  Boaters with long term mooring permits only have to comply with signed time restrictions. Neighbourhood definitions are only relevant for continuous cruisers.

Defining time-limited (<14 days) visitor mooring zones Within each neighbourhood there will be stretches where boaters are not permitted to moor for more than seven days. These zones are highlighted on the maps and are listed in the appendix of this document. Most other stretches will be 14 day mooring zones.

Summary of time-limited visitor mooring zone rules  Any boater can stay for up to seven days on a visitor mooring.

 Days spent on a visitor mooring are included in the permitted time within each neighbourhood. For example, if a boater spent five days on a visitor mooring and then moved off into a 14 day mooring zone (in the same neighbourhood) they would only be permitted to stay for another nine days within that neighbourhood before moving on to another.  If a boater overstays on a visitor mooring they will incur daily overstay charges.

Exceptions There are no exceptions to the above rules.

Defining other zones A broad brush approach will be used during Phase One and therefore individual mooring berths for other uses such as commercial or operational have not been detailed – existing commercial or operational berths will not automatically be changed. It is the intention, as typified by the Lower Waterspace Strategy workshop, to bring as many public and private partners together to maximise the potential of the Lee as a sustainable community asset.

Regularisation of some incumbent mooring sites/boats Some boaters have been moored in particular locations for a number of years and, being pragmatic, it is unrealistic and in some cases undesirable to change this. We will identify and investigate boats/sites which may benefit from being formally recognised, with all appropriate consents, as long term residential mooring sites.

Communicating and enforcing the new regime The scale and scope of the changes will have a direct impact on the cruising and mooring patterns of many boats. Although we plan to use every communication channel available (direct correspondence, notice boards, online, through partner organisations etc) in the lead up to implementation, a ‘bedding in’ period, where boaters and staff become accustomed, is to be expected.

For the new strategy to be effective it’s crucial that the enforcement processes are robust and exercised frequently enough to convey the message that overstaying in any neighbourhood or on any particular mooring is not acceptable and should it be done, charges will be levied. BW doesn’t have the resources to carry out daily monitoring of the whole of the Lee Navigation. With this in mind we would greatly appreciate the support and help of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s enforcement team. Detail to be discussed.

We are also investigating the most efficient ways to levy and collect overstay charges including the use of payment-by-mobile.

Phase Two – The Olympics and beyond

At this early stage it’s impossible to say what precise changes will be needed to the above strategy in order to reconfigure the Lee Navigation for the Olympics. It is also hard to judge what the impact will be on adjacent waterways.

In general though, in Phase Two, we will be looking to establish the following, not only for the Olympics, but for the continued success of the Lee and other London Waterways.

 Enrolling volunteers to ‘adopt’ local stretches of river – they would record boat sightings and report misuse of the river and it’s environs. Some might be riverside residents while others might be members of boat clubs or long term moorers.  To encourage leisure use of visitor moorings during peak months we will establish ‘Lee Navigation long term permit holders only mooring sites’ within each visitor mooring zone. We will ask local cruising clubs and long term moorers where they want these sites and issue them with mooring permits for these specific zones. The seven day time limit will still apply.

 Extension of the ‘strategy zone’ to include the River Stort, Hertford Union , , Abbey and and Regents Canal (to Islington Tunnel)

Appendix

Seven day mooring zones:  Bow to A12  to North Circular, A406  to Lock.  Lock to .  to to end of Lee Navigation