Visitor Moorings Review

SOUTH EAST VISITOR MOORINGS REVIEW

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FROM WORKSHOPS

General  A key driver – need for space for holidaying boats to tie up (ie short stay visitors).  We need to attract people to visitor moorings. Waterscape / Boaters’ Guides and Information Boards showing visitor moorings are good – must keep up to date.  In some areas, IWA produces leaflets (stored in canalside boxes) with local mooring suggestions.  There is acknowledgment that key visitor sites WILL get full (bank holidays etc). Need to communicate that better (eg by adding to Boaters’ Guides on Waterscape).  If BW “invites” someone to moor on a certain stretch (by designating it and signing it), then we should make sure it is always suitable as a visitor mooring.

Enforcement  Enforcement of those overstaying on visitor moorings is still the big issue. Reducing stay times may create additional overstaying problems but could also deter those who habitually overstay.  Enforcement is still a seasonal issue – needs to be more strict in summer.

Stay Lengths  There is no need to sign 14 day moorings.  Generally, it would be better to have shorter stay lengths (than 14 days) at designated moorings and definitely a mix of stay lengths.  It’s a good idea to have the shortest stay length (eg 24hr) in the centre of a village/town location, then 48 hr, and then the longest (eg 7 day) towards the outskirts.  Some felt 5-day moorings at “week ender” sites would be good – encourages people to return on the next Friday. However, others felt that this would restrict week-enders, who may have difficulty returning to the site in time to move away during the next Friday. 7 day best (could try 6 day?).  Useful to put 7 day/5 day moorings near access to public transport – to encourage less use of cars for “week enders”. More and more OAP’s boating and they get free bus passes!  Car parking needs to be discouraged.  It is important not to have too many types of stay length; it is confusing.  24 hr/48 hr are good – but need to look at the local attraction and decide what is an appropriate time limit.  At long lock flights, a short mooring (overnight) at each end would be good (overnight stop for early start; tea break stop after going through flight)  Summer/winter mix is good, at appropriate sites. However, an observation was made that the signage for the changes can be confusing.

Signage  It would be better if the signage tiles on the totems could be set at an angle so they can be read when boating towards them. Or set them high so they can be seen above moored boats.  The design of the “Mooring” / “No Mooring” tiles can be difficult to distinguish from a distance.  “Welcome” signs with information about boating are good – but can’t read them without stopping. Julia Moore 18/05/2018  There is some need for “No Mooring” signs (use existing totems, don’t create more signage) if it eases navigation (eg Br 90 Braunston, coming around the bend)  Ditto “No fishing” signs. There is sometimes a conflict of interest on lock approaches and opposite visitor moorings.  Better signage is needed to show where re-cycling facilities are located (where they are available). Don’t forget the signage (and updating Waterscape etc) when installing new facilities.

Winter Moorings  Hire boating is now active all year. Winter moorings on visitor moorings can be problematic. Suggest, for example, on a 5 boat length mooring, leave 2 free in winter.  Winter moorings don’t have to be just on 14 day moorings; they could be on shorter stay lengths, as long as there is adequate provision retained for visitor moorings.  Winter mooring permits MUST be displayed!  Need a clause in the terms and conditions to ask that ashes are not left in piles in the hedge bottom.

Access for All Moorings  Good balance of “blue badge” moorings essential (especially with ageing population) – must make sure they are kept free for correct use and not abused.

Other  Where new mooring rings are installed, make sure they are big enough for big ropes (min 4”/5” diameter). This is particularly important for lone boaters.

 There are still issues with overhanging trees on towpath mooring sites and offside, opposite mooring sites. Offside vegetation management needs to be prioritised in these areas.

 Don’t install dog bins in the middle of a visitor mooring site (they can smell). Better to have them at the end of a mooring site.