THE FLOATER April 2016 Page 1 INSIDE: ● What happened to making money from C&RT friends? - Page 2 ● No more 3 month

Issue 7 April 2016 The only paper for boaters produced by boaters licences - Page 3 Councils seek boat controls Across England local councillors are starting to gather new powers, or strengthen old ones, giving themselves a say in how boaters should behave on our canals and rivers - Peter Underwood has been checking out a power grab ocal councils appear are keeping a 48-hour visitor It says the marina will provide Lto have developed mooring period, with no return the authority with 'vital hostile attitudes towards for seven days on moorings income', and act as a 'catalyst boaters, with our two owned by Cambridge City for regeneration'. university cities and a Council. Boat owners say they have "Inconsiderate and sometimes the right to remain and are major London borough dangerous mooring has fighting the proposed marina using various legal caused a number of issues which they describe as an devices to drive out or with other river users," environmental catastrophe restrict the rights of according to one council man- likely to cost closer to £20m. boaters, sometimes ager. They have produced their own ignoring the navigation Most boaters agree plans for an alternative mari- authorities. Cambridge does not have na, which they say would be In Oxford the relationship enough visitor moorings, with more environmentally sustain- between boaters and the city the majority of boats wanting able and could be built for a council looks like being further to stay longer than 48 hours. fraction of the cost. damaged by an attempt to In London, Hounslow Council The Port of London Authority use a legislation condemned has made allegations of 'dis- (PLA) is the navigation author- by human rights campaigners gusting and dangerous' ity and the final arbiter, and to take over control of the behaviour at 'illegally-moored' the council claims it was only towpath and the actions of houseboats on the Thames in looking at their plan boaters. Brentford, following criticism The local newspaper reports The Labour Council is pushing of its plans for a new marina Stephen Alexander, who owns forward with a Public Space beside Watermans Park. one of the boats at the moor- Protection Orders (PSPOs) - Council Leader Steve Curran ings, as saying the boaters' broad powers which allow is reported by the West plans were rejected without a councils to criminalise particu- London News as claiming hearing and claimed Mr lar, non-criminal, activities tak- 'Illegally-moored' houseboats Curran was "completely mis- ing place within a specified The southern end of the , this last 400 metres is mainly resi- are being rented out as "sub- informed" about the renting standard accommodation". arrangements, sewage dis- area, to deal with boats moor- dential moorings. ©Mat Fascione ing in the city – despite it's He wrote in a letter to the posal and electrical supplies Oxford Council seems unwill- be scrapped. Oxford. own Scrutiny Committee Hounslow Chronicle: "Most for the vessels. ing to accept that the Thames, Craig Simmons, Green Party “Six years later and this very warning it was unworkable people living on the boats are He also complains of harass- the Oxford Canal and other leader and chairman the questionable, probably illegal, Oxford Council apparently see being exploited and they are ment by the council by illegal- waterways are not controlled council's scrutiny committee, amateurish and very preju- the powers as a way of also being put at serious risk." ly disconnect electricity sup- by them but by navigation said the draft order was "half- diced attempt to overrule attacking what they claim is The council has something of plies, restricting parking, legal authorities and that those baked" and criticised "silly" national legislation is appar- illegal mooring on the canal an axe to grind as it wants to injunctions and court pro- agencies have the only measures restricting how ently the best they can come and the River Thames, as well build a £5.45m marina on the ceedings. enforcement powers. many dogs people could walk up with for how they've spent as scruffy boats and even site and it is taking legal Wherever you look local coun- As soon as the PSPO plans at a time. that money.” drinking on the towpath or action to remove the 30-odd cils seem to have a level of were revealed boaters, includ- "This is an issue about practi- At a meeting after the decision having more than a set num- boats which it claims are ille- hostility towards boaters not ing the National Bargee cality, because at the moment the boaters agreed to start a ber of dogs. gally moored on the seen before. Travellers Association (NBTA), it is unworkable." campaign looking at legal This latest attack is part of a warned that the plans were The city council leaders challenges to the PSPO, deteriorating relationship per- 'unworkable' and risked dis- claimed it was part of efforts recruiting national and local haps going back as far as the criminating against boaters. to tackle illegal mooring, support for their cause. sale of Jericho boatyard. More The council was told it was drunken antics and criminal Meanwhile the Cambridge recently, there has been facing a threat of legal action and environmental damage, Evening News reports that UMBEG (Unlawfully Moored over a proposed public while local boaters warned boats mooring on the Cam Boats Enforcement Group), an spaces protection order that measures would prevent face being slapped with a fine attempt by the Environment (PSPO), which would cover boaters from running engines, in an attempt to create an Agency, , as the River Thames, the generators and stoves and 'effective deterrent to prevent it was then, and council work- Cherwell and Oxford Canal. "leave dozens of homes with- visitors from breaking the ing together to control moor- The boaters said the order out lighting or heating. rules'. ings. would criminalise 'normal and Councillor Colin Cook, ignored Visitors on the Cam will be UMBEG failed to do enough in necessary boating activities', the decision of the council's slapped with a fine if they stay the eyes of a small group of Initial victory for boaters came Scrutiny Committee and put more than six hours; with the councillors led by Deputy Lord when the council's scrutiny the PSPO back on the agenda council drawing a parallel with Mayor, Coun. Colin Cook who committee decided the PSPO with a public consultation cars parking on double yellow now apparently see a PSPO had serious flaws and should claiming, according to the lines. as the way forward. Oxford Mail: "Clearly there are Those mooring on designated some things that could be bays for visiting will be able to changed, but I do not think stay for no more than 48 that will be as complicated as hours. some people have made out. Currently boats that the coun- "The whole point of consulta- cil claims are moored illegally tions is to adapt your propos- only have to move on after a als before you implement legal eviction process in the them, based on people's courts. feedback and you have got to The local newspaper reports start somewhere." Coun Carina O'Reilly as say- Local boater and organiser of ing: “It doesn't actually have several meetings about the that much of a deterrent effect PSPO, Jon Ody said: “In 2010 because it's so slow.” Oxford City Council, led by "One of the reasons for bring- Jericho councillors Cook and ing this in is it creates that Pressell, secretly formed the deterrent. At the moment, we Unlawfully Moored Boats have no deterrent process.” Enforcement Group, which The council insists the new Above: The boaters plan for moorings at has spent £45,000 of taxpay- rule will not apply to locally Brentford Below:Boats moored at Watermans Boats on the River Cam in Cambrdige by ers money attempting to erad- registered boats under any Park on the Thames in Brentford © Thomas icate people living on boats in circumstances and that they Midsummer Common. ©Roger Kidd Nugent THE FLOATER Allan Richards investigates . .. April 2016 Page 2 Whatever happened to making money from C&RT friends? It now seems clear that the Canal and River Trust's Friends scheme is not making money but costing the Trust cash that is sorely needed to keep the system going, especially with millions more needed for flood repairs. Allan Richards looks at what has gone wrong. By Allan Richards Criminals to aid Montgomery restoration? The long term restoration of the could make extensive use of a hat is the purpose of C&RT ‘Community Payback’ Whaving a friends scheme? scheme. It has already been Surely the prime reason is to able to help with improving provide a significant income towpath surfaces and stream for the Trust. However, hedgerows on a half mile C&RT annual reports to date stretch in . suggest that the Trust would be The Canal & River Trust, is much better off financially if it working with Warwickshire and West Mercia Community did not have friends. Rehabilitation Company To understand what has gone wrong Even the ‘prudent’ projec- (CRC) to carry out environ- we have to travel back in time to mental improvement work consider projected income from all tions of income from friends along a section of the dry charitable giving. don’t pan out when just a canal in a trial project. A year before the Trust was formed tenth of the target have been Ten supervised sessions will Head of Fundraising, Ruth allow the Trust to gauge the Ruderham, was recruited at a salary recruited. effectiveness of this new of £70,000 per year. She is quoted went wrong very quickly on the projected amount. In terms of num- blown out of the water. Her boss approach and may form part as saying"It's not often a new chari- charitable giving front. Some 50 bers, the Trust claimed over 5,500 Simon Salem told a board meeting of the ongoing restoration ty of this size and status is born. It's ‘experimental’ local appeals quickly donors.With chugging companies on 20th May 2015 that, at the end of project for years to come. a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a disappeared when they failed to refusing to work with them in its its third financial year, the trust still Howard Griffiths, waterway supervisor from the Canal & fundraiser to have a start-up charity raise much money. second year, C&RT started recruiting had fewer than 10,000 friends (the River Trust said: “It offers that's not tiny. actual number was 9,754). A national appeal for the £2.1 million their own staff on zero hour con- participants the chance to “The organisation has an ambitious needed to repair a breech at Dutton tracts at about £9 per hour, paying It’s Annual Report showed a further fundraising target: it wants to learn valuable work skills and them a small bonus of £35 for every loss of £1.1m to add to the previous is a highly cost-effective way become one of the top 100 charities 10 signed friends. years losses of £1.0m and £0.4m. to improve the canal towpath by voluntary income within the next C&RT’s third year Annual Report C&RT’s losses on charitable giving and hedgerows .” decade, which would involve raising (2014/15) suggested that CaRT had over its first three years were £2.5m £13m a year. It has been working managed to double its number of which is over twice as high as envis- with Think Consulting Solutions to friends from 5,500 the previous year. aged in the KPMG report. It is pro- achieve this goal”.In May 2012, a In his chairman’s report, Tony Hales, jecting further losses for this year report to BW’s directors and C&RT’s who was also a member of the (2014/15). trustees by KPMG set out very trustees fundraising sub-committee Sadly, C&RT’s Trustees approved an clearly the projected financial bene- stated ‘... we now have more than Annual Report that simply failed to fits of having charitable income and 11,000 Friends, people who gener- address its poor performance in where this would come from. ously support us with their monthly recruiting friends. After ten years of operation, C&RT donations’. Instead of admitting that the Trust expected 58% of its charitable Further on this statement is repeat- had fewer than 10,000 friends but income from regular donors - the ed, as a highlight, in a section of the really needed to have 30,000 to be friends. The rest would come from Annual Report that suggests that on track, they allowed Tony Hales to public appeals, legacies, trusts, the Ruderham was ‘in attendance’ claim 'over 11,000' and paint a very companies and major donors.The at Trustee fundraising sub-commit- rosy picture, a decision that will lead The report notes that face-to-face tee meetings without her boss, many people to not trust claims in fundraising was the only viable way Simon Salem, being present. future Annual Reports. of recruiting these regular donors Perhaps it is little wonder that a year Floater and states that Trustees believe that later Tony Hales, Simon Salem and this method of fundraising was ide- C&RT chair Tony Hales: ‘..we Ruth Ruderham are no longer with ally suitable as towpath recruiting by now have more than 11,000 the Trust. Ruth joined Prince’s Trust Written designed and professional fundraising company Friends’ as Director of Development. published by News ‘chuggers’ would be from a self C&RT’s aspiration is that recruitment Afloat - a unique boat- selecting population of potential (on the ) was of 100,000 friends by 2021/22 will based publisher travel- donors.The only fly in the ointment closed having raised just £19,527 – lead it to become one of the top 100 ling on the British was a parliamentary select commit- that’s less than one per cent of the charities by voluntary income. inland waterways. tee who seemed to be more in amount needed. The repair was later Performance to date suggests that – touch with the challenges of Check out The Floater found out to be bodged. with just five years to go and just a website at: fundraising than Think Consulting tenth of that total – it is a target like- To add to the charitable giving mis- www.TheFloater.org Solutions and British Waterways. ery, C&RT’s carefully selected main ly to be massively missed. The Editor is Peter Although much more modest pro- chugging company, CM Fundraising, jections were given to parliament went broke and by the end of its Underwood and all than Ruderham’s ‘£13m within ten first financial year (2012/13), C&RT contributions, years’, the select committee still had managed to recruit just 2,164 suggestions and ques- thought them very optimistic.These ‘friends’. tions should be direct- parliamentary concerns were In financial terms, charitable giving ed to him at: addressed by introducing a ‘pru- lost £0.4m, slightly worse than than [email protected] dence factor’ to the final financial the projection in the KPMG report. or projections – put simply, new finan- C&RT’s £222,000 a year chief exec- [email protected] cial projections reduced previous utive, Robin Evans, who had mas- Simon Salem, Marketing and The Floater is pub- figures given. terminded BW’s move to the third Fundraising Director told lished at least once a Over the course of just a few sector had already announced his month in .pdf format as months, Ruderhams £13m a year by intention to step down before year board the Trusts had fewer well as on the Issuu 2021/22 had been reduced by two end saying ‘ ... it’s the right time for than 10,000 members platform and a web thirds to £4.3m. me to move on and a perfect time version on the website On casual inspection these projec- for the Trust to have a new leader.’ These sub committee meetings at www.TheFloater.org tions looked much more sensible. The financial year 2013/14 saw no appear to have led Ruderham to Like The Floater For one thing, they reflected the improvement. Having blamed CM report to the full board in March high costs of building up a file of Facebook Page here Fundraising for its poor friends per- 2015 that the Trust’s 10-year https://www.facebook.c regular donors in the early years. No formance in its first year, the Trust’s fundraising ambition was on track om/TheFloater/ more was heard from Ruderham Marketing and Fundraising director, to:- about becoming one of the top 100 Simon Salem, then blamed other have 100,000 Friends Join The Floater charities for some time. chugging companies for refusing to be raising at least £10m every year Facebook Group here: Instead the message was the work with him. be a top 100 fundraising charity https://www.facebook.c recruitment of 100,000 donors in ten om/groups/9219383645 Charitable giving lost £1m, instead be seen as a partner of choice for Ruth Ruderham, Head of years and this was before Canal & of the projected £0.4m. Thus, over socially-minded companies 22405/ River Trust was even its first two years, C&RT had accu- However, just two months later her Fundraising promised £13m Follow @TheFloater on launched!When it did launch, things mulated losses of £1.4m – twice the ‘on track’ claim to Trustees was a year and 100,000 donors Twitter THE FLOATER Meet the traders making a waterways living April 2016 Page 3 From high-flyer to canopy maker - now Tony is in the skies once more

The Floater takes a look at canal traders – people making a living on our canals and rivers. Their numbers are increasing almost daily and the chances are you will see a floating market or a sole trader on the canal this summer. Our first subject has been trading longer than most, first in a pair of boats travelling the Midlands and, in more recent years aboard his boats on a mooring on the Shropshire

ony Saunders is an Tony and Mary can moor Tengineer and entre- their pair of boats, side by preneur who ran his own side. He still works on the toolmaking business butty but the old buildings before giving it all up and have provided some valu- turning his engineering able extra space. expertise to the creation Tony explained: “More and of cratch covers and more people know we are canopies, as well as sets here and they know we of covers for traditional will repair their canopies working boats. when they drop by. Now he lives on and works “The business is slowly from a boat and butty growing and I do find moored on an idyllic wharf myself travelling by road on the Shropshire Union - across a fairly big area to a very different lifestyle pattern and fit new cratch from the days when he covers and hoods. flew his own light aircraft, “One really gratifying although he is now back in recent development has the air in his spare time. been getting orders for Born 60 years ago in the sets of covers from the village of Highley in the far owners of traditional work- south-eastern corner of ing boats. I have fitted to Shropshire and brought up covers to Ivor Batchelor's in nearby Cleobury old butty and his new Mortimer, Tony Saunders motor and a set for Mal has lived through the Tony leans on the historic crane at Shebdon Wharf where his pair of boats are now based Edwards, a boat based decline of British manufac- fender maker. It has been turing. fascinating to make sure Qualifying as an engineer, they are correct and his- he set up a toolmaking torically accurate.” business serving the Does he miss his old region's car industry and lifestyle as a high-flying exporting successfully to businessman? Germany. It brought him “Not at all,” he said, “we all the trappings of a suc- have a much better cessful business – big lifestyle on the canals cars, a nice house and where we can relax, work even a light aircraft, as at our own pace and gen- well as a . erate our own business. I His business thrived for have also begun to fly many years until, around again as a hobby as the the turn of the millennium business has grown more cheap competition from successful. China and eastern Europe “If you work with your finally caught up as it did hands, as I do now, you with so much manufactur- are never going to be rich ing in the Midlands. – but you can be very Tony and his wife Mary, happy and comfortable.” along with their children Caroline and Terry had swiftly taken to the water- ways, and when he decid- ed the time had come to change his lifestyle and find something less hectic to provide a simple living he turned to the canals they had come to love. Tony Saunders grappling with a cratch cover, assisted by his wife Mary “We wanted something that we could do from a thing to bend the frames tem, picking up repair year or two later to order a boat, that would provide for a pram-hood, but we work as well as making completely new cover from us with enough to live on,” slowly began to build up a new covers and hoods. us.” he said. trade.” Tony explained: “One of Spending winters moored “My engineering back- His wife Mary says they the things that inspired us at Ellesmere on the ground meant that working took to it like ducks to to start the business was Canal and out how to cut and sew water and for some time how difficult it was to get cruising the West Midlands the right shapes for a their daughter Caroline simple repairs done, most canals in the summer cratch cover, and later worked with them, saved of the big operators didn't months, Tony built up a even complicated pram- to buy herself a boat and really want to know about regular customer base. hoods, was fairly easy for then fitted it out herself. replacing zips or patching When an opportunity came me. It is just geometry She has only recently sold holes. up a few years ago to really. the boat to buy a house. “We do lots of repairs and moor at the beautiful “The early ones took a Tony bought a butty, we do them cheaply as it Shebdon Wharf on the long time as we worked Bethsaida, from is the best form of adver- out the techniques – two Wolverhampton Probation tising. Lots of people pass they grabbed it with both weeks for the first one - Service, and it gave the on our details to others hands. and I even had to go back business it's name. For needing repairs and it is The wharf still has its old Tony concentrates on the geometry of his latest to my old trade of tool- several years they cruised surprising how many times crane and a former small cover as it passes through his industrial sewing making to produce some- the pair around the sys- someone comes back a warehouse building and machine. THE FLOATER A look at C&RT’s latest crackdown on boaters April 2016 Page 4 Film is a No more three look at liveaboard month licences stresses film looking at a family Aon a pedal powered boat on the who find their liveaboard lifestyle under threat is the subject of a for errant CCers film currently being promot- ed by the National Bargee fter a year of opera- clamping down on boat Travellers Association Ation the Canal & River dwellers without permanent (NBTA and supported by Trust is scrapping a moorings on its inland water- community groups around scheme to give three ways'. Bradford on Avon. month restricted It concludes that most Film maker Wendy boaters without home moor- licences to continuously Zakiewicz launched her new ings who have not travelled film 'Off the Cut' at the end cruising boaters they 'far enough' will lose their on March in St Margaret's claim to be 'non- homes. Hall, Bradford on Avon, in compliant' and go The NBTA statement says: an event supported by the straight for refusing a “With ever increasing down- Bradford on Avon licence - potentially ward pressure on boat Community Area depriving a boater of dwellers without permanent Network.'Off the Cut' pro- their home. moorings; persistent harass- vides unique insight into a The Trust claims – despite ment; violations of privacy community of boaters living many boaters saying they and lack of support for the on the Kennet and Avon have not had proper commu- needs of live-aboard boaters canal. The film follows a nication - that it 'launched an Month by month, what C&RT says happens to those boaters to whom a full including provision of ade- family on their pedal pow- information drive to provide licence is refused quate facilities; repairs to ered boat as they embark greater clarity to boaters with- faulty facilities; inadequate on a journey in which their out a home mooring'. positive effect. basis. licence, of which 45 remain in moorings in some towns and way of life, and that of the It says it has been getting in “It has been encouraging to “It was always the intention the enforcement process. cities; continual encroachment whole community, comes touch early to let boaters see that many boaters on that offering three month With the removal of the three on towpath mooring space in under threat.It is a reso- know when they haven’t been short duration licences have restricted licences would be a month restricted licence favour of visitor moorings and nance clearly understood by moving enough and sending been able to increase their temporary measure whilst the C&RT says a renewal review inadequate dredging affecting the NBTA who say: “More text messages to overstaying range of movement, while a approach bedded in during its is undertaken approximately navigation and ability to moor than 800 boat families on boats to see if they need any number have opted to take first year. two months prior to the where this is permitted, CRT's Canal & River Trust water- help. home moorings. Half of those “Six month restricted licences renewal date; with a more agenda is clear. ways are threatened with Mike Grimes, head of boating issued with a three month may still be offered to those detailed review of those with a “The NBTA calls upon the eviction and the seizure and at the Canal & River Trust, licence, and nearly two-thirds boats that aren’t quite meet- 'limited overall range' or if live-aboard boating communi- destruction of their homes said: “Our emphasis on bet- of those issued a six month ing the movement require- there have been frequent ty to stand up to this deter- after their boat licences ter communication, alongside licence, improved their cruis- ments to allow them a final overstays or 'concerns about mined attack on our way of were restricted to 3 or 6 a defined period in which to ing pattern whilst on a opportunity to show an their recent movement pat- life.” months or not renewed at resolve problem cruising pat- restricted licence and were improvement. tern'. The NBTA is organising a all, following the charity's terns, seems to be having a offered further licences on this “Boats without a home moor- C&RT says half of those demonstration with the March decision to adopt a punitive ing that are not moving in line issued with a three month for Health, Homes, Jobs and new policy of enforcement with our guidance, despite all licence, and just over two- Education on 16th April 2016 against boat dwellers with- the communication they have thirds of those issued a six to demand that CRT stops out permanent moorings. received, will no longer be month licence, improved their evicting or threatening to evict offered a licence of any dura- cruising pattern whilst on a boat dwellers without perma- maintain the banks and tow- tion. restricted licence and were nent moorings based on their paths of the waterways, install “We are continuing our pro- allowed further licences to travel pattern, because of an more mooring rings and more gramme of education and continue to show an improve- arbitrary and unlawful mini- facilities. communication, which I ment. mum distance ‘rule’ that has NBTA also plans to take pic- believe is essential in meeting The response from been imposed since last May. tures of all the boat dwellers the needs of both boaters and Continuous Cruisers repre- It also wants to see an end to on the march to bring to the Trust, to ensure everyone sented by the National Bargee mooring time limits shorter another demonstration can enjoy our canals and Travellers Association (NBTA) than the 14 days in any one planned at the CRT offices a rivers.” was that the latest changes place allowed in legislation few weeks later. C&RT claims welfare officer meant C&RT was 'once again and wants positive action to Sean Williams, will always approach each case sympa- thetically and says that, since May 2015 it has granted over 14-day moorings in Brum 860 extended stays and equality adjustments for boaters without a home moor- ing. not yet consulted upon Out of 5,600 CCers C&RT subjected 40 per cent to a he attempt by West Manager Ian Lane but without think consultation is the best 'more detailed review' and TMidlands Customer any conclusions. way forward because It’s offered 1,130 a restricted Services Manager, Ian Darby, Mr Darby adds in respect of going to be very difficult to licence, with 652 boats to remove nearly 20 per cent the Barclaycard moorings: “ It sensibly sign what’s being accepting a restricted licence. of the 14 day moorings in seems ridiculous to say now suggested and it will make C&RT says 220 are still within central Birmingham without the last few feet of a mooring things more of a mess around that restricted licence period consultation has yet to be is then by default a 14 day the city centre. and of the 432 that reached rectified, despite his decision one because the totem pole “What we are trying to do is to back-peddle on one of the isn’t right at the end of the make things clearer and two the end of their restricted sites – a disabled mooring at moorings or somebody has day moorings with a short 14 licence, 268 'showed the entrance to Cambrian removed arrows”. He has no day bit on the end doesn’t do improvement' and were Wharf. comment on those swept up that.” allowed further licence , 96 He says he has discussed the in the enlarged water point on Ian Darby has yet to say sold their boat, obtained missing moorings – a short Holiday Wharf. whether he will reverse the home mooring or moved stretch either side of the He does seem to recognise “tidying up” changes whilst Where are all the CCers? This is where C&RT says its away from C&RT waters and mainline by the Barclaycard that standard C&RT proce- he goes through a formal data collectors spot them. 68 were refused a further CC Arena and two or three spots dure before changing mooring consultation process. by the water point at Holiday signs is to consult with Wharf - with Waterways boaters, saying: “In truth I ‘Primitive and unsanitary conditions’ claim boaters ondon boaters hit by a lion made by C&RT in 2014/15, ers further up the Lee in Stone- Llack of water, rubbish and the Trust's reserve fund of bridge, despite attempts by the and toilet facilities have £660 million, the NBTA says the NBTA to negotiate to try to pre- been protesting as more charity can easily afford to install vent this. facilities are removed. more facilities for boaters, but The event at Stonebridge was A tow-path gathering in late instead it has demolished water also a celebration of the boater March at Stonebridge in taps, toilet facilities and rubbish community, and included music, Tottenham saw increasing frustra- points at Waltham Cross. crafts, public speakers and home- tion amongst boaters when C&RT is now restricting the open- made food. almost 70 members of the com- ing hours of the toilets and show- munity battled the wind and rain to come together to discuss their options. The Nation al Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) claims the necessities for living a decent life on the water are being taken away, and boaters feel that their plight is ignored. It says access to facilities is now being removed and restricted, and boaters are 'increasingly forced to endure primitive and These are the regions where C&RT have issued the most time-restrivcted licences - unsanitary conditions'. London, the South East and the South West account for the vast majority Pointing to a surplus of £39.4 mil- THE FLOATER Liveaboard boat April 2016 Page 5 IWA and C&RT owners get win sign deal on on points over work boat movements Broads planners n illustration of just how close the Inland AWaterways Association and the Canal & ith the unelected River Trust have become is the latest deal WBroads Authority between the two bodies over work boats. vacillating between con- According to the Trust: “The IWA recently stepped cession and draconian up to answer our call for skilled volunteers to help action the boaters living with a new approach to the deployment of our on their vessels on workboat fleet. Thorpe Island in Norwich “We’re reorganising our fleet into a nationally man- have claimed a partial aged resource so we asked the IWA to work with victory in the courts. us to help with the inspection and moving of craft. In mid March the Broads “IWA volunteers will provide the necessary knowl- Authority attempted to edge and skills, as well as the national coverage take one step closer to the required for the work.” removal of all liveaboards From April C&RT will be organising workboats cen- from Jenner’s Basin at the trally to 'co-ordinate the fleet on a more strategic western end of Thorpe basis'. Island after serving Interim Craft will be ‘hired’ to the regional maintenance Injunction Notices on and construction teams. The aim is to make more landowner, Roger Wood. efficient use of the workboats across all of our dif- Instead, in The High Court ferent teams and by volunteers, such as IWA’s vol- of Justice (Queen’s Bench unteer work parties. Division), Mr Justice Nicol According to C&RT: “The work will also include IWA ordered that boaters must volunteers monitoring the condition of craft and not moor additional ves- reporting any potential issues which will then be sels at Jenner’s Basin Reprieve for the boats on Thorpe Island used to develop programmes of repair work.” other than those already tional victory Gary says where they are. Yes, there abused your power, there – a decision that that it is an improvement are compromises to be spending hundreds of meant those already on where the boaters made – there are require- thousands of pounds of moored could stay, along stood at the beginning of ments in the 2014 taxpayer’s money to with an extra two named December 2015, when 41 Planning Inspector’s achieve very little through vessels. Notices had been served Report that we don’t really the Courts. Despite that the on those residents of agree with but will comply “What we want now is to Enforcement Notice was Thorpe Island moored at with nonetheless. once again demonstrate not set aside and all plan- the western end, ordering “These include the restric- our reasonableness in ning rights at the western them to leave by 18th tion on the number of meeting your expectations end are now effectively December backed by moorings and the removal of us and for you to enable lost. threats of criminal prose- of the wrecks, but com- our hopes for the future. Gary Barnes who has led cution if they did not com- promise was always going “As a Planning Authority it the Save the Island cam- ply. to be important in moving is your responsibility to paign said: “We must and “At the beginning we said forward to secure a future. work with local people to we will submit a fresh that our primary objective “So, it’s a victory on points include everyone in your planning application in line was to secure the right of after a very long fight. vision for The Broads not with the 2014 Planning those moored at Jenner’s But a win is a win at the just an elite minority. Inspector’s Report. Basin to stay and to live end of it all.” “You have made us feel “Our intention is to work their lives in peace. We He issued an appeal to the that we are worthless. with The Broads Authority still have some work to do Broads Authority: You have made us feel and the onus is on them to – not least the submission “Countless times we have that we are not wanted. act reasonably. It would of a planning application attempted to negotiate It’s time now to see the not be possible for them to that is fit for purpose – with you. contribution we make and justify further injunctive but, given that is in hand “Countless times we have value diversity because action if we submit a we can now say that the asked for talks to resolve that is surely what sepa- design that reflects the residents really are going the planning dispute at rates a civil society from 2014 Report.” nowhere. Jenner’s Basin. what it was before.” Although not an uncondi- “They are staying right “Countless times you have IWA festivals provoke big C&RT spend By John Quinlan John Quinlan, cruises in the boat he built and has CC’ed for 15 years

oat festivals seem to be important to many Bboaters and they seem a clear illustration of the cosy relationship between the Inland Waterways Association and the Canal & River Trust. I guess that the solitude and nature of the canals and rivers gets to some boaters and the need for a heaving mass of peo- ple becomes paramount. The IWA seems to organise a few of these festivals, and on a grander scale than most. I suppose it's the Tom Rolt spirit of going to far off places under difficult conditions that truly inspires them. The first I.W.A rally I saw was at the Child Beale estate on the Thames, many years ago. There were , hundreds of them moored 5 or 6 deep, my only thought as I passed them was that I hoped none of them caught fire. I kept going. My second experience was a bit more involved, I was over-win- Festival crowds - this one is Crick, not an IWA event, several years ago tering on the Great Ouse between Denver and Ely, normally any thought “they are finally going to dredge below Islip as it a dyke along the offside, I assumed it had been dredged, the activity such as a cow walking along the river bank is consid- desperately needs it and has for years”. reeds which blocked over half of the width of the canal were all ered a major event as it is desolate there. This time there was However it was not destined for Islip. It was used in but gone. There had been an I.W.A rally in Northampton. Sadly real activity. Moorings were being quadrupled in length, rusted Northampton which really has no real problem with water depth. there was no sign of Leon, or the spirit of Tom Rolt that I could siding was being repaired. There was full swing activity, why? We departed for an extended cruise via the Northampton Arm, see. Well the I.W.A. was having a rally at St Ives later that year. which is very slow weedy, reedy and shallow, fought our way up If the IWA paid for the work that their festivals and rallies cause In the end it all came to nought as a ballast train de-railed on the leaky locks, and were happy to use the services of “Leon the C&RT and the EA to undertake that would be fine, but it the bridge just West of Ely and the river was closed for many the wino” as the going through the locks was getting difficult. would seem that in fact the ordinary boater is paying for the months. All the attendees with boats coming from the canals He is not a C&RT volunteer but helps the boaters through the IWA “jollies”. had to be flushed down the tidal 100 foot river. Attendance was locks. At least we know who the boss is. Let us hope the IWA acts in low that year I understand. On our return to Northampton many months later the a responsible manner and chooses places that desperately Last winter I was moored at Northampton Marina, and noticed Northampton arm was transformed. The locks worked like a need improvement/dredging for their future shindigs, like below dredging equipment being activated in Northampton, “Great” I charm. A truly huge distance had towering piles of spoil forming Islip Lock or Bugsworth Basin. THE FLOATER Boat rides on derelict April 2016 Page 6 Long wait for canal section boosts Rochdale to reopen interest in heritage t doesn't look as if Ithe flood-damaged will be fully reopened to ast summer, when Colin boaters for most of this LOgden, of Owd Lanky year – bad news for Boat group gave free rides in those planning a round his vintage Windermere boat trip using the Pennine canal after celebrating ‘Whimbrel’ on the unrestored the 200th anniversary Holme section of the of the Leeds and , it kick Liverpool waterway. started a community event Planned works on other canals are also likely to involving many local resi- suffer. Canal & Rover Trust dents and friends. gave a timetable for small- Colin hopes the steady raising of er repairs to the Norhtern the profile of the Lancaster's waterways stretching into the summer months and Northern Reaches will help bring announced: “Beyond the restoration a step closer.From the summer the remaining start, it was surprising to see the challenge will mainly amount of interest it generated, involve repairing the and there was often a queue of breach and landslip that occurred on the Rochdale would be passengers chatting at Canal. Holme Turnpike bridge. Keith “These are two major, and Tassart, Colin's right hand man, complex, engineering jobs was talking to one of the local res- and so timescales are idents about the coke oven site, slightly less clear.We will share more information explaining that there used to be a when we have more plaque on the canal bank. This details. resulted in an offer to replace it “Repairing the damage free of charge.Behind the scenes, caused by some of the Medwin Sherriff, chairman of worst flooding ever seen on our waterways has Holme Parish Council, has been placed real pressure on collecting information, and this budgets and the availabili- resulted in it all coming together ty of our staff and con- and the new plaque being Colin Ogden - in the hat - and Whimbrell attending the IWA Trailboat Festival on he Northern tractors. installed. It is not known who the Reaches of the Lancaster last year. “With flood-related works estimated to cost just over unknown donor is, other than a Carnforth Coke Oven group, has excavations. In a further escala- along with Keith Tassart and £10m (with £5.5m being local person, but Colin says: “We also completed a successful sur- tion County Councillor Roger friends are looking into resurrect- provided by Government all owe him our thanks.” vey of the Holme site as a fore- Bingham and District & Holme ing the Holme Dinghy Rally. in relation to the works at Now, Brian Crawley, chair of runner to future archaeological Parish councillor Brian Cooper , Elland Bridge) we will have to delay or scale- back some other projects that were in our plan for the year ahead. We’ll be able to provide more Another carbon monoxide details in the coming weeks.” Canal towpaths have been brought back into opera- tion much more swiftly, using volunteer labour and death on board provokes C&RT says that alongside the efforts to repair tow- paths for those on foot, it's been 'working hard to fully understand what more safety warnings needs to be done to reopen the affected water- ways to boats'. As part of the first phase n inquest has of the programme, it is Adecided that yet planned to reopen 12 another boater has miles of waterways to boats in time for Easter. been killed by carbon This will be in two sec- monoxide fumes. tions; the Rochdale Canal Christopher Reuben, 52, between Sowerby Bridge was found dead on his and Hebden Bridge and Dawncraft vessel, called the Calder & Hebble Navigation between Nomadic, on Macclesfield Cooper Bridge and Figure Canal at Adlington in of Three Locks. October last year The next stage won’t be An inquest at Macclesfield until early summer when town hall on March 7 con- C&RT hopes to be able to reopen a section of the cluded that Mr Reuben, Rochdale heading west from Manchester, died from Hebden Bridge accidentally, according to towards Lock 15, then the the local newspaper the Calder & Hebble between Macclesfield Express. Salterhebble and Cooper Bridge. Fire and Rescue Elland Bridge and Service and the Boat The makes a peaceful scene but it has been the location of yet another death Crowther Bridge need to Safety Scheme, are again be completely rebuilt . In by Carbon Monoxide poisoning. urging boaters to make each case Trust engineers vital checks to avoid simi- are planning the rebuild so sands of people who live occur or be made worse and that’s why our belt fused or sick they should that the canal can be lar tragedies from happen- aboard on the inland when ventilators are and braces advice is to fit get very urgent medical reopened to boats once ing. waterways, but our blocked, or fresh air is in a carbon monoxide alarm treatment.” the new bridge founda- Three boaters have been reminder to crews and short supply. Burning fuels approved as meeting BS Nick Evans, head of pre- tions and a concrete arch killed ever two years for skippers is to treat the need the right amount of EN 50291-2. These are the vention at Cheshire Fire are in place – hopefully in the past 20 years as a July. risks with due respect. oxygen to combust safely type best suited for boats. Service, added: “I would This will mean that result of carbon monoxide, “Prevention is the key to and it’s also incredibly “And if an alarm go off, encourage anyone living or boaters can then use the according to the Boat staying safe. All engines important to keep exhaust open the doors, hatches holidaying on boats to canal while the remaining Safety Scheme. and appliances need to be fumes out of the boat’s and windows and get ensure that they protect works to rebuild the Graham Watts, manager of properly installed, well interior. ashore straightaway. themselves by checking bridge take place, rein- the Boat Safety Scheme stating an important link maintained and used “If there’s a smell of “The skipper should turn that their boat is fitted with from Hebden Bridge to said: “Over a million peo- according to the instruc- exhaust fumes aboard, off appliances and engines both working smoke Wakefield and beyond and ple are using boats safely tions. there could be deadly car- as they get out. If anyone alarms and carbon monox- to the Huddersfield Broad each year, including thou- “But carbon monoxide can bon monoxide in the cabin feels unwell, giddy, con- ide detectors.” Canal.