NABOThe Magazine of the National AssociationNews of Boat Owners Issue 4—July 2012 CRT —LATEST NEWS Keeping you up to date in changing times LICENCING AND ENFORCEMENT Who will guard the guardians? THE JUBILEE PAGEANT AND THE BBC How did they get it so wrong? NO BIOMASS FOR DRAX? A waterways freight opportunity lost 2 NABO News Issue 4 July 2012 The NABO Council Regional Representatives: Chairman North Western Waterways: David S. Fletcher Richard Carpenter (details left) 72 Main Road, Hackleton, Northants NN7 2AD North East, Yorkshire and Humber 01604 870107, 07719 276 659 Share Owners Representative [email protected] Howard Anguish Vice Chairman, Moorings 2 Broadley Croft, Welton, Brough, East Yorks Simon Robbins HU15 1TD 01482 669 876 Nb Centurion, Kensal Green Moorings, [email protected], [email protected] Ladbroke Grove W10 4SR London Waterways 0208 9644 516 Simon Robbins (details left) [email protected], [email protected] South East General Sec, Promotion & Recruitment Geoff Wood Richard Carpenter 07968 491118 [email protected] Mill House End Farm, Grape Lane, Croston, Leyland, Lancashire PR26 9HB Southern Waterways 07989 441674 or 01772 600886 Andy Colyer (details left) [email protected] Rivers Treasurer Stephen Peters (details left) Stephen Peters Midlands Waterways 325 Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham B47 David S. Fletcher (details left) 6JG 01564 824927 East Midlands Waterways [email protected] Joan Jamieson Legal Affairs Geoffrey Rogerson 60 Waddington Drive, Wilford Hill, Nottingham NG2 7GX, 0115 981 2047 51 High Path Road, Guildford, GU1 2QQ [email protected] 07768 736593 [email protected] Anglian Waterways Minutes Secretary [email protected] Vacant The Thames Louis Jankel Continuous Cruising & Webmaster John Slee 07831 197171 [email protected] Graham Paterson NB Epiphany c/o Oaklea, Manor Road, Great Bourton, Banbury OX17 1QP 0118 986 3959 [email protected] 07870 165 735 Additional Contacts [email protected] [email protected] Council Member Southwest Assistant For The Disabled Andy Colyer Philip Ogden The PO, 21-23 Holcombe Lane, Wharf Cottage, Finwood Road CV35 7DH Bathampton, Bath BA2 6OL 01564 782516 [email protected] [email protected] News Editor Administration Peter Fellows Melanie Darlington 19 High Street, Bonsall, 111 Maas Rd, Northfield, Birmingham B31 2PP Derbyshire, DE4 2AS [email protected] [email protected] Technical, BSS & MCA Representative Trevor Rogers 12 Greenham Mill, Newbury, Berks RG14 5QW 07990 594221 [email protected] NABO News The magazine of the National Association of Boat Owners Issue 4 July 2012 Table of Contents Front Cover Photo Competition 4 Editorial This month’s cover photo is of the BCN. My 5 Chairman’s column thanks to Helen Hutt. News 7 Recycling developments Win yourself a year’s free membership by 8 Diesel bug and tank treatment sending us an image 9 Update from CRT Trustees for the front cover 11 Red Wheel plaques of the new NABO 12 BW boat movement data News. In the first 14 Boaters fined instance please send 16 The Jubilee Pageant in pictures a low resolution JPEG by email. The 18 BW transfer order in the commons photo should ideally 19 Crossword be portrait format 20 Snippets from past NABO News 1995 with the main action Talking points in the centre so that 22 Boating on a budget we can print text at 24 BW houseboat consultation the top and bottom, with a width of at 26 Thames pageant least 1800 pixels. 28 No biomass for Drax 31 Letters NABO Calendar 2012 Contributions The following are the dates for Council Articles, letters, cartoons and photos are most Meetings in the remainder of 2012: welcome. Images and photos in JPEG format Saturday September 8th, Saturday October please. 20th, Saturday November 17th (AGM), Saturday Contributions to [email protected] December 1st. Next NABO News Copy Date The Council meetings are normally at the Waggon and Horses, Church St., Oldbury, West Please email or post your contributions by Midlands B69 3AD. Remember that members 15th September 2012 are welcome to attend meetings—just let the Secretary or Chairman know in advance, con- tact details opposite. NABO News is published by the National Association of Boat Owners FREEPOST (BM8367), Birmingham B31 2BR Editor: Peter Fellows Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the contents of this newsletter are factually correct, we accept no liability for any direct or consequential loss arising from any action taken by anyone as a result of reading anything contained in this publication. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Association. The products and services advertised in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by the Association. 4 NABO News Issue 4 July 2012 The Editor’s Column Water, water everywhere Editor Peter Fellows rummages through a mixed bag in this issue I'll start with a couple of negatives so that I can finish with some posi- “In the old days they tives: I totally agree with Stephen were pulled by horses, Peters' comments on the Jubilee which wasn't much of a Pageant and the rightful criticism that the BBC received for its cover- problem, but nowadays age of the event. To add to Stephen's they are propelled by examples of the dire commentary, at one point the commentator said: "In propellers and you can't the old days they [narrowboats] were always get them round pulled by horses, the corners” which wasn't much of a problem, but sue of NABO News and would really nowadays they are like you to consider whether you can propelled by pro- help out. Chas Moore recounts his pellers and you can't experiences dealing with the diesel always get them bug and there is an update on pro- round the corners" gress from the CRT Trustees. Tony (!!—my exclamation Haynes continues his look back at marks). what was happening in NABO in While out on the 1995 and also has an article on the boat last month, lack of government support to en- I noticed an in- able the Drax power station, a land- creased number of signs mark on the north-east waterways, on houses adjacent to use more environmentally sus- to the canals, reading tainable fuels. Stephen Peters offers 'Private, No Mooring' some tips on how to reduce boat- or similar sentiments. ing costs and Simon Robbins offers Surely these have no le- his views on BW's consultation on gal basis and BW/CRT houseboat certificates. My apolo- should ask (tell?) the gies to Canaldrifter for putting the owners to take them down. If people wrong crossword grid in the last don't like moored boats near to their issue; the correct one is in this is- houses they have the option of find- sue. Also apologies to Peter Lloyd ing a place to live that isn't next to a for omitting to credit his reservoir towpath. Grump over. photo, again corrected in this issue. In this issue, David Fletcher looks Finally, the good news; the tor- forward to the CRT launch, now rential rain over the last two months expected in July and summarises may have led to some unpleasant recent BW reports on boat move- days afloat but it has refilled the res- ments and enforcement. He again ervoirs and the boating restrictions calls for more members to help run are now lifted. Let's now hope for a NABO—we ask in nearly every is- spell of proper summer weather. NABO News Issue 4 July 2012 5 The Chairman's Column Boaters say... what? The future of the canals and the future of NABO exercises chairman David Fletcher. o the launch is anticipated pect to pick up the cost through in- in July and CRT is setting up creased licence fees. I will watch for Sevents in anticipation that new licence figures with interest. We Parliament will approve the move. have seen that there was little if any I recognise that not everybody is growth in 2011 and I suspect the as enthusiastic about this as Robin impact of the disgraceful red diesel Evans and me. The main uncertain- tax is blighting usage too. I think the ties of funding are just the same as boating market is fragile and licence those of the British economy and increases of inflation plus 2% are not there is no obvious antidote to any of sustainable. It is in nobody’s interest this. Just this morning a senior civil to quench the market with increas- servant was on the radio speculat- es above inflation for licences and ing on 10 more years of cuts. Where moorings. would the waterways system be in Your Council were also looking ten years with less and less grant-in- ahead for next year. We really do aid? The money will be tight for the need new faces, with new enthusi- CRT; the grant is not generous, but asm and new ideas to come and take it will be 'ours'. Anything extra from part in the committee work. A cou- fundraising and volunteering is ours ple of long-term Council members too and will not leak away to general have said they were considering not taxation. It has to be better. to stand again in November and so more than ever we need new can- Keep 'em ahead didates to come forward and help. Our minds must now turn to the There are many ways you can help, priorities for boaters going forward. from front line or back room, one- NABO Council members discussed off projects or regular tasks. Please this at the meeting in June and their do get in touch and see how we can concerns were: the price of boating; get you involved.