THE National Bargee Travellers Association claims a new review into licensing could see the end of travelling life on the UK’s waterways.
The association, which represents 2000 boat owners who travel the waterways but don’t have a home mooring, believes the Canal & River Trust’s (CRT) new independent review of licensing may try to remove its members from the network.
The CRT commission, which is due to complete its review by September, will take on board views from the boating community. It will look at whether boat licensing is appropriate, how it is applied and operated, and potential legal changes (see story on page 22 of this month’s Towpath Talk).
The report will be submitted to the Canal & River Trust board and its work will be overseen by the newly constituted boating sub-committee of the board, chaired by David Orr CBE, the trust’s chairman.
A spokesman said the trust didn’t know at this stage what the commission might recommend, but added the CRT licence fee structure was already set up until 2028.
However, the NBTA believes the CRT may try to use the commission, which is independent, to change the legislation around licensing, which may be detrimental to itinerant boaters.
In a statement, the NBTA said: “The rights of itinerant boaters to live on their boats while navigating the waterways has been enshrined in common law and practice since the construction of the canals (and before that in the case of navigable rivers) and codified specifically in the British Waterways Act 1995.
“It appears that CRT aims to remove our community and replace us with more profitable alternatives. If recent history is any indication, these options will likely include chargeable towpath moorings for leisure boats, business moorings, and selling off public land to private developers.”
There are approximately 35,000 licensed boats on the 2000-mile network managed by the CRT. There is a mixture of liveaboard boaters, some who live at moorings and others who continuously cruise. Other licensed boats are used for leisure and business.
In response to the NBTA’s claims, the CRT’s head of boating, Matthew Symonds said: “We don’t recognise the NBTA’s assertions.
“Our charity’s canals have never been busier: there are more boats on them than at the height of the Industrial Revolution. It’s our charity’s job to manage the canals fairly for all, including for those living afloat. This means interpreting and applying legislation that dates back many decades. Some boaters tell us that the legislation doesn’t go far enough, while others believe there shouldn’t be any regulation of boater activity at all.
“So, without prejudging what the commission will conclude, this is one area that it will consider over the months ahead.”
