Post by Aloysius on Sept 16, 2023 11:17:24 GMT
"Canal and River Trust praised for tough crackdown on 'boaters camps'"
Residents have praised the actions of the Canal and River Trust in clearing up 'messy' sections of Wiltshire's waterways where boaters camps had sprung up.
People living near the Kennet & Avon towpath say they have been fed up with people leaving a mess along its route through Bradford on Avon.
In April the trust, which manages over 2,000 miles of Britain’s inland waterways and canals, launched a crackdown on unlicensed canal boats as well as 'camps' that had sprung up alongside the path.
Some residents who have long complained about the mess made by boaters moored between Bradford on Avon and Avoncliff welcomed the action taken.
One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I and many of my friends who are residents of Bradford on Avon have continually complained to the Canal Trust about the disgraceful state of the boats in question and detritus in the surrounding area, and totally support the action taken by the Canal Trust.
“It has been made an unpleasant place these last few years for walkers and cyclists who use the towpath, as these particular boaters seem to be a law unto themselves and flout the basic rules of keeping a boat on the canal, one of which, I imagine, is that your boat should have an engine.”
Another said: “It's a bone of contention for many residents in Bradford on Avon who have complained to the Trust.
“When we moved here nine years ago the canal towpath was a very pleasant walk to Avoncliff. There were plenty of walkers and cyclists also enjoying the towpath.
“We took our many visitors on this walk. We no longer use this walk for visitors and rarely use it ourselves.
“The Canal Trust, which is run by mostly volunteers, have tried to make the canal between BoA and Avoncliff a pleasant environment.
“Their funding has now been cut drastically. It is costing them money to bring these boaters to court. Money they can't afford.”
The Trust said it had taken action following complaints about anti-social behaviour and hygiene in the area close to Smelly Bridge.
Boaters had moored their boats there for many years and had created 'eyesore' camps on the canal towpath where they socialised with each other.
These camps are now being dismantled by the Trust, which is removing the rubbish the boaters have left behind after their boats were removed.
The Trust said: “Some long-standing and complex cases near to Bradford on Avon have recently reached a conclusion, but the Trust faces similar challenges locally and elsewhere on its 2,000 mile network.
"Canal & River Trust always try to resolve licence issues and challenge boater behaviour which negatively impacts other waterway and towpath users.
“Most boaters keep their boats licensed and meet the licence requirements. When this isn’t the case, we try to find solutions with the boaters concerned, with boaters having many opportunities to resolve the issues before enforcement action is taken.
“The Government’s recent announcement of cuts to future funding of the Trust and continued lack of provision for inflation equates to a reduction of over £300 million in real-terms funding over a ten-year period.
“Protecting valuable licence income is vital and, whilst enforcement action can be expensive, it is important to show boaters who support the Trust by correctly licensing their boat that action is taken where boats remain unlicensed."
Here's a link if you want to read the comments section:
www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/23787651.canal-river-trust-praised-tough-crackdown-boaters-camps/
Residents have praised the actions of the Canal and River Trust in clearing up 'messy' sections of Wiltshire's waterways where boaters camps had sprung up.
People living near the Kennet & Avon towpath say they have been fed up with people leaving a mess along its route through Bradford on Avon.
In April the trust, which manages over 2,000 miles of Britain’s inland waterways and canals, launched a crackdown on unlicensed canal boats as well as 'camps' that had sprung up alongside the path.
Some residents who have long complained about the mess made by boaters moored between Bradford on Avon and Avoncliff welcomed the action taken.
One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I and many of my friends who are residents of Bradford on Avon have continually complained to the Canal Trust about the disgraceful state of the boats in question and detritus in the surrounding area, and totally support the action taken by the Canal Trust.
“It has been made an unpleasant place these last few years for walkers and cyclists who use the towpath, as these particular boaters seem to be a law unto themselves and flout the basic rules of keeping a boat on the canal, one of which, I imagine, is that your boat should have an engine.”
Another said: “It's a bone of contention for many residents in Bradford on Avon who have complained to the Trust.
“When we moved here nine years ago the canal towpath was a very pleasant walk to Avoncliff. There were plenty of walkers and cyclists also enjoying the towpath.
“We took our many visitors on this walk. We no longer use this walk for visitors and rarely use it ourselves.
“The Canal Trust, which is run by mostly volunteers, have tried to make the canal between BoA and Avoncliff a pleasant environment.
“Their funding has now been cut drastically. It is costing them money to bring these boaters to court. Money they can't afford.”
The Trust said it had taken action following complaints about anti-social behaviour and hygiene in the area close to Smelly Bridge.
Boaters had moored their boats there for many years and had created 'eyesore' camps on the canal towpath where they socialised with each other.
These camps are now being dismantled by the Trust, which is removing the rubbish the boaters have left behind after their boats were removed.
The Trust said: “Some long-standing and complex cases near to Bradford on Avon have recently reached a conclusion, but the Trust faces similar challenges locally and elsewhere on its 2,000 mile network.
"Canal & River Trust always try to resolve licence issues and challenge boater behaviour which negatively impacts other waterway and towpath users.
“Most boaters keep their boats licensed and meet the licence requirements. When this isn’t the case, we try to find solutions with the boaters concerned, with boaters having many opportunities to resolve the issues before enforcement action is taken.
“The Government’s recent announcement of cuts to future funding of the Trust and continued lack of provision for inflation equates to a reduction of over £300 million in real-terms funding over a ten-year period.
“Protecting valuable licence income is vital and, whilst enforcement action can be expensive, it is important to show boaters who support the Trust by correctly licensing their boat that action is taken where boats remain unlicensed."
Here's a link if you want to read the comments section:
www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/23787651.canal-river-trust-praised-tough-crackdown-boaters-camps/
