Boat-dwellers unite in Hackney against ‘draconian’ clampdown on cruisers
Floating record shop at the gathering on the Regent’s Canal. Photograph: David Roberts
A clampdown on cruising boaters by the UK’s canal regulator was criticised as ‘draconian’ by boat-dwellers at a Towpath Gathering on Hackney’s Regent’s Canal on Sunday.
A floating marketplace and stages carrying jugglers, singers and performers lined the towpath along Victoria Park to celebrate those who live on the waterways and their way of life.
But the gathering also aimed to raise awareness about the Canal and River Trust’s (CRT) plans to clampdown on boaters with continuous cruiser licences who “do not move often enough”.
Under the changes, those who the CRT believes are in breach of the 14-day rule are being refused annual licences, which could mean their boats are taken off the water. The stricter rules have been trialled on new boat-owners for a year.
If refused licenses, boaters are offered permanent moorings instead, but these coveted spots are prohibitively expensive for many and hard to come by.
A boat moored by Daubeney Fields. Photograph: Eleonore de Bonneval
The CRT has not specified how far the boaters must travel to keep within the rules. The British Waterways Act states that boats must move every 15 days but does not impose a travelling distance or pattern.
The National Bargee Traveller’s Association (NBTA), which campaigns and provides advice for itinerary boat dwellers across Britain’s waterways, argues that in bringing in this new enforcement process, CRT is attempting to “extend the scope of their legal powers”.
The NBTA spokesperson said: “As boaters, our way of live in currently being threatened as the Canal and River Trust have plans to impose draconian new changes to our licensing agreements.”
“The fears are that the distance enforced on could be increased incrementally and threaten the viability of itinerant boaters who live by the towpath yet need to stay within the London area for work, school, college or family and caring commitments.”
Boaters are concerned that those who lose their licences could be taken off the water, leaving people without anywhere to live. Mike Doherty, a volunteer for the NBTA said: “If a London boater is facing eviction and they really don’t want to go, we will be there to support them.”
At the event, Members of Radical Housing Network and grassroots campaign group Focus e15 gave speeches, and passers-by were encouraged to sign a petition calling on the government to “protect the homes” of itinerant boat dwellers.
Philip Atkinson, owner of the Floating Tea Shop. Photograph: David Roberts
But the Canal & River Trust said the changes were about “making things clearer”. A spokesperson said: “We know that people at the event have strong opinions about boating and we’re very happy to discuss things with them directly.
“We are clear where we stand: we welcome all boaters, but we do need to provide guidance on boat movements, so that everyone has fair access to the canals and rivers.
“The requirements for continuous cruisers aren’t changing. We’re still monitoring boat movement in the same way, and we’re not asking people to move any further if they are genuinely cruising.”
Other boating groups such as the National Association of Boat Owners and the Association of Continuous Cruisers support the plans.
When the policy changes were announced, The Association of Continuous Cruisers (ACC) said: “ACC are pleased to see that the Trust is improving communications to make boaters aware at an early stage of any possible infringement.”
the nabo doesn’t support the crt shenanigans.how did you get that mis-information?you making that up,right?
I really don’t get how the authorities are painted as being ‘draconian’ here. They are simply now enforcing rules that have always been there and have never changed. The people who feel threatened by the enforcement should recognise that when they took to the waters they would have to move along every two weeks. So it’s not really a sensible lifestyle if, say, you want your children to go to a local school. So if some of these people who refuse to abide by the rules get evicted – well I’m sorry, but we are all big and grown-up and you ought to take responsibility for your own foolish decisions instead of blaming someone else.
This isn’t a case of CRT enforcing the rules, I’m in total support off them doing that. This is about them imposing rules which are beyond their legal power, so they can force people onto the substandard moorings which they have sitting empty. Like most things it’s all about money ultimately.
A rule that says you have to move, we won’t tell you how far, but we will not renew your license if it’s not far enough.
Imagine if this was about cars, it would be an election issue.
it seems to me that CRT are standing by the rules they have always had in place and are trying to manage the huge growth in boaters over the last 18months particularly in the east London area. I’ve seen many boats stick to one small area which seems unfair to genuine cruisers who are unable to moor up.
Much of this surge in boaters is to do with the lack of affordable living options in London. It seems fair to me that boaters should move every 14 days. Part of living on a boat is that it moves, it seems to me this is an essential part the lifestyle.
But this may be increasingly difficult as boat dwellers get older or for those with disabilities or pregnant women. im no expert here and just spouting my opinion but could the following work as solutions?
1) issue extended cruising liscences for those with disabilities, pregnant women, older boaters or those who are unwell that alow them longer than 14 days
2) be clearer on where / how far boats can move.
3) increase affordable / social mooring spots
And
4) build more social housing particular in London where so many have been lost. Many people move to boats not because they want the lifestyle but because it’s all they can afford.
5) change school entry, GP and other public service policies to cater for boaters who may be outside the catchment area.
Mary and T, you’re right that it’s fair for boaters to have to move every 14 days. Unfortunately this article is completely factually wrong about the change CRT is making and the reason for the protest.
It has nothing to do with the 14 day law, which nobody has a problem with, and which has always been strictly enforced. Nor is it about the legal requirement to move to a different place, which no one has a problem with and is already strictly enforced. The problem is CRT have made up their own rule about cruising range which they wish was in the law, and are trying to enforce it as if it was the law.
And in fact the worse problem is the way they’re changing enforcement practice. Instead of revoking a boater’s licence, which gives the boater the chance to go to court and prove he was acting within the law, they’ve begun quietly allowing boaters to keep their licences until they naturally expire and then suddenly refusing to grant a new one. This gives anyone falsely accused of breaking their licence conditions no opportunity to defend themselves in court and they are immediately made homeless.
The original intent of the continuous cruising licence was for those making, as it says, a continuous cruise not 5 miles up and 5 miles back. The abuse of this means that there are no moorings available in many locations for those who are genuinely continuous cruising. I cannot blame those who have bought boats lured by stories of the lovely life afloat and the cheapness of the accommodation in otherwise expensive areas but they are effectively squatting on the canal when others are paying thousands for moorings. The only solution, as I see it, is over time to abolish continuous cruising licences and insist that boats have home moorings.
Most boaters are polite and approachable. But far from all. For houseowners like my family, myself and my neighbours who live near the Regents Canal the antisocial boaters (Like that guy in your photo Philip Atkinson) becomes very tiring, fast: overstaying, returning back to the same spots, while running their engines many hours every day, playing loud music, arranging illegal and noisy gatherings.
So, we welcome this move by the CRT: and don’t be surprised that the biggest protesters are often the most antisocial boaters around!
So you think you would be able to park your mobile home anywhere you like