The Boaters Action Group

The following is a summary of the new BW proposals, outlined at a meeting between BAG and Matthew Routledge, Area Manager of GU South. To view the full minutes in MS Word format click here.

BW have dropped the proposal for a district morring fee as outlined eleswhere on this site. Instead they intend to come up with a binding definition of what constitutes bona fide Navigation for the purposes of the Waterways Act 1995.

The waterways act allows BW to refuse a licence to any boater that (amongst other things) either does not have a permanent mooring, or can not satisfy the board (BW) that their craft will be used for bona fide Navigation, without remaining continuously in any one place for more than 14 days or such longer period as is reasonable in the circumstances.

What the act does not define is what constitutes bona fide navigation or what constitutes a place. BW plan to consult with national user groups and individual boaters to put in place a firm definition of these terms and so set out clearly what is and what is not continuous cruising.

The consultation process outlined by Matthew Routledge involves sending a consultation paper to all boaters registered as not having a permanent mooring, along with a sample of boaters that do have permanent moorings. On this document will be a slip to return your comments about the proposal and a place to indicate if you would like to be involved in the second phase of boater consultation, which is a series of 6 nationwide focus groups. The focus groups will each be made up of 6 non-moorers and 6 moorers.

back to top

It is important that people return their views to BW as this will be the only chance people get to have a say on the proposals. BW still plan to include the new definitions in their revised terms and conditions to be issued 1st April 2003.

Anyone that fails to prove to BW that they have satisfied the requirements for bona fide navigation may well be refused a licence at their next application and asked to leave the waterway.

The proposal put to BAG by Matthew Routledge is as follows. It should be noted that the distances used are part of the consultation process and may go up or down depending upon the results.

Proposal:

A) 14 days after being in one place you must have moved a modest distance, suggested 20 lock miles where 1 lock mile = 1 mile of canal without a lock or one lock. For example, a 2-mile stretch of canal with 3 locks in it equals 5 lock miles.

B) 14 days after arriving at your second location you must have moved a further 20 lock miles. This third location must be 20 lock miles from your second location and at least 20 lock miles from your first location. I.e. forward 20 lock miles and then back 20 lock miles is only 20 lock miles - not 40.

C) 14 days after arriving at your third location you must move a further 20 lock miles. This could be a return to your initial starting point, i.e the cycle starts again as per paragraph A.

D) Every 3 months you must move at least 120 lock miles away from your 3 months starting point. Those 120 lock miles may be the same as the previous 3 months 120 lock miles. Your cruising pattern should then continue as per paragraph A.

E) You may move the required distances either in gradual stages throughout the various time periods or in one go at the end of each period.

Back to top

BW plan to send out the consultation papers to boaters in middle to late December and want responses by the middle of January. Please check your registered postal addresses frequently to make sure you have time to consider the proposals and respond.