British Waterways launches moorings policy consultation

2 November 2009

British Waterways (BW) has launched a three month consultation inviting views on its proposed policy for both leisure and residential moorings in England and Wales.

Addressing some of the challenges arising from the sustained growth and popularity in boating, the consultation primarily considers how mooring space along the waterways should be managed.

This consultation is about three related areas of moorings policy:

• Firstly, where, and for how long, boats should be permitted to moor in areas of particularly high usage. This could see rules pertaining to length of stay being set through a process of local, stakeholder-led mooring strategies in areas where problems are most pressing. It could also include the levying of daily charges for overstaying boats at particularly congested short term moorings;

• The second policy is not new: it simply re-states for the purpose of context BW’s commitment to control expansion of long term mooring along the line of the canal and to reduce it when new offline marinas are opened;

• Finally, the consultation recognises a particular growth in residential boating and sets out BW policy, including the encouragement of further official residential moorings at suitably located and well managed mooring sites.

Robin Evans, BW’s chief executive, comments: “There is no question that boats are good for both local economies and the wider network, and this consultation considers mooring policy in the context of an ever increasing number of boats.

“The consultation looks at how we best manage the limited space along the line of the canals to protect the qualities that make them so special, not only to boaters but to the public at large. It identifies policies which promote harmony and protection of the waterway environment as intensity of use increases, and how such rules can be efficiently applied.”

The proposals in the consultation have been shaped and developed with input from national boating organisations, whilst policy on residential moorings has been underpinned by primary research amongst existing and potential residential boaters conducted in collaboration with the Residential Boat Owners Association.

Robin continues: “We are most grateful to the many representatives of national boating organisations for the time and expertise they have given us over the past 12 months. We have modified our thinking considerably as a result of their input and hope very much that the resulting fresh proposals will meet with general support.”

The consultation will be of interest to boat owners, particularly residential boaters, boating trade and anglers, but also waterside businesses, neighbours and local authorities. Comments are invited by 31 January 2010. For more information visit www.britishwaterways.co.uk/mooringconsultation09.

Ends

For further media information, please contact:
Jonathan Ludford: 020 7985 7275 / jonathan.ludford@britishwaterways.co.uk

Notes to editors:

British Waterways is the public corporation that cares for a 2,200-mile network of canals and navigable rivers across the country and works with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector partners to improve the social, economic and environmental benefits of the inland waterways. For more information visit www.britishwaterways.co.uk

The consultation process has incorporated advice from the Inland Waterways Association, Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs, Residential Boat Owners Association, National Association of Boat Owners and other organisations represented at BW’s twice yearly ‘waterway users special interest groups’ meetings. It aims to meet the Cabinet Office Better Regulation Executive’s Code of Practice on Consultation.