When CRT made the announcement in March 2015 about the distance it expected boaters to travel in its new enforcement policy against those without home moorings, Bargee Travellers feared that this distance would be increased over time. It appears that the goalposts were moved after less than a year.
On 10th March 2015 CRT stated here that “Whilst this means that we cannot set a universal minimum distance for compliance, we can advise that it is very unlikely that someone would be able to satisfy us that they have been genuinely cruising if their range of movement is less than 15-20 miles over the period of their licence. In most cases we would expect it to be greater than this.”
However, a Mid Point Reminder sent on 20th April 2016 to a boater without a home mooring by Aileen O’Connor, National Boating Co-ordinator, stated a distance of 20 miles:
“To make sure everyone has a fair chance of mooring on our canals and rivers it’s important to respect the movement requirements. This means cruising to a new place at least once a fortnight and being on a genuine journey over the course of the licence period. Boaters often ask us ‘how far is far enough’ and we have advised that it’s very unlikely that someone would be able to satisfy us that they’ve been genuinely cruising if their range of movement is less than 20 miles. In most cases we would expect it to be greater than this.”
CRT does not have the legal power to specify any distance that is required for compliance let alone keep increasing it. The fact that CRT’s Guidance for Boaters Without a Home Mooring has not been revised to include either of the above references to the distance expected by CRT is proof of that. Join the NBTA and help to stop this punitive enforcement policy.