A boater is bringing a legal challenge to the Elmbridge Borough Council Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that prohibits mooring on the Council’s land on the River Thames for more than 24 hours. The Order initially came into force in March 2024. As the result of this legal challenge, Elmbridge Council has suspended the PSPO. […]
Author: NBTA
Public Inquiry into proposed PLA Harbour Revision Order
The Port of London Authority (PLA) has been attempting to enact a Harbour Revision Order (HRO) since 2019 and has carried out at least two consultations with boaters and other interested parties. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), which is the body that authorises HROs, has recently made it known that it will carry out a […]
NBTA calls for CRT to drop range requirement following publication of boater census report
The National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA), which represents thousands of itinerant boat dwellers living on the UK’s waterways, is calling for the end of the Canal & River Trust’s (CRT’s) current enforcement policy. CRT – the charity that manages the majority of the UK’s inland waterways – has this week published the full results of […]
Kennet and Avon NBTA meeting, 20th August, online
The next online meeting of the K&A NBTA branch will be on Tuesday 20th August 2024 at 7pm . Get involved and have your say!
Boat Safety Scheme issues urgent safety alert for some Morco LPG water heaters
The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) is working with Morco in support of its on-going campaign to find and fix potentially dangerous models of its LPG water heaters that may leak gas causing fires or explosions.
CRT plans to restructure its enforcement team
In a meeting between NBTA and Canal & River Trust (CRT) in May 2024, CRT informed us that it would be carrying out a major restructuring of its licence support [ie enforcement] and welfare teams to separate welfare from enforcement. CRT has been consulting with staff and unions with a view to implementing the new […]
Boaters can use household recycling centres after complaint to Council
Itinerant boat dwellers have been turned away from local authority household recycling centres due to not being able to produce evidence of local residency such as a Council Tax bill. A liveaboard boater family travelling around Hertfordshire and Essex challenged this exclusion recently on the basis that it amounted to discrimination. They complained to both […]
Environment Agency consultation on registration fees, ends 16th August
The Environment Agency (EA) is running a consultation on increasing its boat registration charges by 9% from 1st January 2025. The deadline for responding has been extended to 16th August 2024 as a result of the General Election. Please respond to the consultation if you use or live on EA waterways either permanently or temporarily, […]
The Glide Path
With some confusion and a seeming lack of wide alarm at a 5% rising to 25% surcharge on the licence fees of boats without a home mooring, CRT’s ‘glide path’, which introduces incremental and differential licence pricing between now and 2028, could well be intentionally deceptive.
New NBTA K&A branch, first meeting 3rd June
A new branch of the NBTA is forming on the Kennet & Avon Canal! The first branch meeting will take place online on Monday 3rd June 2024 at 7pm. Come to the meeting to discuss and plan actions and support for liveaboard boaters locally!