Today, at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, a Psychotherapy and Mental Health Skills Coaching Service for itinerant boat dwellers has been launched, supported by the NBTA and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The NBTA sends its heartfelt thanks to all the people who play the National Lottery every week for helping […]
Criminalisation of trespass becomes law
On 27th April 2022 the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill received Royal Assent and has become law. Part Four of the Act makes trespass a criminal offence for the first time. Campaigners against the new law say that this is a direct attack on the traditional way of life of Gypsy and Traveller communities. […]
The NBTA is hiring! We’re looking for a part-time/casual Press Officer and a part-time/casual Minutes Secretary
The NBTA is hiring – we’re looking for a part-time / casual Press Officer to deal with incoming press requests and a part-time / casual Minutes Secretary to take minutes of the NBTA Committee, General and Extraordinary General Meetings. Please see the job descriptions below. The rate of pay is £15.00 per hour. These are […]
Only a week left to object to CRT plans to charge for towpath mooring in London – respond by 4th April!
Object now to Canal & River Trust’s (CRT) proposals for even more mooring restrictions in London! The consultation, which ends on 4th April 2022, proposes paid-for bookable short term moorings of less than 14 days, and further areas of restrictions on triple mooring and narrowboat to widebeam mooring. If implemented, this will yet again reduce […]
Hundreds join protest at CRT offices against ‘no mooring’ areas on the River Lea
On Saturday 26th March 2022, several hundred boaters and supporters converged on the Canal & River Trust (CRT) offices in Little Venice to protest against the imposition of new ‘no mooring’ areas on the River Lea in East London and CRT’s proposals for more paid-for visitor moorings on the towpath. CRT has imposed ‘no mooring’ […]
All members invited to NBTA Committee phone/Zoom meeting 3rd April
All NBTA members are invited to the NBTA Committee meeting which will be held by telephone and by Zoom on Sunday 3rd April 2022 at 2pm to 4pm. Members are invited to attend committee meetings and to take part in running the NBTA and deciding its next actions and priorities. If you have anything you […]
CRT appoints second welfare officer
Canal & River Trust (CRT) has appointed a second Welfare Officer, Michelle Simmonds,who is based in the North of England. She can be contacted via michelle.simmonds@canalrivertrust.org.uk. Sean Williams, who was appointed in November 2014 to the then new post of Welfare Officer, will continue to handle existing welfare cases and provide cover for the welfare […]
Environment Act application of Smoke Control Areas to boats will not come into force until May 2022
The NBTA is lobbying DEFRA to provide guidance to local authorities on how to avoid injustice to Bargee Travellers in the application of Smoke Control Areas to boats. We have received a response from DEFRA, who have informed us that the legislation will not come into force until May 2022. The NBTA has put detailed […]
EA cancelled Thames enforcement contract due to underestimating its value
More information has been released by the Environment Agency (EA) about the reasons it terminated the contract with car parking company District Enforcement (DE) to enforce time limits on the EA’s own visitor moorings on the River Thames. Following its termination of the contract on 30th July 2021, the EA carried out an internal review […]
No more monetisation of London’s waterways!
On 21st December 2021, just before Christmas, Canal & River Trust (CRT) sneaked out a further consultation regarding proposals for even more mooring restrictions in London, including paid-for bookable short term moorings of less than 14 days, and further areas of restrictions on triple mooring and narrowboat to widebeam mooring. If they are put into […]