Resist CRT mooring restrictions in Milton Keynes!

Canal & River Trust (CRT) has imposed further mooring restrictions in Milton Keynes, a move which will make life harder for Bargee Travellers in the area and reduce their ability to exercise their rights to stay for 14 days in any one place conferred by Section 17(3)(c)(ii) of the British Waterways Act 1995. There is already a significant number of mooring restrictions in the town.

CRT has imposed time limits of 48 hours on 300 metres of 14 day moorings and on 50 metres of 7 day moorings at five places in Milton Keynes. These restrictions are located between bridges 70A and 71 at Wolverton; at bridge 78 at Gifford Park; between bridges 82 and 81b at Campbell Park; between bridges 83 and 82a at Woolstone; and south of bridge 91 at Simpson.

All of the 48-hour restrictions are proposed to revert to 14 days between 1st November and 31st March. CRT has stated that it will review the impact of the mooring restrictions in summer 2022.

Please join the NBTA’s campaign to resist these mooring restrictions. They represent yet another encroachment on the rights and needs of Bargee Travellers to moor for 14 days in one place (or longer if reasonable in the circumstances). CRT’s strategy of incrementally reducing the 14-day mooring space so that Bargee Travellers’ lives become untenable is unacceptable. Please tell CRT that you object to the 48 hour mooring restrictions, why you object, and that you will refuse to comply with them.

CRT is inviting comments on each of the five mooring restrictions. All comments and objections should be sent to enquiries.londonsoutheast@canalrivertrust.org.uk with the following references in the subject line: SIMP48; WOOL48; WOLV48; CAMP48 and GIFF48.

Please also write to the local MPs for Milton Keynes, Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North and Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South. Contact ben.everitt.mp@parliament.uk or 01908 686830 and iain.stewart.mp@parliament.uk or 01908 686830 (they share an office).

The full text of CRT’s mooring restriction proposals is below.

“Simpson

We are proposing to install 100m of 48hr Visitors Moorings South of Bridge 91, close to the Plough Public House, MK6 3AH

Any feedback on this proposed change Please email enquiries.londonsoutheast@canalrivertrust.org.uk With the reference SIMP48 in the subject line.

Woolstone

We are proposing to install 50m of 48hr Visitors Moorings between Bridge 83 and Bridge 82a on the Grand Union Main Line

Any feedback on this proposed change Please email enquiries.londonsoutheast@canalrivertrust.org.uk With the reference WOOL48 in the subject line.

Wolverton

We are proposing to install a new 48 hour Visitor Mooring between Bridge 70A Stephenson’s and 71 Stratford Road – 50m of 48 Hour Moorings

Any feedback on this proposed change Please email enquiries.londonsoutheast@canalrivertrust.org.uk With the reference WOLV48 in the subject line

Campbell Park

We are proposing to install 100m of 48hr Visitors Moorings Between Bridge 82 and 81b. Visitor mooring to be in the middle and not obstructing the bridge holes.

Any feedback on this proposed change please email enquiries.londonsoutheast@canalrivertrust.org.uk With the reference CAMP48 in the subject line.

Gifford Park

We are proposing to convert part of existing 7-day mooring to 48hr visitor mooring. – 50m. Starting at the bridge hole of Bridge 78 and continues north to first mooring bollard for the facility moorings.

Any feedback on this proposed change Please email enquiries.londonsoutheast@canalrivertrust.org.uk With the reference GIFF48 in the subject line.”

According to a Freedom of Information response from CRT,  two unspecified lengths of towpath moorings have been made into ‘No Mooring’ zones:

“The region has also removed some towpath mooring due to navigational safety concerns: Grove Lock Marina – after a second level complaint – no mooring in front of layby marina; Campbell Park Marina – no mooring opposite layby marina. Also one towpath mooring has been removed opposite The Old Barge Pub while the development continues at Bircherley Street for a pick up and drop off mooring for the local trip boat as their old mooring is unusable throughout the build.” The full request is here https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/change_of_mooring_status

See

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/19882-simpson-48hr-visitor-mooring-proposal

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/19880-woolstone-48hr-visitors-mooring-proposal

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/19877-wolverton-48hr-visitor-mooring-proposal

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/19879-campbell-park-48hr-visitor-mooring-proposal

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/19878-gifford-park-48hr-visitor-mooring-proposal