Just Cruisin'

Ralph Freeman

Our liveaboard
boat

Overstayer at Willington

I WAS interested to read British Waterways reply regarding the current situation. I wonder if the spokesperson understands that the softly, softly or slowly, slowly approach employed merely encourages overstaying? Why not make it perfectly clear and put up signs saying 'Moorings are 48 hours if you are a responsible boater, or as long as you like if you are not'. That is the situation at the moment.

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Three months on a 48 hours mooring

This problem has been around for years and British Waterways has done nothing to streamline the process of dealing with anti-social boaters who clearly don't intend to comply with any of the rules. I'm the first to admit the problem may not be easy, but many things in life aren't. Negotiating a flight of locks on a winter's day isn't 'easy' but many boaters do it without a second thought. Perhaps what is needed is a bit of determination and a desire to make things better in the future?

At present, these overstayers just laugh when you threaten to report them. Their reply usually takes the form of "Waterways? What can they do?" (I've removed the expletives!). The frustrating thing for the majority of boaters is I think that just about sums up the situation.

Big Brother is watching

DURING the last few months the Grey Nomad has been checked by British Waterways patrol officers with their portable computers on several occasions, such as Stourbridge, Stoke Golding and Barton Turns. I have seen information implying that as well as checking the licence, the location, time and date of the sighting of the boat is recorded too. This prompted numerous questions, a selection of which are listed below:

1) Do boaters know that this information is being collected and stored?

2) Is this data stored regionally or on a central database?

3) What is this data being used for?

4) Do boaters have access to this data to ensure it's validity?

It seems 'big brother' is watching you on the cut!

All change

IV'E BEEN on one of my winter mini mooches on the lower reaches of the Trent & Mersey canal. It's been very quiet out there, with around one boat/day going past, but not a Canaltime in sight. This has never happened to me before. Mind you, I've only just cottoned on to the fact that Canaltime no longer operate out of nearby Alvercote on the Coventry canal. It certainly is a case of 'all change' these days in the hire boat sector as well as the private one.

All the photographs on this page are by the author.

All change at Barton Turns

BARRY Morgan, the owner, recently changed the management line-up at the marina and the atmosphere has now reverted to how it was when I arrived nearly six years ago. In the intervening period, customer service seemed to be non existent. Boaters joked about forming an escape committee from 'Stalag Luft Barton', such was the ambience created once the likes of Viv Scragg had left the offices. However, with no moorings available elsewhere boaters were forced to pay good money and keep quiet!

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Calm at Barton Turns

All that is in the past however, and with Lorraine and Niki running the office you always feel welcome to pop in to collect mail/parcels and of course pay your fees. There are even notices in reception saying liveaboards are welcome with moorings available! How often do you see that?

Boaters seem to be welcome in the Waterfront pub/restaurant now, which was definitely not the case when it opened. One could be churlish and suggest the change of stance could be explained by the opening of Mercia Marina and the current financial debacle, but I'm pleased to say Barton Marina is now definitely boater friendly.

Shakespeare move out

THE Shakespeare Classic Line of hire/time-share boats is relocating to Mercia Marina for 2009. The support crew at KASCO, who operated the wharf at Barton Marina, are following them to Willington it would seem. This means in 2009 there will be a new business operating the diesel/pumpout/boat shed at Barton Marina but the new occupant has not been named yet as the legal side has not been completed at the time of writing I've been told.

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'Shakey' on the move

Anglo Welsh Move In

THERE are strong rumours that Anglo Welsh might be moving a small number of boats into the marina in the new year. Again it seems that contracts have yet to be signed.

More rumours

A FEW months ago Midland Chandlery were hot favourites to set up a chandlery at Mercia Marina. However, the deal seems to have gone cold recently, so we'll have to wait and see on that one too.