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Waterside developments grind to a halt as the house building bubble bursts

EVERY week now there is news of waterside development being stopped owing to the credit crunch that is now upon us, Alan Tilbury reveals.

The latest is the £180 million Walsall Waterfront development, as the company Urban Splash told 280 of its staff this week, that were to work on the massive transformation of the canalside, they are to be laid off.

The Manchester based company that had created many waterside developments, and extensive ones by the side of the Bridgewater Canal in the city, was hoping to 'start in earnest' this Autumn, with a great deal of groundwork already having taken place.

But this has all now been halted, with a spokesman from Urban Splash revealing:

“The company has held off job cuts as long as possible, however it is not alone in facing challenges as a result of wider economic circumstance.”

Two more British Waterways' developments halted

In Birmingham the proposed Icknield Port Loop massive 65 acres regeneration, has also been stopped, with developer Isis—the waterside development arm of British Waterways—being forced to cut half its staff.

The Icknield Port Loop development site has been hailed as one of the most important regeneration projects in the region with the potential for the development of between 3,000 and 4,000 homes and a million square feet of commercial space.

It had hoped to submit a planning application this summer but the economic situation has forced it to stop the process.

Now, Crest Nicholson, in association with British Waterways over the demolition and development of Merchant's Quay in Gloucester, have stated that they are pulling out of the deal and have withdrawn their planning permission application.

This is in addition to the many other stopped or cancelled developments that have been reported recently in narrowboatworld.

One was the massive Taylor Wimpey pulling out of its partnership with Fenland Council to build the £50 million Nene Waterfront Development in Wisbech.

Buying to let 'a dead duck'

Buying to let, has proved a good investment in the past, but Leonard Fower of a letting agency in Leeds warned: [He made the statement on the understanding we would not publish the name of the agency.]

"We have a number of properties on out books at various waterfront developments in the city and along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, that were purchased for let, but everybody is now dumping, so as it seems nothing will change for years, our only option is to sell at a loss. And even that is proving difficult.

"This kind of business is a dead duck, and if builders think they will sell their properties they have another think coming." He added, rather bluntly.

This follows the news, published last week is narrowboatworld of the resignation of the chairman of Lend Lease Europe, that specialises in developments for lease, believed because of the drastic downturn in people buying properties to let.

Offering free year's rent as a prize

Another developer, this time at Wolverton on the Grand Union Canal is offering a brand new fully furnished apartment rent free for a year, in a last-ditch attempt to create interest.

This is being offered as the prize in a draw open to anyone attending this week-end's launch party and showing interest, with drinks and even a boat trip on the Grand Union thrown in!

The last word from Leonard Fowler:

"When the biggest builders in the land are pulling out of building homes, you can take it that many of those [waterside] developments now in the pipeline will not see the light of day. Come back in a couple of years." 19/09

What price British Waterways 'customer satisfaction' now?

THE poll in narrowboatworld over the past few days asking British Waterways customers to make known their views, with the actual words of the poll 'Are you satisfied with British Waterway?' resulted in a definite thumbs down for the organisation.

A remarkable 81% of the votes cast gave a definite 'No' whilst just 19% stated they were satisfied.

36,372 votes registered

Altogether a total of 36,372 votes were confirmed in less than three days, with a fluctuation from 76% to 84% (No's) on the first day, Friday, (12th) then settling at 81% (No) and 19% (Yes) on the Saturday, then only a single percentage point difference on Sunday, the settling back at 81/19 with then little point in continuing the poll, as though more were voting, the percentages remained the same.

We are told that polls fluctuate greatly when first started as just a a few votes will alter the percentages, but when the votes get into the thousands, it takes many to alter just a single percentage point.

It is of course not possible to ascertain whether or not all voters were in fact customers of British Waterways, but as its own calculation included towpath visitors and the like, it could be assumed that there were very few that were not.

Real customers

But what is far more important is that as the huge majority of our readers are boaters, so it was the real customers that clearly showed their views—the paying customers in fact.

No longer can British Waterways claim the customer satisfaction that it widely publicises, not from real customers it seems.

Unlike the poll that was run in narrowboatworld some years ago, which was a rather amateur one, with anyone with the knowledge being able to manipulate it—and the reason it was stopped being used, this new one is commercially operated. We had tried a number of the free ones over the past two years, but none proved absolutely secure.

After this trial poll, which we used as a test to establish its security, we intend to sign up for a year's contract, to use the service to allow people to further show their feelings on a host of matters. We found it totally secure. Except for a period of about 20 minutes on Friday when the server was involved in sorting out the percentage bar (which we had somehow corrupted!) we were told people were able to vote more than once. But this was soon prevented when the problem was sorted, with no possibility of this happening at any other time, and anyone—even ourselves—manipulating the poll.

The company's customers include World Bank Group, Warner Bros and Samsung—so we are not in bad company.

Page views are wrong

But what we found surprising was that the actual page views on the Friday as registered by the poll server was 20,025, yet our own server states the Home page views as 10,318, which is obviously wrong.

After enquiring, our normal server told us: 'Due to technically unavoidable inaccuracies, some of the information may not be thoroughly acquired. Web pages with dynamic content (such as ours) cannot be handled properly'.

So it would seem that whilst we are telling you of 10,318 visits to the Home page in one day, this is only half the number, as this is all our server can register.

So it was confirmed that on Friday the Home page was visited 20,252 times, through perhaps the result of the poll. It seems we are much more popular that we thought! It is definitely the 'Age of the Internet'. 15/09

35 boats grounded as the Stourbridge Canal breaches

EARLY yesterday morning (Sunday) the embankment on the Stourbridge Canal gave way causing a massive breach leaving over 30 boats grounded as the water of over a two miles length of waterway drained away.

Water drained from Stourbridge Locks to the top of Stourton and the Stourbridge Town Arm, with 15 boats stranded on the Stourbridge Canal and 20 on the Stourbridge Town Arm.

The 20 metres section of bank that gave way

The breach is on the Stourbridge Canal from Middle Bridge to Wordsley Aqueduct. Engineers from British Waterways West Midlands were immediately called to site to assess the options for repair and are at present carrying out a full investigation into the breach. An annual inspection of the Stourbridge Canal was carried out three days ago, where no issues of concern were raised.

It has been estimated that a total of 65 mega litres of water has been lost, with most of the escaping water flowing into the Stour.

British Waterways have installed stop planks at Wordsley Junction, to enable a controlled re-watering of the Stourbridge Town Arm, this is currently taking place and should be complete by the end of the week. British Waterways is currently in touch with boaters affected by this breach.

One local business Black Country Narrowboats has been cut off due to the breach, however, British Waterways engineers are currently looking into the possibility of installing a temporary dam by Middle Bridge, on the Stourbridge Canal, which will enable the area where the business operates to be re-watered.

The navigation and towpath are both currently closed between Stourton and Stourbridge locks and at present, the breach section is anticipated to remain closed for a period of approximately four months, however, this timescale may be revised. At present no cause for the breach has been identified.

In the current climate there is little chance of the breach being repaired for some considerable time. 10/09

British Waterways response to the British Waterways Advisory Forum recommendations

IN A VERY prompt reply to the many recommendations on the unfairness of boat licensing by the British Waterways Advisory Forum, Simon Salem, Marketing & Customer Service Director, outlines the company's responses.

He admits that many good logical suggestions were made towards increasing fairer licence revenue, but wants further consultation with relevant interest groups for their comments and views on the various recommendations and British Waterways responses to them, remarking:

"We do not yet consider it practicable to set charges according to specific extent of usage. However, subject to certain limitations, British Waterways does have discretion to charge different prices for the use of its waterways by reference to identifiable classes or groups of vessels or customers. In doing this, we must have reasonable justification for charging one group a higher or lower level than another. Reasonable justifications include evidence that one group incurs higher costs in its use of the waterways."

This further justification appeared rather strange:

"Justification included an overall increase in consumer welfare—for example, charging a group with a higher willingness to pay a larger amount than a group with a lower willingness to pay. This is beneficial as it tends to result in greater participation amongst people with a lower willingness to pay."

Human nature itself dictates that nobody would have the willingness to pay more than they absolutely need to, so this statement is somewhat difficult to understand.

Doubt about increase in rivers-only licences

It would seem that those with rivers-only licences, should they present a broad front of opposition would be safe, immaterial of the findings of the report, with Simon relating:

"Because the river registration charge was defined by statute, this would require a Transport and Works Order to remove. It is something we would consider, but it would take expensive legal resource. We would propose deferring serious consideration of this until we are clearer on the other changes discussed in this document, but at this stage would welcome user group views. We would be unlikely to pursue this option in the face of broad opposition from the boating community."

However owners of broad beam boats it seems will not be so lucky:

"There appears general consensus from consultation that the length of a boat is an acceptable, if imperfect, proxy of the boat’s value, and therefore of the owner’s ability to pay. It does not therefore seem an unreasonable extension to this argument to accept that width as well as length should be taken into account in determining the fee.

"This option would result in a larger premium for owners of wide beam boats, and if this, rather than the above flat rate supplement were adopted, we would anticipate phasing in the higher fees over (say) three years."

Continuous cruisers should pay more

British Waterways recognises the consensus of opinion that continuous cruisers should pay more, for increased use of the waterways:

"£150 supplement for boats without a verified permanent mooring we believe would improve fairness and help us to reduce the problem of ‘continuous moorers’. The justification for introducing a higher fee for continuous cruisers would be a combination of the two arguments:

"Boats licenced as continuous cruisers generally use the network more intensively than those licenced with a home mooring. Indeed it is a requirement of a licence issued to a continuous cruiser to navigate throughout the term of the licence.

British Waterways wasted £1.75m on narrow lock bollards backed by suspect risk assessment

THOSE narrow lock bollards, which British Waterways' Simon Salem, Marketing & Customer Service Director admits cost £1.75 millions were backed by suspect Risk Assessment.

It was at the Inland Waterways Association National Festival, Simon admitted that British Waterways had 'got it wrong' over the installation of lockside bollards on narrow locks.

Photo: Graham Phillips

Not now to be used—dangerous!

It was a Risk Assessment taken by British Waterways Head of Health & Safety, A V Stammers on the 28th February, of which we have had sight, that it was stated 'Install appropriately located bollards where not already provided' to prevent the hazards of gate hang-ups, boat movement, vessel damage or injury.

Yet the same Risk Assessment stated that hang-up on the lock chamber wall, which is the greatest hazard for inexperienced boaters instructed to use ropes on bollards, was rated a low level risk.

High level is the most severe risk calculated, with low level the lowest.

Poured scorn

Every columnist in narrowboatworld and countless other correspondents poured scorn on the installation of those bollards, pointing out their danger with inexperienced boaters tying to them and risking being hung-up. Others pointed out that with the lack of grass mowing, they would soon become an unseen tripping hazard.

But most of all related that they were absolutely pointless in a narrow lock, with a rope down at such an angle quite unable to stop movement of boats in deep narrow locks, yet which was another of the reasons for installing them.

It is our columnist David Hymers, who today also reveals that there was no consultation whatsoever about their installation, it being a decision taken by British Waterways directors alone.

Consultation by the users groups, experienced in boating, would soon have pointed out the dangers, and so saved yet more money being needlessly thrown away by British Waterways.

Now there will be the cost of removing them. 17/09

Red diesel rate settled—it's to be a 60/40 split for propulsion and domestic—but...

AFTER a great deal of uncertainty about the future tax on red diesel, HM Revenue & Customs have plumbed for the 60/40 split for propulsion and 'domestic use' in the main. But, those who use their diesel purely for propulsion, will be expected to pay tax at the full rate.

Broken down, this means that for every 100 litres purchased, 40 litres will be subject to the current rate of duty— 9.69 pence per litre with 5% VAT and 60 litres will be subject to full duty— 50.35 pence per litre with 17.5% VAT.

Result of lobbying

This is the result of lobbying by user groups for an 'acceptable' cut that allows for use of fuel for power and domestic use such as heating. It will do away with the nightmare of calculation for sellers if the other suggestion of boaters' deciding their own split was adopted.

The announcement was made yesterday, Friday, at the Southampton Boat Show, but boaters will still be required to sign a declaration saying this percentage is accurate however, but will not need to keep extensive records of fuel use.

Residential owners who do not use their engines for propulsion will be able to declare this, but will still need to provide evidence should the authority decide to follow up on their declaration.

Virtually settled

In the last few days the British Marine Federation were complaining about the lack of any decision by HM Revenue & Customs, as reported in narrowboatworld, but all is now virtually settled.

We are told that the concerns of users about the difficulty of calculating and apportioning their own intended usage accurately and worries about unintentionally making an inaccurate declaration, was taken into account.

However, the allowance will not be carved in stone, and should a boater require all his diesel for propulsion—such as when having no domestic use—then they must declare their actual intended usage.

Many boaters use solid fuel coupled with gas and have petrol generators, so will not be able to claim the split.

Residential boaters, claiming all diesel use for domestic use must produce documentation such as a Houseboat Licence, Residential Mooring Licence, Council Tax Bill or other such documentation which provides proof of permanent residency.

Continuous cruisers cannot claim

Continuous cruisers/moorers may not declare 0% under these arrangements, even if they reside permanently on their craft, in view of the 14 days movement rule.

We are told that HM Revenue & Customs will take any defrauding very seriously, with the likelihood of prosecution should any boaters be found to be claiming for what they are not entitled. 12/09

See the Feature

Bleak future for boaters as BW wants an extra £5 millions from boat licensing

THE meeting of the British Waterways Advisory Forum spelt out a bleak future indeed for boaters, as British Waterways stated it wants an extra £5 millions raising from licence revenue over the next three years, with 9% plus inflation for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

This would bring its licensing income up from the present £13 millions to £18 millions a year.

Broad beam boats would no longer be licenced on length only, but would pay extra for width, the forum being told that whereas narrowboats can share broad locks, a broad beam boat uses all the water itself. Either a 10% increase or a flat extra £50 would raise around £200,000 a year.

No rivers-only licences

A big shock however is the proposal to do away with rivers-only licences, which means those boaters with such licences would see the cost rise by 40%. This would raise £600,000 a year.

Continuous cruisers raised a great deal of debate, with the feeling that they must pay extra, with a figure of a maximum of £150 suggested, as an extra facilities charge, which is estimated at 10% of the cost of a good mooring. This would generate about £300,000 in a full year.

When it was revealed that all who pay for moorings, no matter where, 9% of the fee goes direct to British Waterways, shot down once and for all the claim that paying moorers subscribe no more than continuous cruisers to the system.

No continuous moorers within two years

Continuous moorers came in for a great deal of criticism, owing to their abuse of the rules, and the forum wants tighter enforcement with the suggestion that user groups should establish a program of regular volunteer patrols to assist British Waterways in its enforcement of the 14 days rule.

It was then expected that enforcement action would be taken with the complete end of continuous moorers within two years.

It was also recommended that licences should clearly show the type of licence and the type of mooring, which would encourage use of the evasion hotline. Something which narrowboatworld has been promoting for years.

A fine for non-display

It was recommended British Waterways should impose a fine for non-display of the licence.

To crack down on sail-aways not being licenced whilst being fitted out is was recommended that builders should report deliveries of new boats to British Waterways.

Unlicenced boats would not be tolerated, with the 'licence it or lose it' campaign gaining momentum, with an internet facility to enable anyone to check if a boat is licenced or not. 05/09

See the report

'Licence it or lose it' campaign at the Inland Waterways Association Festival

BRITISH Waterways launched a national promotional campaign at the Inland Waterways Association Festival urging unlicensed boaters to ‘licence it or lose it’.

This is building upon the success of the campaign which has been in operation across the East Midlands throughout the year, British Waterways used the festival to reinforce the message that it is cracking down on licence evasion. The campaign highlights that unlicensed boats are increasingly being seized, and then either sold to recover backdated licence fees or destroyed if they have little or no financial value.

Unlicensed boat being removed from the Oxford Canal

Denise Yelland, British Waterways' National Enforcement Manager, comments:

“Although primarily targeted at those who have been trying to evade paying for a licence, the campaign also reminds the nine out of ten ‘legal’ boaters of the importance of displaying their licence disks. Not displaying a licence unnecessarily diverts our enforcement teams away from their primary task of getting to grips with those boaters who aren’t contributing towards the cost of maintaining the waterways.”

Publicity on British Waterways' stand at the festival was supported by ‘licence it or lose it’ posters at boater facilities across the network as well as at its offices.

In addition, from mid September, the British Waterways website will also have a dedicated ‘licence it or lose it’ section that includes a boat index checker so boaters themselves can report any unlicensed boats they spot.

Denise continues:

“British Waterways ongoing effort to tackle licence evasion is delivering good results and a recent increase in the volume of renewals is proof that concerted efforts to tackle non-compliance are making a real difference. In the first seven months of the year we seized 90 boats and recovered more than five times the amount of backdated licence fee income than in the same period the year before.” 22/08

Two boaters murdered on the Grand Union Canal

A MAN and a woman were murdered on their narrowboat at Stoke Hammond on the Grand Union Canal on Sunday Alan Tilbury reveals.

Paramedics where called to the boat near Milton Keynes, after receiving reports that a man and woman had been seriously injured.

The police were then called after the couple were pronounced dead at the scene, their names were not revealed having not been formally identified, though Thames Valley police have stated that the man is 53 and the woman 39.

A post-mortem examination takes place today. (Monday.)

The canal was closed-off during the day whilst detectives investigated the deaths, with boats not being allowed to pass.

A man has been arrested in connection with the deaths and is being held in custody in Milton Keynes. 08/09

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That continuous use creates additional cost as a consequence of increased lockage (and the consequent greater use of water; greater use of generally available boater facilities such as water points, refuse disposal, sanitary stations etc; greater use of areas available for casual or visitor moorings; greater contribution to the wear and tear generally created by boat traffic.

"Most continuous cruisers are using their boat as their home. Accordingly their willingness to pay, given that generally they do not have other accommodation costs (or reduced costs) is accordingly higher. If we were to introduce this charge, it would be levied for any boat without a verified, long term home."

Roving Mooring Permits

BWAF is to advise British Waterways on the possible development of Roving Mooring Permits, which is seen as a more acceptable option for tackling the problems created by proliferation of continuous mooring in particular regions. British Waterways would like to pilot the concept on one or two southern waterways to test whether it could act as an effective incentive for boats to move into offline moorings and therefore result in a smaller number of continuous moorers.

The suggestions that boatbuilders advise British Waterways when a new boat delivery is made, was approved, with Simon relating:

"British Waterways is in favour of the suggestion that boatbuilders should be invited to report new boat deliveries, in an attempt to minimise the many unlicenced sailaways being fitted-out on the waterways, and welcome such support from boatbuilders, and are preparing the appropriate communication."

It is all now a matter of wait and see. 08/09