Tag Archives: NBTA

News

CRT fairness?

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At the Big Boaters Bash we organised in summer the NBTA London Chair, Ian McDowell did a speech and here it is below:

‘When Canal & River Trust (CRT) come up with a new policy or strategy, they have a favourite word to cover up the subtext: fairness. Safety Zones – fairness; extortionate pre-bookable moorings – fairness; converting casual moorings into restricted time visitor moorings – fairness; the licence surcharge for itinerant boaters – fairness. But who loses out each time? Who is targeted? Which part of the boating community is further marginalised whenever CRT talks about fairness? It is, of course, boaters without a home mooring.

But the subtext doesn’t stop with CRT. NBTA members & volunteers speak to a lot of people; members of other boating organisations, boaters and the public on the towpath when we are leafleting and newsletters, people at our public events and of course at events like Cavalcade where we engage with the public and aim to undermine CRT’s spin that they are some kind of beneficent society. And sometimes we are asked “what is your solution?”

What are we supposed to do to come up with this “solution”? Stop campaigning against the “Safety” Zones? Stop campaigning against the removal and monetisation of casual moorings? Stop campaigning against the license surcharge? Stop campaigning for the interests of parents who need to send their children to school, or people with physical and mental health issues who need adjustments to their expected cruising plans?

The fact is that these “what is your solution” questions are very rarely made in good faith. They are an attempt to deflect away from CRT’s attacks on our community and down a cul de sac where they can blame us for not coming up with the answers, framed within an acceptance of CRT’s claims that we are the problem. For these people, when they talk about a solution, they mean a solution to us, itinerant boaters.

So what could our reply be when we are asked about solutions? CRT need to stop blaming us; to stop marginalising us; to stop discriminating against us, and then, and only then, can we talk about the bigger picture.’

News

CRT Expresses Clear Desire to Change the Law

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Seemingly out of the blue, late last December, the Canal and River Trust (CRT) announced a commission to review licensing. Attached to the press release was a ‘Terms of Reference” to the commission that clearly outlines their intentions to remove itinerant boat dwellers from inland waterways. It explicitly states that CRT views the community of boat dwellers without home moorings as a problem, advocating for changes to the law to address this ‘problem’. The document claims that the community has “created challenges for the Trust both from an operational, financial, and reputational perspective” and that in dealing with these so-called ‘challenges,’ CRT is seeking changes to the law, pointing to its issues with the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, and the British Waterways Act 1995 —the very legislations that enshrine our community’s legal protection to exist.


In this document, CRT announced it has appointed an ‘independently led’ commission to review a future legislative framework for how boats on its waterways are licensed. Currently, the rights of itinerant boaters to live on the waterways are underpinned by Section 17(3)(c)(ii) of the 1995 British Waterways Act, which provides that a vessel may be licensed without a permanent mooring as long as it is “used bona fide for navigation throughout the period for which the consent is valid without remaining continuously in any one place for more than 14 days or such longer period as is reasonable in the circumstances.”

It is not just what the document does say that’s alarming, it’s what it doesn’t say too. There is no mention of the many positive aspects of itinerant boating: we ensure the network remains ‘operational’ with itinerant boaters flagging and fixing issues with locks, towpaths, facilities, and the cut itself; we keep each other and non-boaters safe in places that were once seen as no-go areas; and we act as unpaid but willing tour guides/tourist attractions/security guards for the many visitors to the UK’s canal network each year. Numerous things can be said about itinerant boaters’ positive impact, but the document is truly desolate on that front. The document also does not mention any other class of boater (apart from liveaboard) or waterways user……it is us they’re after!

Despite the NBTA sending the commission a response laying out facts which show the invalidity of the Terms of Reference, Commission has already ratified CRT’s document. This is worrying. It may be a sign that a conclusion has already been reached. The Commission has had multiple meetings and has put out a survey, making it clear what is seen as the problem. The commission is expected to run until at least September 2025, when its recommendations will be considered by CRT’s board of trustees.


In the meantime, the NBTA will keep a close eye on the commission and engage whenever possible, relaying information when useful and raising questions on your behalf. After the commission, CRT may well go to Parliament to try to get a new damaging law. We are currently lobbying MPs and Peers to generate support in Parliament to remove the threat. All MPs and Peers engaged so far are very
supportive. It may also help to put together a portfolio of positive boater action. If you want to add to the ‘Better with Boats’ portfolio, please email us at nbtalondon@gmail.com.


If you want to be involved in lobbying MPs or generally in this campaign, please email nbtalondon@gmail.com


You can read the CRT ‘Terms of Reference’ and NBTA’s response to it: https://bargee-traveller.org.uk/nbta-response-to-crt-commission-terms-of-reference-to-review-law-and-policy-on-boat-licensing/#:~:text=The%20Canal%20%26%20River%20Trust%20%28CRT%29%20announced%20that,National%20Bargee%20Travellers%20Association%20%28NBTA%29%20to%20the%20ToR.

Boaters’ Big Bash

National boater event on Saturday 14 June. Come to the Boaters’ Big Bash; it will have food, stalls, children’s activities, speeches, live music, and acts from the boaters, oh and bunting…

Saturday 14th June starting 12 noon, W2 5TF near Westbourne Park, a little west of Paddington on the Paddington Arm, Grand Union Canal, London

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Edit Post “Big national boaters’ event” ‹ National Bargee Travellers Association – London Branch — WordPress

News

Some wins over Chargeable Moorings

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Canal and River Trust (CRT) backs down over some of the chargeable moorings.


Following campaigns from the NBTA London, the CRT have scrapped charges to moor on the Camden visitor moorings, and reduced prices over winter across all chargeable moorings in London. High-profile media coverage the other week – including in The Telegraph – reported that the moorings were “punishingly expensive,” privatising the canals and turning once-busy spots into a “ghost town.”


CRT imposed the charges on sites initially meant to be “eco-moorings”, despite all surveyed groups of waterway users responding negatively to the proposal. Freedom of Information requests by the NBTA showed that existing chargeable moorings were only booked 16.5% of the time during the first six months of the year, making once vibrant stretches of the canal deserted and unsafe. Plans for more charges in Victoria Park, Broadway Market and Cowley are now looking unwise for CRT.
The NBTA London welcomes the roll-back, but won’t stop pushing for an end to discriminatory policies, including scrapping all chargeable moorings and the surcharge on continuous cruiser licences.


If you want to protect a thriving boat community from being pushed off the waterways, take action now and stop the rest of the chargeable mooring.

London, we need your help!
Boats are moored in protest against the chargeable moorings

Facts and Advice, News

Disabled Bargee Travellers – know your rights

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Disabled Bargee Travellers – know your rights
If you are pregnant, on maternity, have a mental or physical disability, or are older you are entitled to have adjustments made to enable you to continue to live and own a boat on Britain’s waterways.
This is thanks to the Equality Act 2010 which means that the Canal and River Trust (or any other authority) cannot expect of you to meet their policies and procedures, including guidance in the same way that they would expect someone who did not fit into these characteristics.
For example, this means CRT shouldn’t tell you that you should not be living on a boat because you are disabled, “too old” or pregnant. These rights are in addition to the rights of all boaters without home moorings on CRT waterways to stay in one place longer than 14 days if it is “reasonable in the circumstances”. As a result of campaigning by the National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) and other groups, CRT has now adopted a standard procedure for assessing and agreeing adjustments to its enforcement procedure for boaters with disabilities.
Your boat license shouldn’t be terminated following enforcement action as your characteristic puts you at a substantial disadvantage. Don’t panic, you shouldn’t be made homeless if you follow our advice and keep the Canal and River Trust informed in writing.
Direct, combined and indirect discrimination defined by the Equality Act 2010
 
According to Equality Act 2010, direct discrimination occurs if a person is treated less favourably than others because of one or more of the protected characteristics defined in the Equality Act 2010.
If you are finding it difficult to keep in line with the conditions of your license due to a characteristic outlined in the Equality Act 2010 then this is the help sheet for you.
First off make sure you keep up good written communication and contact your local Boat License Officer (Enforcement Officer) via email.
If you are unable to do this get in touch with our caseworkers and we can speak on your behalf.
London Area;
You may also want to copy in the Welfare Officer:
Sean.Williams@CanalRiverTrust.org
  • The Canal and River Trust should ask if you require an adjustment however we suggest you do inform them yourself.
  • The Canal should ask if you require an adjustment however we suggest you do inform them yourself.
What is reasonable in the circumstances cannot be defined in advance but if an adjustment is recommended from a GP, physical or psychological assessment, ATOS or supporting benefits document or other such Professional Authority then this should be taken as reasonable.
For example:
Pregnancy might mean you need to be near an area before, during and after birth for trips to visit the midwife. You may also request a period of non-movement after you have given birth.
Chronic illness (which must be on going over a period 12 months or longer) may require treatment, in which case a reduced range can be agreed upon.
Your disability may mean that you are only able to access specific areas, for instance if you find it difficult to open locks due to a physical ailment then a cruising pattern with minimal locks can be agreed upon.
If you are older and require adjustments such as use of a mobility scooter and would need to moor in areas which can accommodate access to you boat such as visitor moorings where you will be entitled to stay for the full 14 days or longer where reasonable in the circumstances.
  • If you need additional help people can support you in this process.
If you feel you are unable to manage your adjustment request someone can speak or organise emails on your behalf this can be a relative, friend or a caseworker. You will need to let the Boat Licensing Support team know whom will be representing you and provide signed form of authority;
FORM OF AUTHORITY
 
I, ____________________________________
of Boat Name:_________________________________________,
Boat Number:___________________,
hereby give authority for members of the National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) caseworkers to represent me and act on my behalf with regards to my dealings with the Canal and River Trust (CRT). In regards to these dealings, I hereby give consent for the NBTA Caseworkers Group to the disclosure of my records with CRT.
 
Signed:
____________________________
 
Dated: ______________________
  • Once you have started the process of requesting a reasonable adjustment you will receive the following email:
To enable us to consider your request, I would be grateful if you could provide in writing, within 28 days of this letter:-
 
i)             Evidence of your disability in the form of a letter from your GP;
Medical evidence should not just state the condition that you currently have, but give some indication about how this might affect mobility or ability to move your boat.
 
ii)    A written description from you of how your disability makes it more difficult for you to comply with our Guidance for Boats without a Home Mooring;
 
Provide a description of your condition and how this limits your ability to have a movement pattern that we would normally expect of a continuous cruiser, as well as detailing how the adjustment you are requesting would improve your situation/ or how it would help.
 
iii)           Confirmation of the adjustment that you are requesting the Trust to make.
 
Be specific about the adjustment you are looking for. 
 
For example you may want us to consider an adjustment to your cruising pattern to enable you to attend treatment at a particular hospital.  It would also be useful if you could give an indication of how long you believe that you would need the adjustment for.
The team will then review your requests for adjustment and reply with their conclusions regarding your requested adjustments.
Remember you know yourself and your capability best and should you be unhappy with the adjustments the Boat Licensing Support are prepared to make then you will need to raise a complaint and which point be sure to copy the Welfare Officer in.
Please refer to CRT complaints procedure help sheet for further advice and guidance which is to be found on our website:
Or you can contact our case workers for further help and advice:
Nbta.London.caseworker@gmail.com
or call us on 07459354163
News, winter warmer

Boats are Homes, National Demonstration

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There is demonstration to demand that the Canal and River Trust (CRT) stops evicting or threatening to evict travelling boat dwellers based on their pattern of travel or distance traveled. It is also to stop the reduction of the 14 day rule, to stop the sale of our waterways and to demand the maintenance of the waterway banks, to install more mooring rings and more facilities.

On the Saturday 16 April at 12.30am in Central London, Gower Street / Euston Road, London NW1

Boats Are Homes - Towpath Gathering April 2015
Boats Are Homes – Towpath Gathering April 2015

For more info read on.

It’s coming up to a year since Canal & River Trust (CRT) rolled out its policy of refusing to renew or shortening the licence periods of boaters without permanent moorings who CRT deem not to have travelled in the ‘correct’ manner. Many in our community have been affected by the threat of losing our homes and some boat dwellers have already been evicted by CRT.

CRT has not just gone after boaters who have travelled in a very small area. CRT has also shortened or refused to renew the licences of boat dwellers who have travelled up to 100 miles. It seems CRT’s aim is to get rid of a certain number of boat dwellers without a home mooring and they are not too bothered about who they get rid of.

There is already a law that states we mustn’t stay longer than 14 days in one place. We don’t need CRT making up unlawful extra ‘rules’. We must step up the campaign to stop CRT restricting or refusing to renew the licences of boaters whose travelling pattern is completely lawful.

In addition to this, CRT has reduced the stay times in some areas from 14 days to as little as 24 hours. They have concreted over canal banks making it impossible to moor in large areas of London and other urban areas, have failed to maintain the canal bank and in some cases CRT even plan to sell off stretches of waterway contrary to assurances given to Parliament in 2012.

CRT made a surplus of £39.4 million in 2014/15 and hold a reserve fund of £660 million. CRT can easily afford to install more facilities for boaters and repair waterway banks that are currently impossible to moor on. Instead, CRT has taken away or failed to repair water taps, sewage and rubbish disposal facilities.

Boat dwellers will be joining the People Assembly demo which one key demand is for housing on 16th April 2016 to demonstrate that our community deserves better. We will not be alone. We will march with others demanding decent housing. We will hand in a petition to Parliament demanding that the Government pressures CRT to stop its attack on boat dwellers without a home mooring.

We plan to take a picture of all the boat dwellers on the march to bring to another demonstration at CRT offices a few weeks after. We demand:

Stop Evictions of Boat Dwellers!

Defend the 14 day rule!

Stop the Sale of our Waterways!

Maintain the Waterway Banks and More Mooring Rings!

More Facilities!

 

This is the petition which we will be handing in

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/boats-are-homes-prevent-the-eviction-of-boat-dwellers

It has more than 23 000 signatures, please sign and share it. Let’s get 25 000 signing it!

For the facebook event; https://www.facebook.com/events/503828719817975/


Please contact secretariat@bargee-traveller.org.uk or 07710160340 for more information

We are also on twitter @nbtalondon