Another unlicenced boat removed

Published: Monday, 21 August 2017

LAST year Canal & River Trust removed a total of 20 boats from its waters whose owners had no licence or were not abiding by the terms when they had a licence, with the latest this year being one at Devizes.

The unlicenced boat had been moored on the long term moorings at Lower Wharf at Devices on the Kennet & Avon Canal for years, so the Trust has removed the boat from its waters, Alan Tilbury reports.

No attempt to obtain licence

Though a boating  community website stated that not enough support had been given to the couple living on the boat, a spokesman for the Trust pointed out that the court order for the boat to be removed had been in place for months, with no attempt by the owner to obtain a licence, adding:

“We always do as much as we reasonably can to help boaters stay on the water, providing guidance and advice to help them meet their licence conditions. Where people are facing more serious difficulties we help to put them in touch with support organisations, or provide help via our welfare officer."