A BILL has been given permission to proceed through its parliamentary process, with the House of Commons voting in favour, that would mean charging boaters for use of the Middle Level waterways.
The Middle Level Bill, which ran out of time in the last Parliament, has been given permission to proceed through its parliamentary process, with the House of Commons voting in favour following a debate on 17th October, Alan Tilbury reports.
More powers
This Bill will enable the Middle Level Commissioners, that is the authority for the Middle Level waterways, to revise its legal framework that would allow it to better manage its waterways by giving it more powers. Powers that include boats having to have insurance and a Boat Safety Certificate, both of which at present are not compulsory.
Though this could give better facilities and management for boaters, it could also give the Commissioners the authority to levy charges from boaters using the Middle Level, for which no charge is at present made. It would also enable it to set mooring time limits and enforce charges for overstaying.
This would clear all the many boats that use the Middle Level as free moorings without having either insurance or a BSS certificate.