War of the waterways!

THAT usually firm friend of Canal & River Trust, The Telegraph, has shattered its harmony with the Trust with an article headed War of the waterways!

It tells that canal life is fast becoming dominated by younger boaters, setting up a generations clash on the water, with the growing number of continuous cruisers living on the waterways clashing  between themselves and more traditional and older canal users, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Loud parties and lack of moorings

The Telegraph reported that arguments over loud parties by younger people and rows about a shortage of mooring spaces have become a common occurrence along the country's once tranquil waterways.

This has been confirmed by the Trust, whose survey shows that half of those who live as continuous cruisers are aged 16 to 44.

A growing polarisation

Mike Grimes, Head of Boating at the Trust, explained that this survey had revealed 'a growing polarisation between boaters' views', confirming that the profile of the traditional boat owner is someone over 55 who uses their boat for pleasure, while a larger percentage of younger canal goers use their boats as a permanent home and choose boating because it offers an alternative lifestyle.

It is admitted by the Trust that this has caused an acute shortage of mooring spaces in many areas, with The Telegraph finding this leads to many older boaters feeling reluctant about taking their boats into urban waterways for fear they may not find anywhere to stop for the night.

Hiring for parties

This is accentuated by the increase in hiring boats out for parties and single sex jaunts, that not only become very rowdy, but dangerous, not only to themselves but to other boaters by their erratic steering, then taking up, usually inconsiderately, the limited mooring spaces by pubs.

But as The Telegraph pointed out, it is the younger continuous cruiser who seemingly cannot exist without noisy music.  and on whom the regulations as to when it should be stopped have no effect whatsoever. The regulations state that noise should cease at 8pm, yet this is when all too often it starts.

More of a problem

Many boaters, ourselves included have met with such (Victor reported the one on our recent cruise whose generator and noise continued towards 10pm) and from reports to narrowboatworld it is becoming more and more of a problem, particularly to those who took up boating as a result of the invitation to enjoy the 'peace and quiet of the waterways' as expounded by the Trust.

For many mooring sites, peace and quiet is fast becoming a thing of the past. And mooring out in the 'sticks' is no longer an alternative, as you can be joined by the inconsiderate, as we were...