Getting rid of Avon's discarded boats

THE BETTER MOORINGS PROJECT will start this month on the removal of the discarded and sunken boats off the Avon in Bath.

This will commence on Saturday 15th March and is part of the Better Moorings Project, Janet Friend reports.

Getting rid of unsightly discarded boats

This will start a number of projects that will provide moorings whilst at the same time getting rid of so many unsightly discarded boats which have been dumped on the river near Pulteney Weir.

These boats  are also a hazard to other boaters using the waterway as well as a risk of pollution to the water.

Specialist contractors are being brought in by Bath & North East Somerset Council with the work expected to be completed within a week.

Disruption will be kept to a minimum and the navigation and towpath will remain open throughout.

There are five sunken boats, with their owners, who have been traced, having been approached by the council to give them the opportunity to recover their vessels but this has not been done, with Councillor Tim Ball, the cabinet member for neighbourhood services, explaining:

Creating a hazard

“The sunken boats have been creating a hazard in the waterway and posing a risk to its ecology for a long time, however they are the property of the boat owners who are responsible for them.

“We have exhausted our attempts to work with the owners to arrange self-recovery, so as a last resort we will be carrying out the operation on their behalf. The removal of the boats will ensure the waterway is safe for others to use and will reduce the levels of artificial waste in the river."

The council will be seeking recovery of £72,600 total costs for the removals after the operation has been completed.