48 hours only near businesses

AT A Seminar held at the Crick Show to introduce the new CART, I raised the points about 14 days moorings, writes Bill Gill.

There should be no need for more than 48 hour moorings near any businesses along the canal towpath, be they near pubs shops or they are nearest mooring points to towns and villages.

All assistance they can get

These businesses need all the assistance they can get and the long-term moorers rarely visit them, preferring to go to the nearest supermarket in their conveniently parked car. Touring boats, particularly the hire fleets are regular users of the local amenities.

Every amenity that closes spoils whole of the canal structure. In my area alone, several pubs have either closed permanently or have closed for a short time.

I fully agree with Jan and Malcolm Gunningham, but I would go further. I would seek that no long term moorings are allowed within a mile of local facilities and that all short term moorings are for a maximum of 48 hours.

Continuous cruisers pay

As a significant part of my annual marina fee also goes to CART, I would suggest that all continuous cruisers pay an additional charge on top of the licence fee, of say £500, to pay for the additional wear and tear they cause the system.

Finally I advocate that the licence enforcement officers have stickers, with a difficult-to-remove glue, to stick on the windows of boats that outstay the 48 hours at restricted moorings or 14 days elsewhere.