Make things simple and effective

HAVING read the South East proposals and followed (and contributed to) the debates about moorings. Perhaps it is time for CaRT to listen to common sense and a productive way of solving issues, writes Peter Ponting.

Visitor Moorings are what they say. For visitors. These are usually found near towns, villages etc, where visitors can explore the areas. These can easily be monitored, either by CaRT representatives or volunteers living near the moorings.

Main priority

These should all be made 48 hour moorings, to enable visitors to visit the areas. That should be the main priority, ensuring that no boat stays longer than 48 hours. This enables towns and villages to have a continuous supply of new people, all using local stores to 'top up'.

Next we have the 7 - 14 day moorings, which should be further away than visitors moorings, as they have more time to explore the areas. These could be checked on a weekly basis.

System flawed

The Licence system is flawed in as much that boats in marinas use the system as and when they can, which usually means weekends. So apart from using marina facilities, they use very little else on the system. To which they pay a premium in mooring fees.

Likewise, boats moored on private land adjacent to the towpath also have to pay mooring fees, some with facilities, others without. But they use the facilities provided by CaRT probably more than a marina based boat.

Hire boat companies use facilities very little except for water and rubbish disposal.

Live aboards with no moorings probably use the facilities most.

In conclusion,

Limit mooring times to 48 hours and 7 -14 days.

This will increase efficiency and reduce the problems which are occurring everyday and is easily monitored.