Email: Capacity to accommodate

I read with some amusement the comments made in relation to the issues of continuous cruising/mooring. Apart from the obvious inconvenience at busy times and at choke points, the system has the capacity to accommodate all boaters needs.

On dry land we drive cars. Cars are taxed/licensed in the same way as boats on a yearly basis, this gives the owner the right to keep their car on the road. The car owner cannot park at any time on double yellow lines, red ways or clearly defined no parking areas i.e. dual carriageways or motorways. Surely if this simple system was adopted on our waterways the problem would be solved?

Mooring restrictions could apply in popular spots, town centres, water points, turning points, approaching locks etc... These spots could be policed by CaRT staff, and resources concentrated in the clearly defined areas. In all other non-restricted areas a boater could leave his/her boat anywhere and for as long as they want. (Subject to licensing.)

Ah, but what about the marina's you cry? Well they could jolly well reduce their prices and provide facilities and service to retain any potential loss in trade. If a continuous moorer is continually occupying a stretch of towpath in the middle of nowhere, does it matter? This strategy would also serve to relieve CaRT and the continuous cruisers of the perpetual stress involved in the cat and mouse antics of policing this aspect of licensing.

Maybe I am just a idealist but this seems a far more relaxed and grown up way of sorting the issue out.

Paul Meaton, Nb Odyssey