Unlicenced boat ordered off Dee

A BOATER has had his boat ordered off the Dee at Chester by the River Patrol as it was not licenced.

However Martin Finch ignored the order and has subsequently been fined the maximum of £200 plus £180 costs by the magistrates at West Cheshire Magistrates' Court, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Busy river

The Dee at Chester is accessed by a lock off the Shropshire Union Canal, and is a busy river, with a requirement that all vessels be licenced by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Martin Finch's boat was involved in an accident with another boat in which two people were injured and that involved the fire service and a rescue boat in addition to an ambulance with two men taken to hospital.

The river is used by boating clubs, trip boats and private boats, with the council operating a safety patrol boat at peak times in the summer.