Richard Parry answers

THE Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust held an open meeting this month at Milton Keynes with boaters, and here are the questions you asked and his replies:

(All answers by Richard Parry unless otherwise—Dean Davies (DD), Matthew Symonds (MS), Dan Barnett (DB).)

(Malcolm Dodge) Are you reviewing visitor moorings? This has already been done on the GU North and there are no problems up there but more problems down here. Will there be a GU programme in the South?

We're seeking to establish a national framework to ensure that all the changes we make are part of a consistent national approach, based upon evidence. I am grateful for your feedback about the GU North though I know people's opinions vary.

(Malcolm Dodge) That hasn't answered my question, will a framework be applied? The issue is that the time-frames on visitor moorings are not kept to and enforced. On the GU North it seems to be adhered to but on the GU South they are not adhered to. There are lots of locked up boats, a no nonsense approach should be applied and boaters should stick to the rules. One set of rules for both GU North and South but they're only adhered to in North, the policing in the South lacking. What do you mean by ‘vulnerable boaters' mean? Clarity is needed on the definition.

DD: Anyone that has any welfare disabilities, temporary or long term health issues, or social welfare issues would potentially fall into the category of a vulnerable boater. We need to make sure people who are vulnerable don't enter the enforcement process unnecessarily as their needs could be identified earlier and addressed. It will not be a case officer but a role that offers guidance to staff of CaRT, forming relationships with other support agencies

(Peter Caswell) There's a published figure of 7k living on boats. If of these 3,400 are vulnerable there are not enough staff having one welfare officer. Will the number of vulnerable boaters increase?

RP: I'm not sure about those numbers, but in any case not everyone will need help at one time. The welfare officer will assist by liaising with others, it's not a case officer role. I think we recognise that the boater population is ageing and so the numbers of people needing some support may be expected to increase.

(Tom McManus) I live on a boat, have a residential mooring and was a continuous cruiser.  Are all residential boaters are being included as vulnerable boaters? I'm a friend of the canals, supported them for 30 years plus volunteering, pay nearly £900 for a trading licence but must give more money to be a ‘Friend' of the canal. Can boaters not have the same privileges as a friend?

The Friends scheme was created to reach people who don't normally contribute to the canals, towpath users, visitors, and those that have an affinity for the canals etc., reaching out to new people who can contribute. I don't want boaters to feel disenfranchised but if all boaters were made Friends some wouldn't want to, it needs to be a free choice. The Council has four elected boater representatives, and CaRT listens to them. It's proposed that a single seat on the Council will be elected by Friends but boaters will have greater representation, as well as the opportunity for direct engagement through meetings like this.

(Tom McManus) At Blisworth there are ‘draconian' imposements, at Stoke Bruerne the fines are too high and there are no 14 days moorings bar one. The proposal said there would be 4x14 days moorings, all there are now are two days and some seven days. Is CaRT going to lift the restrictions when there is proof there aren't any issues at Stoke Bruerne?

MS: The moorings are two and seven days in summer, in winter the seven days moorings become 14 days. There are no ‘fines'; we levy overstay charges. We have them because we want to encourage people to move on. This can be reviewed but there are views on both sides; in general I think support visitor moorings being available. I want to see a good mix of moorings. More popular sites have shorter duration moorings so more people can visit.

(Tom McManus) There are no moorings for two miles, we were told they would stay?

We will check on what was said.

(Steve Jay) In the consultation, 14 days moorings were included and have been taken away. Two days are not required. At the bottom lock and tunnel there is space for moorings.

We will look into this and I will feedback to you Steve.

(Jonathan Brown) If you live in a bus motor home, car etc and found somewhere to park and it's illegal, you would be moved by the police not a social worker. Why is CaRT not employing people to do this?

The welfare officer role is a new venture; if it helps people and avoids them being caught in enforcement then it would be worth it in financial terms alone. We're also trying to find a way to be clear with guidance about movement and mooring, and encourage people to observe this. If people don't take the guidance further action may be required.

(David Danes) There have been problems on waterways with moorings etc from 1995 Act not being well drafted. Given that we are promised that the Environment Agency will be coming into CaRT isn't this the ideal opportunity to address the legal shortcomings in the 1995 Act? You can try to bring the governance of CaRT in line with the better governance of the EA waters. For example no boat width is listed on applications within CaRT, you can incorporate these changes.

Regarding the possible EA navigation transfer, I don't believe it would need primary legislation so the opportunity you describe may not arise. Even if legislation is required it may not be welcomed. People have different views on the 1995 Act. Any clarification we get may not be any more ‘fit for purpose' than what we have now. So it is not likely to be an option. Our position is that we support the EA navigation transfer, but there are lots of detailed questions to consider. How would the assets between CaRT and EA be divided up in detail and how would they be managed for both navigation and flooding? Each river/would be different and require potentially different ways to work. Over the next year or so we plan to look at this with the EA to to be able to make a report for the next Government to consider. The prospect of transfer is a long way off.

(David Danes) It's difficult that the law isn't behind CaRT. Members of Parliament said it was the worst put together bill they'd seen and now boaters are suffering.