Richard Parry answers - Third page

(Dave Roberts) What are your principles on licensing and enforcement? The licence structure is not working, it costs twice as much to moor your boat as it does to navigate. It makes sense to change this substantially. Summer has seen lots of wide beam boats moving, it used to be limited to Berkhamsted and below. Does the cost of boating need to be addressed?

We are not the majority provider of private moorings. There are lots of private companies, marinas etc and we have to follow Fair Trade regulations and cannot make moorings cheaper than the ‘open' market price. The price range for moorings reflects the range on offer—they are priced less if they are without facilities, more in marinas with an enhanced range.

(Diane Witts MK IWA) I have a question about rubbish disposal, I like to recycle at home, but there are not many recycling facilities available.

We are encouraging this—our new contract with Biffa requires them to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, and greater recycling is a key part of that. We're hoping to provide more recycling but there are limitations given the space available.

(Diane Witts) Can new sites have this?
DB: Yes, additional locations are trying to do this. I understand that it is frustrating that not all sites have this but sites are being selected to try it out. General waste is now being sorted away from the canal with recyclables separated where possible, and we want to create more glass recycling sites.

(Harvey Norton) I have a home mooring at Fenny Stratford, as a new boater I moved here seven years ago. I made a contribution to a mooring adjacent to my property. BW said if I fixed the area I could moor there, and I built a 40ft mooring there. BW then said I had to pay £500 to moor there after I spent the money. I understand all boaters have to pay their way but I can't find the T&C's and don't understand how it's worked out.

Costs for end of garden moorings should be consistent though it can be difficult for us to police as it is not always clear who is the landowner on the off-side.

(Rodney Evans) I live in Fenny Stratford and have a home mooring on a stretch of bank repaired by the home owners and BW did the same thing to them. BW charged people full rates for moorings, asked to be refunded for works, and then charged them a small charge.

I can advise you Harvey.

(Molly Carson) I'd like to point out to boaters that there is a speed limit for boats, it disrupts ducks and nests and I can't get into moor because the silt is pushed up by this. Can this be looked at?

DD: The latest draft of our Boater's Handbook which is being sent out shortly reinforces the need for sensible speed limits.

(Unknown) It's the majority and not the minority who are causing problems on speed limits.

We can't manage this in ‘real time' as we just don't have the resources but we will try to communicate to everyone.

(Trevor Wass) I journey through the system and see areas where winding holes are blocked and chained off, is CaRT doing anything about this?

No we shouldn't take away such things that are useful to boaters. We may block them off temporarily if they have not been dredged or are dangerous to boaters. If you know of areas please speak to Dean, they could be privately owned which means we don't have any control over them.

(Malcolm Dodge) Travelling on boats you meet people who live on their boats and work and live in a location and can't move far. At Hawkesbury on the Coventry a live-aboard marina has been cut out purely for this.

DD: I know that basin and the capacity is for around 12 boats. It has been there for some time.

(Malcom Dodge) Is this a solution to create more of these areas?

We have no objection but we will always be required to get the best value for any moorings on our land; if a third party landowner is involved then they may work something out but it's not within our control.

(Nick Bowles) I've been a local Yardley live-aboard since 1969 and not heard anything here of the spirit of the canals, the community. I'm worried that people are getting bogged down with rules etc. 'We should have rules and people abuse living aboard'. We need to think, we all enjoy the canals and should have more of a community spirit.

I agree Nick, we want to promote that spirit and all the great things the canals offer. I've seen lots of community spirit when I've been to festivals and events across the country.

(Colin Porter) I've been lucky with customer service and had excellent service from BW and CaRT staff on complaints queries.

(Unknown) Can the engineers who look at locks, take a look at the centre bollard and bricks on the swing arm where you can get to, do they understand this?

Can you draw this?

(David Dane) With prices on moorings, a large proportion of marina prices are paid to CaRT as a connection charge. You could double licence fees, halve mooring fees, abolish end of garden and connection charges: that would benefit people. Linear mooring costs more than three times the cost of my licences.

I understand we can all devise alternative charging arrangements. Of course shifting from the current position would not be easy and would provoke strong reactions. I understand that we need to consider the overall economics for boaters, and make sure everyone has fair treatment as far as we can.