WHILST Gareth Haines points to an increasing number of residential boaters, I do not think that, if it is as true and dynamic as he states, I do not see that it necessarily confers upon Canal & River Trust the responsibilities of a housing association, writes Martin Howes.
The Navigation Authority has clearly defined obligations and responsibilities in its constitution, and where individuals choose to challenge and operate outside of the parameters in respect of their remit they are, and should be, dealt with in the ways prescribed in law.
Respond in same way
Take a caravan or tent and set up home on a National Trust property and see how far you get. Canal & River Trust should respond in exactly the same way.
Gareth seems to imply that if Cart should let liveaboards the freedom to do as they want in exchange for ‘helping' to maintain moorings and the waterways; there is a mechanism through volunteering for committed individuals to do so and many do without expecting to be given preferential treatment to overstay on visitor moorings and generally flout the conditions of their licence.
If there needs to be any housing association type involvement, then this should come from those people with responsibility for it; i.e. Local Authorities.