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Latest News from UK Boating TV

16th June 08: The waterspace at Clarence Dock has reopened following an eight-month closure during which British Waterways has spent almost £500,000 creating new, high quality mooring facilities for boaters.
Just off the River Aire in the heart of Leeds, the waterspace forms the centrepiece to the £260 million Clarence Dock development and comprises three distinct areas. The main dock has leisure berths for up to 20 boats plus, adjacent to the award-winning Royal Armouries Museum, 60 metres of overnight visitor moorings and a waterbus stop. For those wishing to live on a houseboat, the smaller dock has six residential berths. At the far end of the waterspace, in front of @Larocca, the commercial dock has berths for up to nine retail/office boats.
Facilities at the moorings include drinking water, electricity, Elsan disposal, mooring cleats, pump out and refuse disposal. There is a service bollard between each berth offering a water tap and a 16 amp electric socket with a meter supply per boat.
Already voted Best Commercial Development at this year’s Yorkshire Property Awards, this is the latest stage in the transformation of Clarence Dock into a modern and vibrant waterside destination, following last month’s opening of @Larocca and the announcement of eight further restaurants and cafes opening at the development from August onwards.
Janet Baverstock, Business Development Manager at British Waterways Yorkshire, said: “We are delighted to be reopening this waterspace and welcoming boats back to Clarence Dock. We’ve already had great feedback on the quality of the new berths from customers who have been using the overnight visitor moorings adjacent to the museum over the last few days.

15th June 08: Sunseeker International has announced that its world leading luxury motoryachts will feature in a James Bond film for the fourth consecutive time.
Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for EON Productions and directed by Marc Forster, Quantum of Solace will be released worldwide from 31st October 2008.
Robert Braithwaite CBE, Sunseeker managing director, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the latest James Bond film. As a worldwide British brand we are proud to be associated again with Britain’s most famous secret agent.”

30th May 08: BW consults on pricing and allocation of long term moorings.
British Waterways (BW) has commenced a 12-week public consultation on the pricing and allocation of its long term directly managed moorings. A consultation paper, considering the options available for allocating and pricing vacancies – including a review of the current mooring tenders trial – has been published on the BW website.
Robin Evans, BW chief executive, comments: “BW directly managed moorings account for approximately 15% of long term moorings on our network so this is a relevant issue for many boaters. It is also of interest to boatyards, marinas and other mooring operators whose mooring sites mustn’t be inadvertently undercut by BW if we are to continue to have a thriving inland marine market.“
The consultation document summarises BW’s moorings policies and explains the framework within which BW must set the prices for its long term moorings. It analyses five options for allocating vacancies, namely returning to waiting lists, adopting the tendering system currently being trialled, modifying the tendering system, moving to open auctions or a fixed price lottery process.
In addition to presenting statistics from the operation of the first six months of the year long tenders trial, the consultation paper scores each method based on four factors: transparency, customer acceptance, operating costs and whether it results in an accurate reflection of the market price. Based on these assessments, the consultation document concludes that the best way forward is to move to an open auction, making it easier for people to decide how much to offer, and generating more reliable information to assist in the wider re-pricing of BW’s long term mooring.
Robin continues: “The consultation is not about how high or low prices should be. Government is clear that it is not BW’s place to subsidise boaters by providing moorings at below market price. Instead, the consultation is formally asking our boaters to consider the pros and cons of each option for allocating vacancies and pinpoint where their assessment may differ from ours, and why. I look forward to receiving constructive feedback and reporting back later in the year.”
The consultation document includes a feedback form to help readers to respond. The outcome of the consultation, and specifically the chosen method for BW to allocate long term moorings in the future, will be published later in 2008.
For more information on the consultation visit the BW website: www.britishwaterways.co.uk/mooringconsultation08<
Mooring vacancies continue to be advertised as part of the mooring tenders trial at: www.bwmooringvacancies.co.uk.

Two of Scotland’s top ten visitor attractions join forces and guide the Scottish Seabird Centre’s boat home to North Berwick Harbour
The new Scottish Seabird Centre trip boat took the long, environmentally friendly way home, travelling through the canals of Scotland to reach its new home in North Berwick.
The boat was launched from Ballachulish on Thursday 22 May arriving at Easdale on Friday 23 May from there it travelled through the Crinan Canal and finally in to the Forth and Clyde.
It left the Bowling Basin on Friday 23 May travelling through Clydebank to Kirkintilloch.  On Sunday morning 25 May it journeyed to the iconic Falkirk Wheel, where it welcomed the first passengers on board for a unique trip around the basin.  It continued on the Forth & Clyde out in to the Firth of Forth, via Grangemouth and the River Carron and sailed on the tide up the Forth to the Scottish Seabird entre at North Berwick, where the boat now takes pride of place.
This event, with two of Scotland’s most successful millennium attractions working together, highlighted the new improved canal links, and how coast to coast navigation is possible through Scotland’s canal network.
This new boat will be used to run ‘Seabird Seafari’ boat trips from North Berwick, around the wildlife rich islands of the Firth of Forth. The owner of Seafari, and experienced skipper Colin Aston navigated the boat through the canals accompanied by Scottish Seabird Centre’s Chief Executive Tom Brock OBE.

27th May 08: New Faces on the Broads Authority’s Navigation Committee. Five new people have been recommended to join the Broads Authority’s Navigation Committee in September following detailed consideration of the largest number of applications ever received for the role.
A new selection process, which included an invitation to all Broads users to put their names forward as well as consultation with local and national organisations, generated 47 applications – nearly five times more than in 2004 when the committee was last appointed. Then only 10 names were put forward for seven places.
The Navigation Committee, whose important advisory and scrutiny role is strengthened in the Broads Authority Bill, is made up of 13 members, five Broads Authority members and the remaining eight representing users. Two of the eight go on to sit on the Broads Authority.

26th May 08: Waterways and environmental heritage charity, The Waterways Trust Scotland, has developed a new walking programme, Feet First, a free guided waterways walking programme designed to promote and encourage walking as a healthy, educational and enjoyable form of exercise for all ages.
Two Primary Schools – Tollcross and Canal View, and members of the public have been taking part in the walking programme since April, enjoying different locations along the Union Canal and Water of Leith in Edinburgh.
On Saturday 24 May, a cross-party group of Edinburgh politicians joined the walking programme and learned about the Union Canal heritage and wildlife, whilst benefiting from a relaxed walk in safe, friendly environment.
Karen Moore, Head of Development for The Waterways Trust Scotland, said: “We are delighted that the Lord Provost, Robin Harper MSP, Sarah Boyack MSP and Councillors Beckett, Buchan and Burns were able to join us on one of our walks.
“Inactivity has been described as the silent killer in our society.  Just thirty minutes of walking can significantly reduce our chances of suffering many debilitating diseases. However, whilst the physical health benefits of regular walking are well documented, Feet First also offers walkers companionship, support and consistently delivers a feel-good factor for all involved.
“The triple themes of every walk – canal / waterways heritage, wildlife and of course health provide a rich source of interest, information and stimulation for walkers.  No two walks are the same – new walkers come with their own knowledge, personalities and memories which enrich the experience.

1st May 08: Officers rescue yachtsman trapped on sandbank - Three Environment Agency Wales officers on a routine patrol to catch any illegal netting in the Burry Inlet got more than they bargained for as they took part in a rescue operation to save a stricken yachtsman last week (25 April).
The crew had just launched their vessel, the “Osprey”, at Burry Port harbour when they heard a call for help for the yacht, “At Last”. It had run aground on nearby sandbanks and was in danger of being tipped over by the waves.
They sped to the scene and found the yacht with one person on deck. As it was too shallow to approach by boat, crew member Rhys Roberts volunteered to wade over with a line to rescue the yachtsman.

30th April 08: Environment Agency prosecutes boat owner for speeding - A reckless boat owner has been prosecuted by the Environment Agency for exceeding the speed limit on the Medway Navigation.
Mr Dan Casson of Hollingworth Road, Maidstone, was found guilty in his absence and fined £500 and ordered to pay £190 costs and £15 victim surcharge on Tuesday 22 April at Maidstone Magistrates Court.
The Environment Agency has a responsibility for 31 kilometres of the Medway Navigation, from Allington Lock to the Leigh Barrier at Tonbridge. Vessels travelling through this section of the Medway are required to limit their speed to a maximum of five knots. On Saturday 28 July 2007 at approximately 11pm, Mr Casson was moving at an estimated speed of 20 knots, when he collided with a police boat and then continued to travel down the river towards Allington.
Four police officers from Kent Police Marine Unit were patrolling the River Medway as part of the Maidstone River Festival. After completing their patrol, the constables waited in a queue to use the slipway near the Dragon’s Leisure Centre in Maidstone. It was here that Mr Casson’s Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB), which did not have any navigation lights, hit the police boat and sped off.
It is illegal for anyone to navigate a mechanically powered vessel in such manner or at such speed so as to injure any bank, drainage work, or river control work in the main river where the Environment Agency has imposed a speed limit. When considering the fine for this case, the magistrate took into account the high speed that the boat was travelling, the damage to both boats involved, the fact that the defendant was considered to be drunk and the increased danger of speeding on a river.
PC Robert Dadd of Kent Police said: "We are pleased that the Environment Agency was successful with this prosecution. We hope it will send a clear and strong message that drinking alcohol while using boats is dangerous. In this instance, it was extremely fortunate that nobody was hurt."

28 April 08: Broads Authority says dredging takeover is paying off - The Broads Authority has achieved more dredging for the same money in the first five months of taking over the Broads dredging service from its long-term contractor May Gurney.
Director of Waterways, Trudi Wakelin, said this increased efficiency meant they were on course to carry out 25% more dredging in this financial year, focusing especially on critical areas of shallow water such as Heigham Sound at the entrance to Hickling Broad and Oulton Broad.
The Authority bought May Gurney’s dockyard and dredging equipment, taking on its dredging team of ten men on October 1st last year.
At a meeting of its Navigation Committee on Thursday April 24th it was revealed that money had been saved by the Broads Authority undertaking its own dredging and river works, scrub clearance and removal of navigation obstructions.
Tony Coe, vice chairman of the Broads Authority, heralded the saving as justification of the “brave move” to bring the operation in-house.
He said: “This is very good news for the Broads. We have closely monitored the dredging operation since taking over from May Gurney and we have achieved savings against the previous cost of dredging between October and the end of February. This will obviously bring better value for tollpayers, who fund the  programme, as we will be able to carry out more dredging for the same amount of money.”
Trudi Wakelin said assuming government funding remained at the same level, the Broads Authority would now be in a position to finish the immense backlog of dredging in less than 40 years, compared to the previously projected 56 years.
“In Oulton Broad we will now be looking to take out three times the material that we had originally planned. Because of the sensitive area we can’t undertake work at Heigham Sound over the summer and have planned it for next winter.”

24th April 08: IWA Supports ‘Holding the Line’ Policy Against Sea Encroachment on Norfolk Broads - The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) announced today its full support for action to maintain the Norfolk Broads as a freshwater habitat and recreational amenity, for as long as practicable, rather than leaving it to the predations of the sea through a ‘managed retreat policy’ as postulated in one of the options for consideration in a recent Natural England report on the subject.
The announcement comes in support of recent statements by the Environment Agency and the Broads Society that the ‘line should be held as long as possible,‘ despite the threat of rising sea levels.
Commenting on the increasing threat of salt-water encroachment, Dr Roger Squires, IWA Navigation Committee Chairman said: “The Norfolk Broads are a unique interconnecting system of tidal rivers and man made fresh-water habitats, valued as much for their ecology as for the leisure and tourism amenity that they provide. We consider that the salt-water encroachment presents a unique and important set of challenges which we hope will stimulate those responsible for coastal defence to seek to find viable solutions to a genuine and ever increasing threat”.
He continued: “Yet again our concern as a campaigning organisation concerned for the well being of all of Britain’s waterways is that this issue does not become a hostage to short term thinking caused by government funding restraints; and that a long term view is taken to investment in protecting a world renowned waterway and nature reserve. IWA supports the Broads Society’s call for the Environment Agency to commission a wide-ranging study into ways in which the sea wall can be strengthened, or otherwise protected, thus ensuring that it remains in a sustainable condition for much longer than is deemed possible at the moment”.

23rd April 08: Early Day Motion for River Access - The IWA is supporting British Canoe Union campaign for improved access to rivers by non-powered craft, as we believe that it is in the public interest to improve access to rivers [and other waterways] generally wherever possible.
The organisation is asking for public support on behalf of the IWA in lobbying your MP to sign this Early Day Motion, and introduce legislation to bring us into line with Scotland, which already has this right of access.
EDM 1331 -  RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT
“That this House urges the Government to extend legislation on access to the countryside in England and Wales to allow canoeists and users of non-powered craft similar access rights to water as walkers have to the land; notes that in Scotland such access, accompanied by a code of rights and responsibilities for all concerned, has been successfully implemented; and believes that increased access to waterways would lead to greater participation in canoeing, resulting both in obvious health benefits to the nation and in increased chances of future Olympic success”.
The IWA asks members and waterway supporters to write to their MPs in support of this EDM.
You can find out who your MP is by going to www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/
Further information on this EDM is available at  http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35572&SESSION=891
Even if your MP has signed the EDM, a letter, or email of support from you to your MP always helps by showing your approval for their actions, and adds weight to IWA’s support for this campaign.

7th February 2008: BW boat Licence Fees set below expected level
As a result of responses from a range of boaters and boating organisations, together with acknowledgement of a downturn in the wider economy, BW will introduce lower than anticipated licence fee increases for 2008.  The 10% prompt payment discount which benefits many fully paid-up boaters will be retained, whilst further measures to crack down on licence evasion, including a new penalty for late payment, will be introduced
The boat licence fees applicable from April 2008 will be an 8.3% increase for private boat licences (rather than the previously proposed 12.4% increase). Workboat and trade plate licences will also increase by 8.3%. Leisure business licences will rise by 3.3% in line with BW’s cost inflation index, whilst a relative licence fee increase of 5.35% will apply to small traders and cargo carriers. A number of further proposals put forward by respondents during the consultation that could impact upon boat licence fees for 2009 and beyond will now be the subject of further consideration with the British Waterways Advisory Forum. Robin Evans, BW chief executive, comments: “The breadth and depth of submissions to the consultation were well argued and passionate. In the short term we’ve recognised the concerns about increasing cost pressures on the boating community by revisiting the licence fee increases for 2008 and in retaining the prompt payment discount which benefits many of our boating customers.”
However in making the announcement, Robin acknowledged concerns voiced during the consultation about the requirement for BW to do more to tackle licence evasion which, having completed the recent National Boat Count at the end of 2007, has slipped back 1.3% and now stands at 10.4% (8.7% if those that pay within 28 days are excluded).
Specific new measures to tackle licence evasion include proposals for a £130 fixed cost-related penalty charge for boaters not renewing their licence within one month of its expiry. In addition, greater investment in patrol staff and budget for legal and contractor costs has been allocated for 2008 and 2009, particularly in the South East and West Midlands which together accommodate over a third of the boats on BW’s network.