Waterways and problems with Canal and River Trust

[Cornytiv34]

Not sure where to post this.
I know that there has been discussion by members about river and canal boats (with great pictures of engines).
I am not a boater but came across a disturbing article about the seizing, by Canals and River Trust without warrant, of someone's Boat/Home. In this case because the 12 month licence was wrongly shown as 6 months on the authority computer! Boat recovered after litigation at CRT expense.
The article mentioned a lot of boats being removed or seized and about problems people living in boats were having and this was an ongoing problem
I thought that Members would probably be aware but in case they were not the article was in

Private Eye Magazine Issue No. 1538
For 8th Jan 2021 - 21st Jan 2021 on Page 41 There is no easy way to link to the magazine article.

Article mentions an attempted power grab by CRT trying to gain more powers to remove live-aboard boaters from the waterways.

Mike

[Mike4]

I am not a boater but came across a disturbing article about the seizing, by Canals and River Trust without warrant, of someone's Boat/Home.

This is so very highly unlikely to be an honest account of what happened. CRT are scrupulous about obtaining a court order before seizing a boat that someone lives on. They do this specifically to give the occupier a fair hearing and a chance to put their side of the case to a judge.

There is usually a tale or two like this doing the rounds and once you start delving a little it generally turns out CRT bent over backwards to help the boater comply that it gets on the wick of us boaters who don't try to game the system and who pay our way. The canal system is like a magnet to the self appointed Freeman on the Land type of p1$$ taker and they flock together and egg each other on also aided and abetted by the NBTA (National Bargee Traveller Association), although I don't know the details of this specific case.

These disputes usually revolve around the boat not having a licence to be on the water, and on digging a bit one usually finds the licence was cancelled by CRT due to persistent breeches of the terms of the licence. The usual breech being failure to move either around the system or take a legitimate mooring. My bet is that CRT issued a six month licence as they have a record of persistent breeches, in response to their application for 12 months. CRT commonly issue short term licences to boaters breaching the terms. A determined p1$$ taker spin them along for five or six years before finally getting lifted. CRT are SO accommodating that such people begin to believe it will never happen. Then finally, it does.

And breathe.....

[Cornytiv34]

Hi,
I know nothing about this matter I was just aware some of you had boats (with wonderful engines which had caught my eye in the past) and thought it might possibly be something serious. Lots of things like this creep up on us. Glad it is nothing.
Mike

[AsleepInYorkshire]

Hi,
I know nothing about this matter I was just aware some of you had boats (with wonderful engines which had caught my eye in the past) and thought it might possibly be something serious. Lots of things like this creep up on us. Glad it is nothing.
Mike

Mike,
Like you my knowledge of boats, ships and submarines is poor. I too would have brought this to the attention of the wider community in exactly the same way you did. That's what you do for your friends isn't it

AiY