Barges on Thames used as slum accomodation - Guardian article

"There was one chemical toilet on each boat, emptied sporadically into holes in local woodland, but the poor standards of hygiene meant that in practice everyone used toilets elsewhere: a 20-minute round trip."

Or more usually just tipped overboard...
 
I was there today,that is dreadful.a lot of them are at an acute angle now due to the flooding I presume.

But why have the EA allowed 3 to settle on the lock moorings?
Hope they are paying:)
 
When housing is at a premium due to shortages, folks in need are going to suffer whatever is going. Must confess had always thought that the occupiers of the floating "village" were there as a lifestyle choice and had not even thought of the boats being rented out for cheap accommodation.
However a year or so ago there was death by fire on a 25ft boat in Maidstone town centre. Again assumed it was lifestyle choice. It was later revealed the victim (ex services) was actually renting this tiny wreck.
Any one who has been around ships and boats for a long time will be well aware of just how cold damp and smelly boats can be and just how desperate you must be,if forced to live under these conditions.
 
I had no sympathy when I thought they were living rent free, but now I know that someone's collecting money I'm annoyed. The Grauniad could have named and shamed the landlord, there are laws against renting uninhabitable accommodation out. Someone's benefiting and it's not the river users or the local residents, or the river for that matter.
No way am I mooring downstream of that.
 
Doubt there will be a " Rachman" absentee landlord type here ? More likely somebody living aboard already and needing to get a few quid to supplement their income. Most probably started out renting to a friend or somebody they know.
Until basic budget accommodation becomes more freely available and the cost reduces as a consequence, the ghosts of the past (like this example) will continue to surface.
If folks choose to live that sort of life that's their choice. Being forced to live like that is regrettable in the 21st century.
 
It had not occurred to me, either, that people might actually getting rental income from these "boats".

But do you regard this as being a "river issue" that should be managed by the EA ? The EA's only interest is in ensuring that any licence fees are paid and that river bylaws are observed. There is no law that says a boat must be "pretty" just as you can say to hell with the neighbours and not have a nice suburban front garden. They are not moored on EA land so any mooring issues lie with the landowner.

Someone has suggested that there may be some on the Teddington lock moorings - can anyone confirm? I would be surprised if the 24 hour regime at Tedders would let that prevail without taking action.
 
Yes there are. They broke free of their moorings in the trees while we were fully drawn and started drifting.

An inspector and one of the Tedders staff managed to get ropes to them and moored them up on our layby. In current stream conditions it is impractical / unethical to make them move.

They are aware that as soon as the river abates a bit that they will have to move as charging will begin. They are quite friendly guys and understand the situation , they come to the lock regularly to ask for steam updates as they are keen to get back in the trees too before someone nicks their mooring ;)
 
teddington_lock said:
Yes there are. They broke free of their moorings in the trees while we were fully drawn and started drifting.

An inspector and one of the Tedders staff managed to get ropes to them and moored them up on our layby. In current stream conditions it is impractical / unethical to make them move.

They are aware that as soon as the river abates a bit that they will have to move as charging will begin. They are quite friendly guys and understand the situation , they come to the lock regularly to ask for steam updates as they are keen to get back in the trees too before someone nicks their mooring ;)
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Thanks Howard - the responsible and caring face of the EA ! Good to hear and well done.
 
For the record, per an earlier thread, on 25th November 2013, LBRUT served Eviction Orders on 50 boats at this location, and EA served notice of licence offences on 10.
 
Dave-Shafa said:
Luckily we live in a Capitalist Democracy.
I expect many on here have huge investments in exploitative companies.
Click to expand...

Does coughing up a Fiver and being a member of the TMBA count in the above ?
If so,I wish my huge investment would get its arse in gear and start exploiting at once.
Have my eye on a P46 in Porta Petro and wish to take immediate advantage of any ill gotten gains flooding my way.
Advice on offshoring most welcome from all forumites. :)
 
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Hmmmm so they are receiving money from the tenants.....so they are operating for higher or reward???

Are they commercially coded vessels then??

CJL
 
I contacted the Local Authority, LBRuT, and received the following:

Thank you for your enquiry. The Parks Service manages most of the areas in the borough where these moorings occur along the river and we co-ordinate work on resolving the issue for the Council.



All the boats moored near Burnell Avenue are an issue, but the residential boats are a particular problem. The boats are moored without the Council’s permission and it is classed as trespass, although it is a civil offence rather than illegal. The borough currently has no special powers to move the boats on.



Whilst the Council has taken steps to serve trespass notices on boats – including last on 25th November 2013 as you state – and that has been successful in moving some on, many boats refuse to move and it would be a long process to pursue every case through the courts. Instead, the borough has been working with the partners and the government to introduce a new bye-law that will make mooring a criminal offence. In 2012, the Council approved a draft bye-law after public consultation and we have been going through the long process of having it approved by the Secretary of State. In autumn 2013 we achieved full support from the key partners such as Environment Agency, Port of London and the Police and we are just awaiting the preliminary approval from the Department of Communities and Local Government. At this point there will be a second four-week public consultation and then we hope the bye-law will be introduced in spring / early summer. This should mean we have all the power required to move the boats on and subject them to very large fines if they do not.



Patrol and enforcement staff from the Council do visit these areas – including on weekends and out of working hours – to inspect and deal with any arising issues where possible under current byelaws although the burden of evidence is high. We remove fly tipping where clearly rubbish is involved but where possessions or parts for refurbishment are being stored on the banks these cannot be disposed of. All evidence that is not being immediately followed up – including notices to move which are not obeyed – are being collated as evidence to strengthen cases taken up under the new byelaw.



It has been a frustrating period but we hope now the solution is close and we intend a heavy campaign by our enforcement teams and the Police once the byelaw is in place.
 
Alan ashore said:
I contacted the Local Authority, LBRuT, and received the following:

Thank you for your enquiry. The Parks Service manages most of the areas in the borough where these moorings occur along the river and we co-ordinate work on resolving the issue for the Council.



All the boats moored near Burnell Avenue are an issue, but the residential boats are a particular problem. The boats are moored without the Council’s permission and it is classed as trespass, although it is a civil offence rather than illegal. The borough currently has no special powers to move the boats on.



Whilst the Council has taken steps to serve trespass notices on boats – including last on 25th November 2013 as you state – and that has been successful in moving some on, many boats refuse to move and it would be a long process to pursue every case through the courts. Instead, the borough has been working with the partners and the government to introduce a new bye-law that will make mooring a criminal offence. In 2012, the Council approved a draft bye-law after public consultation and we have been going through the long process of having it approved by the Secretary of State. In autumn 2013 we achieved full support from the key partners such as Environment Agency, Port of London and the Police and we are just awaiting the preliminary approval from the Department of Communities and Local Government. At this point there will be a second four-week public consultation and then we hope the bye-law will be introduced in spring / early summer. This should mean we have all the power required to move the boats on and subject them to very large fines if they do not.



Patrol and enforcement staff from the Council do visit these areas – including on weekends and out of working hours – to inspect and deal with any arising issues where possible under current byelaws although the burden of evidence is high. We remove fly tipping where clearly rubbish is involved but where possessions or parts for refurbishment are being stored on the banks these cannot be disposed of. All evidence that is not being immediately followed up – including notices to move which are not obeyed – are being collated as evidence to strengthen cases taken up under the new byelaw.



It has been a frustrating period but we hope now the solution is close and we intend a heavy campaign by our enforcement teams and the Police once the byelaw is in place.
Click to expand...

Well at least they are putting our council tax to some good use....

Pity they cant unleash the parking wardens on them in the same way they do the cars in and around RUT they would soon be gone.....
 
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