EA Mooring Enforcement trials - Weybridge and Walton

[Actionmat]

Maybe I'm just paranoid then, but after reading the following on a parking appeals site and reading about the grief they've handed out to blue badge holders, I'm of the opinion that this lot are bad news.

DE was set up by three Stafford University law graduates (the UNi was their first customer I believe). They claim contractual charge as their cast iron legal way of enforcing private parking charges. They are no different to any of the other PPC chancers though as their contract with the motorist isn't worth the paper it's written on but just depends on the same old big lie & twisting of contract law. They seem to have missed the lectures on privity of contract & law of agency never mind CPUTR.
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/about_us/ne...-clean-up-the-parking-industry-tcm4234703.jsp

Copied from here:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/lofiversion/index.php/t80863.html

 

[CJL]

Trialling fair access to moorings on the River Thames;-
YouTube video

 

[Actionmat]

The un named woman's suggestion is what I fear is going to happen. If it all goes swimmingly they'll identify it as a much needed revenue source, having compiled all the figures they need on boat comings and goings. Then it'll cost you a fiver a night everywhere, then 6, then 7 and so on, as fast as petrol.

 

[boatone]

The un named woman's suggestion is what I fear is going to happen. If it all goes swimmingly they'll identify it as a much needed revenue source, having compiled all the figures they need on boat comings and goings. Then it'll cost you a fiver a night everywhere, then 6, then 7 and so on, as fast as petrol.

Need to find a lot more revenue income than a few fivers from moorings is going to raise !
I was at Weybridge when that was recorded but for some reason they didn't interview me - wonder why? More money raised by landowners wont help pay for maintenance and services.

 

[Actionmat]

If I had to pay a fiver a night every time I moored away from home it would cost more than my annual licence. I think the prospect of doubling there revenue will prove too tempting in the long run. A fiver today, a tenner tomorrow.

I'm not denying that the EA needs more money, I just don't understand why it can't come out of the war chest or the overseas aid budget.

 

[boatone]

Trialling fair access to moorings on the River Thames;-
YouTube video

I've just watched this again. The quote from the lady member of the RTS - " if .. all landowners and councils could get in on this act " is hardly helpful and I am surprised the EA actually published it. This is not meant to be some sort of money grabbing experiment, its primary purpose is supposed to be an initiative to make moorings more available to boaters by preventing overstaying.
Frankly, I question the validity of the perceived problem that all moorings are plagued by overstaying itinerants. Yes, there are some, and any at all is too many, but in my experience it is nowhere near as big a problem as that caused by the legitimate use of moorings by narrow boats which are taking up significantly greater space than cruisers due to their length.
In many cases, the "hotspots" for problem moorers are not EA moorings anyway. The income the EA derive from 24 hour moorings is pretty small beer in the overall order of things and income gathered by others such as local authorities and riparian landowners does nothing to contribute to the EA costs of running the river.
I intend to ask the EA what detailed statistical evidence they have to support the claims that are being made about overstaying on their moorings. Resources are short enough as it is without tying them up on fruitless exercises which might alienate law abiding boaters.

If you want to spend a fiver where it may actually help it will currently buy you 15 months membership of the TMBA and help increase the strength of our voice where it might have some effect. I will be attending at least 3 or 4 meetings between now and xmas to discuss these matters and other issues including next years customer charter. The more licence payers we can claim to represent the more influence we can bring to bear on the issues that really matter.

 

[Actionmat]

I watched it again and the lady is named. And it's not lovely Rita meter maid.

I also noticed that every moored boat in the film was a narrow boat. Hopefully the man from the EA noticed that too.

 

[boatone]

I just watched it again too and the lady is named as Jackie Lambert, boater and member of the river thames society.
I also noticed that every moored boat in the film was a narrow boat. Hopefully the man from the EA noticed that too.

Perhaps you also noticed that one of the two males interviewed was her husband and also a member of the River Thames Society?
As far as I am aware there were no other boaters at the event apart from the other male interviewed and myself.

 

[Actionmat]

Yes I did, then I edited my post for fear of it looking like a name and shame.

Why didn't you get an interview? What on earth were you wearing?

 

[boatone]

Why didn't you get an interview? What on earth were you wearing?

Dunno, really. Not sure I know what I would have said if I had been asked ! I had previously advised that I would attend to represent the TMBA and they knew I was there. Maybe they were worried I might have said something contentious ?

As for attire, usual boaty jacket, grey slacks and nicely polished black shoes - looked like a classic example of the archetypal Thames boater!

 

[hartcjhart]

All getting rather silly, dontcha think?

Maybe time to refer to the ordinary man on the Clapham omnibus …….

C'mon guys and gals - 24 hours free, stay up to 2 extra 24 hour periods for £5 per £24 hours. Fail to cough up or stay longer than 72 hours in total and you're liable to find someone intent on making you wish you hadn't. Simples ……

Same old story, some people take advantage and spoil it for the rest of us. Scarce resources tied up for minimal gain.

yep very silly,EA will make nothing,the rip off enforcers will make money,and life gets more complicated for boaters

They can have all the intent they wish,but not legally enforceable,
also the sign is legally wrong,if you pay the charge and your boat gets damaged THEY can be sued for negligence.
as a bit of sillyness,what if you cannot read? you cannot enter into their contract

 

[boatone]

Interestingly, for all the concern and angst expressed in this thread, no-one has actually suggested that they intend to take the matter up with the Agency and no member of the TMBA has yet asked me to do so !

 

[Paradour]

More money raised by landowners wont help pay for maintenance and services.

Only it won't be money raised by landowners. It'll be money raised by a PPC, with no legal interest in the land, no contractual right and no authority to impose anything other than a speculative invoice. I doubt EA or landowners will see any revenue at all.

 

[ianc1200]

Tony, just to offer a different opinion, I would welcome anything which tries to make as many EA, various town, and rural moorings available as possible. If all moorings were min £5 a night, and the money even went into the collection agency's pocket I wouldn't mind. The amount would be a very small % of what I spend on boating per year. Add in the agency was to ensure max two days stay and no return within 5 days (plus anything else to ensure boats simply don't move back and forth locally). To only use the boat for a few long weekends and one holiday per year and find the same boats blocking moorings meaning I can't stop is really annoying. Just being out in late September another source of annoyance is the Wallingford town moorings being offered for long term Sept to April moorings which again means it's very difficult to stay there at this time of year. Most I've paid on the East Coast is £27 a night at the Tidemill at Woodbridge so anything sub £10 for a rural/town/EA Ok a bargain if it discourages long term stayers!

 

[hartcjhart]

Tony, just to offer a different opinion, I would welcome anything which tries to make as many EA, various town, and rural moorings available as possible. If all moorings were min £5 a night, and the money even went into the collection agency's pocket I wouldn't mind. The amount would be a very small % of what I spend on boating per year. Add in the agency was to ensure max two days stay and no return within 5 days (plus anything else to ensure boats simply don't move back and forth locally). To only use the boat for a few long weekends and one holiday per year and find the same boats blocking moorings meaning I can't stop is really annoying. Just being out in late September another source of annoyance is the Wallingford town moorings being offered for long term Sept to April moorings which again means it's very difficult to stay there at this time of year. Most I've paid on the East Coast is £27 a night at the Tidemill at Woodbridge so anything sub £10 for a rural/town/EA Ok a bargain if it discourages long term stayers![/QUOTE]

Why should the waterway be made mainly for 'holiday boaters',long termers/liveaboards pay their licences etc

 

[boatone]

Tony, just to offer a different opinion, I would welcome anything which tries to make as many EA, various town, and rural moorings available as possible.

I don't see that as a different opinion at all, in fact I agree completely. However, regardless of charging regimes, the sad fact is that there are just not enough moorings to satisfy demand in popular locations even without people overstaying. Marlow £11 a night - rarely able to stop there this year. Cookham £5 night and very efficiently collected - rarely able to moor on the park unless you arrive before noon etc etc.
My experience this year has been that in many places moorings were often taken up by legitimately moored NB's taking up twice as much space as would be occupied by the average cruiser. Note that I said "legitimately" moored - these guys pay to be on the river and have every right to moor, but it would be helpful if they would raft up in busy locations.

As regards the EA moorings IMHO the Agency simply does not have the resources to visit all their moorings to collect dues and monitor overstaying on a daily basis.
The notices at Weybridge are not clear and may not be enforceable as they state that a charge of £100 is due if ANY of certain conditions are met and one is "if no prepayment has been made". In the case of the first "free" 24 hours there is clearly no requirement for a prepayment. I very much doubt that prepayment is practically achievable even for the extra two days permitted although payment must, of course be made during the course of the stay.

 

[boatone]

Why should the waterway be made mainly for 'holiday boaters',long termers/liveaboards pay their licences etc

Apart from anything else, this raises the questions of residential mooring and Council Tax etc.

Genuine "continuous cruisers" as the C&RT call them are another matter - should there be certain moorings designated as long stay? Where could they be?

The C&RT seem to have problems with managing such boats and are intent on requiring that all boats must have a registered home mooring.

 

[Actionmat]

Was there a reason that continuous cruising was given as an option on the licence form in the first place?
It would be easier to require boaters to have a home mooring if it became an insurance requirement.

If the EA are aware of the strain on their moorings and the huge influx of NBs this year, why didn't they limit the number of visitors licenses? Money?