Harbourmaster removing boats from Kingston (and other places)

Steve Grubb

Steve Grubb

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Saw on their FaceBook page they've removed three abandoned boats from Kingston and then were heading elsewhere to remove more. Good news, I've never yet managed to find a mooring to pop into Kingston!

It's saddening to see so many clearly abandoned and/or half-submerged boats along the river, time for a big clear up!
 
Yes but these are abandoned boats (I assume unlicensed?) so they can remove them from the moorings until they are claimed or disposed of. Trotman's 'boats' are occupied (and probably licensed?) so it's a different offence and has to be dealt with in a different way I assume? Much as I'd love to see them all towed away!
 
Thanks for the link, Steve.

At least two of those boats were occupied when I passed them., I wouldn't describe them as abandoned.
Unlicensed, uninsured and without a BSS, quite possibly,.

Good to see action being taken, especially on this blighted stretch of our beautiful river.:encouragement:
 
I wonder why those particular boats have been singled out for action?
Pressure from riparian owners = Kingston BC
or EA?

Mebe start from the 'bottom' and work upstream?

Just curious...
 
Several of Trotmans "slumboats" have been moved to the waiting dock at Molesey Lock and upstream at Hurst Park. Here is an extract from Friends of Hurst Parks website on the issue.. It's quiet out of date but interesting for anyone who was wondering how things moved on from Kingston.

January 2017
The "slumboat", an unauthorised vessel let out as lodgings, is currently moored on the concrete platform at the foot of Hampton Court Bridge, immediately downstream of the bridge and opposite the Tudor West Face of the Palace. This is Surrey property, being part of the bridge and highway.

16 December 2016 - This boat is currently moored on Cigarette Island Park, opposite Hampton Court and property of Elmbridge Council which is actively seeking to have it removed.

A landmark judgement at Kingston County Court in November 2016 confirmed that the navigation licence fee payable by boat owners relates only to the right to pass along the River Thames, including anchoring or mooring for a reasonable time to facilitate passage (normally 24 hours in passing). It gives no right to long term or permanent mooring - a decision that should strengthen the hand of the Environment Agency in tackling unauthorised residential boats.

The vessel in Molesey Lock Cut

Two cases of trespass were brought by the Environment Agency against Alastair Trotman, owner of the so-called "Slumboat", until recently moored by Molesey Lock, and three other boats illegally moored upstream of Teddington Lock. In both cases the court granted possession orders to the Environment Agency as owner of the sites in question. This means that Mr Trotman is obliged to move the vessels immediately.

In the case of "Slumboat", this is a barge with no engine and the judge ruled that, for reasons of safety, officers of the EA escort the defendant while it is removed, given the complexities of tides and currents. The logistics will be negotiated between the EA and Mr Trotman.

The original "Slumboat" summons related to trespass on land alongside houses in Hampton Court Crescent and the adjacent Octagon head office. Having been issued with the summons Mr Trotman pulled "Slumboat" downstream on 3 November and through the lock to a new position. Last weekend he manhandled his supply vessels through the lock also. In court the EA pointed out that this was a move of only some 100 metres and the judge allowed the reference on the possession notice to be altered to the present location.

Mr Trotman's main defence was that the EA is not a freeholder and therefore cannot bring a case of trespass. He argued that public bodies do not have access to common law and only have the statutory powers they are given by the state. This was dismissed by the judge who said that Land Registry documents showed the EA to have title absolute over the lands in question with the same rights of protection from trespass as any other landowner.

The defendant also argued that to bring a case of trespass the EA must show that it required the land back "for its exclusive possession" but again the judge ruled this irrelevant. She also dismissed the argument that the navigation licence conferred a long-term right to moor.

Mr Trotman asked for leave to appeal the County Court's judgement but this was refused. He was ordered to pay court costs for each case, amounting to £710 in all, to be paid by 29 November.
Note prepared by Tony Wilson, Hampton Court Crescent.
8 November 2016
 
And then nothing !!! well I say nothing in fact things have just gotten fifty times worse the whole stretch of the beautiful River Thames from Kingston to Sunbury are now a total eye saw with the EA and local authorities doing absolutely nothing
They should be ashamed of themselves sitting on their hands watching people Flout the law and laughing because they know that nothing will be done by these toothless authorities.
 
I must admit to feeling pretty disappointed having just been on a trip from Shepperton to Kingston and back - it looked no different to when I last made the trip - plenty of part sunken and abandoned wrecks, a number of what appear to be illegal slum boats (many of trotman's barges in the area) and boats tied up in places where mooring is not permitted. I thought from the good work the EA were reporting in the quiet months I'd have noticed a difference but sadly not.
 
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