Alan ashore
Well-Known Member
It still baffles me why the media don't pick up on the ludicrous lack of powers that the Authorities have on the river, in comparison with their powers to manage illegal parking and unauthorised development ashore.
Illegal boat hurst park
- Thread starter Actionmat
- Start date
Flynnbarr
Well-Known Member
I watched it.
Words fail me....the urinal.....handy for pouring overboard
......and the EA can do nothing about this?
10 years? Wow....Maybe the EA should ask the PLA for advice,seems they managed to get shot of him pronto from Isleworth.
Words fail me....the urinal.....handy for pouring overboard
......and the EA can do nothing about this?10 years? Wow....Maybe the EA should ask the PLA for advice,seems they managed to get shot of him pronto from Isleworth.
Alan ashore
Well-Known Member
I watched it.
Words fail me....the urinal.....handy for pouring overboard
10 years? Wow....Maybe the EA should ask the PLA for advice,seems they managed to get shot of him pronto from Isleworth.
You probably know that PLA are presently strengthening their bylaws to take a tougher stance on casual mooring of various kinds - but I asked them at their pre-season briefing how much of an issue they have with illegal residentials, and they did say that while they do have problems with a few boats they already have much more substantial powers than EA...
boatone
Well-Known Member
From the BBC News website report:
This case really does demonstrate the complete lack of joined up thinking between the EA, local authorities and law enforcement. The EA have taken legal action and the situation continues pending a further court hearing. All this is costing a shedload of money which, through whatever route, is coming from the public purse and, as others have said, any fines will likely not provide adequate recompense. I know that the EA are reticent to pursue cases because of lack of funding and resources. As regards sewage discharge we were told at a recent RUG 8 meeting that the EA will not turn out for anything other than major incidents now because they cannot cope.
Don't guest houses require a licence from a local authority?
This case really does demonstrate the complete lack of joined up thinking between the EA, local authorities and law enforcement. The EA have taken legal action and the situation continues pending a further court hearing. All this is costing a shedload of money which, through whatever route, is coming from the public purse and, as others have said, any fines will likely not provide adequate recompense. I know that the EA are reticent to pursue cases because of lack of funding and resources. As regards sewage discharge we were told at a recent RUG 8 meeting that the EA will not turn out for anything other than major incidents now because they cannot cope.
byron
RIP
This bloke 'TROTMAN' is his first name Stuart aged maybe in his 70s? At the time he ran a small Taiwanese Trawler Yacht.
If so it may be the same geezer that created mayhem in the Cleve area 20 years ago. Sins ranging from dumping all his rubbish on an island. Flying the Blue Ensign of the Royal Corinthian illegally. Getting banned from Phylis Court for attempting to steal whiskey from the bar. Stealing both water and electric from a neighbouring mooring plot. Trying to knock P&T Marine for servicing fees. Those are just a few of the things I can think of at the moment.
If so it may be the same geezer that created mayhem in the Cleve area 20 years ago. Sins ranging from dumping all his rubbish on an island. Flying the Blue Ensign of the Royal Corinthian illegally. Getting banned from Phylis Court for attempting to steal whiskey from the bar. Stealing both water and electric from a neighbouring mooring plot. Trying to knock P&T Marine for servicing fees. Those are just a few of the things I can think of at the moment.
JorgeinLondon
Well-Known Member
I think it may be this guy:
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/852539.0/
in other interviews he keeps talking about keeping out a watch over parts of the river as a part of the 'service' he is providing.....
Not sure he's in his 70's! Also from the BBC 6 o'clock local news video he looks to be the same guy featured in the article.
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/852539.0/
in other interviews he keeps talking about keeping out a watch over parts of the river as a part of the 'service' he is providing.....
Not sure he's in his 70's! Also from the BBC 6 o'clock local news video he looks to be the same guy featured in the article.
Alan ashore
Well-Known Member
Tony,
in fairness we have seen quite a significant attempt by EA, LA's and the police to work together on this issue, but they just don't have the legislative framework to act quickly and decisively. It needs a central government initiative to fix that IMHO.
boatone
Well-Known Member
I agree but, in the meantime, I, and may other user representatives, sit in meeting after meeting being told that EA Navigation does not have enough funding and resources to maintain the navigation and provide the services we expect in return for our registration fees.
As an example, the problems with Cookham Lock would have likely been sorted ages ago had there been more funding available, as would the issues with overhanging trees and shoal clearance.
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ianc1200
Well-Known Member
How does that stack up with their chasing of non licence payers in marinas? Are they more interested in that case (which is about ensuring they get income) than this one (which doesn't)?
Actionmat
Well-Known Member
No it's not him, this Trotman is Alistair and he's South African. It's a shame the news failed to mention his floating hotel complex in Teddington or the large unlicensed, sunken wooden gentlemans cruiser that he abandoned and was removed at the EA and councils expense.
Outinthedinghy
Well-Known Member
Recently I was visiting an old friend who currently moors his boat by the old scout site a few minutes up from Porthampton island on the left side going upstream. He's been on the River since the 70s and seen it all. Apparently they are going to be moved on around 1st June or something.
Anyway its now a "squat" mooring and it's getting a bit out of order there. Apparently its a "nature reserve" (lol) which is why the scouts can't go back despite there being a sort of slipway and decent infrastructure for them.
Anyway I remember years ago (about 15 years probably) it used to be quite a handy mooring you would regularly see people mooring there while out boating, moving the next day.
Point being that if this site is "enforced" and it becomes no mooring then it all gets a bit dodgy. Like opposite Chertsey meads - No mooring or we'll hit you for £100 or something.
Are there any groups looking at approaching landowners with a view to allowing limited moorings or is it all up to the ea?
I went on the great Ouse years ago and there were "GOBA" moorings which were for club members.
How they enforced it I don't know but it seems to me that if things are not looked at properly then all the decent transient moorings will be lost eventually.
Anyway its now a "squat" mooring and it's getting a bit out of order there. Apparently its a "nature reserve" (lol) which is why the scouts can't go back despite there being a sort of slipway and decent infrastructure for them.
Anyway I remember years ago (about 15 years probably) it used to be quite a handy mooring you would regularly see people mooring there while out boating, moving the next day.
Point being that if this site is "enforced" and it becomes no mooring then it all gets a bit dodgy. Like opposite Chertsey meads - No mooring or we'll hit you for £100 or something.
Are there any groups looking at approaching landowners with a view to allowing limited moorings or is it all up to the ea?
I went on the great Ouse years ago and there were "GOBA" moorings which were for club members.
How they enforced it I don't know but it seems to me that if things are not looked at properly then all the decent transient moorings will be lost eventually.
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ianc1200
Well-Known Member
Andy, that's the way the Thames is going at the moment, and the way the London canals have already gone.
Outinthedinghy
Well-Known Member
Actually not quite on the canals yet. I've got seven boats at the moment. OK so 5 of them are dinghies and canoes (!!) but the other two are barges. Both on canal river trust waterways in London most of the time. One with a residential mooring and one with a gold license (the summer boat) and no 'home mooring'. It is still fairly easy to keep a boat on the canal without a mooring as long as you do move it a bit. There are boat loggers out on bikes with gps enabled pdas most of the time and canal river trust have a full database of where you have/n't been moving to with plans to refuse licenses in future. Reduced length licenses (3,month) have already been trialled for people not adhering to "guidance" . as you say things are going that way but there are more legal issues on the canals than the River because on the River land ownership is fragmented and owned by multiple organisations and individuals rather than being owned by one organisation.
It seems to me that one way forward would be to get more srb's on the River! People who live on boats policing the others - but Steve has an unusual situation in that he controls (or rather patrols) a long section with two separate land owners, whereas the little bits here and there which have squatter problems probably wouldn't be worth doing on a mooring fee collection basis its easier just to tell people "sorry no mooring please" or similar. Which is a shame.
On the other hand I have moored for lunch on the bend opposite Chertsey meads and no one came and had a go at me. Not sure if it would have been the same story if I had stopped overnight?
If a simple "blind eye" situation comes into effect for people obviously out boating then perhaps the rather draconian signage is a valid option?
If I remember right Richmond said something like no mooring ever even if you break down or you get an hour in an emergency or something. I would have thought 24 hours would be ok but then who patrols it?
A bit awkward
It seems to me that one way forward would be to get more srb's on the River! People who live on boats policing the others - but Steve has an unusual situation in that he controls (or rather patrols) a long section with two separate land owners, whereas the little bits here and there which have squatter problems probably wouldn't be worth doing on a mooring fee collection basis its easier just to tell people "sorry no mooring please" or similar. Which is a shame.
On the other hand I have moored for lunch on the bend opposite Chertsey meads and no one came and had a go at me. Not sure if it would have been the same story if I had stopped overnight?
If a simple "blind eye" situation comes into effect for people obviously out boating then perhaps the rather draconian signage is a valid option?
If I remember right Richmond said something like no mooring ever even if you break down or you get an hour in an emergency or something. I would have thought 24 hours would be ok but then who patrols it?
A bit awkward
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oldgit
Well-Known Member
The pressure on affordable housing is unlikely to ease anytime soon ,even with the "heroic" ??? attempts to provide accommodation going on at the moment.
This in turn is going to increase the numbers resorting to living afloat,adding to an already dire situation.
It would appear that the standard answer at the moment is to move on the miscreants to the next parish and hope they do not return.
Getting a joined up response in going to be extremely difficult with the current financial situation.
To try and coerce/force the local authority to have to provide half dozen moorings in each area ,similar to camps for the traveling community,would be one answer.
Perhaps located in some of the less favored outskirts of larger towns.
We could possibly expect a few howls of outrage from the petition tendency,but who takes any notice of them ?
This in turn is going to increase the numbers resorting to living afloat,adding to an already dire situation.
It would appear that the standard answer at the moment is to move on the miscreants to the next parish and hope they do not return.
Getting a joined up response in going to be extremely difficult with the current financial situation.
To try and coerce/force the local authority to have to provide half dozen moorings in each area ,similar to camps for the traveling community,would be one answer.
Perhaps located in some of the less favored outskirts of larger towns.
We could possibly expect a few howls of outrage from the petition tendency,but who takes any notice of them ?