Is the EA powerless to do anything about this,

[oldgit]

For years the problem of land being sold off as leisure plots has been the bane of the River Medway. Basically a narrow strip of land worth nothing for agricultural or building will be sold off piecemeal in tiny plots to people wanting to spent a few quid on a weekend retreat .
It happened up at Wateringbury years ago and it resulted in a mile of tacky ribbon development moorings made of scaffolding and patio board staging. Plus a few abandoned boats hauled ashore and left to decay.
The rot has started in one the most attractive sections a little further downstteam.Some genius bought a tiny bit of river bank and put an old lighter on it,probably totally unaware of the fact the barge would be spending all of its time at 45 degrees.
It has now sunk,resulting in this eyesore.

To compound the problem.this has appeared just round the corner.

This chap is well "dug" in already having cultivated the river bank and established a vegetable garden in its place.
A lot further down an old cement works was divided up and sold,it has taken years for the local council to force the owners to remove all the fences/sheds/shacks/caravans etc etc that had spring up.

 

[byron]

Surely they are contravening Planning Regulations.

 

[oldgit]

Surely they are contravening Planning Regulations.

God only knows.If it was just this chap,then live and let live,he probably would tidy up some of the **** around his barge.
However once the idea gets out that somebody is flogging off chunks of riverbank piecemeal,pretty certain less responsible types will be getting in on the act.Once use is established it is almost impossible to reverse the process.The local council will be having to locate and enforce proceedings possibly on a hundred or so individuals,most of who will be very reluctant to be contacted.
The cost would be enormous.
Also difficult call from authourities,do you work behind the scenes to stop it before its general knowledge or publicise the fact that you are aware and intend to put a stop to it.

 

[boatone]

Also difficult call from authourities,do you work behind the scenes to stop it before its general knowledge or publicise the fact that you are aware and intend to put a stop to it.

Stop worrying about what might be and deal with what is.
Who is landowner? Even if EA would probably require planning consent for permanent residential use. Harrass local authority planning department and local councillors!

 

[ianc1200]

As we should do with all the liveaboard/meadows being used for permanent moorings!

 

[Actionmat]

I can understand the lack of enthusiasm by local authorities towards squatters and sunken boats. They're not customers of the council, they don't pay council tax, they float or sink on the river and owe their dues to the EA.
The Garrick lawns are a prime example of this, illegally occupied for years with at least 50ft taken by a partially submerged wreck. They wouldn't get away with setting up a campsite on the lawn, but moor a boat and the buck gets passed around like a hot potato.
I look at the river from Sunbury to Teddington and have no faith in any action being taken any time soon, it's gone on far too long to hope the 60+ boats will be forced to share the moorings with leisure users. That must equate to 2 to 3,000ft of dead public moorings over 10 miles.
If and when these areas get cleared, we can probably kiss goodbye to free moorings for 24 hours as the would given all the relevant authorities a reason to charge and buggered it up for everyone else.

 

[oldgit]

Stop worrying about what might be and deal with what is.
Who is landowner? Even if EA would probably require planning consent for permanent residential use. Harrass local authority planning department and local councillors!

You are absolutely correct.
One get out will be it is not a permanent occupation.Provided the boat is not in situ for a month each year it is able to circumvent regulations,especially regards sewage and rates etc.
This is frequently used on caravan and chalet sites which are not residential.
Am going to do a bit of Googling and see if can find local councillor.

 

[boatone]

Need to get clinical about this issue and stop getting steamed up over stuff may not be able to do anything about.

Three issues - First is are boats displaying current licence plate? If no this is EA issue (assuming on their waters). If they are then should be able to assume they have BSS and Insurance.

Second is mooring situation. Are boats on recognised public moorings and, if so, observing mooring conditions ? Enforcement down to the mooring authority which may be EA but could be Local Authority.
If boats are moored on private land then is really a matter for the landowner and no point in complaining that they are taking up public mooring space.

Third issue is why are you complaining and is your complaint valid. There is no law which says that a boat must look pretty - otherwise they'd all have to look like the CLB!
Regrettably, the fact that you think a boat is an eyesore may be of no interest to anyone.

 

[oldgit]

Local MP cannot help or comment as am not one of her constituants.
Local councillor for the Frant district of Maidstone has been contacted.
Main concern is the entire stretch will be sold off for leisure plots.In every past case by the time the local authority is made aware it is too late and people have bought the plots with an idea of what other people have already got up to is OK.
Suspect it is virtually impossible to stop once the ball starts rolling and if you could see what happend just few miles further up it is a convincing argument to prevent it happing again.

 

[Hobnob]

Whatever your aims and objectives, it is easy to find out land ownership in England and Wales. £3 per title document via a map-based search at the Land Registry will do the trick.

 

[Medway Mudlark]

Fred
link to guy who is selling these plots, same as just above Elmhaven, which is where I was moored until 3 years ago

www.mooringland.info

hope this helps

David

 

[Actionmat]

Local MP cannot help or comment as am not one of her constituants.
Local councillor for the Frant district of Maidstone has been contacted.

Moseley Council will only accept a complaint/enquiry on line. The lucky form filler has to enter their postcode, if it isn't within the borough it isn't recognised and the form can't be submitted. I had to resort to making one up, which gave me the impression that they didn't want to make it too easy.

 

[Flynnbarr]

I thought the medway was where old knackered boats went to see out their final days

 

[Ramage]

No, that's old knackered Skippers........

 

[oldgit]

Am aware of the land registery website.
Used get details of owner of a car that had hit one of my vehicles.
Basically wanted to find out if they had sufficient property assets to make them worth sueing.

 

[oldgit]

Thanks Mudlark. Worse than I thought.

www.mooringland.info


MOORING AND PLANNING PERMISSION

"An ambitious scheme for 30 wharf like structures, car park, artificial lake and other works on this land was refused planning permission on appeal. It is clear that engineering operations and development in this riverside area are not wanted. Mooring of boats will therefore have to take place by simply tying up alongside the bank using the boat's own equipment such as lines, mooring irons, gangplank and anchor(s) if necessary. No planning permission is required for mooring in the course of navigation. Additionally, your riparian rights as owner of the river bank and bed allow you to moor alongside your own land. In a recent planning appeal the inspector found that in the absence of engineering operations, the permanent basing of boats does not require planning permission.

Substantial costs were awarded against the local council that claimed otherwise

"


"This is the Environment Agency whose officers are very friendly and helpful. We have their written confirmation that mooring as described does not require their permission (please see Appendix B - Letter from us to the Environment Agency and their Replies Confirming their Permission is not required for Mooring). You must have a river licence and not impede navigation, but there are few other restrictions and no other charges."

http://www.mooringland.info/appendix_b.htm

 

[boatone]

Not quite sure what your point is, Fred?

 

[oldgit]

Not quite sure what your point is, Fred?

Anybody with the cash can buy a bit of riverbank and put a boat on it as a permanent residence !

 

[boatone]

Anybody with the cash can buy a bit of riverbank and put a boat on it as a permanent residence !

Council tax?

All that correspondence seems to be with specific reference to land drainage? It does not address any issue to do with permanent residential use which, although it may be of no concern to the EA (except possibly re sanitation discharge into the river?) could and should be of interest to the local authority if permanent residence is involved.

 

[Actionmat]

http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/Pub...ual/council_tax_man_pn/t-ct-man-pn7-appd.html

It looks like any boat used as permanent accommodation is liable (excluding those based in marinas) as long as the owner pays rent for the mooring or owns it. This would seem to exclude anyone who squats on the bank and doesn't pay a penny, which is a joke.