Limehouse Basin proposal will reduce free moorings

[tony_lavelle]

Information received from the Cruising Association: BWML have obtained consent from C&RT to build pontoon moorings in the area currently designated for 24 hr free moorings. The application has now passed to the local authority [Tower Hamlets]. The proposal will drastically reduce the free facilities for boats in transit to and from the tideway and from the Regents Canal to the river Lee. The INP asked CGAC to oppose the application and they agreed so we're in the process of drafting the objections through RYA Head Office. IWA and St.PCC are also objecting. The reduced facilities have implications for sailors on tidal passages. The CA and other clubs may wish to object in their own right.

For details of the planning proposal see:
https://development.towerhamlets.go...ls.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=DCAPR_124097

 

[bricksh]

The DBA (Barge Association) will also be objecting.

 

[oldgit]

Just to clarify, will these free moorings be lost to residential berths or converted into normal chargeable marina visitor berths perhaps with bit of water and power.
As far as I can see they are only free to canal boat users with a CaRT licence. The rest of the boating community, high unlikely to have that sort of licence, have to cough up £25.00 a night.
Feel pretty sure no other marina anywhere offers free berths. ?
Having been turned away from Limehouse due to no space would very much like a few extras spaces in there.

 

[Chill]

Just to clarify, will these free moorings be lost to residential berths or converted into normal chargeable marina visitor berths perhaps with bit of water and power.
As far as I can see they are only free to canal boat users with a CaRT licence. The rest of the boating community, high unlikely to have that sort of licence, have to cough up £25.00 a night.
Feel pretty sure no other marina anywhere offers free berths. ?
Having been turned away from Limehouse due to no space would very much like a few extras spaces in there.

+1

 

[Parabordi]

+1

+1

 

[oldgit]

On the Thames 24 hours moorings are available to all wether licenced with CaRT (Gold license) or EA.
Seems a bit one sided that EA licensed boats have to pay for the "free" moorings in Limehouse.
Perhaps a similar system should work on the Thames ie Vessels with Thames registration get free use of the 24 hour moorings but CaRT registered pay £25.00.
Come to think of it it might encourage some to move a little more often.

 

[Parabordi]

On the Thames 24 hours moorings are available to all wether licenced with CaRT (Gold license) or EA.
Seems a bit one sided that EA licensed boats have to pay for the "free" moorings in Limehouse.
Perhaps a similar system should work on the Thames ie Vessels with Thames registration get free use of the 24 hour moorings but CaRT registered pay £25.00.
Come to think of it it might encourage some to move a little more often.

and by length ie multiples of 30feet

 

[MoodySabre]

I'm surprised Chattinglil hasn't been on this as she is a liveboard in Limehouse.

There is discontent amongst liveaboards and flat owners over BWML's management of the basin. They only manage it - they don't own it. Filling all available water with moorings is unpopular visually and also because the facilities in the marina have not been increased. The visitors mooring in the back right corner have apparently been almost permanently occupied. This does no bode well for visitors.

 

[Andy Soper]

DBA - The Barge Association have obected to the planning application:

The DBA has objected to planning proposal PA/17/03268/NC with the conclusion:

Conclusion
Although the proposed development would increase revenue for BWML through the installation of additional leisure moorings, this will be at the detriment to visiting skippers of vessels of all shapes and sizes due to the significant reduction in visitor moorings available.
Navigational safety is very much compromised because of the restriction in the space left available within the basin for manoeuvring, by the construction of the new pontoons. This situation is then compounded by relocation of the services pontoon, making this restricted area the busiest navigational zone within the basin.
The much impaired disabled access for visiting boaters, crew and visitors to the basin, discriminates against a section of society that have limited access to the pleasures of the waterways.
The proposed plan is detrimental to the use of the basin by our members, the general public, visiting skippers and boating organisations. The plans are contrary to planning policy and we urge rejection of the current proposals.

Andy Soper
Chairman

 

[CX54WEK]

On the Thames 24 hours moorings are available to all wether licenced with CaRT (Gold license) or EA.
Seems a bit one sided that EA licensed boats have to pay for the "free" moorings in Limehouse.
Perhaps a similar system should work on the Thames ie Vessels with Thames registration get free use of the 24 hour moorings but CaRT registered pay £25.00.
Come to think of it it might encourage some to move a little more often.

The CRT Gold Licence is a colaboration of the EA and CRT licence.

Our standard Rivers only CRT licence does not cover us on EA waters and we have to buy a separate visitor licence.

So it isn't one sided. Those with a Gold licence are paying more then a standard EA or standard CRT licence to use both regulators waters.

 

[oldgit]

The CRT Gold Licence is a colaboration of the EA and CRT licence.

Our standard Rivers only CRT licence does not cover us on EA waters and we have to buy a separate visitor licence.

So it isn't one sided. Those with a Gold licence are paying more then a standard EA or standard CRT licence to use both regulators waters.

Feel certain you will correct me if wrong but....... thought the Gold license entitles full use of the Thames at discounted rate. ?
CaRT users do not pay the full rate that anybody based on the Thames has to pay the EA. ?
Those with an EA license do not enjoy the same privileges simply because the vast majority will not fit in or under the Cart network.


Plan of the marina with the ( for some ) free moorings.
A cynic could comment that most of the moorings appear to be taken up by large ex commercial craft and barges which might struggle to find find moorings anywhere else without a considerable increase in rent.
Also suspect that it is only some larger vessels where "safety is very much compromised because of the restriction in the space left available within the basin for manoeuvring.
Most Thames marina based vessels could turn round there with their eyes shut.
Those free moorings do not appear to be packed either ?



https://bwml.co.uk/limehouse-basin-marina/

 

[ChattingLil]

The planning application has gone in for LEISURE moorings, not VISITOR moorings.
Leisure moorings are available on annual contract and BWML have a waiting list of large boats (barges and the like) that would be ideally suited to the proposed pontoons (coincidentally).
The number of Visitor Moorings has not been increased.
If the plan is approved, there is nothing to stop the new moorings being taken up by annual contracts, so they will not be available to visitors.
Limehouse already has a section set aside for visitors (in the NE corner) but these are often taken up with longer-term moorers (six months or more) so therefore not available to visitors.

Current berth-holders at Limehouse are in the majority opposed to the proposal. Those that are in favour are generally so because they hope to get a bigger boat on the new bigger pontoons, or they hardly ever move their floating homes so are not interested in the wider concerns (or use them as short-term weekday accommodation, so less inclined to be engaged in the community or environment). Those opposed are concerned about navigational safety, pressure on the already over-subscribed facilities, ecological impact on flora and fauna, environment impact in regards to pollution and noise, relationships with our landside neighbours, loss of access to open waterside space, aesthetic appeal, threat of the quayside being gated (security problems), increased security problems. And it's in contravention to the Tower Hamlets Local Plan.

As mentioned above it seems to be extraordinarily unpopular with many people who will be putting in objections; DBA, CA, St Pancras CC, the Limehouse Community Forum (also the local planning forum), IWA, RYA, the Limehouse Berth-holders Association and all the residents' associations from the surrounding flats/apartments.

 

[oldgit]

Re: Limehouse Basin proposal will reduce what exactly ?

All received and understood.
Can appreciate that no visitor moorings would be either created or lost. !
The reasons against, appear to be the tired usual generic NIMBY excuses trotted out by all RAs to prevent change, bearing in mind they , of course,already have a roof over their heads.