Maidenhead - Action to be taken on unlicensed boats.

[Portland Billy]

The insurance aspect of non BSC and unlicensed boats also gives cause for concern. The unwillingness of the authorities to act may make them partially culpable should an incident occur (??). know of dozens of boats which have evaded licensing for years.

 

[Old Crusty]

Confiscation for being unregistered is permitted under article 16 of the Inland Waterways Order 2010 (a typically poorly drafted bit of law) but it becomes complex if it's a live aboard who will claim right to life relief under article 8 of the ECHR. The EA is wary of pursuing this as there is no right of appeal against confiscation under the IWO so the EA lawyers got the wobbles in case a boater screamed about it being unfair. It has no successful process in place to manage the removal & disposal of boats which it has been faffing about with since 2009.

The regs are clear cut but the authorities are frightened of the potential costly legal consequences so only a few boats have been removed from the river, usually just the wrecks with no traceable owner. DEFRA has bigger matters to tackle so won't be applying resources to what it regards as insignificant. I doubt Network Rail are interested either.

For the sake of pedant accuracy, the railway bridge being referred to is Bourne End not Cookham.

 

[Old Crusty]

The insurance aspect of non BSC and unlicensed boats also gives cause for concern. The unwillingness of the authorities to act may make them partially culpable should an incident occur (??). know of dozens of boats which have evaded licensing for years.

As you know, boaters self declare they are compliant with BSSC and insurance and the EA reserves the right to check that documents are in order, except it doesn't, so there's its get out clause.

 

[Portland Billy]

So basically, the EA is a dog that barks, but has no teeth.
What a waste of space!!!
I'm seriously considering a move to the Broads.

 

[Old Crusty]

So basically, the EA is a dog that barks, but has no teeth.
What a waste of space!!!
I'm seriously considering a move to the Broads.

The EA's teeth retired in 2016!

 

[Parabordi]

yeah the new Obersturmbannführer is called the BURGER MAN, cos he does BURGER ALL....