Molesey Lock Closure

[Actionmat]

A lot of those boats have no name, they know how to play the EA.

How far would you get down the road in an old camper van with no licence plates, tax or insurance?

Or hanging your backside out of the window for a deep six?

No wonder they've taken to the river.

I spoke to one young lad and he could afford a room or a berth but he chose not to. He was working cash in hand and was living in a hammock in the park before he heard about boats and joined the Reading community. Being surrounded by junkies and theives is stressful so he's now moved on. Getting a piece of paper taped to your window with a letter from the EA is treated as a joke by a lot of them.
Many people will have different stories to tell, but the hardcore are just tight. They have their priorities and their priorities are not paying their way in society like the rest of us mugs. The answer should not be free or subsidised moorings, the answer should be the power to remove and crush the boats of repeat offenders. The DVLA wouldn't think twice about doing it to a vehicle, even if someone called it home.

 

[Flynnbarr]

Programme on R4 on Sunday morning "Open Country" about the burgeoning number of folks taking to the water with a narrowboat for a home.
To be fair it did try to inform the listening public about the hidden costs and downsides to living afloat.
However not one of the folks living aboard who were interviewed gave the slightest hint of being uphappy with their decision.
Seemed equally divided between those who wanted the lifestyle and those driven by economics.
Do not think we are about to see a decline in the numbers making the choice.
Time to accept reality and make provision for more narrowboats and finally accept the weekend gin palace hegemony on the gilded pond is over ?

*look it up.

I shall try to find that broadcast it sounds interesting.
I have known a fair few liveaboards over the years and not one having made the leap has wanted to return to bricks and mortar.

 

[oldgit]

I shall try to find that broadcast it sounds interesting.
I have known a fair few liveaboards over the years and not one having made the leap has wanted to return to bricks and mortar.

We have a few club members who have choosen to live afloat, all appear to be perfect normal folks and appear sadly lacking in the grudge against society in general tendency dept.

Usually broadcast at 06.00 on R4 Sunday mornings.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001fvx

 

[Actionmat]

Rosie and Jim don't live on this part of the river. If a retired permanent cruiser found themselves moored amongst the crowd we have now, they'd move on quicker than you could say "Tescos Reading".

 

[Flynnbarr]

Thanks for the link OG,interesting.
P.s..I know you Medway chaps like a bargain......have you seen the turbo 36 on ebay for 25k!

 

[oldgit]

Thanks for the link OG,interesting.
P.s..I know you Medway chaps like a bargain......have you seen the turbo 36 on ebay for 25k!

Lots of work and most probably used as a livaboard ......however on the up side.

"Sound system installed including radio, bluetooth music, 2000 watt amp, TV and XBox."

A Turbo 36 at PH, although reduced to near 40K , failed to sell, prospective buyer withdrew and found another T36 up at Henley for not much more money. Boat now on the Medway.

 

[Actionmat]

A hive of inactivity today. 6 weeks in, gates off, lock full, no one around, anyone else seen any action or have they stopped work for Christmas?
YBW not uploading my pics at the moment, will try again later.

 

[TrueBlue]

A hive of inactivity today. 6 weeks in, gates off, lock full, no one around, anyone else seen any action or have they stopped work for Christmas?
YBW not uploading my pics at the moment, will try again later.

That's very clever - how do they keep the water in with no gates? Does our esteemed Harbour Master have some hidden power (other than his charm, of course)??

Likely they've taken the gates up to Sunbury for some fettling as EA can't afford new ones....

 

[Actionmat]

Upstream set only
6 weeks to take half the gates off and park Cooks Piling vessels in the lock. I'd like to know how that compares to their schedule of works.

 

[kmatt]

A hive of inactivity today. 6 weeks in, gates off, lock full, no one around, anyone else seen any action or have they stopped work for Christmas?
YBW not uploading my pics at the moment, will try again later.

Post pix please, too lazy to go up there...

 

[Actionmat]

I took quite a few. Buy every time I go to post I get a message saying 'upload failed'

 

[Old Crusty]

Upstream set only
6 weeks to take half the gates off and park Cooks Piling vessels in the lock. I'd like to know how that compares to their schedule of works.

The gates are only being re-sheeted and, doubtless, painted battleship grey, though that often is left to the keeper to do once back in position. The damage was caused by a log stuck behind the gate when open that punched a hole in the sheet on the waterline. 12 weeks does seem a generous period in which to complete the work.

Amongst many others, I project managed a new build pub - from the first cut of the sod to opening the doors to customers was just 18 weeks (the De Havilland Arms, Fleet). You only need the labour and the will to do it as quickly as you can.

 

[Actionmat]

Top gates reinstalled with a lot of water pouring out of the sides, looks like they leak worse than the last ones.

Company not prepared to remove the lower gates while the waiting area is occupied by 2 Slumboats and assorted hangers on for safety reasons.

 

[kmatt]

Company not prepared to remove the lower gates while the waiting area is occupied by 2 Slumboats and assorted hangers on for safety reasons.

FFS. Can we not lend a hand?!? It's already a month behind, so they best get on with it, otherwise it will be May or June if we have to wait for the numpties to f-off.

 

[Actionmat]

The date is March 1st, so they're probably on target depending on the Trotman situation.
I went from Teddington to Hampton Court and back today. I'm sure there are plenty of boat owners who have yet to stick their new licence on, but I was the only boat I saw with a blue one.

 

[kmatt]

Hopefully they can resolve the issue soon. You're a saint for getting your licence in place already, I've still got ours on the desk to check through, plus the dinghies... Thanks for the reminder!

 

[flyonthewall]

I am concerned that every time I come back to the area, Trotmans vessels seem to have multiplied. They are still on sale for accomodation on Bookings.com and non of the authorities contacted have been particularly forthcoming with information about any action against him.. I did find an old post on Friends of Hurst Park website. Its quite interesting nevertheless for anyone interested in the matter. It seems there is money to be made as the fines are so low and there is so much grey (& black waste!) areas here that he can continue to run rings round everyone and carry on regardless.

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

 

[RichardGS]

Good news.

I've just read on the "Harbourmaster, non-tidal River Thames" Facebook page that Molesey lock is now open again!