Outcome of EA Navigation Charges Consultation

boatone

boatone

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Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
Thanks for the update .
Suspect that while complaining to the EA staff about the problems that boaters have on the navigation is all very worthwhile, it is time for change of tack and explain to the folks clutching the actual purse strings, that there actually is a real problem regards funding.
Along with one or two suggestions about how to raise funds without recourse to the rather empty public pot. Perhaps !
 
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Whilst I agree that other income streams need to be pursued it is good that the EA is also being more active in getting all boats to pay their way and clearing up the banks of wrecks and non compliant vessels.

In reality for me it means an increase of around £5 a month this year and next so is a small price to pay for the excellent service that is given on the Thames when locks are staffed during peak times.

Maybe visitors should pay more as they tend to be larger narrow boats and use up far more of the limited mooring spaces that are available.
 
GaryNattrass said:
it is good that the EA is also being more active in getting all boats to pay their way and clearing up the banks of wrecks and non compliant vessels..
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Yeah....in November.! so the message to the pikeys is dont pay next year and then move or lift your boat in October to avoid paying anything.
If they had done the inspections every month i would have more respect for them doing what they are paid for
Last point, did it really need 17X EA people to inspect 400 boats at Bray marina?
In a proper 8hr working day, i would have thought two people could have comfortably managed it.
Can you tell i dont work(!) for the public sector....
 
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Well they inspected my marina in June and have also inspected Bray several times this year.

I agree it is not ideal as they did nothing the past two years but maybe they are getting our message better?

As for staffing levels no doubt as it is closed season more are available in November and hopefully they will also do inspections at the start of 2019 before the next season commences?
 
Parabordi said:
Yeah....in November.! so the message to the pikeys is dont pay next year and then move or lift your boat in October to avoid paying anything.
If they had done the inspections every month i would have more respect for them doing what they are paid for
Last point, did it really need 17X EA people to inspect 400 boats at Bray marina?
In a proper 8hr working day, i would have thought two people could have comfortably managed it.
Can you tell i dont work(!) for the public sector....
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You are so right!

2012 was the last time a proper sweep of all reaches was done including marinas. It took two, sometimes three officers to do a reach a day zigzaging upstream and checking every boat. Two officers did Windsor and Racecourse Marina in a day and it took them a day to do Bray Marina without breaking into a sweat. They operated independently, arrived on a patrol boat, had 4G connection to the registration database and checked scores of boats not displaying a licence. They started in May, covered Teddington to Sonning, had time off it for the Dorney Olympics then started again in September and did it all again. They booked over 600 boats unregistered of which all paid up either immediately or went to court and paid up raising about £180k if my memory serves correctly. The liveaboards between Sunbury and Teddington were checked every three months as well, mainly by Mick the Terror.

It's not difficult, it merely requires a bit of effort and direction from a leader who understands the role of the navigation authority. It's not just about dressing up and appearing at high profile events then bragging about it on social media as the current waterways manager does. You have to do the basic hard yards as well.

I hear that at the last RUG8 the local team leader appealed to those present to stop sending complaints in as it is taking so much of his time to respond to them. As I know this forum is monitored by the EA, I would suggest that his solution is either a) get a different job or b) hand over to someone who can identify that unregistered boats, poor lock manning, abandoned wrecks and overhanging trees are the priority and the main source of complaints, and then go be seen to be dealing with those matters. That should stem the number of complaints.

Just get out of the office, get afloat and go do the job you were hired for and that we paid up boaters expect.
 
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Old Crusty said:
You are so right!

2012 was the last time a proper sweep of all reaches was done including marinas. It took two, sometimes three officers to do a reach a day zigzaging upstream and checking every boat. Two officers did Windsor and Racecourse Marina in a day and it took them a day to do Bray Marina without breaking into a sweat. They operated independently, arrived on a patrol boat, had 4G connection to the registration database and checked scores of boats not displaying a licence. They started in May, covered Teddington to Sonning, had time of it for the Dorney Olympics then started again in September and did it all again. They booked over 600 boats unregistered of which all paid up either immediately or went to court and paid up raising about £180k if my memory serves correctly. The liveaboards between Sunbury and Teddington were checked every three months as well, mainly by Mick the Terror.

It's not difficult, it merely requires a bit of effort and direction from a leader who understands the role of the navigation authority. It's not just about dressing up and appearing at high profile events then bragging about it on social media as the current waterways manager does. You have to do the basic hard yards as well.

I hear that at the last RUG8 the local team leader appealed to those present to stop sending complaints in as it is taking so much of his time to respond to them. As I know this forum is monitored by the EA, I would suggest that his solution is either a) get a different job or b) hand over to someone who can identify that unregistered boats, poor lock manning, abandoned wrecks and overhanging trees are the priority and the main source of complaints, and then go be seen to be dealing with those matters. That should stem the number of complaints. Just get out of the office, get afloat and go do the job you were hired for and that we paid up boaters expect.
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'nuff said......
 
Adding my endorsement to OC's spot on analysis and reccomendations.

Once EA management grasp that the job is real rather than ceremonial and we start to see the results of this, it is to be hoped that some harmony may be restored between the powers that be and this forum (and the wider boating community).
 
GaryNattrass said:
Whilst I agree that other income streams need to be pursued it is good that the EA is also being more active in getting all boats to pay their way and clearing up the banks of wrecks and non compliant vessels.

In reality for me it means an increase of around £5 a month this year and next so is a small price to pay for the excellent service that is given on the Thames when locks are staffed during peak times.

Maybe visitors should pay more as they tend to be larger narrow boats and use up far more of the limited mooring spaces that are available.
Click to expand...
It doesn't follow that narrowboats are visitors. The Thames marinas are full of them. Look at Thames and Kennet Marina, for example. In fact, there are probably more of them than little white boats.
 
Suspect it depends which "visitors" you are referring to.
Visitors like me tend to move on after a day and rarely stay in one place for long.
However must confess we did once remain at Cookham for 2 whole days in a row.
With my little white boat :) the real enjoyment comes from when the boat is actually underway and overnight mooring is a temporary and unwelcome opportunity for my wife to spend money in restuarants and for me to bend propellers.
For other "visitors" perhaps the actual moving is a chore and being stationary is the main attraction, hence a temptation to remain as long as possible in any one location and not to stand outside getting cold and wet.
While passing through Windsor this summer did note a very long thin vessel taking up all the EA mooring outside the flats just before bridge.
It was still there when we came back down 3 days later.
 
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