River police evict 17 boats
- Thread starter abraxus
- Start date
prof pat pending
Well-Known Member
Not sure if it was part of the same initiative, but we saw Police on a boat just upstream of Thames and Kennet on Wednesday.
Sea_Pees
New Member
Most comments from long term users, we've recently been talking with, are that they are disappointed with the inaction from the authorities regarding 'illegal users'. Consensus is more legal users are giving up the river, as there appear to be more 'illegal villages' forming, as they appear immune to the authorities. One statement was that an EA Boat authorised a lock keeper to allow transit of an non-licenced boat, as they didn't want any trouble. Why not do as per the roads and crush the offenders? Vehicles that is.
Therefore good news the police are on the job.
Therefore good news the police are on the job.
alanch
Well-Known Member
So where next does the forum think they will move to? Better not answer that! They could be reading this.
Actionmat
Well-Known Member
I wonder when Garrick Lawns will become available to other river users?
Boreades
Well-Known Member
What was the "illegally moored" based on? Not paying taxes?
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
And mooring on property they were not supposed to moor on ...
Actionmat
Well-Known Member
Mooring on land belonging to Thames Water and discharging sewage into the river. Thames Water needs no help with the latter.
simon barefoot
Well-Known Member
It is amazing that locals felt nervous and in danger walking past these boats, just because they may not have paid to moor there. I'm sure that if they had paid then these people would feel just fine walking past them.....
Really?
Felt in danger walking past a boat just cos it hadn't paid?
Really?
Felt in danger walking past a boat just cos it hadn't paid?
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
Oh dear.
It's not because of that. It's because of the dogs running wild , the stacks of rubbish by the towpath , the beer cans and bottles scattered about , the generally unpleasant confrontational people ( with some exceptions granted ) , it's the all night parties , the drug use , the dog mess everywhere , the toilets discharging into the river. The same problems you encounter on 'traveller' sites .... Do you defend them as well and ridicule others who feel uncomfortable ?
Certainly that is the reason that people feel uncomfortable passing the itinerant encampment at the top of the lock cut in teddington.
It's not all raggy dolls , tomatoes growing in pots on the roof of the boat and Bob Dylan on the acoustic guitar round the campfire as some would have you believe.
It's not because of that. It's because of the dogs running wild , the stacks of rubbish by the towpath , the beer cans and bottles scattered about , the generally unpleasant confrontational people ( with some exceptions granted ) , it's the all night parties , the drug use , the dog mess everywhere , the toilets discharging into the river. The same problems you encounter on 'traveller' sites .... Do you defend them as well and ridicule others who feel uncomfortable ?
Certainly that is the reason that people feel uncomfortable passing the itinerant encampment at the top of the lock cut in teddington.
It's not all raggy dolls , tomatoes growing in pots on the roof of the boat and Bob Dylan on the acoustic guitar round the campfire as some would have you believe.
Alan ashore
Well-Known Member
Felt in danger walking past a boat just cos it hadn't paid?[/QUOTE]
Of course not. I don't think anyone suggested that. I'm not, however, remotely surprised that people have felt uncomfortable while walking past these boats, but not for that reason!!
A.
Of course not. I don't think anyone suggested that. I'm not, however, remotely surprised that people have felt uncomfortable while walking past these boats, but not for that reason!!
A.
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simon barefoot
Well-Known Member
As an ex traveller, and an ex liveaboard, then I'd want to see for myself. However, there is an element of society that is very quick to damn others with a different way of life. It's so easy to allege drug abuse etc as a way of ethnicly cleansing an area of people you don't like on sight.
But, if it was as bad as you say, then fair play, and these are the kind of people who ruin an alternative lifestyle for everyone.
Flynnbarr
Well-Known Member
Ramage
Well-Known Member
It was every bit as bad as Teddington Lock said, if not worse. The Guardian wrote a piece about what was going on, which included subletting of these illegal boats in a kind of Rahmanesque slum landlord way.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/23/london-houseboat-slum-rents-barge
simon barefoot
Well-Known Member
Then fair enough. It's a pity that people have to spoil it for everyone else. Let's hope they get some help to sort their lives out and stop being a nuisance.
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
I think you've hit the nail on the head there !
Play the game , and people will leave you be , don't be a nuisance to others and no one will bother , or probably even notice you.
However , many many of these people don't , and are quick to cry 'poor us' when complaints are made and acted upon by the authorities.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Did spot those boats during our visit and did wonder how they managed to get permission to moor there. !
Ramage
Well-Known Member
I thought that was RCC on tour!
boatone
Well-Known Member
Seems to me that there is some sort of presumption that all folk on the river are created equal - knowledgeable, intelligent, educated, well funded, socially responsible etc etc. Life is simply not like that.
There are 4 basic types of mooring space on the river - 1.EA or Local Authority designated moorings, 2.Private landowners riverbank marked as mooring available and maybe chargeable, 3. Other empty bankside spots with no signage and 4. Spots clearly marked "no mooring".
Suspect that in this case we are talking about bankside above Wallingford on towpath side which must belong to somebody. BUT it is not EA designated mooring so no reason why they should be interested unless no current licence on display or breaching the bye laws - discharging sewage etc, in which case someone needs to catch 'em at it.
USEFUL INFO - if you moor at Wallingford beware who you pay your mooring fee to. Town side moorings are Wallingford Town and guy will come round to collect (usually). Other side by swimming pool are South Oxford and you pay at the swimming pool office. They will happily take your money without checking which moorings you are on !
There are 4 basic types of mooring space on the river - 1.EA or Local Authority designated moorings, 2.Private landowners riverbank marked as mooring available and maybe chargeable, 3. Other empty bankside spots with no signage and 4. Spots clearly marked "no mooring".
Suspect that in this case we are talking about bankside above Wallingford on towpath side which must belong to somebody. BUT it is not EA designated mooring so no reason why they should be interested unless no current licence on display or breaching the bye laws - discharging sewage etc, in which case someone needs to catch 'em at it.
USEFUL INFO - if you moor at Wallingford beware who you pay your mooring fee to. Town side moorings are Wallingford Town and guy will come round to collect (usually). Other side by swimming pool are South Oxford and you pay at the swimming pool office. They will happily take your money without checking which moorings you are on !
boatone
Well-Known Member
Surprised you got up that far ! Or are you talking the Thames Water site at Hampton?
I've been clocking the Thames Water site for some time and pleased TW and the police have tackled the issue. Suspect some at least didn't have licences and have seen - once - an EA Inspector launch having a word.
