Sunken boats removed

Just been another piece on the BBC south east news concerning this and the liveaboards above the lock.
They were removing some scaffold poles,but reading the link it's a minefield of what they can and can't do for all the agencies concerned.

Was down there on Monday ,didn't look a lot different and my dog got attacked by 2white staffs.Had to have words with the the owner who I think lives on the Narrowboat? Seen him about before,he was very apologetic,but why?. They do themselves no favours with behaviour like this.
 
Been advised that the EA were last week granted possession orders in respect of boats moored in the entrance to the River Mole by Hampton Court station. Those orders were immediately served on the relevant boats, one of which has already left. If the remaining boats do not move, the issue will be transferred to High Court Enforcement Officers to get the boats moved.
At the same hearing cases involving other boats above Teddington and at Hurst Park were adjourned until December.

So, The EA are clearly taking action to resolve some of these issues. However, the key problem still remains and will probably continue - where do these boats go if they are moved?
 
Hopefully, out of the water. The lifeboat that was on the Mole has now taken up residence on the 24hr moorings in Kingston. Marinas are available, but some occupants will accept nothing less than a free mooring.
 
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Actionmat said:
Hopefully, out of the water. The lifeboat that was on the Mole has now taken up residence on the 24hr moorings in Kingston. Marinas are available, but some occupants will accept nothing less than a free mooring.
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It is now opposite Church Island
 
In other words, they've got free moorings for another 4 months while the rest of us pay our fees. No wonder squatting has become so popular when the EA and the courts are so slow to act.
 
Gavi said:
It is now opposite Church Island
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Having travelled between Staines and Teddington in the last two weekends there are now three of these lifeboat vessels

One at Teddington lock moorings [probably the smartest of the three] one outside John Lewis Kingston [Claims to be a Garden Project] and one opposite Church Island Staines.

I did look for licences but without windows on them a lack of places to display them. Apologies if they have them.

Also a number of boats extremely scruffy boats on the Teddington Lock moorings proudly displaying visitor licences [seen from the river side] that expire on the 7th December. I will be interested to see where they are on the 8th December ;-)
 
I think the boats actually on the lock moorings (as opposed to those above there) and licensed to 7th December have come up river just for the draw off, and though some are not exactly up for best in show, are not I think an issue. Before 8th they'll be back on the tideway, on legitimate paid for moorings.
 
Alan ashore said:
I think the boats actually on the lock moorings (as opposed to those above there) and licensed to 7th December have come up river just for the draw off, and though some are not exactly up for best in show, are not I think an issue. Before 8th they'll be back on the tideway, on legitimate paid for moorings.
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My apologies to the boats in question on the lower part of the Teddington Lock moorings and that makes sense why a number of craft have suddenly appeared.

I felt quite depressed at times on our trip this weekend which was Penton Hook to Teddington and back, it may be that as the seasons change the number of boats that I suspect are unlicensed and 'residential' just look more and more scruffy and more in numbers. At Hampton it looks a real mess. The railings next to the Thames Water land a little further down are filling up with more boats.
The bank below David Gilmore's Houseboat is all cleared of sunken boats as is the bank below the Sea Cadets base, my concern is that with the number of potential 'I am looking for long term residential mooring that will cost me nothing' people that are hovering around these areas, that these nicely tidied up areas will soon fill up again and the problem all starts again.

It was when we got down to the Teddington Lock moorings on Sunday morning that I saw a 'few' of the above the lock moorer's have moved on to the lock moorings [which I trust they are paying the appropriate fee for] and then further down a number of very scruffy craft have appeared it just looked a mess.

As I said earlier my apologies to the craft who have moved to get away from the draw off, and yes the wooden boat mis'behavin looks a lovely Classic Vessel.
 
Always look forward to good draw off....wonder how many getaway cars/safes and shooters will be revealed.?
Around Lady Lyndsis Lawns (enter your owwn Spellin) there at at least two safes visible.
 
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oldgit said:
Always look forward to good draw off....wonder how many getaway cars/safes and shooters will be revealed.?
Around Lady Lyndsis Lawns (enter your owwn Spellin) there at at least two safes visible.
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Not due to the draw off there aren't as it doesn't affect above Teddington ! (Wont struggle with speelin at this hour in the morning :D)
 
joejo said:
I felt quite depressed at times on our trip this weekend which was Penton Hook to Teddington and back, it may be that as the seasons change the number of boats that I suspect are unlicensed and 'residential' just look more and more scruffy and more in numbers.
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Yes we share in your depression. The river is spoiled and it is hard to believe that the efforts being made by the authorities (quite significant in terms of process - getting new byelaws enacted, court orders, joint enforcement days with EA, LA, and Police out and about together, hearings etc) will ever restore it. Perhaps those efforts, provided they are sustained will however slow down the deterioration so that it may be a few more years before there are live-aboard hulks lining both banks stem to stern from here to Lechlade.

The trend won't really be reversed IMHO without both much tougher legislation and a hardening of attitudes by the courts. Illegally moored or illegally used boats should be regarded in a similar way to illegally parked or illegally used cars, for which seizure and subsequent destruction are seen as routine enforcement actions, happening every day without case-by-case protracted legal process.
 
Well said Alan. It would help if the EA and the councils could get their acts together. Rather than waiting to see who will make the first move, or even worse when the EA are discouraged from acting as the council doesn't want another body to find a home for. It's like the New Age Travellers problem of the 90's, which was dealt with and probably pushed a lot of them onto the river.
 
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