Trotman barge below Hampton court

Its a funny arrangement the BSS. Seems open to abuse in a big way yes it would be interesting to know who issued them. I would have thought if the EA had concerns they would be able to do something. The BSS is or used to be a joint EA/BW scheme (BW now being CRT) but I think it went independent and self funding so maybe EA do not have any authority over it?

Would seem odd.
 
How the hell did they comply? The deck was bristling with unrestrained gas bottles and each vessels ability to pollute the river must be a certainty. FFS, when I think of the trouble I went to, to build battery boxes and ensure all my wiring and ventilation exceeded what was expected......one rule for one, another for someone else by the sound of it.
 
As the BSS is a self governing system I do sometimes wonder if it has gone "feral" and is no longer properly regulated but just a money spinner. I never liked the BSS myself - have had 8 boats since it started and never a fail but I don't like it.

Its possible that the boats in this topic were awarded a BSS by someone who is about to retire. I imagine the inspectors insurance would pick up the pieces if the worst happened ie fire.

And if he was about to retire anyway then being "struck off" the bss inspectors list would be no great hardship anyway.
 
Might be best to wait for some official comment on this. Jumping to conclusions is no good and the EA is bound by the law, despite how contrary it may appear to some.
As with some other less than transparent special interest outfits,what appears to be perhaps an independant soul acting on the grounds of principle may well have access to well organised (and funded) assistance jn the shadows.
If somebody with no obvious access to funding is using expensive legal advice to prolong the inevitable,perhaps somebody is proving the expertise, and not Pro bono.?
 
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I do not think you can lay the fault at the BSS scheme or the examiner. Remember, a BSS examination, just like an MOT, it is a snapshot of the condition of that vessel on the day of inspection. If you are the sort of person who is happy to bend the rules or push the boundaries, it is quite easy to get a legal BSS certificate from the meanest and pickiest examiner, because in reality he can only comment on what he finds when he is on-board.
Look at what the BSS covers: Fuel, these vessels are unpowered. That means there is no fuel system. Electrics, remove the batteries and any petrol generator and there is no electrical system. So that is half the test sheet marked N/A.
Gas, assuming there was a gas system at the time of the test… If the gas pipework is the correct material, it is secure and can pass a pressure test it will get the tick in the box. A gas bottle on the open deck is perfectly acceptable providing it is secure and there are no apertures into the vessel within a metre into which escaping gas can flow. There are certain rules about cookers, they must be secure, have a clean flame etc, but not much else. Throw in three (totally inadequate) 1kg dry powder extinguishers along with a fire blanket and the vessel has passed with no worries for four years. What happens the following day is irrelevant.
Chris
 
Unbelievable copy on the advert....

"House boat on Thames river, Days are getting longer, come enjoy the of spring, summer and autumn, or as long as you like on the river Thames. Easy walk to Walton Weybridge. Watch birds, walk along the river and explore the largest parks in London. We have hot water, hot shower, electricity, great kitchen and views, and separate male and female toilets, mailbox, Large spacious double cabins with loads of storage, you could bring 10 suitcases, but try not to lol :) we are looking for friendly clean, tidy people that work in Walton and Weybridge, Barge life especially suits creative people like musicians and artists and writers. People that normally work from home on laptop and wifi also very welcome :) House boat has boat safety examination certificate valid for rental for next four years, cabins vary in size and price from 265 to 315 per month NO bills so you save money! Alistair
Please email or text me, not call as I work with my hands, stating why your looking near weybridge and when your looking at move. :)
Viewings most dates after 11am fine, before coming check the photo of how barge looks so you recognise as we not painted name (ROR) on side yet and text again when 30 mins away. Please dont knock on any house doors as they not related to barge. House boat will move locally typically 100 metres or so, no fixed schedule, its one of the best things about being on a house boat :)"

Best bits in bold. The bit about it having to move 100m every now and then is very special... Also the bit about hot showers and the bathroom. Given what we know via the guardian report and the BBC report it seems like he is gilding the lily somewhat!

Also staggering how much he's making. Reckon is (315X6)+(265X2)=£2414 a month from one boat. Didn't he have 3 boats? So he could be making 6 to 7k a month over the summer. Probably half that over the winter. Probably doing 60 to 70K out of this per year. No costs! How many years has he been doing this? Perhaps may explain why he's so well funded! Also didn't realise you could get a BSS especially for rental.... That sounds really dodgy... Another Fib.
 
I received a Twitter PM from @EnvAgencySE:
Our court order allowed us to remove boats from our land at Teddington Lock, but not keep them indefinitely. We were legally bound to release them from where we were holding them once the owner had made suitable arrangements to collect them. The owner is legally entitled to navigate the Thames with these boats, but not to moor them to land for longer than a reasonable period (24 hours), or in accordance with a regulated mooring site’s Ts&Cs, or against the landowner’s wishes. If they do, they can expect to face further enforcement action. Hope this helps explain.
 
Sounds like they really need to think about this again. What's the point in spending the money on enforcement if this is all that's going to happen? Surely the angle has to be around offering and keeping dangerous accommodation than the waterways issue.

Maybe they actually have to create some new legislation to cover this.. Is it time to write to our MP's? You never know they may get something done by 2030....

In the mean-time it feels like there will be more of this happening.
 
JorgeinLondon# said:
Is it time to write to our MP's? .
Click to expand...

The EA have to follow what the law permits and if the law stipulates that an owners property must be returned to him that is an end to it. They cannot seize and destroy property without cause whatever the circumstance.
The present westminster administation , has a self inflicted wound that will be taking up most of its time for the next 10 years or so and cannot even indicate a time table for sorting out the transfer of the management of the Thames ?
 
oldgit said:
The EA have to follow what the law permits and if the law stipulates that an owners property must be returned to him that is an end to it. They cannot seize and destroy property without cause whatever the circumstance.
The present westminster administation , has a self inflicted wound that will be taking up most of its time for the next 10 years or so and cannot even indicate a time table for sorting out the transfer of the management of the Thames ?
Click to expand...

I sort of wasn't joking when I said 2030!
 
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