Well done Alister Trotman

[Newbroom]

It is your responsibility when you take membership fees from people to represent their views not just yours.

So are you a member???

 

[wrecktangle]

Not for much longer

 

[Parabordi]

Used to be. Got fed up with broken record

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Not for much longer

What does that mean, not much longer for this world?

 

[Actionmat]

I was chatting to a man from the RNLI today. Trotman has been keeping them busy, as he's expanded his empire to include small unlicensed boats for rent as extra accommodation. All are a right state and have caused the RNLI to be called out due to engine failures midstream and god knows what else. And it's. It just adults, he has kids on there too. Which means Social Services can now be added to the list of agencies that have let us down,

I don't expect anyone who doesn't pass him on a daily basis to be bothered about it, but on this stretch of the Thames it's the biggest issue and It's getting worse, at this rate Kingston is going to look like the Regents Canal soon.

 

[Lower Limit 1909]

Just downstream from Trotman's floating toilet blocks which discharge directly into the river are:

- The Albany Park Canoe and Sailing centre - a facility where children inevitably end up in the water a lot.
- Kingston Sea Scouts - ditto - but a bit more rowing.
- Leander (Kingsoton) Sea Scouts - ditto - but they also do things like river litter cleaning - imagine what they are fishing out
- Royal Canoe Club - ditto - would the EA like to come down and try some capsize drills among the human excrement?
- Tamesis sailing club - ditto - etc.
- Thames Young Mariners - a very busy and very facility providing water based experience to hundreds of young people per week
... and several more ...

It simply beggars belief that the EA are content to permit the direct discharge into the river of human excrement from an unlicensed multi-occupant boarding house anywhere let alone directly upstream of locations where children are regularly dunked in the river.

I await the usual dismissive comments about - budget cuts - blah blah - riparian land owners responsibility - blah blah - etc. with incredulity.

 

[Actionmat]

I await the usual dismissive comments about - budget cuts - blah blah - riparian land owners responsibility - blah blah - etc. with incredulity.

The EA could treble the licence fee and they stil wouldn't do anything about it., still passing the buck to the land based authorities but if it wasn't for the river he wouldn't be here, Guardians of the environmemt, my arse.

 

[ashtead]

Given all these entreprenial activities surely EA should be calling on the services of HMRC ?

 

[Actionmat]

Given all these entreprenial activities surely EA should be calling on the services of HMRC ?

That's what everyone around here says. Why it hasn't been done is anyone's guess, but the jungle telegraph tells me that the media is interested again

 

[Flynnbarr]

Just downstream from Trotman's floating toilet blocks which discharge directly into the river are:

- The Albany Park Canoe and Sailing centre - a facility where children inevitably end up in the water a lot.
- Kingston Sea Scouts - ditto - but a bit more rowing.
- Leander (Kingsoton) Sea Scouts - ditto - but they also do things like river litter cleaning - imagine what they are fishing out
- Royal Canoe Club - ditto - would the EA like to come down and try some capsize drills among the human excrement?
- Tamesis sailing club - ditto - etc.
- Thames Young Mariners - a very busy and very facility providing water based experience to hundreds of young people per week
... and several more ...

It simply beggars belief that the EA are content to permit the direct discharge into the river of human excrement from an unlicensed multi-occupant boarding house anywhere let alone directly upstream of locations where children are regularly dunked in the river.

I await the usual dismissive comments about - budget cuts - blah blah - riparian land owners responsibility - blah blah - etc. with incredulity.

I agree wholeheartedly with this.
I wrote out a long post yesterday along very similar lines but then didn’t bother with it after reading that if you have these views you are dismissed as an extremist.
As with asking about the towing debacle,you are wasting your time,difficult,embarrassing questions get ignored.

 

[Flynnbarr]

That's what everyone around here says. Why it hasn't been done is anyone's guess, but the jungle telegraph tells me that the media is interested again

Well then somebody should be giving the media lower limits list of clubs that get children out on the water.

 

[Old Crusty]

I agree wholeheartedly with this.
I wrote out a long post yesterday along very similar lines but then didn’t bother with it after reading that if you have these views you are dismissed as an extremist.
As with asking about the towing debacle,you are wasting your time,difficult,embarrassing questions get ignored.

You should post what you think even if others disagree, that's called healthy debate. As for the sewage matter, some of you may recall Andrew Graham, then Waterways Manager, stating at RUG8 a couple of years ago that the EA will only investigate cases of major pollution. I wonder if media interest might change that view given the potential health problems from waterborne diseases to rivers users downstream of AT's sh-t holes?

 

[oldgit]

Every single individual has the capacity to campaign on his own account to try to change something he is unhappy about.
This should take the form of contacting, by any means you have, email, telephone, snail mail or even a personal approach to the organisations/ employees/ or political folks which may be able to change something.
It would of course be interesting to find out from those most critical with the situation on the Thames, just how much of time and effort they have personally devoted to contacting DEFRA and the EA to explain that there is a problem.
So gentlemen, a quick post outlining the people/organisations you have been in touch with,for how long and their replies would be useful.
Perhaps the existing pressure groups are missing a trick and could benefit from your experiences , no point them going over old ground you have no doubt taken considerable time and trouble over.

 

[Actionmat]

You've been very vocal about the liveaboards on the river of mud and pylons, if you really want to stir it, I can give you a stick and you can stand down stream of the Slumboats.

 

[ashtead]

That's what everyone around here says. Why it hasn't been done is anyone's guess, but the jungle telegraph tells me that the media is interested again

I am surprised no whistleblowing is taking place to HMRC as their powers are far more effective than anything EA can dream up There must be be many tax issues arising from the business activities that have been listed . You also might enquire how the occupants are funding their beds on board? Is there not a local liberal councillor who might take up the cudgels on behalf of the river users mentioned?

 

[oldgit]

You've been very vocal about the liveaboards on the river of mud and pylons, .

A hot topic at the moment with the MSBA.

 

[DogsBody]

I'm glad to be a member, but I'm against any increase in the river licence fee above inflation.. I'm sure I'm not the only member who feels that way.

Also a member of TMBA (assume that is the membership you were referring to), £5 well spent in my opinion. Likewise I'll not support any above inflation increase to the license fee until the EA pursues other (non mobo) users for their fair share of the costs to maintain the river.

 

[Actionmat]

Also a member of TMBA (assume that is the membership you were referring to)

Yes:encouragement:
Membership came with two attractive stickers and some very helpful advice over the phone from Tony when my boat broke down. Not bad for a fiver

 

[boatone]

Yes:encouragement:
Membership came with two attractive stickers and some very helpful advice over the phone from Tony when my boat broke down. Not bad for a fiver

Thanks for the heads up - but, just for the record, you paid a little extra for the stickers !

Re supporting/not above inflation increases I met with Sir James Bevan, the Chief Exec of the EA, and other board members recently and I made it clear that the TMBA would not be supporting ANY further increase in registration fees unless we could be assured that it would not be followed by a further decrease in the Defra funding. Bear in mind that I am just one voice at the table and others have very different views and agendas.

 

[TrueBlue]

Also a member of TMBA (assume that is the membership you were referring to), £5 well spent in my opinion. Likewise I'll not support any above inflation increase to the license fee until the EA pursues other (non mobo) users for their fair share of the costs to maintain the river.

Another grateful vote for the redoubtable B1 - he put up with hours of waffle from the likes of EA (and others) in order to try and make the River more pleasant to use, only to be attacked by newcomers who know didy-squat but want him to do their bidding.