Whilst bored in Leicester I Thought

[andy the hammer]

On our travels to Pillings Marina we stopped in Leicester on the Castle Gardens Moorings and we were warned by many boaters not to stop unless you could get on these moorings.

 

We managed to get the last mooring, could not understand why there was a burger boat chained and padlocked in the middle anyway could not get telly so I thought I would email the City Council.

 

So I emailed the following :-

 

Dear Sir/Madam

It has been puzzling me whilst moored at Castle Gardens why Leicester is considered a no go area for the boating fraternity, we have travelled to Leicester twice now and on both occasions we have warned by boaters not to moor unless you can get on the moorings at Castle Gardens.

On this trip we were informed that the hire fleet at Market Harborough are told not to cruise to Leicester because of its reputation, so I was asking myself is this a historic thing or have things changed.

On last trip we saw drunk and drugs use and this trip we told last night not too moor in any other place as boats have been let loose during the night which has been known on other canals but I would consider a very dangerous situation being on a river section and with the wet weather been having.

On our travels were we have seen towns and cities that have encompassed the boating fraternity as a part of their heritage more boats moor and where there are more boats people come to see the boats which means more people visit the area which in turn means more trade.

I wonder if the City Council has been made aware of these concerns and if they have is there any plans to improve the reputation of Leicester in the boating world?

Regards

Andrew Lawrence

I am waiting a reply

Edited May 22, 2013 by andy the hammer

[Nightwatch]

It will be interesting to hear/read the reply.

 

I think on the whole, towns and Cities do appreciate comments such as the above, and those elected want their charge to be peaceful and welcoming.

 

Martyn

[andy the hammer]

I had reply today to say that my email has been passed on to the River Team, that raises the question why have they not been talking to boater's squeezed on Castle Garden Moorings?

Edited May 22, 2013 by andy the hammer

[Mrs Trackman]

I am interested in this topic as we like to moor in towns as well as the countryside. For us, it's always been part of the boating experience. However, we too, hear frequent tales of trouble in towns. Leicester seems to have a particularly bad press. We have a theory that a certain lock keeper at Foxton put boaters off the city. My feeling is that anywhere is safer if there are more boats about and that scare stories make places worse. I had hoped that the marina at Pillings and the hire fleet out of Harborough would encourage more boaters to boat into the city.

Yes, Leicester locks are relatively hard work and there is a lot of debris about in the water and locks but probably no more than any city. 'Trouble' can happen anywhere as Cotswold Man's recent experience shows. In years of boating, the only time either of us has actually been hit by a stone was at Brewood on the Shroppie.

[Richard T]

We've moored at Castle Gardens on several occasions without any trouble. However the moorings are very short but there is space to extend them to the other side of the foot bridge but I suspect that the rowing club would object as it is the turning point for eights. What is required is an initiative from CaRT and the city council to identify alternative mooring spots around the city and then make them secure and encourage boaters to use them. Leicester lacks the canalside development like by Castle Marina in Nottingham where boaters can congregate and moor with some degree of security - (Trackman did have his mooring lines cut there some years ago). There are disused armas above and below Lime Kiln Lock which could be used and a couple of small arms above North Lock. The biggest problem will be money or rather the lack of it to pay for any development of secure moorings.

[andy the hammer]

I have had no reply too my email to leicester City Council, we have now started the return journey to head for the Thames and today moored on Castle Gardens today to find the burger boat still moored in the middle of the moorings.

 

This meant one boat has had to hang on to the end of the moorings tonight.

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2013 by andy the hammer

[furnessvale]

(Once again something strange has happened forcing me to top post.)

 

In such circumstances the last mooring is breasting up to the said Burger boat.

 

George ex nb Alton retired

We managed to get the last mooring, could not understand why there was a burger boat chained and padlocked in the middle anyway could not get telly so I thought I would email the City Council.

[MHS]

When we last cruised through Leicester, there wasn't a lot of rubbish floating in the canal/river. It was however the most black, disgusting water we had seen anywhere.

 

That said, we saw more herons there than anywhere else in the country. We also had a great Japanese meal near the Castle Gardens moorings, and a very good night's sleep.

[Chris Hills]

We were stuck for 4 days at Castle Gardens last summer when the Soar was in flood. We were one of eight boats moored up to three a breast on the pontoon. Had a mini boat festival, very enjoyable. The moral of the story is - Ask and offer boats to moor alongside, the more boats the safer you feel.

Photo courtesy of Lynda and Ken on NB Amarantine clicky

[andy the hammer]

In my email to the City Council why was Leicester a no go area for boaters, I am coming to the conclusion that it is the boating fraternity that is doing Leicester a disservice.

 

So now I ask the boating fraternity are the concerns historic or are there still problems that need addressing?

Edited May 28, 2013 by andy the hammer

[trackman]

I wouldn't moor on the towpath in Leicester opposite the pontoons. I've seen the behaviour that occurs there when we've moored on the pontoon.

I wouldn't moor overnight in the equivalent area, near the bars etc in Nottingham either. The difference is that in Nottingham there are moorings a convenient distance away that are reasonably quiet & safe. In Leicester I'm not aware of any.

Leicester needs more secure moorings near the city centre, it's that simple.

[matty40s]

I love going through Leicester but would only moor up at Kilby Bridge, perhaps where it bends round north of Blaby, Castle gardens and then Birstall. In between there are no safe moorings to overnight or leave boat for long. ..... and I know Leicester very well.

There are however lots of suitable locations there could be.

[Richard T]

The burger boat is probably moored in readiness for the river festival this coming weekend which is held in the area. I would always breast up when stuck for a mooring in a difficult area.

[andy the hammer]

The burger boat is probably moored in readiness for the river festival this coming weekend which is held in the area. I would always breast up when stuck for a mooring in a difficult area.

I was informed that the burger boat only trades at the football ground on match days, also requested a tow to the ground because the engine would not start.

[nomad - tuttle hill]

we live in Leicester and there can be some nice mooring for boats which would not cost a lot to crete,

 

1. college site on melton road has a wharf with cctv , just needs cleaning out - for the golden mile shops and a good curry!

2. redhill roundabout near the water centre - was a marine there and Leicester city council owns this! - for the space centre and the steam train station!

3. back of belgrave lock - trip boat used to moor there - again own by Leicester city council - abbey park and city!

 

yes one of the senior persons on the council is a narrowboat owner - come on peter do some thing about it !

 

there is no water point from kilby bridge to barrow water point - the one at belgrave lock was losted when water ways sold it for building land

 

come on Leicester city council make us boats welcome to your city

[andy the hammer]

When we were on the moorings I read a lovely letter on the notice board saying welcome to Leicester and inviting any comments about the moorings with contact name and numbers.

 

The only problem was the letter was dated nearly 10 years ago in 2004 and I dont suppose the author is even employed now, also it was commented that yes they have a boat festival but after that all boats disappear not to moor until the next year.

 

So what do they do different for the boat festival that they could do for the rest of the year, surley not all boats moor at Castle Gardens?

 

we live in Leicester and there can be some nice mooring for boats which would not cost a lot to crete,

 

1. college site on melton road has a wharf with cctv , just needs cleaning out - for the golden mile shops and a good curry!

2. redhill roundabout near the water centre - was a marine there and Leicester city council owns this! - for the space centre and the steam train station!

3. back of belgrave lock - trip boat used to moor there - again own by Leicester city council - abbey park and city!

 

yes one of the senior persons on the council is a narrowboat owner - come on peter do some thing about it !

 

there is no water point from kilby bridge to barrow water point - the one at belgrave lock was losted when water ways sold it for building land

 

come on Leicester city council make us boats welcome to your city

Thats more like it give me something I can use when I contact them for not replying to my email.

[PeteS]

As it's well over a month since the OP sent the original letter I am assuming that it has been lost in the wonderful world of local council paper chases

 

Unless I missed something elsewhere on the forum!