Aylesbury moorings

[pearley]

It's been 5 years since we were last there. The theatre and Waitrose are now built and the ACS have moved to their new site. So what's !mooring like there now?

[blackrose]

It looked a bit grim last time I was there a few years ago. Doubt it's changed much.

Edited January 4, 2015 by blackrose

[Martin Megson]

This is how it looked in March 14 when I visited. I think the moorings on the towpath were longterm only but there were some visitor moorings in the basin. They were also putting in rings along the bank outside Waitrose but I don't know if they were public or not.

 

[alan_fincher]

I have not been to look since they went in, but there should also be spanking new pontoons in the basin, with space for at least half a dozen visiting boats.

Ultimately they keep threatening that they wish to levy a charge for mooring on these, something I have actively opposed at every opportunity.

 

Right now though, they should be free, though I have no idea about how utilised, or what efforts are made to discourage overstaying, if it occurs.

It looked a bit grim last time I was there a few years ago. Doubt it's changed much.

 

It has changed almost out of all recognition, actually, though I doubt many other people judged it "grim" as it used to be before the redevelopment.

[frangar]

I liked it when ACS were there….it was even better when the bakery was just next to the basin and you would wake up the the smell of baking bread which you could purchase directly from said bakery….happy memories!

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

Edited January 4, 2015 by frangar

[mark99]

3 Water points, an Elsan and loo.

 

Town next door - what's not to like?

[Tisinca]

We were there in September. The pontoons had just been installed . Very good moorings and only a short walk to the town .only downside is the building work that is going on around the basin ,but as soon as that is finished I can't see there being a problem there,also the new pontoons are gated for extra security.

[adam1uk]

Here is my post the last time this question was asked, in August.

 

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=68980&p=1371070

 

Basically, the pontoons are great, there was building going on (which will probably be much more advanced by now), and it's well worth the trip.

[pearley]

Here is my post the last time this question was asked, in August.

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=68980&p=1371070

Basically, the pontoons are great, there was building going on (which will probably be much more advanced by now), and it's well worth the trip.

Thanks for that. That thread goes on a bit doesn't it!

[matty40s]

I was there in October. Pontoons all in place, electric points not wired in though. Lots of moorings within easy striking distance of the town centre.

[pearley]

Now arrived in Aylesbury Basin.

 

The rings outside the Travelodge/Waitrose have all been removed with an angle grinder. There are two spots in this bit where it looks as if a service bollard will be fitted.

 

There are 3 pontoons so 6 boats. The security gate does not have a CRT key. There is no sign of water or lower to the pontoons but there is a service duct and a blue pipe stuck out of the ground by the gate. However, I would have thought on the incorrect side of the pontoon for safe and secure routing to the pontoons themselves.

 

The whole towpath side is signed 'Service Point Only' with 3 water points along the length with only 1 of them working. There is a nice clean s/stn. There are 4 boats with winter mooring permits moored here, making access to the working water point difficult.

 

At the very end, in the shadow of the empty HMRC office, are rings to accommodate 2 normal length boats and a short one. These are marked 14 days.

 

Although we stopped at the Tesco moorings last time, it was summer. In winter it is grotty. Very muddy with just one boat moored, heavily vandalised.

 

The ACS site looks very good although very full with 2 visitor moojtself..on the canal itself. Might stop on the way back.

Edited February 15, 2015 by pearley

[LEO]

Now arrived in Aylesbury Basin.

 

The rings outside the Travelodge/Waitrose have all been removed with an angle grinder. There are two spots in this bit where it looks as if a service bollard will be fitted.

 

There are 3 pontoons so 6 boats. The security gate does not have a CRT key. There is no sign of water or lower to the pontoons but there is a service duct and a blue pipe stuck out of the ground by the gate. However, I would have thought on the incorrect side of the pontoon for safe and secure routing to the pontoons themselves.

 

The whole towpath side is signed 'Service Point Only' with 3 water points along the length with only 1 of them working. There is a nice clean s/stn. There are 4 boats with winter mooring permits moored here, making access to the working water point difficult.

 

At the very end, in the shadow of the empty HMRC office, are rings to accommodate 2 normal length boats and a short one. These are marked 14 days.

 

Although we stopped at the Tesco moorings last time, it was summer. In winter it is grotty. Very muddy with just one boat moored, heavily vandalised.

 

The ACS site looks very good although very full with 2 visitor moojtself..on the canal itself. Might stop on the way back.

 

Things must have changed for the worse if HMRC have moved out .

 

Boats will be steadily discouraged with the new buildings at round the basin - there is a new college campus building under construction completing the encirclement of the terminus.

 

A new bio-Mass electricity generating plant is proposed by the Arla Dairy and a huge wind generator (higher than the tall Council offices close by the basin) has just been commissioned on a site close to the Bicester road out of the town.

 

Shame, ruined town.

 

L.

[Tim Lewis]

Now arrived in Aylesbury Basin.

 

The rings outside the Travelodge/Waitrose have all been removed with an angle grinder. There are two spots in this bit where it looks as if a service bollard will be fitted.

 

There are 3 pontoons so 6 boats. The security gate does not have a CRT key. There is no sign of water or lower to the pontoons but there is a service duct and a blue pipe stuck out of the ground by the gate. However, I would have thought on the incorrect side of the pontoon for safe and secure routing to the pontoons themselves.

 

The whole towpath side is signed 'Service Point Only' with 3 water points along the length with only 1 of them working. There is a nice clean s/stn. There are 4 boats with winter mooring permits moored here, making access to the working water point difficult.

 

At the very end, in the shadow of the empty HMRC office, are rings to accommodate 2 normal length boats and a short one. These are marked 14 days.

 

Although we stopped at the Tesco moorings last time, it was summer. In winter it is grotty. Very muddy with just one boat moored, heavily vandalised.

 

The ACS site looks very good although very full with 2 visitor moojtself..on the canal itself. Might stop on the way back.

 

Saw you this afternoon after popping down to the basin after spending the weekend working on Fulbourne at the ACS Circus Fields basin, I too was surprised that the mooring rings have been removed, perhaps there was a perceived Health & safety problem.

 

Photo of the new moorings:

 

 

If you are going into town this evening the best pubs are the Wetherspoons on the Market Square (the Bell) and the historic Kings Head, just off the Square which is owned by the National Trust and run by the Chiltern Brewery.

 

Tim

Edited February 15, 2015 by Tim Lewis

[mark99]

 

I too was surprised that the mooring rings have been removed, perhaps there was a perceived Health & safety problem.

 

Put it this way - if you left that hazard on a building site you would be escorted off. Those rings were set in concrete in the vertical plane.

 

NB I did see a young girl (about 5) trip over one of those Aylesbury Basin rings, fall in the cut, went right under and her mother yanked her out to save a nasty accident.

Edited February 15, 2015 by mark99

[pearley]

Thanks Tim. Had spotted the Kings Head in the GBG so hopefully will visit.

[LEO]

Thanks Tim. Had spotted the Kings Head in the GBG so hopefully will visit.

 

Hi,

 

The Kings head is the best pub, worth looking at the stained glass window to the left of the entrance arch - the original bar featured the window, but this has been turned into some odd charitable coffee shop - if it is open well worth having a look in to get a better view of the window. I had many happy times in this bar when it was a hotel. Also in this room there is a section of plaster removed to show the old 'wattle and daub' building.

 

The Farmer's bar is good' it's run by the Chiltern Brewery co. products brewed just outside Wendover.

 

The old local Brewery (ABC - Aylesbury Brewery Co.) had a large site to the left of the basin (where the Tax office is) they closed down in the early 1970 and the quality of local beer went down as they switched brewing to Burton on Trent.

 

Happy Days.

 

L.

[LEO]

This is how it looked in March 14 when I visited. I think the moorings on the towpath were longterm only but there were some visitor moorings in the basin. They were also putting in rings along the bank outside Waitrose but I don't know if they were public or not.

 

 

Hi,

 

Looking at this picture I groan - how things have changed, I have no pics of how it was on the 60's or even before re-development began, but I will punt around to see if there are any.

 

L