Alan de Enfield

The iconic 18th century Pulteney Bridge across the River Avon is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Bath and one that millions of tourists flock to the city every year to see. But the lucky owners of houseboats have been able to live right next to the picturesque setting for years. And those who call the area home do not pay to moor at the site as there is 'free navigation' - but some did say they would be willing to pay to stay. However, their days of living rent free along the river could soon be over after the Liberal Democrat-controlled council ordered them out saying they are dangerous, unsafe and branding them a 'hazard'. Bath and North East Somerset Council say it is 'taking action to keep people safe by addressing unauthorised and dangerous mooring locations'. But those who live on the boats have hit back at the council's claims, instead alleging they are being kicked out because they are 'scruffy'. While others believe they are being moved away from the spot due to plans to build a new Bath Rugby stadium to replace the nearby old one. One boat owner Ted, 54, said: 'There's not a health and safety issue - they're just using that against us. 'It's all about the rugby ground, getting rid of the boats and trees. 'They're going to move us by September, they're going to put us somewhere else. 'They're not being kind, they'll use force. I've been a boater for years, I've been moved before.' The 54-year-old claimed that 'no one owns' the stretch of land and that the main reason they were being moved was 'the rugby ground, and because the boats look a bit dirty and scruffy'. Another resident, who wished not to be named, said: 'They want to send us to the canal but there are no residential moorings on the canal. 'Normally stuff like this is all smoke and mirrors. It's about the development of the rugby ground. 'If it's about flooding they should've put pontoons in. It's completely safe when it floods. 'All down the river they've got pontoons but not here. 'The amount of money they are going to spend in legal action and evicting us, I've heard it's £1.5million but they don't have a leg to stand on.' The resident added: 'We won't leave. We'll put in a planning application to manage it ourselves, manage the mooring, holiday boats, residential boats, tours.' Another boat dweller said that their homes were 'good for tourism' and that the area could 'look so nice if the council tried'. The person even went on to accuse the council of 'penalising a minority'. 'They think the boats ruin the view but the opposite is true - we are part of the landscape here,' they continued. Percy Walton, 67, has lived on his boat there for four years. He said: 'The letter came out of nowhere, it's awful. 'There are no other moorings on the Avon so where are they proposing to move everything? 'We contribute to the area, tourists are always asking us questions and I tell them about the trees. We dispose of our waste responsibly. 'I've been here four years and there've been no health and safety issues at all. 'They just want us to go because we're scruffy.' The 67-year-old said that the residents who live in the houseboats are 'part of a community' that they contribute to. He added: 'They told us we had to go by September, and they would help us if they could.' The council said last week: 'Boat owners moored there will be supported to move their vessels by the middle of September this year as the moorings are not safe for them to use. 'The moorings also pose a hazard to other river users. 'The channel forms a critical part of the city's flood defences and is not part of the river's navigation for boat users. 'In recent years, a number of boats including holiday rentals have moored along this stretch of the river, despite the council working with boat owners to explain the dangers and installing warning signage at the location. 'The owners of the rental vessels were asked to leave the area prior to the winter months when bad weather poses the greatest risks, however this was not acted upon.' Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable B&NES, said: 'Boats moored in the Pulteney stretch are in danger from the high risk of flooding, particularly during periods of severe winter weather. 'This could put lives at risk. We want everyone in B&NES to have a safe place to call home and prevent all our residents from coming to harm. 'We are also concerned about the risk of serious injury in instances where gangplanks are being used on benches, and boats are being moored to grab lines, which prevents those lines from being used as essential lifesaving equipment. 'By working with boat owners and the Canal and River Trust to help residents move to a safe location, we're taking action to prevent accidents and protect everyone's wellbeing. 'As a last resort, we will take legal action if vessels remain in place beyond the date we have asked them to leave.'

I'd suggest that it may not have happened because, the use of the 'standard' Narrowboat anchor, (a 15-20kg Danforth) precludes it from applying any such force as they *never* set.

I expect that due to the reluctance of inland boaters to buy an anchor that very little in the way of canal, Weaver, etc testing has been undertaken, who is going to fund it ? As the sea bottom can go from 100s of feet of 'soft ooze', thru soft sand, hard sand, gravel, shell, to rocks, kelp and anything else. I'd expect one of the following would cover the Weaver TECH TIPS: BASIC BOTTOMS ABBREVIATION BOTTOM TYPE S Sand M Mud CY Clay SI Silt ST Stones G Gravel P Pebbles CB Cobbles R, RKY, RK Rocky BO, BLDS Boulders CO Coral SH Shells WD Weed K Kelp SG Seagrass TECH TIPS: LESS COMMON BOTTOMS ABBREVIATION BOTTOM TYPE OZ Ooze SN Shingle CK Chalk VOL ASH Volcanic ash OYS Oysters GRS Grass TECH TIPS ABBREVIATIONS QUALIFYING TERMS F Fine M Medium C Coarse H Hard CA Calcareous SO Soft SY Sticky SF Stiff HRD Hard DEC Decayed And, we needed to know and remember all these for the RYA "coastal skipper" qualification. Excellent point - no point in having it if you don't know how to use it - and - have practised it.

Because it is a design from the 1930's and it just does not work efficiently. If it does 'set' then its not a bad anchor, the problem is that it can take several attempts to get it to set - this is not the end of the world on a coastal boat where it is the end of the day, you are anchoring up for the night and have plenty of time, and space. to deploy it, when it fails, haul it back in and deploy again, repeat, repeat, repeat. The Danforth manufacturers own "Anchor selection chart" suggests that for a 55-60 foot boat you need a 100lb (45kg) anchor. Whilst the Kobra manufacturers selection chart recommends a 20kg anchor for a 60 foot boat. When a boat on the River is likely to require an anchor it is normally a "brown trouser moment". The engine has stopped / The gear box has let go, etc etc. and you are heading towards the weir. For this, you need an anchor that works 1st time everytime and the Danforth does not. The length of rode and the scope makes a huge difference to the perfomance of the anchor, If you have a poorly perfoming anchor to start with, using a short-rode means you could be only achieving (say) 50% of the anchors (already low) rated holding power. There have been several 'generations" of anchor designs since the '30s, each one improving in perfomance (both holding power and setting ability) Following on from the Danforth there was the CQR, then the 'Plow' (Bruce etc) types and then a later design very similar to the Danforth called the "Fortress" which has astonishing perfomance. The difference between the fortress is that with computer, more knowledge and CAD this anchor is made with slightly different angles on the flukes, small differences have made real differences. The latest generation of anchors such as the Fortress, Mantus and Manson anchors are a very different kettle of fish to the old designs. Tests by one of the boating magazines : And another ................ The Kobra 2 which I have on my cruiser (and IanD has on his NB) is not expensive - I picked mine up for £60 and on a test of 12 anchors conducted by "Yachting Monthly" came 2nd out of the 12 types tested (The Fortress came 1st and the Manson Supreme came 3rd the Bugel which I have as a back up came 4th)

I think you will find that very, very few moorings are transferable. They may possibly be transferable subject to the agreement of the mooring owner/committee/Commodore, but selling the boat on its mooring is unlikely to mean the mooring is 'sold' with the boat. Despite what the advert may say you should always check directly with the mooring owner / club committe and get confirmation in writing from them that the mooring is transferable - as you say, it is pretty much "dead man's shoes" and the owner will take every opportunity to change the rules and "amend" the fees for 'new' owners. If you go in "all guns blazing" with I want this changed, and that changed, you'll soon find that you are an undesirable and will be kicked off the moorings. We had it at the golf club - a new breed of "entitled" members moving in demanding rule changes etc etc, they were quickly told to remove themselves, buy their own golf-course and set what ever rules they wanted, but, whilst in "our house" they followed our rules.

I do get a little sea-sick if I put my head down, If I am focussed on what Im doing I'm fine, but I have to agree with the Camel situation. We hired camels for a mini-expedition in Morocco and I have never been as sea sick as I was swaying around on the back of a Camel. Once was enough !

In 2001 the previous owner of our NB had similar work done .................. Pump out tank removed. Floor made good Cassette toilet installed and plumbed in Bed changed to a cross-bed Narrow wardrobe (for storage of 2 folding bikes) fitted into the gap between the bed and the bathroom wall. Cost (2001 costs & labour rates) was just over £11,000. The only non-labour items were wood for the floor & bed base and the cassette toilet. Nothing on a boat is either simple, straighforward, easy or inexpensive.

Thats the same video I linked to

The 1st link is an 8 minute video and explains he history, refurbishment and power to the wheel - but, I cannot get a direct link, so, try here : https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/lording-s-lock-water-wheel-the-1780-canal-pump-brought-back-to-life/vi-AA24ifYx?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ACTS&cvid=6a1938c440a0466293957e4de605906d&ei=91

Try telling that to home owners in Kent/Sussex

Lording's Lock water wheel, the 1780 canal pump brought back to life Deep in the Surrey countryside, a forgotten 1780s water wheel has been painstakingly restored by volunteers on the Wey and Arun Canal. We visit the site to see how this remarkable piece of engineering actually works. Lording's Lock water wheel, the 1780 canal pump brought back to life | Watch

The answer does exist. Stand on a milk-crate and not only will it be easier with the tiller, but you'll be able to look down the length of the boat. Does Snow White know you have bought a boat ?

Just mooove on now.

Yes - assuming it is sufficiently charged to start the engine.