Jump to content

Dave_P

Moderator
  • Posts

    4,260
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

Posts posted by Dave_P

  1. We live in a strange old world.

     

    Boaters get the hump if people dump stuff in the canal thus polluting it but they are quite happy to pollute the air that we breathe!

     

    Now if the there was no smokeless fuel available I could understand.

    Fair point. I only burn smokeless coal but I do also burn wood.

     

    Cheap non-smokeless coal is a waste of time IMHO. Pound for pound I get more heat for longer from smokeless with less ash, less chimney sweeping and less lugging heavy bags around. Even cheaper smokeless coal is often a false economy. I like supertherm. Not the cheapest but it burns for ages.

  2. A longer scan says not in most cases.

     

    Basically, if you are in a Smokeless zone, they have to use the clean air act, and you are exempt under the clean air act.

     

    If you are NOT in a smoke control area, they could use this against you.

    Not quite. The EPA applies everywhere. You are quite entitled to complain to the council about fumes and odours coming from your neighbours, even if it is from from something as silly as smelly socks (and believe me, people do). The council has a statutory duty to investigate.

  3. Update: I've been thinking about this some more and here's what I believe to be the 2 key factors:

     

    1. The authority of a council to declare a 'smokeless zone' is given under the clean air act. Therefore, burning wood or non smokeless coal in such a zone is an offence under the clean air act. Unless you are exempt. Which boats are.

     

    2. To prosecute under the EPA the council must demonstrate that you have caused a statutory nuisance which is either 'prejudicial to health or a nuisance'. This applies nationwide, not just in smokeless zones. To demonstrate the existence of a stat nuisance in this case, a council officer would need to demonstrate that smoke from your chimney was entering a neighbouring premises. Otherwise anyone burning wood in any house would be potentially liable to prosecution.

     

    Can I ask which council sent the circular and perhaps you could post up a picture of it? I'd be interested to show it to my boss.

  4. I work for a local authority environmental health dept so maybe I can shed some light / muddy the waters here. The legislation which is generally used to prosecute in smokey fuel cases is the clean air act which specifically exempts boats. That said there is nothing to stop a LA from prosecuting under the EPA except that as far as I know there is no existing case law for a boat owner being successfully prosecuted in this way.

     

    This situation commonly occurs across a range of issues where there is more than one piece of legislation which is relevant. LAs are all cash strapped at the moment so it would be a brave officer to bring a prosecution in this case, risking court costs etc.

     

    I would reply to the letter, pointing out the clean air act exemption.

  5. The tidal Trent is fine so long as you are sensible and plan ahead.

     

    Next year our big summer holiday is two weeks on the Norfolk broads. The big bit is getting there though, along the coast.

     

    I bought the trent guide from these guys a while back My link

    Don't know what I've done with it though. Will have to have a search.

  6. Wow, you guys are incredibly passionate and also very kind, possibly with the exception of sueb (I wouldn't want to meet you on a dark night).......only kidding. We are not limited to a 45 mooring, we are not necessarily limited to a 45 boat............although we have all fallen in love with one. I am NOT the sole decision maker within my troop, nor the wife, nor the bin lids, we make judgements collectively and all in all in, one out all out is generally the rule. I once saw a cottage and dreamed of living there with my family but instead bought a mansion so we all could live separate lives....

    I'm also in Yorkshire. PM me if you want to meet up for a natter about the ins and outs of living afloat.

  7. Good evening everyone. We are complete newbies and therefore we make our apologies up front. Without beating about the bush i'll get straight to it. We are about to use all our life savings in purchasing a 45' narrow beam semi trad cruiser for the purpose of living on board, yes LIVING on. So far, of all the kind people we've spoken to, at marinas, along the towpath etc most, infact all, look at us in complete disbelief when we tell them of our intentions and indeed most actually comment "no, you need at least 50 feet" So, apart from the obvious, can anyone shed any light on "why 50 foot"

    We have a nine year old and a 12 year old.........oh and a Jack Russell.

    Hello, and Merry Christmas to all too.

    First up is it a semi-trad or a cruiser? Can't really be both. I live alone on a 55' cruiser stern NB and its fine but I'd struggle for space if I had to share. 2 adults, 2 children and a dog sounds incredibly cramped unless you; A. Never, ever argue. B. have very few possessions. If so, good luck to you.

  8. Does the pump come on automatically when you turn on taps, or do you have turn the pump on at a switch? If its the latter it sounds like there's a stopcock. If your tank is in the bow, the stopcock should be immediately after the water tank outlet, probably near where the water pipe enters the main cabin. Mine is in the void under the front deck. I think you'll need to do some crawling about to trace the run of the pipes.

  9. You are so right we stopped at a couple of the newer ones this year to use the facilities and at no time did I ever see anyone making use of club houses, etc. it was all far too twee. I would not moor in one like that.

    We have a club house at my moorings. It's called the pub.

  10. I have a MBP and can run it fine from my 150 watt cheapo maplins inverter (cost about £20 i think). I also have a 12v cigarette lighter adaptor thingy bought on ebay which runs it fine too and I suspect converts the power more efficiently.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.