Buzzybee

We are at Hartford Marina on the Great Ouse, this whole pp debate has been raging here for years, literally! Initially when we moved on in 2004, we were told that the moorings were residential, and that Council tax was included in the moorings. We were obviously VERY naive in just going along with it. The Marina obviously didnt want LOADS of us going to the council and claiming we live here as there was never planning permission. The Marina owners greed got a bit much though, because he stuck in around 30 houseboats, and sold them as residential for around £120k. Of course this brought the Marina to the attention of the Council, we've been on a bit of a rollercoaster for the last 4ish years. Initially we were told that as long as we were all paying council tax that we would be ok, but that wasnt the case. As it is at the moment, the people on boats who have been living here a certain amount of time are allowed to stay legally, the same goes for the houseboats....BUT no new residentials are allowed, Its not a huge problem for us (apart from the fact its a bit bleak and lonely, cos as people move off, they're not being replaced) It just means if we sell our boat here, it cant be sold as a livaboard. We arnt planning on selling anyway so... But for the people who brought the houseboats? they are effectivly worthless! You cant (realisticly) move them, so if you sell them its as a holiday property. Whos going to spend that amount of money on a floating caravan holiday home?!?! So thats the situation at the moment... though its still not fully resolved, we have been warned that its still going through the courts and subject to change

I really feel for the people at F/D, We are at Hartford Marina, and there really is nowhere for them to go in this area. Even the non-residential boats have to get off the marina for a number of months, right at the worst time of year. The last time we went passed there, there seemed to me quite a few Widebeams too...just what are they supposed to do? There are some mooring available here, but they are only accepting non residentials now! obviously if (like my new next door neighbour) you have an alternative address for your mail, you can slip under the radar, but I know theyre quite hot on it at the moment because of all the residential issues we still have got ongoing here. I know Priory in Bedford have residential Moorings, but we were quoted £6000 a year for our 57ft WB.