Noah T

Done

On that basis, would you argue that CRT could not apply the 14 day limit to a boat that is double moored (perhaps using mud weights to avoid being secured even indirectly to the bank!) next to another boat on the tow path side? [Edited for clarity]

It wouldn't be someone else's mooring. Any license holder would be entitled to moor there. Having a tender might ameliorate the problem of land access.

It's rather unlikely that this community mooring group would be touting for business that would otherwise go to, eg, private sector or other commercial marinas. But if such groups could or would do that, they should be applauded. The commercial prices for moorings in London are astronomically high, and if some competition from community groups were to help bring down those prices I would say amen to that.

Oh really, is that so. Just as well that my local council seems to be unaware of this "general practice": http://www.haringey.gov.uk/index/community_and_leisure/libraries/libraryservices/librariesroomhire.htm As you can see, the rooms are priced at a very serious discount for community groups as compared with the commercial rate. NB- despite the cuts etc, quite a few local authorities own some very nice buildings and other spaces.

Would you really apply that principle to all situations? So, for example, you would insist that the council should rent a meeting space to, eg, a neighborhood watch group or for a carers' support group, for exactly the same amount that they would charge Apple or Barclays Bank? Or are you selectively proposing it against community moorings?

What exactly do you mean? Are you saying that favouring a non-profit scheme is illegal for a public sector body, or that in your opinion it is immoral? Please clarify.

I have no idea whether this is a purely academic point, as I don't know what relevant policies Hackney Council etc would have. However, I don't see anything 'unfair' in principle about a not for profit organisation with some social aims getting better terms than a business whose purpose is to make its shareholders or executives even richer than they are already.

I haven't stated that permanent residents of a local authority should not contribute (according to their means). I have no objection to people who are legally obliged to pay council tax complying with that obligation, or with Camden or any other Local Authority seeking to get people to comply, whether boaters or otherwise. It's revealing that you prefer to disregard the economics. I would suggest that the economics is probably the main factor in why eg Camden Council and its residents are not getting themselves worked up like you are re: this issue. Further, as you note that it's permanent residents of a borough who are liable for council tax, I reckon that your figure (allegedly from the NBTA) of 300 boaters in Camden being relevant to this is a wild exaggeration. I would doubt that there are more than a handful of liveaboard boaters with CC licenses who stay permanently on the stretch of the Regents which is within the confines of Camden borough. That handful would in any case be facing or likely to face the CaRT enforcement process. The alleged issue of 'freeloaders at the bottom of people's gardens' is a trivial one which you are getting all outraged about- because, I would guess, you think it is a stick which you can wave against CC'ing boaters.

Does the NBTA quote that figure (300) as the number of CCers who are are living permanently on the canal in Camden? . Even so, that would be 0.13 of a percent of the population of the borough. And, even were the relevant legislation and collection mechanisms in place, taking into account the average value of a house in Camden, it would be difficult to imagine that this figure could translate into as much as 0.05 of a percent of potential council tax revenue. Probably a lot less. So hardly surprising that the residents who actually do live in Camden are not particularly motivated against those who you call the "bunch of freeloaders at the bottom of their gardens". As for you, it is odd that while you claim that you "don't give a toss", you do seem to be getting rather excercised on behalf of the residents of a London borough, who have (so far as I know) not engaged you to devote your outrage on their behalf.

I doubt that attempting to extract council tax from a few dozen or so people living on the Regents Canal etc would make up in any perceptible way for the cuts in government funding. The impression I get is that the motivation of those raising this issue here has nothing to do with any concern for the finances of the London Borough of Camden (or Islington or Hackney). Rather it seems designed to promote a divisive agenda among boaters.

Indeed. However if your bulbs are for ceiling lights with a lens / cover, it's worth checking that the length of the adapter, plus the G4 LEDs that you get, isn't too long to fit inside.

This one is the BA15D, It's very bright!: http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/led-product-catalogue/marine-boats-led-lights/1142-ba15d.html

Thanks Ssscrudddy, that's really helpful. The idea of using magnets for sticking the panels to the roof is truly inspired . Yes, I am a bit worried about keeping the panels on the roof when it gets windy, so I've ordered some magnets with 65kg pull- hopefully they'll do the job!

Hi Ssscrudddy, I like those solar panel mounts that you have put together. Where did you get the magnetic feet & other bits?

I think there is a strong case for enforcement in order to achieve this. Even eg in London, it's only certain areas that are 'busy' in terms of lack of space to moor up somewhere. But elsewhere, ie in places where there is hardly ever a problem finding a mooring space, what is the actual point of enforcing the CC rule?

if they have blue flashing light & siren, surely they would be allowed to speed along at 7mph!

Ah, that explains it. While coming up the Paddington Arm around Southall a few weeks ago I saw what I at first took to be a very large pet tortoise that had fallen into the canal. But when I got closer I saw that it was swimming very competently! So, presumably it was a terrapin. It was big, I reckon at least ten inches long.

Chugging? is that the sound made by a historical diesel engine?

So Nigel, on that basis could I also assume that my own cruising pattern is & will be OK? I am in London, and move my boat around quite frequently. It doesn't stay anywhere for more than a few days, a week at most, and so far I have been taking it to different areas around North & East London, eg Haggerston, South Tottenham, Hackney Marshes and Stonebridge (ie, I don't just 'bridge-hop'). However, I might be moored at or near the same 'place' on two or three separate occasions in say a month, for perhaps a week here and a couple of days there etc, interspersed with mooring at various other locations in between. Is this 'impeccable' or at least all right, or could I somehow fall foul of the CRT's requirements? BTW, unlike Tommy I am a CC'er, and very new to the waterways.

I sympathise with this as I was quite worried myself as a new boater a few weeks ago. I had to pick my boat up from Gayton and bring it down to and through London- I did have my son and my Mrs to help me part of the way, but most of the trip was on my own. In the event it was not so bad at all. Actually at a lot of locks there were other boats going up or down whose crew were very happy to do a little extra to assist a single hander. It became quite sociable at points on the GU, going through several locks with the same boat/s. At other times I mobilised some random members of the public who were hanging around the locks (I know there's a word for such people, I can't remember it right now) and they seemed to enjoy opening & closing gates as directed! I am sure you will be fine when it comes to it. I would just advise taking things slowly and simply, not (yet) trying out any of the clever techniques advocated on this & similar threads!