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Tanglewood

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    South East
  • Occupation
    Retired
  • Boat Location
    Midlands

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  1. Yes, this is sadly the case. CRT decided that the cost of regaining the title to the land, which they had lost during the period when the farm changed hands, during the chaos period of the change from BW to CRT, was not worth it. Having decided they were going to close the mooring, and therefore losing £8,000 pa, they chose to relinquish any claim to the strip of land. What is not clear is whether they will eventually allow the land-owner to acquire the car-park too. As I understand it had been 'leased' to Luton Angling Club. This could have an impact on the couple of spaces at the bottom of the track, which has traditionally been available for casual moorers. This landowner, who owns 300 acres surrounding the village has tried 3 times to get permission for a huge marina in the field at Slapton Lock. This has been refused twice at appeal. This may be the first attempt to revive that plan. He also owns a huge Equestrian Centre at the far end of the Village, and the Pub the Carpenters Arms which he closed in January 2019. It was felt by the local community, that after owning the land for 15 years, disputing the ownership of the Canal bank, and closing the Pub was his response to the opposition for the Marina. The village only has 600 residents yet they managed to find 100 people who would register opposition to his most recent planning application, for listed building permission to change the pub into a home. Although this was granted, permission to divide the plot and thereby attempt development on the car-park was refused. He is definitely not a farmer, more a bit of a wheeler dealer, opening and closing businesses frequently. He has run a number of night clubs, although most of these (Soho, Brixton, Milton Keynes) have been dissolved. His wedding venue in Dulwich has been sold, and his main source of income now seems to be nightclubs in Southend, although he does appear to have a portfolio of rental properties too. Of course, if the contracts for mooring are sound, then the site remains a lovely spot, and the long-term mooring did enhance the setting. The sign seems to be offering private gardens, so could really be good. Perhaps he would offer vehicle access from the gate on Horton Road, in which was they would be much more convenient than having to cross the lock for access. There is of course no electricity and water is over the other side. There was, however, a telephone point when Lady Melinda moored there 20 years ago.
  2. An earthquake measuring 3.6 has been recorded near the Reservoirs at Marsworth on the Southern Grand Union, anyone know anything https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000bjlf/map
  3. Two reasons, one that people do moor there for up to 14 days without receiving any attention from the enforcement officer. and the second because I was involved in the campaign about three years ago to keep the moorings open and have a letter from Richard Parry confirming exactly what I have stated. My concern is that boaters who do use the mooring may feel intimidated by the company putting out these notices. When this all started in 2014/5 it was because of harassment which resulted in the boaters leaving their moorings and the moorings not being re-advertised and subsequently closed.
  4. Since the closure of the long-term CRT moorings at Slapton Lock, a number of boats have taken advantage of the site being available as a casual mooring, as is their right. CRT being quite happy for it to be used in this way. It seems the neighbouring landowner, who disputes that CRT own the canal bank has put up a notice claiming that he has the right to claim £25.00 per day from any boat that moors there without his permission. He also claims to offer long term moorings on a 6 month or annual basis. This does not appear to be sanctioned by CRT, and the site does not have planning permission, so boater's beware. It might be worth asking CRT a few questions.
  5. Oh dear, what an innocent. Every piece of land in the country (if not the world) belongs to some-one. Whatever made you think otherwise?
  6. It does now (but it doesn't always scan) A Boating Ballad. In a tiny such market 'tis pointless to try, with such a small hobby to rationalise. How many boats in each year were made Over X number of years, just ask the trade. How many scrapped And how many taken, By CRT, who just want their cake, 'n' To eat it, leaving just crumbs. How many newbies, how many have gone Some for no reason, and some for a song. Still as 'tis the season of comfort and joy, Don't let this put you off my boy - You buy a boat and hasten forthwith, to London For there it is told, The streets and canals are all Paved with gold... But as for the Towpaths, you might as well whistle, You'll not find a stretch edged with gorse or with thistle, For all have been colonised, by more Of your ilk, who got there before. It does now (but it doesn't scan)
  7. Er.. No, that isn't the thrust of my argument. I know its possible, under certain circumstances, to reclaim the VAT component, and that that is less than the actual tax on the fuel itself. The point I was making about VAT is that some organisations, such as Councils, do not have to pay VAT on services, however they cannot actually pay less, they have to pay up-front and claim it back. What I was suggesting that it might be legal for folk to reclaim the fuel tax on the proportion of oil they use for heating, but still pay the full amount up-front to start with. This might possibly count as the UK imposing the full tax. Its another fudge, but a reversal of the original. I know there is no mechanism at present.
  8. Tax on heating oil is 5%. The tax on the fuel we put in cars is 20%. There is no reason other than inconvenience (and a huge and massive inconvenience) why fuel oil for propelling boats should not be taxed at 20%. The issue with self declaration is that it is just that and it does sit comfortably within a system where a tax is imposed. However, instead of self declaring, at purchase, perhaps a system could be devised whereby we all pay the full tax and then claim it back on the fuel we have used for heating, similar to those small businesses which have to pay VAT but can claim it back.
  9. Jules Fuels is the local fuel boat. Saw her heading North towards Leighton a day or so ago For current location please phone Jules on: 07740 487222
  10. Thank you, NigelMoore, for your clarification, and the rather delicious quote!
  11. I think the clue is in the name. A post-code represents a space identified by and registered with the Post Office, often with a road name. if you look up a post code it won't put you outside a house but in the middle of the space covered by that code. When we registered our address we chose (foolishly as it turns out) to add a road name and consequently ended up with a different post-code to those of our neighbours on either side, who simply have their house name and the village. When delivery drivers try to find us they end up in the middle of the village which is a good half-mile away. To overcome this, we tend to use our neighbours post-code for deliveries, although that is not our registered address.
  12. Mooring Taxation The source of the confusion can be traced back to the Local Government Finance Act 1992. According to Section 3, council tax is levied on domestic property, and while a boat can be considered as a domestic dwelling, it cannot officially be classed as a “property”. Instead it is an asset or possession, regardless of whether an individual chooses to live in it or not. Any tax liability occurs not with regard to the boat itself, but the mooring the vessel occupies. If planning permission for permanent residential use has been secured on a mooring then it can be levied for council tax, but who actually pays the tax depends on whether you have exclusive occupancy of the mooring or not. If the mooring is yours alone then by rights you should be footing the bill. Many live-aboards mistakenly believe – or want to believe – that by living on a boat they must be tax exempt and avoid raising the issue with their local council. Whether they are eventually taken to task for their oversight depends on the conscientiousness of their local authority, which can vary significantly in this matter. Given that the tax liability relates to the mooring, the council tax you pay is levied on the value of the mooring rather than that of the boat. Most residential boat moorings are consequently in council tax band A, the lowest band. There are some instances in which a permanent boat mooring is liable for council tax levied on the value of the mooring together with the value of the boat, but never exclusively on the value of the boat. These usually apply to purpose-built houseboats or any boats that are moored with a “sufficient degree of permanence as to be enjoyed with the mooring”. http://www.livingonaboat.co.uk/paying-taxes-if-you-live-boat.html
  13. Agree with all the above. Don't be concerned about re-tracing your footsteps (metaphorically) it's a beautiful and fascinating canal so you won't be bored. In fact you could eat up the miles outwards and then plan where you want to slow down on the return. Try to find time to spend a long day at Saltaire (used to be completely teetotal but I think there is at least one ale house now) and time to go round Skipton - if you can link in a train trip that will be a bonus. The Bingley locks are a must see, and of course there is Wigan Pier. All the pubs will serve Black Pudding in some guise.
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