magpie patrick

Same except it's the front well deck... they are "off" until we moor for the night, then the question is "do we need them?" I'm sorry, but people who go through locks not much wider than their vessel (Note Phylis, I'm not having a go at you, you take an 8 foot wide boat through locks 14 foot plus wide) is being foolish, and is valuing their blacking ahead of the safety of their boat And if someone I'm sharing with won't lift their fenders it's them that waits for me, as they probably go through the locks slowly as well

It depends.... primarily on what you are going to do with it! Narrow Boats are corridors, we'd have a wide beam if it didn't restrict the cruising range, but I will not promote BW ripping up over 500 narrow locks, most of the nearly or more than 200 years old, to extend the cruising range of wide beams. Given your recent boating has been in a 40 foot by 12 wheel steered wide beam then any tiller steered narrow boat will come as a surprise, in a way, seventy footers are actually easier, if you are a foot way from one end of a normal lock you are also a foot away from the other end. If you still fancy the Great Ouse, be aware that passage to the Middle Level is via Salters Lode, and a seventy footer can only pass that on the level. It also used to be said that narrow boats were cheaper than cruisers, I'd say the opposite is now true

BW doesn't need to be serious about reducing the number, but as more boats arrive on the system than leave it each year marinas are needed if the number is not to increase! I am in favour of Marinas on on every single one I've worked on I would say the opposition have decided they don't like it first, and then sought to justify that stance: this can result in some astonishing allegations as to the impact they have.

BR, If you think there may be asbestos involved, contact HSE, they WILL investigate and if they suspect it will serve a stop notice. The stuff is everywhere, not just in obvious things like roof panels. It is in many homes in simple things like floor tiles, and I once worked in an office whihc had been very nicely refurbed (early naughties) but had an absolute prohibition on drilling into the walls because they were full of the stuff. Demolition requires planning consent, and that may have put a restriction on working hours, if it hasn't your only recourse is to statutory nuisance in that the noise level is above statutory limits. If it is the contarctor has a serious headache as they'd have to find another way of demolishing the buildings that made less noise. Contact planning and environmental health for those. A planning officer should be able to tell you any restrictions over the phone, EH are obliged to investigate Consultancy fee, another day out on your boat! Patrick