Jennifer Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 Hello everyone, I have been looking at this forum for a while and have decided to join as I do need some advice on areas and wondered if anyone on the forum knows anything about Leighton buzzard. We are considering mooring on the grand union in Leighton Buzzard but don't know enough about the area and am wondering if it is safe, we are currently moored near London and to be honest hate it there is a lot of trouble with the kids around the area where we are and it is not what we were looking for when we brought the boat. We have a widebeam and we will be living on it and want a safe and peaceful location not too far from facilities such as doctors etc and it is reasonable in Leighton buzzard compared to some areas. Any good and bad points on the area would really be appreciated Thanks Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 Are you talking about a "Waterside Moorings" tow-path based mooring, or maybe a berth at Grove Marina? I would be disappointed if a wide-beam were allowed on the Waterside Moorings tow-path moorings, as there really isn't the width along that stretch for it to be a great idea. Currently no vacancies are showing at that site, which seems odd, as there have always tended to be in the not that far distant past. I don't know what people do about parking there - certainly non is associated with the moorings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted September 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 Hi it is in a marina not on the tow path do you have any views on the location ? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, Jennifer said: Hi it is in a marina not on the tow path do you have any views on the location ? thanks Leighton is fine, nice little town, as with any town occasional trouble but it's certainly not high on the list of trouble spots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 27 minutes ago, Jennifer said: Hi it is in a marina not on the tow path do you have any views on the location ? thanks Grove Marina is a couple of miles outside the town. The pub is next door, but other town facilities are a bit of a walk/drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 If you mean Grove Marina, my understanding is that it has a reputation for being somewhat windswept, otherwise I know of no problems. Not sure about wide-beam pricing, but presumably you have enquired, (it used to have a waiting list). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted September 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 5 hours ago, alan_fincher said: If you mean Grove Marina, my understanding is that it has a reputation for being somewhat windswept, otherwise I know of no problems. Not sure about wide-beam pricing, but presumably you have enquired, (it used to have a waiting list). Hi yes there is a waiting list but we are looking around other places like milton Keynes as well but it is good to note that there are no major issues with the area we just want to be around nice decent people and unfortunately we find greater London too rough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbfiresprite Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 The only problem with Leighton Buzzard is the large numbers of Kayakers racing up and down the cut through town at the weekend with no regards for the rules of navagtion, Namely racing down both sides of the boat as you move along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bramley Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 I lived in Leighton Buzzard for 12 years until last year in various houses. Like all areas it has changed in that time, to many houses, not enough infostructure. However I found the town wonderful and miss it. Everything was local, people were nice. There are a lot of houses still to be built and we moved north for better house pricing / value for money. Canal side i dont think you would have much bother however there is zero for kids to do and there are a fair few travelers about. Grove is nice out of town the sort of manager / caretaker drinks in my old local the Bald Buzzard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 6 hours ago, alan_fincher said: If you mean Grove Marina, my understanding is that it has a reputation for being somewhat windswept .....its a fact!!! Especially when theres a fence exactly where you would be trying to get off quickly on a windy day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayke Posted September 16, 2019 Report Share Posted September 16, 2019 2 hours ago, Jennifer said: Hi yes there is a waiting list but we are looking around other places like milton Keynes as well but it is good to note that there are no major issues with the area we just want to be around nice decent people and unfortunately we find greater London too rough. This marina has vacancies according to their Webb site. http://www.campbellwharfmarina.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tash and Bex Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 23 hours ago, Jennifer said: Hello everyone, I have been looking at this forum for a while and have decided to join as I do need some advice on areas and wondered if anyone on the forum knows anything about Leighton buzzard. We are considering mooring on the grand union in Leighton Buzzard but don't know enough about the area and am wondering if it is safe, we are currently moored near London and to be honest hate it there is a lot of trouble with the kids around the area where we are and it is not what we were looking for when we brought the boat. We have a widebeam and we will be living on it and want a safe and peaceful location not too far from facilities such as doctors etc and it is reasonable in Leighton buzzard compared to some areas. Any good and bad points on the area would really be appreciated Thanks Jen HI Jen, New member, please be gentle! I moored at LB for several years, I have to say I loved every minute. LB itself is a lovely and very proud little town, and community. Commuting into central london was quicker then when I lived in Greater London (Northolt). The only negatives really are that the towpath is very busy with walkers, and the canal has paddlers on it every evening. Apparently since we left there has been an expansion on the settled traveller site, and that seems to be leading to a little more petty crime, but tbh I wouldn't worry too much, though we did have a generator stolen while we were there (I'm not suggesting for a second the two are related!!) All in all I really miss the place, and would love to go back. Bex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 15 hours ago, F DRAYKE said: This marina has vacancies according to their Webb site. http://www.campbellwharfmarina.com If I'm reading it correctly wide-beams pay for two narrow beam berths. The quarterly fee for a pontoon, even for a 55 foot boat is shown as, £940.46, so £3761.84 per annum. That would make a 55 foot wide beam £7523.68 per year! If you need 70 feet, then it would be £9575.60! It would need to be good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bramley Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 looks like loads of wide beams available 70ft would be cheapest of £1196 per quarter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayke Posted September 17, 2019 Report Share Posted September 17, 2019 7 hours ago, alan_fincher said: If I'm reading it correctly wide-beams pay for two narrow beam berths. The quarterly fee for a pontoon, even for a 55 foot boat is shown as, £940.46, so £3761.84 per annum. That would make a 55 foot wide beam £7523.68 per year! If you need 70 feet, then it would be £9575.60! It would need to be good! Think you need to recheck the figures again, the amounts shown are for wide-beams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 On 16/09/2019 at 21:13, F DRAYKE said: Think you need to recheck the figures again, the amounts shown are for wide-beams. No, I don't think they are..... I think all the "Wide Beam" is saying in the price list, is that that berth is one of an adjacent pair of narrow beam berths which could instead be taken by one wide beam. Look at (for example) berth 88 not shown as "wide beam" - the price is the same as the next 4 berths that are. It is confusing, I admit, but it clearly says at the bottom "wide beams pay for 2 pontoon lengths", and I'm 99% certain that means you have to double the figure shown. Ring them, and tell me if I'm wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayke Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 12 hours ago, alan_fincher said: No, I don't think they are..... I think all the "Wide Beam" is saying in the price list, is that that berth is one of an adjacent pair of narrow beam berths which could instead be taken by one wide beam. Look at (for example) berth 88 not shown as "wide beam" - the price is the same as the next 4 berths that are. It is confusing, I admit, but it clearly says at the bottom "wide beams pay for 2 pontoon lengths", and I'm 99% certain that means you have to double the figure shown. Ring them, and tell me if I'm wrong Didn't notice that, must go to Specsavers.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 1 minute ago, F DRAYKE said: Didn't notice that, must go to Specsavers.? It's a lot of money, isn't it! - It will be interesting to see how many of those pontoons actually acquire wide beams, as opposed to 2 narrow boats in the gap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayke Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 5 minutes ago, alan_fincher said: It's a lot of money, isn't it! - It will be interesting to see how many of those pontoons actually acquire wide beams, as opposed to 2 narrow boats in the gap. When we went past this marina a few days ago there was already some wide-beams moored there. The owners of these boats must have TOOOOO much money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted September 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 On 17/09/2019 at 11:53, Tash and Bex said: HI Jen, New member, please be gentle! I moored at LB for several years, I have to say I loved every minute. LB itself is a lovely and very proud little town, and community. Commuting into central london was quicker then when I lived in Greater London (Northolt). The only negatives really are that the towpath is very busy with walkers, and the canal has paddlers on it every evening. Apparently since we left there has been an expansion on the settled traveller site, and that seems to be leading to a little more petty crime, but tbh I wouldn't worry too much, though we did have a generator stolen while we were there (I'm not suggesting for a second the two are related!!) All in all I really miss the place, and would love to go back. Bex Hi Bex thanks for the info it appears I got it wrong the marina we wanted to go to has no vacancies and also is way too expensive so couldn't afford it we will continue looking ….. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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