Gold Licence and the Middle Level

[Scholar Gypsy]

There has been some discussion about extending the Gold licence to cover MLC waterways in 2024. I can now offer you three answers to this question.
 

The first two come from a recent CRT  document  https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/document/zdk_NUte4QiM2pDqr6NwrQ/Kfb8qgg0sBW1XUtFEDSrML23fOmR200w59ehZl0-99k/aHR0cHM6Ly9jcnRwcm9kY21zdWtzMDEuYmxvYi5jb3JlLndpbmRvd3MubmV0L2RvY3VtZW50Lw/018c8bd8-b872-7368-9554-edb5960fb204.pdf

 

1. It says the licence covers only EA and CRT waterways (at the top)
    
2. But it has the ML on the list of waterways at the end. (I know the licencing system has allowed you to declare a home mooring on the MLC for  a while now.)

 

But the third comes from the  MLC    https://middlelevel.gov.uk/navigation/licensing/   

 

 3.   This says “If you hold a CRT Gold Licence you will either need an Anglian Pass or Middle Level visitor licence to visit our waterways. The Gold Licence arrangements are a partnership between the CRT and the Environment Agency and it has been concluded that there is insufficient demand to justify changes in IT systems and legal agreements to include the Middle Level Commissioners within the formal arrangements. However, we are awaiting (as of March 2024) a formal offer from the Environment Agency to provide income from those CRT Gold Licence holders who have their home mooring as ‘Middle Levels’ within their CRT online account details. We can then invest this income within the Middle Level system alongside other licencing income.  In anticipation of this offer from the Environment Agency, if you are a CRT Gold Licence holder and the Middle Level is your home mooring then you need to ensure your details within the CRT system are correct to be considered as licenced on our waterways. We will need to review the situation if the Environment Agency’s offer does not materialise by the end of the 2024 boating season.”

 

Rather confusing!  I think I believe the third statement. That means visitors will need either an Anglian Pass or visitor licences to cross the Middle Level.  (This is of course impossible at the moment due to stoppages and flooding on the Nene, and a large lump of silt at Salters Lode).  

Another plug for the more general guidance here: https://goba.org.uk/a-guide-for-visitors-to-the-east/