BW Mooring policy incompetence

[David Schweizer]

More than three years ago we, and three other boats were evicted from our permitted moorings above Birdingbury Wharf Bridge under the BW policy of reducing towpath moorings near newly opened or enlarged marinas. At the time we were all offered vacant spaces between the bridge and Stockton top lock, several of which had already been vacant for a number of years.

 

We all declined the replacement moorings for a number of reasons, the rings were all 38ft apart, and our boats were in the 45ft to 52 ft range, the towpath is very narrow at that point, and the overhanging trees made it a very dark and dank place, especially during the winter. Also, although it was not BW's fault, there was also a history of bad feeling between the owner of the pub opposite and the few moorers on site.

 

One of the justifications BW gave for closing our moorings was that they wished to free up space for overnight visitors to moor near the pub, we replied to BW indicating that the location we already had was more suitable for permitted moorings, suggesting that we retain our moorings and that they re-designate the vacant permitted moorings opposite the pub as visitor moorings, thus solving both issues. Our suggestion was discounted in writing by both the local Moorings Officer and Sally Ash, so we all moved away finding better private moorings elsewhere.

 

The moorings we were offered are still vacant, they regularly appear on the BW mooring Vacancies list which indicates how unpopuplar the site is:- https://www.bwmooringvacancies.com/vacancy/vacancy_details.php?id=3541

The site where we previously moored is now occupied most of the time by residential boats that move around the area under Contuinuous Cruising conditions. In the meantime BW have successfully managed to upset four boat owners, loosing several thousand pound revenue per year, and have failed to achieve their objective to provide any visitor mooring in the area (unless people moor up overnight in the vacant permitted moorings!)

 

Unfortunately, yet another example of incompetent, and dare I suggest, ill informed BW Officers sticking to unworkable policies , rather than getting out of the office and resolving the issue at a local level. The Moorings Officer, in one conversation, admitted to me that she had never seen the moorings, and did not know where they actually were! Hopefully Cart will weed out these incompetent people, and start listening to boaters.

Edited January 13, 2012 by David Schweizer

[matty40s]

I could mention the still vacant (2-3 years) Engineers Wharf moorings (reserve £5k - several empty).....but I won't...

[Dominic M]

You're right, Matty, it is probably best that you don't mention the moorings AT ENGINEER'S WHARF.

[Lady Muck]

I could mention the still vacant (2-3 years) Engineers Wharf moorings (reserve £5k - several empty).....but I won't...

 

That was due bad planning, wan't it? No parking for the moorings, only for the flats - now this wouldn't be a problem in most parts of London, but the public transport around there isn't so great. Boaters with moorings do tend to have and need cars.