The consultation on the proposed imposition of white diesel for propulsion on waterways closes on the 1st October.

NABO has now responded and the document is here.

Needless to say we have objected to everything they propose, which we see as flawed at every turn. It is the same message we have been giving for 15 years.

If you havn't put in your own response, plesed do so now. And please don't cut and paste our words, use your own and your own spelling mistakes!

The consulation is here.

Mike Rodd responds to DEFRA for NABO.

‘Having studied the submission prepared by the Inland Waterways Association, NABO supports its objections to the proposed order as follows:

• Land is required within the decommissioned bypass channel for the future construction of a lock to mitigate the impact of the tidal barrier;
• Navigation over its lifetime has not been safeguarded;
• Insufficient minimum headroom for navigation is permitted under both the vertical lift gates and the foot- and cycle-bridge;
• Detailed design information for the penstocks to be included within the tidal barrier has not been specified;
• Insufficient minimum headroom for navigation purposes has been provided for the temporary bridge across the bypass channel, required while the tidal barrier is being constructed.’

Mark Tizard has read the 44-page report …. so that you don’t have to!

CRT is investing a considerable amount of time and expense in reviewing boat licensing. At the outset, it said it wanted the review to cover all aspects of licensing and that the outcome was intended to be revenue neutral and to simplify the current process. CRT has just published the Stage 2 report from the recent workshops, which is the main focus of this article. To recap, using an external consultancy, Involve, the review is a three-stage process that is intended to operate as follows:

CRT has begun the first phase of its three-stage consultation on how boats are licensed on its waterways, using the independent charity specialising in public engagement, Involve. In stage one; representatives of the main boating organisations are being interviewed to find their views on how the consultation should work and what it should cover. In the second stage, from April, a series of in-depth workshops will be held with boaters who reflect the diversity in the boating community. The final stage will consult all boat owners to find their views on the options developed during the first two stages. The aim is to find the fairest and simplest boat licensing system to address the financial contribution made by different types of boats. Ian Rogers, customer service and operations director at CRT, said: “The current licensing system has been in place for over 20 years. Boating has changed a lot in that time and the Trust wants to ensure the licensing structure is fit for purpose. Feedback from boaters suggests that many feel the current licensing is overly complex and can be perceived as unfair, and this consultation seeks to discuss these areas of concern.” See https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/national-consultations for how to get involved.