Current Consultations

There are two consultations about moorings along the line of the waterways.

(a) Moorings policy for BW's network in England & Wales, 1st Nov.'09 – 31st Jan.'10

(b) Proposals for developing local mooring strategies, 17th Nov. ’09 – 31st Jan '10

If you'd like to become a volunteer assessor for the above consultations, click here.

There is a further consultation about boat licence fees.

(a) Public Consultation on moorings policies, 1st November 2009 – 31st January 2010

The aims of this consultation are to:

• improve understanding of the complex issues associated with management of moorings on BW’s 2,000 mile historic waterway network in England and Wales
• invite feedback on new policy proposals which we have developed with help from national boating organisations.

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(b) Public consultation on proposals for creating local mooring strategies: 17th November 2009 to 31st January 2010

This is best read in conjunction with the paper (a). The aim of consultation (b) is to invite feedback on the mechanics of how we should develop local mooring strategies. These are proposed as a means of ensuring that, as boating use of the waterways increases, scarce space along the line of the canal is shared fairly between waterway users and general amenity protected for all to enjoy

We have proposed the western end of the Kennet & Avon Canal as a good candidate for the first of two or three pilot projects to develop local mooring strategies during 2010. The lessons learned from these will inform the wider use of this approach in other parts of the BW network.

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We expect the consultations to be of interest to:

• boat owners, particularly those who live aboard their boat (or are considering doing so)
• the boating trade, particularly operators of commercial boats for hire, passenger boats or moorings
• anglers
• other frequent waterway users
• people living close to waterways, particularly in residential areas
• waterside businesses
• parish councillors
• local authority planning, environment and housing departments
• statutory and third sector organisations concerned with civic amenity, housing, heritage, environment and of course, inland waterways.

Pre-consultation

We have developed the ideas in this paper with the help of many representatives of boating and boating trade organisations. The subject was debated with a sub group of the British Waterways Advisory Forum in summer 2008. We subsequently tabled an early pre-consultation draft at the meeting of our national ‘waterway users special interest group’ in April 2009, and then held meetings with leading representatives to work through many points of detail. We are particularly grateful to the Residential Boat Owners Association for their help in developing part 2 of the paper including joint consumer research into residential mooring demand and preferences that provided important data to underpin our proposals. We have continued to consider comments received on an ad hoc basis since these meetings.

Responding to the consultations

Please use the appropriate response form for each consultation.

(a) Moorings policy for BW’s network in England & Wales, 1st Nov.’09 – 31st Jan.'10. Click here for response form

(b) Proposals for developing local mooring strategies, 17th Nov. ’09 – 31st Jan '10 Click here for response form

We prefer responses by email to consultation@britishwaterways.co.uk. Please use this feedback form.

Otherwise, please post them to:

British Waterways Mooring Consultation
64 Clarendon Road
Watford
WD17 1DA

Some files are in PDF format, please click here to download the software.