Change at Paddington Basin?

WE HAVE  moored a number of times over the past four years at Paddington Basin, and the developers' security are very much in charge on a day-to-day basis, writes Mike Todd.

Indeed, when we were there earlier this Spring, a couple of young people arrived and were being a bit of a nuisance. Very quickly a security guard spotted them and, even though he was on the opposite side, moved them off in no uncertain terms.

Abandoned by British Waterways

I am not entirely sure, but I recall that the ownership of the the last part of the arm is a bit different as it was once abandoned by British Waterways when its need for commercial warehousing ceased. I have an inkling that the underlying ownership now lies with the developers.

Yes, CaRT deal with setting the mooring conditions on the pontoons, especially the issuing of Winter Permits but they have not themselves done a lot in the way of enforcement. A couple of years ago when we saw some people tempted to over-stay, the same security team made at least daily notes of who was moored there and moved boats on when they came to the end of their permitted stay—at the time five days.

If it really is the case that enforcement has dropped off, it may just be that the development company no longer have the interest and CaRT have not stepped in to fill the gap.

A shame

It would be a shame if the developers have pulled the plug as they did an excellent job and it meant that this is one of the safest places in London to moor as a visitor.

Also, note the new experiment at Rembrandt Gardens for bookable moorings—even though this is far too small in the long term. It would be great if the scheme could be extended all the way down the arm right into the basin.