Banbury problems

THE problems at Banbury are no different from other ‘honeypot', sites with regard to liveaboards, let alone continuous moorers, writes Martin Howes.

We found it necessary to leave the boat for a couple of days at Banbury, and were relatively happy to leave it on the 48 hour moorings, (with permission!). We were right outside the shopping centre on the ‘dead leg' towards Tooley's.

Hanging about

The only unsettling thing I found about Banbury was a disproportionate number of life's n'er do wells of various nationalities hanging about and sleeping rough around the bus station and the facilities.

I had to disturb two individuals smoking and drinking in the Elsan disposal unit so I could get rid of the waste. During the daytime, all the benches along the towpath side were occupied by people with copious bottles of cider and other alcoholic beverages. I would have thought it relatively easy for the public places legislation to be enforced.

Maybe Banbury does not take visiting boaters that seriously.