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The Department for Communities and Local Government has ruled that 'bargee travellers' are covered by Section 225 of the Housing Act 2004 which defines who is a traveller.
This means that continuous cruisers can be considered to be travellers, and covered by the Act, and that local councils could now have a statutory obligation to investigate their needs and provide for them.
Needs of travellers
The definition is needed because local authorities are required to assess the needs of travellers in their jurisdiction. The crucial part when deciding who is a traveller is the element of nomadism which continuous cruisers can demonstrate due to the requirement of British Waterways' own rules of not being able to moor in one place for more than 14 days.
It should be possible to use this ruling to argue that local authorities should be providing, or working with British Waterways to provide, adequate provision of 14 days moorings—the continuous cruisers' equivalent of a travellers' transit site.
Pressure group
The Department for Communities and Local Government had responded to a letter from Nick Brown of the Bargee Traveller's Association, a pressure group of boaters.
This decision comes at a very inopportune time for British Waterways, as it has just finished a public consultation on proposals for creating local mooring strategies, particularly relating to the problems on the Kennet & Avon Canal. But it is seen that those same boaters will now use the ruling to secure more 14 days moorings, not less.
Stigma
However, contacting continuous cruisers at present moored near Braunston of this new possibility, they were adamant that they certainly did not want to carry—what they see as the stigma—of being regarded as travellers! Though all three were in great favour of their own moorings, with Eric (he did not want his surname published) adding:
"Does this mean there will be space just for us with no other boats allowed there?"
Interesting times ahead.
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