Kingston getting tough on moorers

WITH the start of the new season in April, Kingston-on-Thames Council are bringing in new river mooring fees.

It will charge boats for mooring to its land and introduce extra 'punitive fees' for boats that break the rules, Roger Fox reports.

Complaints

This new fee system is being being brought in owing to a high number of complaints from the public over abandoned and illegally moored boats littering the Thames in it jurisdiction.

It also intends to put boaters off from overstaying, for the council has had to engage in costly court proceedings against illegally moored boats, with the new system to bring in charges for boat users who overstay.

The fees will apply to all visiting or temporary moored boats, and no longer will there be free visitor mooring at the Town End Quay or Horsefair Wharf.

Abandoning boats

Though most of Kingston riverside is designated 'no mooring', this has not prevented boaters from either mooring or abandoning their boats there in the past.  The picture is of Cygnet that was abandoned in Kingston and removed by the council

During January a boater from Kingston was fined a massive £800 for mooring his narrowboat illegally at Molesey Lock for over six months. Two boats were also removed during that month.

In addition to regulating the temporary moorings, the council is intending to introduce a licensing scheme to manage commercial activity on the riverside, that includes boat hire that has been taking place.