Braunston—definitely a no-go area

Published: Friday, 13 August 2010

BOATER Graham Phillips just managed to get his boat into the last space at Braunston one day last week at 2pm, yet by 5pm he tells us it was completely deserted!

Which rather bears out the story carried early this week in narrowboatworld of a charity having its boats vandalised in Braunston, and of other boats and vehicles being damaged.

This however is not a localised problem, for it was last year that Graham had the misfortune to park his brand new car at Braunston, only to discover  that it had been virtually trashed, with nearly £5,000 damage, and his boat sprayed with a fire extinguisher relating:

"There were another seven cars done the same night with four boats (including ours) being sprayed with a fire extinguisher—which has seriously tarnished the paintwork.

"After initial investigations and basic leg work by the police the case was closed just a week later showing that they really don't care about these incidents even though, as it was admitted to us, they know exactly who is responsible."

Height of the season

He understood only too well why there were no boats moored after 5pm,  last week even at the height of the season, and observed:

"Something really serious needs to be done before more damage is done, not only to property and businesses but the reputation of this special waterways village."

Our Allan Richards too is very wary of mooring in the village, telling us that he intended to stay overnight tomorrow (Saturday) with a party of young carers, but tells us he now intends to moor elsewhere!

Rather forthright

After learning of the problems, we realised that boater Jimmy Pullen had contacted us earlier in the year complaining of vandals at Braunston, rather forthrightly—which was why we did not publish at the time, but perhaps the time is now:

"Tell your readers to keep away from Braunston, it is overrun with criminals who would rather trash your boat than look at you.  One yob broke in whilst I was inside, and it was the most frightening experience I have ever had, luckily the bastard was either drugged up to the eyeballs or drunk and fell down the steps.

"He managed to clamber out, but I dare not tell you how I helped him, as all the police were worried about was if I had caused him any harm or he had hurt himself."

So perhaps after all, the London Narrow Boat Project organiser was right when he stated is is 'a bit of a no-go area now'...