Another Barby?

BOATERS looking for moorings on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire are advised to be cautious, following the Barby Moorings scandal, says Allan Richards.

The scandal has been exposed in two narrowboatworld articles (The Barby Moorings shambles and Boaters deserting Barby) with new revelations coming almost daily on a discussion forum.

Taken in by advertising

As reported, many boaters were taken in by magazine advertising of Barby Moorings, that promised a fully appointed marina but delivered little more than a pond without even mooring pontoons. Now boaters are having extreme difficulty attempting to recover money paid as deposits and mooring fees.

It is against that scenario that we advise of a small advertisement spotted in the classified section of a well known waterways magazine which reads: 'CANAL MOORING FOR SALE. Freehold. Outskirts Solihull. Off line very private, secure. Small select mooring adjacent to Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire. Countryside next to canalside pub and restaurant. The size of the mooring negotiable at this stage.'

Only offline moorings

However the only offline moorings that fit the description in the area is a small 20 berth marina in the course of construction next to the Black Boy pub near Knowle.

Unnamed, but known by some as the 'Knowle Cut', this small marina is constructed in the shape of a small arm running parallel with the offside of the Grand Union between bridges 68 (Bakers Lane Bridge) and bridge 69 (Black Boy Bridge). There is provision for mooring ten boats each side. Sounds okay?

Work stopped

Unfortunately, it is not okay. Construction work suddenly stopped just over two months ago with most plant being moved off site. Furthermore, a stoppage between the 4th and 27th January to construct the marina entrance has been removed from British Waterways' website.

In the case of Barby Moorings, many boaters paid deposits for facilities that do not exist with the first sign of trouble being when construction work stopped. Hopefully, that will not be the case with the Knowle Cut.

Caveat emptor!