Illegal moorers taking over

BOATERS are becoming increasingly frustrated by long term moorers permanently taking up most of the available space at visitor moorings.

Of the many complaints we receive, Peter Ponting, who previously told us of the arrogance by boaters on the central canals, and who has now 'ventured North' writes:

On Leeds & Liverpool Canal

We have, this year, travelled the Macclesfield Canal, the Huddersfield Narrow and Broad, Calder & Hebble, Aire & Calder and we are currently on the Leeds & Liverpool. We try as much as possible to moor at British Waterways visitors moorings, as stated in the guides.

However it appears that long term moorers are now taking up these moorings, leaving very little, if no space at all for visitors. Yet British Waterway or CART do nothing about it.

Moored for a year

For example, at Rodley on the Leeds & Liverpool a wide beam named Ravens Wing, has been moored on a seven days mooring for over a year. Everybody in Rodley is complaining about it, and they have on numerous occasions contacted British Waterways. Yet nothing is done.

Another smaller vessel is moored near the swing bridge, out of licence and has been there for three months.

In Huddersfield, at a water point at Aspley Wharf is another cruiser out of licence, and reportedly been moored their since last August.

"Our mooring"

We have on two occasions moored up alongside narrowboats at a visitors mooring, much to the dismay of the long term moorers blocking the visitors mooring. Who always say:

"How long are you staying for, because this is our mooring."

When we try to explain that it is a 48 hours visitor mooring, they say that British Waterways doesn't worry and they know they are there.

So where does that leave the visitors?