Another kick in the teeth for boaters

NOTWITHSTANDING the complaints about lack of moorings on the Severn, Canal & River Trust have now banned boaters from using the moorings at Upton-on-Severn—the only safe haven between Worcester and Gloucester.

It was boater Amy Dickerson who responded to the request from CaRT's Susie Mercer, Boating Trade Manager, for 'any comments or suggestions', who told us—'Another kick in the teeth for boaters', then responding in an email to Susie Mercer:

Thoughtless and dangerous

There are too few visitor moorings on the Severn. Upton-on-Severn is a good day's travelling from Gloucester. To have this mooring in effect taken away with no replacement is extremely thoughtless and could be dangerous in adverse weather to boaters.

Moving from Gloucester to Stourport is at best a two days journey. There are far too few pontoon moorings already. Instead of taking moorings away from boaters you should be adding to those already there, that way ensuring that boaters can moor up in safety.

At present there are pontoon moorings at Haw Bridge, Upton-on-Severn, Worcester, and Stourport, so taking away those at Upton-on-Severn is a very retrograde step.

In the notice to boaters, Susie Mercer told:

Passenger boat

We have given our consent for the passenger boat Avon Belle to board and disembark passengers from the visitor mooring at Upton this season. Newly introduced restrictions on coaches passing through the town mean that the operators can no longer take coach parties at their home mooring downstream of the town centre.

The designated coach park is right opposite the visitor mooring, so this is a very useful pick up point for parties arriving by coach.

No warning or consultation

No warning was given of the closure of the visitor moorings and there was no consultation, just a decision to make the moorings available to a trip boat at the expense of boaters.

Though it is told that notices will be displayed if and when the moorings are available, this is useless to boaters planning a journey on the river, who will not of course know if they will be allowed to moor or not.

The suggestion that boaters could alternatively moor in the marina opposite is not feasible, for we ourselves were refused entry, the people not liking too many narrowboat amongst the many plastic cruisers, especially in windy conditions.  In fact at the time there was a notice stating 'No hire boats' at the entrance, firmly showing the attitude.

Incredulous

Since this piece was prepared, other boaters have contacted us, with one, Martin Turner writing:

I am incredulous. The moorings at Upton are the only ones between Worcester and Tewkesbury a distance of 17 miles, they are at best already limited. They are typically used as a lunch stop by many. An ideal spot to have a break and do some shopping and buy some lunch. Plus they are a perfect overnight stop on the long run between Stourport and Gloucester.

Each moorer will be spending money in the town. If you take say ten boats a day that would be perhaps a spend of £800 at a rate of £20 a person. Now lost to the town if you cannot moor. The alternative mooring at the marina is some way from the town and they charge £1.65 per metre, £30.00 night for a 18m boat and the moorings are limited.

Implications are high

The implications of this are high, no consultation with boaters, public
moorings being taken over by a commercial operation, considerable loss of earnings for the town and most importantly of all safety issues with very limited moorings being available on one of the most important cruising rings in the country.  The Avon Ring.

Others:

We love the Avon, and do it annually, but no way now that we cannot take refuge at Upton....does CaRT even think about boaters anymore?—Helen Spinkwater.

I am just staggered by the contempt shown to boaters in this response, obviously pre-prepared for the expected objections. It displays a stunning lack of understanding of what boating is all about, especially with narrowboats on the Severn.—David Owen-Roberts.