Crack-down on unlicenced boats

THE Canal & River Trust (CaRT) announced today (Wednesday) that it has removed 24 unlicenced boats from its waterways within the past few months.

These boats have been removed as part of the crack-down on those boaters who continue flouting the rules. The latest include two unlicenced boats removed from the Grand Union Canal near Leighton Buzzard.

Cost boater £5,500

Meanwhile, an unlicenced boat on the Trent & Mersey Canal has just cost its owner thousands of pounds in additional expenses after the Canal & River Trust acted to remove it from the water. The fire-damaged boat was logged as unidentified in April 2013 before action was under-way to remove the boat from the canal.

But at the end of October, as the boat lift was being organised, the owner of the vessel came forward. Following a long conversation with Trust staff, the owner agreed to pay almost £5,500 to cover the cost of the contractors, as well as outstanding fees to the Canal & River Trust, to keep the boat in the water.

Not fair

Denise Yelland, Head of Enforcement at Canal & River Trust, explained:

"It's just not fair for the majority of boaters that a minority try to get something for nothing. We don't like having to take boats out of the water, and it is a last resort, but we will take action on unlicenced vessels.

"This can result in a costly shock for the owner, or the loss of their boat. In the past four months we have removed 24 unlicensed boats from the water and we will continue to crack down on those boaters who aren't playing by the rules. Boaters make an important contribution to the canals and the income from licences helps us keep the waterways in working order."