DURING the past year Canal & River Trust were forced to issue over 1,130 restricted boat licences to those boaters without a home mooring, it decided were not fulfilling the terms of their licences.
Its review discovered that it had issued 5,600 licences for boats without a declared home mooring (continuous cruisers) that had become due for renewal, so in line with the new process their movement patterns were reviewed.
More detailed review
Just under 40% were subject to a more detailed review for a variety of reasons, of which 1130 were offered a restricted licence, as the terms of the licences were not being fulfilled by not moving continuously as required.
So far 652 boats have taken out a restricted licence as a result of this process with 220 still within that restricted licence period and 432 having reached the end of their restricted licence period.
Showed improvement
Of these 432 continuous cruiser licence holders 268 have showed improvement by moving and thus been allowed a further licence.
Others, totalling 96 have either taken a home mooring or moved away from the Trust's waters.
This however left 68 who would not comply, deciding to ignore the terms of their licence but stay in one area though not paying for a home mooring, and so have been refused a further continuous cruiser licence, of which 45 remain in the enforcement process and risk having their boats removed from the Trust's waters.
Improved cruising pattern
Half of those issued with a three month licence, and just over two-thirds of those issued a six month licence improved their cruising pattern whilst on a restricted licence and were allowed further licences to continue to show an improvement.
From the initial contact regarding the Trust's concern, to the letter advising it will not issue a further continuous cruiser licence, nearly 400 boaters have told the Trust that they have either sold the boat, obtained a home mooring or removed their boat from its waters.