I HAVE a share in a narrowboat based at Bartington Wharf, at the top end of the Trent & Mersey, so the new charges will obviously have some effect, writes Peter Gregory.
Luckily we went to Liverpool and back in a fortnight earlier in the year before the changes were introduced.
Presence noted
How they will be imposed will be interesting to see, although I'm told that someone claiming to be from the Bridgewater recently knocked on the boat in Runcorn at 6.30pm on a Saturday telling those on board that the boat's presence on the Bridgewater had been noted!
For a couple of years, until last Autumn, we were based on the North Stratford Canal, from where a number of owners wanted to go on the Avon (£40ish for a week's visitors licence), so each year we bought an annual Avon licence (£200ish for a 47' boat based on CaRT waters).
Make more sense
Surely it would make more sense for the Bridgewater to have a similar scheme? Hirers would be aware that they'd have to buy a week's licence if they wanted to go onto the Bridgewater as part of the Cheshire Ring and those who may want to visit regularly have the option of an annual payment or ‘pay as you go'.
I appreciate that there's a reciprocal agreement so that Bridgewater-based boats are allowed onto limited CaRT waters without charge, so some renegotiation there would be needed, but the way the current change has been imposed does make me wonder whether Peel Holdings need additional staff in its PR Department (if they have one!).