| Here is the Example quoted
by BW in their April 2003 ‘Playing it Fair at Temporary/Visitor Moorings
Fred lives on his narrow boat and
his children go to school in Uxbridge. He is registered as a continuous
cruiser and does not pay for a mooring.
He has been tied up to the towpath on the Grand Union Canal at Uxbridge
for well over 14 days. After being reminded about the Moorings Code, he
begins to move more frequently and over the next 3 months travels between
several different moorings. The furthest North that he reaches is Harefield,
and in the other direction, he reaches Southall. Although Fred travelled
a total of 29 lock-miles over the period, he has only 13 different lock
miles and this is a long way short of the 120 needed to comply with the
Code.
Alternative cruising patterns,
which would give Fred, the necessary 120 different lock-miles over the
three-month period might be;
- · Uxbridge to Wolverhampton
(near Milton Keynes) and back – a total of 120 different lock-miles
- · Uxbridge via the Regents
Canal to Stepney (37 lock-miles); Stepney-Uxbridge (no new lock-miles);
Uxbridge- Marsworth (83 lock-miles)
Of course, Fred might find it extremely
difficult to achieve either of these patterns and ensure that his children
still get to school each day! This would suggest that he should attempt
to find a proper home mooring for his boat. And if this isn’t possible,
maybe he needs to reconsider whether living afloat without a permanent
mooring is a practical option.
Where would the BW like to see
Fred move to? Where is he likely to be able to afford to move to? A city
flat, or high-rise block perhaps. Like Los Angeles, parts of London and
other British Cities now belong to the Third World. The violence and menace
are not the same, but the roots of them are. ‘Poverty’, writes
Peter Townsend, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at Bristol University,
‘is not something people impose on themselves for want of effort
and community organisation. It is constructed by devisive and discriminatory
laws, inflexible organisations, acquisitive ideologies of wealth, a deeply-rooted
class system and policies which serve privilege in the short term and
destroy society in the long term’ (New Statesman and Society, Sept.1996).
Is it not possible to remember
that under the United Nations Rights of the Child, Fred and his children
have the right to a home without the fear of persecution, are their rights
to education, health and family life less important than the financial
interests of cruising companies and private sector mooring operators?
It would be stating the obvious to say so but nevertheless a solution
must found, that actually encompasses the needs of ALL, the Code will
be at this ‘guidelines’ stage until March 2004 so continual
pressure from all who can should be applied to give families aflote the
chance to stay there and appreciate the benefits it contributes to their
lives. Please contact the British Waterways,
Middle Warehouse, Castle Quay,
Manchester, M15 4NJ. 0161 8195847 enquiries.spring@britishwaterways.co.uk
Feedback and submissions regarding
the trial Moorings Code should be sent to:
British Waterways by 31st October 2003
Moorings Code Consultation
British Waterways Customer Service Centre, Willow Grange, Church Road,
Watford, WD17 4QA
Fax: 01923 201300
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