British Waterways Tabled Questions/Answers for Strategic User Group Meeting -27 March 2006 James Griffin. Wyvern Shipping 1. What is BW policy for boats that do not continually cruise and do not have a mooring -e.g. boats left on towpath? BW has a formal legal procedure to follow in dealing with those boats licensed as continuous cruisers but who overstay on visitor moorings. This process can be lengthy, particularly as, in many instances, these boats will also be "liveaboards". SET has been reviewing its enforcement operations and has allocated additional budget in the next financial year in order to increase its ability to deal with licence and moorings evasion. We recognise this is an increasing problem, particularly in popular areas and we do have to prioritise our enforcement action. 2. Where does BWM Ltd intend to build marinas to take live aboards who have no moorings? We have no knowledge of BWML proposals to build marinas to take live aboards. We are aware that BWML work on a broad guideline of 10% of total moorings to residential moorers. Ian Fletcher. Inland Waterwavs Association 1. What are the latest projections (a) nationally and (b) regionally for water supply through the coming season? Matthew will cover the latest water supply situation in his presentation today. (He showed slides detailing current reservoir levels that showed all canals bar the K&A to be almost up to expected levels. The marsworth summit pound will be deliberately kept low because is was built pourous in order to take water from the water table, this is low and so the more water they put in the more will drain away into the subsoil.) 2. What progress has been made on marina development policy? A newly published Inland Marina Investment Guide (February 2006) is the main focal point for policy and guidance. This information is also available via www.britishwaterwavs.co.uk/ marina development. SE Business Unit is handling 26 new third party marina applications comprising 2364 berths. Twelve of these are on the GU-mainline, eight on the GU-Leicesterline and six on the Oxford Canal. Number of berths range from 7 to 200 (average 100 berths). Majority of applications are at Outline Submission stage having successfully completed their Expression of Interest to which BW has given consent in principle (consent given if there are sufficient water resources and no adverse navigational safety issues). Several of the applications have been submitted for local authority planning. Details of these are in the public domain. Anticipated timescale from Expression of Interest to Construction and Network Access is two years. 3. What progress has been made on:- (a) removing/scrapping wrecks nationally and (b) Regionally? We have the power to remove boats under Section 8 of British Waterways Act 1983. Generally, the boat is valued by a independent surveyor and, if the value is less than £1000 it is destroyed, if it is more than £1000 the boat is sold under competitive conditions (we are currently about to write to brokerage companies to invite them to tender for this). Nationally 34 boats have been removed from the water in the last 3 months (further to Section 8 process). In the South East 6 have been removed during the last 12 months (see Enforcement Fact & Figures sheet). Rodney Evans. Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterwav Trust 1. What is the latest information on the building of BW South East HW at Campbell Park? Currently 7 potential developers have been invited to submit bids to English Partnerships. It is anticipated that a preferred developer will be appointed by Sept 2006 and planning permission achieved by the end 2006 early 2007. The anticipated occupation date for phase 1 is Spring 2008. British Waterways South East have detailed their requirements within the developer briefing document and once the preferred developer is appointed we shall advance our negotiations with them. 2. Time of move and what is agreed re building the start of the B&MK opposite? Commencement of construction for the B&MK Waterway relies totally on the success of major funding bids that are well underway. The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust state that this process will continue into 2007. Based on this success construction might feasibly start in 2008. British Waterways South East are closely linked with this process and James Clifton is our representative on the Bedford & Milton Keynes Partnership. We would be delighted to be in a position to extend our resource commitment to this exciting and important development at the appropriate time. Gordon Dundas. Parks Trust. Milton Kevnes 1. If boats over stay their time on moorings how can we quickly move them on? Our 4 patrol officers make regular checks throughout the 230 miles of South East Waterways but they obviously cannot patrol the whole waterway every day: If you notice a boat which has overstayed on a 14 day visitor mooring, we will be pleased to hear about it and will take appropriate enforcement action if this breach of terms and conditions continues. 2. Some boat owners cause damage to our land and leave litter and use shrub areas as a toilet. How can this be resolved? Licence terms and conditions are very specific about the requirements on boaters to behave in a safe and considerate manner. e.g "You must not. do anything at any mooring which will cause damage or nuisance to any other person or their property". Any breach of these conditions will be an enforcement issue. Ron Heritage. IWA. Oxfordshire Branch I understand from a recent meeting with Jeff Whyatt and Murray Geddes that BW is hoping to reduce the number of linear moorings. Particularly those where people unofficially reside on their boats. I am in total agreement with this policy. However there appears to me to be a conflict of interest. 1. Is it your intention to stop creating new linear mooring with immediate effect? And not replace existing ones when they are vacated so that these can be gradually reduced? The South East Business Unit has given a commitment to no more British Waterways managed on line permanent moorings. Any reduction will only proceed in conjunction with additional capacity becoming available off line as a result of new marina developments. 2. Have you considered what impact this has on income to BW and how will they overcome this deficit? It is our intention that reductions in on line capacity will be "income neutral". This fact will determine the pace of reduction in these situations. Robin Evans, (CEO, British Waterways) is currently building on the above (South East Waterways) position and will be making a national statement shortly. Sarah-Jane Page. Weltonfield Narrowboats Congestion times at locks is a major concern as well as moored boats that are meant to be continually cruising. We will be providing additional Lock Keeper cover at Napton Bottom lock during the peak summer period this year in addition to the normal coverage at Watford and Foxton. At Napton we also intend to reduce the length of stay, turning over half of the 48 hour moorings to 24 hour moorings. Our market research team will be holding sessions with boaters who use our busiest locks during the peak times. The aim is to arrive at practical solutions developed in partnership with customers affected. Aim is to complete work by end May. We are currently reviewing our visitor moorings at specific sites where congestion occurs. As part of this we will be investigating, and trialling, different options to help relieve the congestion. David Edwards. Luton Angling Club Since BW has moved to MK we perceive reluctance by various departments to reply to emails or letters, with 2 exceptions; 1 .Fisheries 2. Waterway Manager -not always as prompt as before. Our commitment to the published British Waterways Internal Complaints Procedure in the South East is total. We have a commitment to turn round written complaints within 21 days (allowing for investigative time) and with very few exceptions achieve this. Where specific examples can be quoted we would be grateful if these could be brought to the direct attention of the General Manager ( Jeff Whyatt). In additional to formal lCP (Internal Complaint Procedures) letters we do get an enormous amount of incoming communications. These are targeted to be turned round within ICP timescales. Ian Lauder (Badsey Cafe Bistro) As BW is joining with Rugby BC, planning to spend £100k on towpath improvements to Hillmorton Locks, can you state exactly what you are spending that money on and why part of it is for the display of historic lock gates that were already funded via Hillmorton Canal Heritage Society with planning permission already granted to display them more safety on opposite side of the canal? We have enjoyed an excellent partnership with RBC in previous years working on jointly funded schemes that have benefits for both canal users and residents of the area. Most recently, in partnership with RBC, we have completed the Newbold Tunnel lights, and towpath upgrades. The scope of this work would have been far narrower without RBC's contribution . Discussions are progressing with RBC regarding the detail of the Hillmorton project, very happy to keep Mr Lauder involved and updated. As well as planning permission, any development on BW land must have BW permission first. Whilst the idea of displaying the Lock Gates at the Bistro was discussed informally, no such permission was given. Key concerns with the proposed site were ground conditions (running sand) and the likely need for substantial foundations, also, safety of customers in view of the 'upright' display of the gates, previously condemned on grounds of instability. Graham & Brenda Keens. Cutweb What is the legal position with regards to waterside properties with mooring rights and British Waterways 'EGG' mooring charge. EGG moorers are given the exclusive right to use the designated mooring space where operational and water factors allow. The benchmark pricing is 50% of nearest, equivalent online mooring site. Please see supplementary EGG information sheet. (Separate file ) Dr Jeremy Cobb. Wilderness Boat Owners Club If time! Provision of slipways -The Club likes to be able to slip into canals easily and in a slipway that is simply protected by the use of a waterways key. We would like more slipways when possible!! The Club also wants to congratulate the South East Managers who do very well despite some boaters demands! Thank you for the positive comment! We would also like to see more slip ways where appropriate. Future development will, in part, rely on third party investment being attracted into the waterway and slip ways being provided through marinas/boatyard developments. Slipways developed by BW would be funded through commercial capital and would therefore need to generate a reasonable financial return -this would mean that charges for use, or associated use such as car parking, would need to be levied. D Blagrove. Commercial Boat Operations Association (CBOA) 1. In view of the continuing pressure on waterside land, may we have an undertaking from BW that it will oppose any development prejudicial to the future of wharfage (both for freight and leisure purposes)? In the case of a proposed development involving a wharf or boat yard owned by BW; undertake a full project appraisal to include the options of retention and relocation before agreeing to any redevelopment. Any proposal to remove a facility will include a public statement confirming whether the facility is to be relocated, and if not, why not. 2. What steps are being taken by SE Waterways to encourage the freight carrying potential of the canals in their area? GU South historically promoted the use of the canal in the gravel extraction and distribution process at Denham. We will continue to exploit these opportunities where they arise. We aim to support the businesses currently moving freight on our part of the network whilst acknowledging that there are constraints in terms of the gauge of the canal and also the demands of a large scale leisure boating business. John Castle, GUSAC BW (London) have been anxious to promote and increase commercial traffic (goods etc). Also Hugh Wilson reported in "The Independent" on 22 Feb 06 of a "Power Day Project". Are these one of the same? If so what is or will be the knock on effect on South East Waterways. What increase of commercial traffic is expected in the next 3 years plus? As above, we are keen to promote freight usage where an opportunity exists. We do not, however, anticipate a large increase in freight activity over the period of this business plan. Brian Mayland. IWA What are the standards laid down for the management of off-side vegetation, and who supervises the contractors doing it? General contract terms apply with regards to taking care for other users on the canal, safety, pollution etc. The specification for recent work has been 1 m out and 3m up as per diagram shown at previous user meetings and replicated below. We have been "catching up" this year with work next year to refine areas where more needs cutting back. This approach was taken to get as much to the "back-log done in the time and funds available. The contract has been managed by our Contracts Supervisor (Ralph Gregory). (a diagram was supplied showing vegetation cutting rules -I'll try and scan it) Tony Haynes, Vice Chairman, National Association of Boat Owners 1, In view of recent vandalism of lock paddlegear at Berkhamsted, what progress has been made towards consulting other BW regions with a view to finding and efficient and standardised method of locking them? (That used on the Huddersfield Narrow is recommended by NABO) We have contacted other Business Units asking for their suggestions/experience, Everyone who has responded to the consultation has supported installation of locks -some have made suggestions about type to be used. 2, Has the idea of using the waterways to transfer water from the NW to the South been revived under present drought conditions? Our experience with Watergrid indicated that there was no significant surplus of water in the North West to sell locally let alone transfer to the SE. We have looked at the possibility of moving water by canal from Birmingham to the SE but whilst the engineering is possible the costs were such that other alternatives were considered more favourable. If large quantities are to be transferred (greater than 30 MId) then the environmental impacts of the transfer are likely to be significant and the sustainability of a bulk transfer scheme would need close examination. Paul Le Bliaue. Ass of Waterwavs Cruising Clubs With the intended dramatic rise in boat numbers over the next five years, please comment on congestion control, impact on services and implication for canal maintenance. We anticipate 500 new boats coming onto the SE network over the next 3 years. For this growth to take place without causing severe congestion we need to increase our off line moorings provision. Additionally, our area has a large number of online moorings, our aim is to convert some of these to off line over the period of the plan, guidance on online mooring density is being prepared by our Boating team now. We will also be looking at increasing the number of visitor moorings and seasonal staffing of locks such as Napton Bottom. The projected growth in boat numbers has been a factor in the budgeting process for this three year plan.