‘Total chaos’ Residents and boaters clash in moorings row
BOATERS and residents near Bristol have accused each other of prejudice, threats and intimidation as a trial moorings scheme has been branded a “total failure”.
The row comes after a trial scheme at moorings at Mead Lane, Saltford, gave boaters somewhere to stop for up to two weeks.
Now a consultation period has been launched to decide the future of the moorings.
The animosity began in 2017 when Bath and North East Somerset Council began trialling mooring points, letting boaters stay for up to 48 hours or as long as two weeks.
Saltford Parish Council wants Mead Lane to become a nature reserve and is calling for mooring to be banned, but those living on houseboats say the move could leave people homeless.
Pamela Smith from the Kennet and Avon Boating Community said: “Our community know that everything we do in Mead Lane is being closely scrutinised. We’re really careful not to upset anybody.
“Anything slightly wrong is seized on. It stems from prejudice and a sense of entitlement.
“They are doing everything they can to stop boats mooring there. I don’t see why they can’t share it with everyone. They need to have some sort of anti-prejudice education.”
A resident of Mead Lane, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s been absolute chaos. The council had no control. There was no monitoring. It was a free-for-all.
“The council just threw us to the lions ... Residents have been intimidated, threatened. There has been a catalogue of issues over the last three years... This summer was horrific. The trial has been a total failure.”
Boater numbers on the waterway have risen since 2015, when the Canal and River Trust changed its terms for live-aboard boaters who do not have a home mooring.
Continuous cruisers are now expected to move on every 14 days, but can get permission to stay longer in certain circumstances, for example if they are ill or their boat breaks down.
Malcolm Pemberton, who has lived on his boat for three years, is a recent arrival.
He said: “There are so few decent moorings. That’s what makes this area so popular.
“There are approximately 30,000 people living aboard boats in this country. They all have to live somewhere, and most have to move every 14 days.
“Most of us are quite normal, civilised people. There’s always an exception, but the bad eggs are few and far between.
“What I would like to see here is what residents don’t want – improved facilities including more water points and chemical toilet emptying points.
“Living on a boat has been my dream all my life. I will never live in a house again. I will die on this boat.”
In its response to the consultation, Saltford Parish Council acknowledged issues were caused by a minority of boaters but said the trial had “exacerbated the problems of noncompliance with mooring limits, anti-social behaviour and heavy littering”.
It said: “The trial has clearly demonstrated that Mead Lane, as a hitherto unspoilt beauty spot in the green belt and in close proximity to residential housing, is unsuitable and impracticable for moorings which require continual management.
It added: “A mooring ban should be implemented without delay, commencing with an immediate winter mooring ban.”
The parish council endorsed the Saltford Environment Group’s bid for the site to become a local nature reserve.
Writing online, the Saltford Environment Group said: “This is not about stigmatising boaters, the majority do of course operate and moor their boats within the law, but rescuing Saltford’s riverbank at Mead Lane from abuse by a minority and protecting the wildlife and this iconic location for the benefit of the majority.”
Boater Rebecca Sarll, who teaches sustainable living, said the bid for a nature reserve was an “underhand tactic” and the attempt to remove moorings was “like social cleansing”.
She said boaters were often “dehumanised” by residents calling them “scum” or “you people”, and she is now nervous of mooring at Mead Lane.
Ms Sarll said she was brought to tears by someone who screamed at her after she overstayed in one of the 48-hour moorings because her mum had just died.
The consultation, independent of the council, will run until October 31. It asks if the mix of mooring points should change, if there should be fewer moorings or none at all.
Council leader Dine Romero said: “So far we have received more than 470 responses from residents, boaters and our partners. All feedback will be carefully considered before the council makes a decision on the future of the moorings, by the end of the year.”
Visit the BANES website to respond to the consultation.
Residents have been intimidated, threatened. There has been a catalogue of issues over the last three years... This summer was horrific Local resident