Immediate concerns on the Great Ouse:
Concerns were raised over the condition of the 100 foot drain: regarding the increase in river traffic resulting from the upcoming IWA rally
- There is a need to cut the weed bed and reeds to ease water flow and navigation width.
- Concern was also voiced over the lack of accurate information being passed on to boaters navigating the drain by the Denver Lock keepers. It was reported there have been recent cases of boats being sent up the drain with too much air draft to navigate the bridges upstream. This is considered a significant health and safety risk.
- Issues were also raised about what will happen to craft are leaving the river system and where they will be stored during tidal transitions.
- We would like to know what provision there will be for enforcement and general river management over the IWA festival period when it is believed 300-400 addition craft will arrive on the Gt.Ouse.
Restrictions to Navigation:
- It is currently unclear how the EA are providing strong stream advice. Most members of the CMI receive a recorded telephone message (often at unsociable hours). Is there an email service that can be subscribed to?
- There is concern that EA are sometimes slow to remove strong stream advise and this is having a significant effect on hire boat fleets which need to give 48 hours notice to its customers.
- A general increase in information concerning when a restrictions will be lifted would be appreciated.
Budgetary priorities:
Asset Investment
- This was considered of primary concern and fundamental work to maintenance of navigation.
- In the last few years there has been a necessary and positive restoration of some of the locks on the river and a number of new landing stages.
- We would welcome the arrival of more temporary moorings and facilities on the river to ease river use for hire fleets and river users in general.
- We appreciate that this is a huge expense for the agency but concerns were raised over the general efficiency of spending in this area, not only by the marine traders but engineering contractors. A general lack of EA staff engineers (not consultants) overseeing projects were seen as key problems which have lead to over engineering.
Maintenance
- This was also considered of fundamental importance. Whilst it was noted that whilst there is a considerable degree of maintenance on the Nene in recent times there is minimal evidence of this on the Gt. Ouse.
- It was suggested that EA staff should be responsible for cutting back reed beds, weed cutting the river, cutting back fallen trees and dredging sections of the river where necessary. This is something that has happened in the past but is no longer happening.
- This will give the EA a greater general presence on the river (allowing ease of enforcement and customer service) and greater direct knowledge of navigation and engineering issues.
- It was suggested that this is not been happening due to fear over issues of bio-diversity. It was also noted that EA water front staff report problems in accessing the required facilities do to strict health and safety regulations and internal cost centres.
Enforcement
- More enforcement for non-payment and dangerous boats on the river and support the idea of on the spot fines.
- With the increasing numbers of residential craft on the river there needs to be a swift resolution to the arrival of nomadic live-aboards which move between temporary moorings. We see this becoming a serious problem in the future and feel it needs swift resolution.
- We believe the EA should follow the lead of British Waterways in removing and scrapping boats.
Customer Service
- As with enforcement and maintenance there is a general lack of EA presence out on the waterways. There is a general perception of the EA waterside staff as men sat in white vans which makes them not seem approachable, although we know that they are.
- We feel it would be helpful to have informed regional waterside managers that are out and about to communicate with the traders and river users and have the power to implement minor decisions.
- No real knowledge in control rooms of where the rivers are and who any particular organisation is or what they do.
Strategic Planning and Wider Agency
- We found the discussion group useful and would welcome regular consultations between the trade and EA in the future
- We would like to be made aware of projects on the river in advance so that we can be involved in the decision making process.
- Maintain strong communication links with wider agency to deliver inter-grated spending and strategy outcomes
Promotion and Marketing
- We felt that promoting navigation on the river should be the responsibility of the BMF and trade organisations like CMI rather than EA funding.
- We felt it was the EA responsibility to provide good facilities to ease navigation and assist boat hire companies as the prime source of newcomers to the river.
Planning Consultation
- It is currently unclear why this should be funded by navigation and not self funded through the planning authority
Report from the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators AGM
held 17th May 2007.
Following a report from a Thames based operator regarding his experiences with a fatality on the river Wey. All hire and day boat operators are urged to read the BMF handover procedurers. These can be found at http://www.britishmarine.co.uk
These can be found in the training section of the site. It is important that operators can produce a paper trail of procedures to hand to the police and coronor.
Paula Syred & Tracey Baxter.
