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Issue 163 May 2019
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Braunston blossoms
Tree blossom has been exceptional in some places this spring including Braunston Marina, where the trees’ displays have probably been the best they have ever been since they were planted in 1997 to commemorate the last British soldier killed in Northern Ireland before the Good Friday Agreement – Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick from Northamptonshire. Braunston Historic Rally preview on page 24. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN
Fears over London mooring price hikes By Sarah Spencer
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PRICE hikes on permanent London moorings could add to overcrowding problems on the capital’s waterways, according to the Inland Waterways Association (IWA). The warning comes after Waterside Moorings, a division of
Policy challenge
the Canal & River Trust (CRT), wrote to customers in central London advising them of the outcome of the price review to bring prices in-line with the market rate for these sites (as reported in the April issue of Towpath Talk). Apart from 16% of London customers who will see prices increase between
THE Wide Boat Action Group is celebrating success in its campaign to achieve major changes to the policy and complaints procedure operated by the Canal & River Trust. Following a meeting with Ombudsman Committee chairman Kevin Fitzgerald, WBAG has been informed CRT procedures will now allow policy decisions to be challenged through legal proceedings when appropriate. It has also been agreed that a boating representative will be on the Ombudsman Committee which, according to WBAG, is a significant change.
inflation and 1% above inflation and 8% whose prices will remain the same, the remainder will see prices rise more significantly. Annual increases will be capped to a maximum of 10% for a transition period of up to five years. The IWA stressed a need for “affordable moorings” in the capital
Coast-to-coast paddle
A WOMAN from Embsay near Skipton is preparing to paddleboard 162 miles from coast to coast to raise money for charity and highlight the problems of littering, writes Geoff Wood. Jo Moseley’s route will take her along the entire length of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the Aire & Calder Navigation. She plans to start her voyage in Liverpool on July 27 and finish nine days later. Jo, 54, will spend two minutes every day collecting rubbish, which she hopes will encourage others to do the same.
in its recent Vision for London report, however it now believes that with the news of price increases on almost 300 permanent moorings in central London, these seem “increasingly unattainable”.
New bridge
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A NEW ‘green’ bridge for walkers and cyclists is to be built over the River Thames at Nine Elms to provide a link to Pimlico, writes Elizabeth Rogers. As well as Londoners who currently live, work or enjoy leisure hours in the area, it will also serve those expected to occupy the planned 20,000 new homes. A design team has been appointed by Wandsworth Council. The crossing will be between Grosvenor Road, Pimlico, west of Claverton Street, and Kirtling Street, near Battersea Power Station in Nine Elms.