In a landmark judgement issued on 25th June 2020 (AB v London Borough of Camden (HB) [2020] UKUT 158 (AAC)), the Upper Tribunal has confirmed that Housing Benefit is payable for boat licence fees because the boat licence fee if living aboard is rent.
Author: NBTA
Leisure and hire boating in England to resume from 4th July as Coronavirus lockdown is eased further
With the Government’s announcement of 23rd June that overnight stays away from home will be permitted in England from 4th July 2020, this means that leisure boaters will be able to stay overnight on their boats and hire and hotel boat companies may resume trading. Most navigation authorities will revert to their normal enforcement practices […]
Please sign petition calling for the protection of wildlife on the towpath
All towpath users have have witnessed a mass resurgence in wildlife along the canal and river banks since the Coronavirus lockdown began.
Boat safety examinations in England can go ahead again as Coronavirus suspension is lifted
The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) has announced that boat safety examinations can now resume for most boat owners, but they will happen in a ‘new normal’ framework based on the latest Government guidance.
What if I don’t feel safe to resume moving every 14 days on CRT waterways?
As of 23rd May 2020, Canal & River Trust (CRT) resumed enforcement of the 14 day limit for most boaters without a home mooring. CRT has stated that it expects boaters without a home mooring to have moved by 6th June 2020, and that its summer time limits now apply at Visitor Moorings. This does […]
EA plans to re-open waterways by 1st June
The Environment Agency (EA) plans to re-open its waterways in England to navigation by 1st June 2020 at the latest (but you can still only stay overnight on your boat if you live aboard). This means that from 1st June, enforcement of short stay mooring time limits will start again.
CRT enforcing visitor mooring time limits following resumption of 14 day rule
From today (23rd May 2020) Canal & River Trust (CRT) will enforce summer visitor mooring time limits and will enforce the 14 day limit for most boaters without a home mooring unless they have ‘reasonable adjustments’ under the Equality Act 2010 or if it is reasonable for them to stay where they are for longer […]
NBTA demands closure of overcrowded towpaths after lockdown easing
Following the Government announcement of a partial easing of the Coronavirus lockdown on 10th May 2020, the NBTA has written to Canal & River Trust (CRT) to demand closure of any canal towpaths where users are not observing social distancing or where the path is too narrow for people to stay 2 metres apart.
Limited navigation resumes on CRT, Broads Authority and some other waterways in England while EA waterways remain closed for repairs
Canal & River Trust (CRT) has announced a phased return to navigation with short day trips permitted from 13th May 2020; from 23rd May, enforcement of the 14-day rule will resume and visitor moorings will revert to summer time limits. By 6th June boaters without a home mooring should have resumed movement every 14 days.
Coronavirus boat movement suspension continues to 23rd May on CRT waterways
Yesterday (11th May 2020) Canal & River Trust (CRT) announced that the suspension of all but essential boat movements would continue until 23rd May. Visitor moorings can continue to be used for 14 days where this applies. However, with the Government announcement of a very limited lifting of the lockdown, angling and watersports such as […]