The National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) has a number of concerns about the Canal & River Trust (CRT) review of boat licensing. The NBTA is opposed to any increases in the cost of boat licences except for annual increases in line with inflation. Any price increase will make it harder for poorer boat dwellers to […]
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All members invited to NBTA Organising/ Committee meeting, May 21st, Rickmansworth
The next Committee meeting of the NBTA is on Sunday 21st May 2017 in Rickmansworth at 2pm to 4.15pm. There will also be an open organising meeting immediately following at 4.30pm to 6.30pm. All members are invited to both meetings.
To vote in the 2017 General Election, register by 22nd May
Bargee Travellers who want to vote in the General Election on 8th June 2017 can register to vote by declaring a local connection. You need to register by 22nd May.Anybody who does not have a fixed or a residential address can register this way. However you cannot register to vote online if you are declaring […]
Boats Are Homes march: boat dwellers refuse to be thrown off the waterways
On Saturday 8th April 2017 around 200 boat dwellers marched in defence of their homes. The national Boats Are Homes demonstration was organised in protest against Canal & River Trust’s (CRT) policy of evicting or threatening to evict travelling boat dwellers if they do not comply with unlawful travel requirements. Boat dwellers from all over […]
All NBTA members invited to committee meeting, 26th March, Watford
All NBTA members are invited to the next Committee meeting, which will take place in Watford on Sunday 26th March 2017, 2pm to 5pm, downstairs at Starbucks, 34 High Street, Watford WD17 1ED.
Boater wins Article 8 case against CRT in Court of Appeal in landmark judgement for boat dwellers
Bargee Traveller Matthew Jones yesterday won his appeal against Canal & River Trust’s (CRT) attempt to strike out the Article 8 elements of his defence against eviction from CRT’s waterways under Section 8 of the British Waterways Act 1983. The case will now be remitted back to Bristol County Court where Mr Jones will be […]
Canal & River Trust to publish “illustrative cruising patterns” for Bargee Travellers with school age children
Canal & River Trust (CRT) is to publish “illustrative cruising patterns” for Bargee Travellers with school age children, according to a report by the Waterways Ombudsman. This was revealed by the Ombudsman on 14th February 2017 in the final decision on a complaint from a family whose licence had been restricted to 6 months.
Victory as Oxford City Council drops waterways PSPO but boaters remain vigilant
On 2nd February 2017, Oxford City Council announced that it was dropping the proposed waterways Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). A consultation by the Council had provoked massive opposition to the PSPO, which would have criminalised the normal domestic activities of boat dwellers, such as heating their homes with solid fuel stoves and generating electricity […]
NBTA submits Petition against Middle Level Bill
The NBTA submitted a Petition to Parliament opposing the Middle Level Bill on January 24th. Five other Petitions against the Bill have been submitted; four by individual boaters and one by the March Cruising Club.
CRT Head of Boating quits after only 22 months
Mike Grimes, Canal & River Trust’s (CRT) Head of Boating, has today announced his resignation from the post after only 22 months. Mike Grimes headed the boating team from August 2015. He joined CRT as Head of Business Boating in April 2015.