Elmbridge Borough Council’s planned Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to fine and criminalise anyone mooring for more than 24 hours on land the Council owns on the Thames in its borough has been defeated in the High Court, for now.
No fire without smoke
Local authorities across the country are being pushed to take measures to reduce air pollution, in particular the particulates emitted through burning of various fuels. One measure being considered in places is the extension of Smoke Control Areas to cover waterways, using powers granted to local authorities by the Environment Act 2021 to extend Smoke […]
NBTA looking to hire new national organiser!
We’re hiring a National Organiser Our community is facing urgent threats. The imposition of chargeable moorings, a discriminatory surcharge on boats without home moorings, and now a ostensibly independent review commissioned and funded by CRT, which is looking to preempt legislative changes to the licensing framework for itinerant boaters, the very legislation which safeguards our […]
Richard Parry to leave CRT after 12 years as CEO
CRT has just issued the press release below. Sinking ship? We wonder who else will go with him. Here is the video message Richard Parry sent to all CRT staff to tell them he was going: “Canal & River Trust Chief Executive Richard Parry to stand down this summer The Canal & River Trust charity […]
NBTA response to CRT ‘Commission’ Terms of Reference to review law and policy on boat licensing
Here we publish the NBTA’s response to the Terms of Reference of the CRT ‘Commission’ to review the law and policy on boat licensing, announced on 16th December 2024. Download NBTA response or read it below: 2025-01-13 NBTA Response to Terms of Reference of CRT Future of Boat Licensing Review Download Canal & River Trust […]
All members welcome at NBTA Committee meeting Sunday 19th January
All members are invited to take part in decision making and helping the NBTA to plan and organise current and future actions and campaigns. The next Committee meeting will be on Sunday 19th January 2025 at 2pm- 5pm. The meeting will be held online and by phone, to maximise participation. If there’s anything you want […]
Boaters fear foregone conclusion in CRT’s ‘independent’ Future of Boat Licensing review
The NBTA is raising the alarm as Canal & River Trust (CRT) announces a new ‘review’ of boat licensing which could see the end of the itinerant boating community. What has CRT said? On 16th December 2024, CRT unveiled a document that clearly outlines its intention to remove itinerant boat dwellers. This is the first […]
The Campaign for the Energy Grant
In the winter, the cost of living on a boat increases massively for many of us, with paying for coal, gas, or diesel to heat our homes. Some of us may forage for free wood to burn. However, this option is now threatened when moored within ‘clean air zones’ due to bans on burning foraged […]
Please donate to the NBTA!
Please give generously to help NBTA fight boater evictions, unlawful and punitive enforcement, monetisation of public towpath moorings, discriminatory licence fee increases and other anti-itinerant liveaboard boater measures. We know times are tough and some of us are struggling to make ends meet. But if you want to help the NBTA protect our way of […]
CRT raises licence fees by 4%, with bigger surcharges on top
CRT has announced an increase of 4% in its boat licence fees from 1st April 2025. The surcharge on the licence fees of boats without a home mooring will escalate from 5% to 10% which makes the increase much greater for our community.