On Thursday 28th November 2024 a group from NBTA, Stop the Surcharge campaign and Residential Boat Owners Association (RBOA) met in Parliament with Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party), Baroness Cathy Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat) and Andrew Cooper MP (Labour, Mid Cheshire) to raise our concerns regarding Canal & River Trust (CRT), Environment Agency (EA) and other navigation authorities.
Nick Brown presented an overview of our case, setting out our position in law, and CRTs clear disregard for our rights as itinerant live-aboard boaters, and explained the discrepancies and injustices of the Licence Surcharge initiated by CRT in April this year. Christina Hemsley followed with a heartfelt presentation very clearly demonstrating CRT’s prejudicial and quite abhorrent abuse of her and her family’s rights, including sidestepping by delay any accountability to the Statutory Authority of Hertfordshire Council. It would be implausible that CRT behaviour shown in Christina’s presentation isn’t universal, demonstrating as it does, such deeply ingrained and institutionalised attitudes. Rex Walden of RBOA added comments and made clear that similar issues are met by boaters on EA managed waters.
Barrister David Watkinson of Garden Court Chambers (retired) explained the legal framework within which CRT, EA and other authorities ought to operate and gave a very clear indication that abuses of human rights at their hands appear commonplace. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) was also present at the meeting as an observer.
Both Peers and Andrew Cooper MP asked pertinent questions and were clearly taken aback at the scale and depth of the abuses we put before them. We will have further meetings shortly and it is hoped Richard Parry might accept an invitation to meet with us and the Peers to explain CRT’s position as best he can .
We very much look forward to escalating our case and finally holding CRT and EA to account in the foreseeable future.
Rex Walden (RBOA), Baroness Bakewell, Baroness Jones, Pamela Smith and Nick Brown (both NBTA)