More moorings for London
April 2017 - By Peter Underwood
As part of our news service The Floater likes to keep boaters abreast of the things the Canal & River Trust wants them to know. This time we have one urban and one rural press release for your information.
The Trust claims it has been making boating better in London over the past year and cites 'many improvements in 2016/17 includes new mooring rings and facilities, dredging, additional rubbish bins and collection, and the creation of new long-term moorings.'
It says its Improvements include:
· 125 new mooring rings providing over 700m of new or improved moorings.
· New public water taps at Southall and Ponders End, and a tap opened up for public use in Paddington.
· A new Elsan and pump-out in Alperton.
· Dredging 2,250m of canal so boats can moor next to the bank more easily, including 2,000m in Southall, 200m in West Drayton and 50m in Hayes.
· Three new refuse facilities on the Lee Navigation, with collection funded by the London Borough of Hackney.
· New bins for boater rubbish in Greenford and an improved rubbish site at Cowley.
· Logistical support for ‘Bins by Boat’, a pilot social enterprise project which offers boaters a floating refuse collection service.
· 14 new long-term moorings, including three residential, in previously un-moorable spots at Matchmakers Wharf on the Lee Navigation, Atlip Road on the Grand Union, Burdett Road on the Limehouse Cut, and Bow Wharf on the Hertford Union.
C&RT also syays it has 'carried out a number of other initiatives to help meet the differing needs of boaters who use London’s canals and rivers', including:
· Creating a new 7-day visitor mooring at King’s Cross.
· Setting up two pre-bookable moorings at Rembrandt Gardens which charge a small fee for boaters who want to guarantee a spot in central London.
· Working in partnership with the London Borough of Islington to secure Defra funding for public electricity charging points on the Regent’s Canal.
Sorwar Ahmed, London boating manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “London’s bustling canals are very different to those built 200 years ago to serve industry. With such a huge demand for boating in London, we’ve been working hard to create the moorings and other facilities needed.
“We’ve listened to our boaters and are making the changes that matter to them: this is just the start and we’ll be continuing to put time, money and people power into improvements in the years to come.
“We are working with other people, like local boroughs, social enterprises and boaters, to make these changes happen and improve London’s waterways for all our boaters and visitors. I’d like to thank everyone who’s got involved.”
The Trust is developing a London Mooring Strategy – details here : https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/our-regions/london-waterways/london-mooring-strategy
Photo: Moorings at Rembrant Gardens in The Pool at Little Venice - now £10 a night.