The Floater May 2017

May 2017 - Canal & River Trust is being investigated by Gloucestershire Police for theft of the Mersey Bar light vessel 'Planet', reports Allan Richards

This follows C&RT's announcement that it had sold the vessel for £12,500, a fraction its true value ( Lightship 'Planet' sold for just £12,500 ).

May 2017 - Every now and then we like to keep readers of The Floater up to date with the items being offered to the media by the Canal & River Trust's public relations staff across the country and Peter Underwood has a round up.

George goes back to Liverpool

The Leeds & Liverpool short boat George spent the early 20th century carrying coal from the mines of Wigan and Leigh to Liverpool and she is about to grace the city's docks again.

May 2017 - One of the most frustrating things about making your home on a boat is dealing with the demands of government and Peter Underwood's own experiences with the DVLA confirms life isn't getting simpler.

Driving licences are now all photo identity cards that have to be renewed every 10 years and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) reckons there are millions of out of date licences out there.

May 2017 - It is now certain that C&RT's Head of Boating, Mike Grimes, will not appear at a four-day hearing in the High Court starting on Thursday, May 18, reports Allan Richards.

Mr Grimes left C&RT's employ at Easter. In February, The Floater questioned if he would be willing to attend court to back up his witness statement in the case of Ravenscroft vs C&RT ( Did C&RT's Head of Boating fall or was he pushed? ).

May 2017 - The Canal & River Trust has claimed it did not receive a report of a lock that did not meet minimum safety standards, made by Floater Journalist Allan Richards, who explains what happened.

A report was made about the faulty lock using C&RT's own online reporting mechanism with a 'screen shot' taken of both the report and the acknowledgement screen. However, this report was seemingly ignored; with the Trust later saying that the report had never been received.

May 2017 - How the Canal & River Trust should treat liveaboard families with children at school has been the subject of much debate – in the courts and with MPs, as well as boaters. Peter Underwood reports on the latest moves.

The National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) is advising all families continuously cruising with school age children to contact C&RT to negotiate a reduced cruising range in term time if this is what they need.

NBTA Chair, Pamela Smith says it is something boaters should do, 'Despite the limitations to what C&RT is offering.'

May 2017 - The first self drive day boats have arrived in central London, perhaps the busiest canal in the country – Peter Underwood has been looking at how the city's canals will cope.

The first four boats arrived in Paddington Basin on Tuesday on a lorry from Scandinavia, and C&RT has arranged for them to use a visitor mooring pontoon on the side opposite the hospital. Additional visitor space has been created beneath the hospital on the other side of the basin to compensate.

May 2017 - Debate about boating etiquette varies around the system. In London many are happy if boaters manage to close lock gates and drop paddles but elsewhere there is a sort of annual build up of irritation – especially by those who feel we are losing the common courtesies that made the system function, as Peter Underwood reports.