BW - and linear moorings

BW - and linear moorings

I got a call from the BW moorings officer last week. She wanted me to move my boat so another boat can squeeze in to the linear moorings I am on. There is space between us and the boats each side but it will be a tight fit to get another boat it.

There is a story to this request that I'll hold fire on for a while........ see below

Anyhow this is the second time in the last six months I have been asked to move my boat so another boat can get in.

I started writing this post a few days ago and left it in draft form. I have since been in touch with Tom the editor of Narrowboatworld and also put in a freedom of information request to find out about BW's policy on linear moorings and their reductions based on the generation of massive boat parks, marina's, BW piggy banks call them what you want.

Anyhow the email below went off today as I'd not heard anything from the moorings officer; before I got a reply, Chris who moors near Waterlily phoned to tell me someone had moved my boat...!!!! I am not sure if it is BW or the owner of the boat who 'did not win' a Hunts lock mooring - see below. Its a real mess, I can't help thinking it is indicative of a company now so distanced from boaters. If BW have any reference to its historical links then boaters should be the centrepiece of its strategy and corporate responsibility. Instead it feels like we are just a large inconvenience that means we can be treated with disrespect.

I'll visit my lifestyle investment tomorrow to see what the impact is. I want to swear so I shall just type in white..... BW are a bunch of b*****s who don't give a s**t about boaters

Nev




Further to you phone call last week I have considered the request to move my boat Waterlily at Hunts lock but have some concerns. I did leave a message on your voice mail on Friday 19th February. As I have not received a call back I thought it appropriate to write to you to express my concerns and frustrations relating to your request.

I have asked for information regarding the linier mooring reduction policy BW have developed. I did this with the help of Tom Crossley the editor at narrowboatworld.com and also via a Freedom of information request.

I should detail the reason why I feel the moorings at Fradley Junction are being impacted so, and the reason for my complaint;

https://www.bwmooringvacancies.com/search/vacancy_details.php?type=ended&id=1219

My understanding is that this mooring was advertised incorrectly relating to the location – the location being already ‘won’ by NB Brunel earlier in the year. The solution, a mooring at Shadehouse (this is a mooring that should have been removed as part of the BW 10-1 reduction in the report attached) which was not suitable because of silting. So I have been asked to move my boat again - I moved it after the last mooring tender for a Hunts lock mooring, despite the report stating that 6 moorings were to be lost under natural wastage for Hunts!

My frustration is that despite the report, moorings at Fradley and particularly Hunts lock are being grown not reduced as the report says. I understand BW cite the cost to support these moorings as being a reason for “exchanges’ in the sites for reduction. I understand this was the case for the last tender that should have been for Spode but was transferred to Hunts locks mooring instead. I cannot accept this as I see no cost efficiency by consolidating at Fradley, especially now the moorings officer is based in Newark. When we had the mooring officer based at Fradley I could accept this. See no other definable efficiencies by consolidating boats.

I am looking for BW’s commitment to hold the moorings at Hunts as they are and not put any new boats on there which would be in line with the report attached. In fact I would accept the reductions in the report based on natural wastage. What I cannot accept is the adhoc and confused nature of how our moorings are managed. It might seem a small issue to BW but our boat is a significant investment in money terms but also in quality of life. We pay a considerable amount for the privilege of mooring. We enjoy our mooring and have established the location and we feel we are part of the attraction of Fradley. We would like BW’s commitment not to move this boat onto our moorings and if necessary dredge the Shadehouse mooring which is not occupied to allow the tender mistake to be rectified without disturbing and inconveniencing us .

Sincerely,

Neville Wells
NB Waterlily
Hunts Lock, Fradley junction