What Can I Do Next?

[bednobs]

Hi, i live near a canal. the moorings on the canal are for 14 days only, then people have to move on. However, people take the mick and stay there far longer than this, seemingly with impunity. There is an enforcement officer from the canal and rivers trust, who doesn't seem to do any enforcing, who i have been in touch with many times. The people who moor there benefit from all the amenities that other people who live nearby do (fire, police, ambulance, putting their rubbish in the public bins an so on) but don't have to pay council tax like i do for the privilege.
One person has been there for 11 months now, and another person is living on a non-residential mooring, and claims he doesn't when anyone inquires (despite his car being there most nights, lights being on and his cat being on the boat) There are around 5 other boats who have been there for the order of months rather than days too
I have tried talking to them (not surprisingly got hostile replies) spoken to the enforcement officer on seven seperate occasions (only comes during day so living there man is out at work so can't prove he's living there and officer tells me he can't do anything about 11 months man because he's not licensed) Been to the local authority (council) who are not interested, parish council (who supposedly wrote a letter to c&r trust but no action has occurred). What next?
I know i could just not care, but unfortunately the consequences of not caring are unappealing to me. Can anyone recommend who i could go to next, or who to approach or what steps to take
Thanks

[tamborine]

complain to these - with photo evidence

https://www.gov.uk/owning-river-canal-boat/licences-and-registrations

[bednobs]

as i have said, the canal and river trusts enforcement officer doesn't seem to care

[tamborine]

They can stay on the river with a licence (it may be out of view) & dont need a mooring if they drop anchor.

[bednobs]

ps umm, it's not really even my friends (who incidentally i dodn't chose my house because of -they came later) IT'S EVERYONE! the canal is a lovely place and the people that live there rely on good will and kindness of the other people that live there not people who just take the piss

[bednobs]

are you actually reading my replies tambo? the c and r trust has told me they can't do anything because he's unlicensed! The planning permission man IS licensed but does not have planning permission

[tamborine]

contact this website for your river police

http://www.visualeducationforall.com/boats/31-thames-river-police-image.htm

[ummmm]

well I hope you get it sorted. It sounds an idyllic place to live.

[tamborine]

Licences are not overlooked as its Gov income

[bednobs]

hi tambo - the canal and river trust has told me that all they can do is try to persuade him to become licensed. However, what's his incentive? After all it seems there is no punishment for not getting one

[tamborine]

that's rubbish - every motorised boat has to have a licence or be on dry standing. Ring the river police

[albaqwerty]

If you and your neighbours are in agreement about this, why not all lobby your local councillor and MP. If you don't hear from them inside, say, 4 weeks, then go to the paper.

[bednobs]

the river police??? Who are they?

[albaqwerty]

found this bednobs.
About 2/3rd down for the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_police

[tamborine]

on't website above. They monitor licencing for health & safety etc

[bednobs]

surely they don't operate on canals? the canals and river trust do that!

[albaqwerty]

Bednobs, I'll ask Boaty to have a look at your thread tomorrow morning (providing I catch him). He is, though, not the only one with knowledge of these things.

[tamborine]

river police do our canal, so will do yours. The income pays for canal & river maintenance

[tamborine]

Licences are required if moored in a marina or private property using river or canal.

[EDDIE51]

i would try to contact a reporter of the local paper and see if they can run a story about all this. The idea that all some one has to do is to buy a houseboat not licence it and then just moor anywhere for as long as they want and never pay a penny is ludicrous , just wait untill the illegal immigrants get hold of the idea . Put that aspect of it to the papers.

[boxtops]

I like Eddie's idea - ringing the newsdesk at our local paper sometimes elicits more press interest than just writing a letter to the Letters Page.