London Assembly Recommendations (Mooring Review)

Recommendation 1	To increase mooring supply on London's canals, the Canal and River Trust should ensure as far as possible that towpaths have soft verges, mooring rings or bollards, are free of debris or silting up in the waterway and, where possible, are accessible to boaters with disabilities. On the Thames, the Port of London Authority and Environment Agency should look to increase the supply and accessibility of moorings where possible, including visitor moorings.
Recommendation 2	Planning authorities should use the development control process to apply the London Plan Blue Ribbon Network policies more strongly, to ensure that waterside developments enhance and do not detract from the waterways and their uses, including residential mooring use. The Mayor should, in the next set of amendments to the London Plan, more fully reflect the residential value of London's waterways, and include a policy to increase the number of moorings.
Recommendation 3	The CRT should review its system of auctioning moorings, and seek a system that is fairer to those using and contributing to the waterway network.
Recommendation 4	The CRT should encourage a trial of community moorings. The costs of community moorings, and the process for setting them, should be transparent.
Recommendation 5	The Canal and River Trust should review the provision of facilities and lighting, and lead the production and implementation of a facilities strategy for London waterways. It should aim to ensure that facilities are: sufficient to cope with increasing boater numbers and encourage less concentrated mooring readily-available and well-signposted for cruisers and accessible to all boaters including those with disabilities available when needed, with prompt maintenance seven days a week The facilities strategy should also seek to support the operation of service boats and the wharves they need. The Canal and River Trust should also publicise a map of transport links for different London mooring locations, including those not currently overcrowded. The Canal and River Trust should work with the London Legacy Development Corporation to seek boater facilities and sufficient moorings at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and the London Legacy Development Corporation should support this aim.
Recommendation 6	Relevant authorities, particularly the Canal and River Trust, the Mayor and London Waterways Commission, Transport for London and the police, should support work to engage boating and waterside communities, particularly the Better Relationships on the Waterways project and boater wardens. Support could include attending meetings, taking forward conclusions and agreements, and potentially some small financial or organisational resources.
Recommendation 7	The CRT should ensure that its action to regulate restricted moorings (including visitor moorings, lock landings, bends and narrow waterways) is effective. It should be: Consistent over time and between areas Well-understood by boaters, and communicated locally such as by clear consistent signage and local wardens Timely and efficacious, particularly where navigation is obstructed

To see the full report visit the London Assembly website .

To see general information about events that led up to this report click here

If you want to share your views on any of these recommendations then please send an e-mail to friendsregentscanal@gmail.com