Minutes:
David Thomas presented to the forum on the subject of Navigation.
He gave an overview of Middle Level Commissioners (MLC) which is the fourth largest navigation in the country, British Waterways being the largest, followed by the Environment Agency (EA) and the Broads Authority and then Middle Level.
He added that the Middle Level system has for over a century not been focussed on exploiting it to the maximum and the Commissioners had little or no interest because they derived little or no income from it, as their old act denied them for charging for navigation and many of the Fenland towns and villages accepted that they were there but did not maximise their benefit. MLC are the link route for the wider navigation network into places such as Ely, Cambridge, St Neots, St Ives and Bedford and there are more people spending more time on boats the opportunities for exploiting the system increase and he estimates that there are between 350 -450 boats currently residing in their system. David Thomas stated that he expects that number to fall slightly as the MLC are now charging, a lot of the boats which have fallen into decline and don’t meet the insurance and safety standards are now being removed. He stated that the Environment Agency have in the region of three times the length of watercourse and for that length of watercourse there are 7000 boats.
David Thomas explained that MLC currently have three marinas, two larger and one smaller. He added that the two larger marinas are one in March and also one in Ramsey. He stated that when a boat comes to a town, they generally spend in the region of £150 per boat for an overnight stay and that brings an income into the local economy. He highlighted the accessibility options available to those users of the waterways and explained that the aim is to make the Middle Level a destination rather than a place that is just a pass through destination and he explained that the Boston to Peterborough link and the proposed Bedford to Milton Keynes link will create circuits which are very well liked in the boating community.
David Thomas explained that MLC have been working very closely with the EA and the conservators of the River Cam and agreements have been reached to introduce the Anglian Pass, which will allow boaters to purchase a top up pass to be able to use the waters of all three agencies. He added that now as the MLC have a vested interest, they are spending some money on providing facilities, which will include rural moorings and he stated that as part of the Market Towns funding which is coming forward to redevelop the centre of March, MLC are working with FDC. David Thomas added that the MLC are also working with Ramsey Town Council on a bid submission to provide improved moorings.
David Thomas explained that MLC are working with the Middle Level Watermans club to develop facilities which could include a club for younger people to control them to use the waterways in a controlled and safe manner. He added that in addition there is a residential mooring working group and an navigation advisory committee and all of the relevant information concerning this is detailed on the MLC website.
David Thomas referred to the presentation screen and highlighted the public moorings and rural moorings and the addition of rural moorings will continue over the coming year. He stated that if the water environment is improved, property values increase and consideration should be given to how the water environment can be made more attractive and to see how it can fit into development plans to include waterside properties, that create places where people want to go to. He explained that residential moorings are very easy to implement and have a low carbon footprint and should be profitable and the right type of residential mooring, should encourage the right type of people.
John Maxey questioned that from a Middle Level perspective in terms of giving permission for moorings to be created, how do individuals request this from MLC and also from a planning perspective is there a proposal in the Local Plan to make allocations for residential moorings.
David Thomas stated that as long as a boat is hours travel away, people are happy to move their boat to gain access to facilities. He added that byelaw consent is required and if individuals approach MLC, as long as you either own or have permission of the land owner, and as long as it is not going to prove problematic to MLC or would impede navigation, there should be no concerns.
Nick Harding stated that from a planning perspective the housing needs assessment will have a section which will cover residential moorings.
Councillor Mrs Laws stated that she sits on the Navigation Group along with David Thomas and added that may people are now looking at a lifestyle change where boating is becoming a popular choice. She added that the waterways are an attraction and moving forward there is a niche in the market which should be considered. She added it is being looked at in the housing needs assessment for the emerging draft Local Plan.