"Michael Askin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Just how far you should travel to produce a continuous and progressive >journey around the canals is up for debate... and during winter that >is obviously impossible thanks to stoppages.
I think the real problem is that this is a daft standard altogether. If you start with the idea that no boat should use public (i.e. at no charge) moorings in any place for more than 14 days, it isn't hard to design a workable standard. First, what's a place? I feel these must be clearly defined, with each having fixed boundaries which should be marked on the towpath. Probably best if each place covers a largeish recognised community (e.g. Milton Keynes). Every part of the waterway will be assigned to one or another place. Second, what's a day? I suggest any calendar day during which a boat is moored (for even a short time) is considered one day moored in that place. Third, 14 days in what period? Well, let's say "any not-necessarly contiguous 14 out of any contiguous 28 days". This would mean that a squatter would have to move among at least three places, which would make bridge-hopping impossible and would be inconvenient enough to discourage those trying to llive full-time in one community without getting a long-term mooring. Anyone violating these rules would be liable to the £25/day overstaying charge. I think this would achieve the desired effect, and would be easy to understand and to enforce. Adrian . Adrian Stott 07956-299966
