Kennet & Avon canal boater has two months to licence boats

The Canal & River Trust, the national charity that looks after Britain’s canals and inland waterways, was granted a statutory order by Bristol County Court on Monday (January 23) in an uncontested hearing.

It means that canal boater George Ward, 62, must comply with the order to licence his two narrowboats, Celtic and the March Hare, or see them forcibly removed from the canal.

They are moored close to Smelly Bridge on the canal near Bradford on Avon, where Mr Ward has been desperately trying to repair the Celtic after it was sunk in September 2018.

George Ward's narrowboat, the Celtic, was sunk in September 2018 (Image: Freelancer)

Mr Ward has been unobtainable for comment. He has been given 14 days from the date of the hearing to identify a defence.

He has previously accused the Trust of using bullying, intimidation, harassment and persecution tactics to force him to move his boats.

George Ward with his two unlicensed narrowboats. Photo: Trevor Porter 69371-4 (Image: Trevor Porter)

A Trust spokesman said: “Earlier this week, after years of trying to help the boater meet the licensing requirements of having a boat on our canals, the Canal & River Trust attended at the County Court because of the boater’s long-term unlicensed vessels.

“The boater did not offer a statutory defence and the Judge granted an order for the boats to be removed in two months’ time.

“The Judge indicated the two-month period should be used for the boater to obtain a home mooring and a licence for the boats. The boater was also permitted a further 14 days (from the hearing date) to identify a defence."

A Trust spokesman said: “Taking action to remove a boat from the water is upsetting and is always a last resort, which only happens when a boat owner has refused to follow the rules over a long period of time.

“As in this case, we make sure any decision to remove a boat that is lived on has first been independently scrutinised by a Judge who considers whether the Trust is acting appropriately.

“We welcome all boaters onto our canals and we seek to manage our busy waterways safely and fairly for all the 35,000 boats on the network. 

“We do as much as we reasonably can to help boaters stay on the water, providing guidance and advice to help them meet their licence conditions.

“Whenever boaters are facing serious difficulties we will offer to put them in touch with support organisations, such as the Waterways Chaplaincy and various local independent services, as well as providing help via our dedicated Welfare Officer. 

“Fortunately, of the 35,000 boats on the network, last year only a handful of liveaboard boats were actually removed.”

Last week, following action taken by the Crown Prosecution Service because of alleged threatening and abusive behaviour by Mr Ward, Salisbury Magistrates Court issued a restraining order against him.

But magistrates dismissed a Section 5 public order offence that Mr Ward had used threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour on November 27 2020 after the prosecution offered no evidence. Mr Ward had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

George Ward has been trying to repair the Celtic for the past four years (Image: Trevor Porter)

The Trust spokesman added: “This means that, unless in an emergency or to manage their boat licence, the boater has been told not to approach people working or volunteering for our charity as they go about their work to look after the canal. 

“This is the first such restraining order issued to protect our teams from the potentially lasting impacts of unacceptable behaviour and aggression.”